Risk-Based Approach for the Development of Wireless Telecommunication Base Stations

Abstract

The study focuses on wireless telecommunication base station development though the application of a risk-based framework to analyzed risk values and reliability outcomes of design schemes for risk-based decision making. A system-based risk assessment methodology combined Causal Analysis and several logic modeling tools in the form of Fault Tree Analysis, Master Logic Diagram and Event Tree Analysis to model the logical relationship of base station components and functions of different wireless mobile system to derive the overall system reliability. Moreover, the research utilized base station fault logs to identify the causes of component failure and quantify its frequency of occurrence. Furthermore, the study was able to evaluate the risk level for each event of base station system state by incorporating the corresponding impact rating and realized that the highest risk was associated with failed 3G system. In addition, different 3G base station design schemes were analyzed in the trade-off between risk and cost. Based from the obtained results, it was recommended that the optimal design schemes were composed of Indoor cabinet design with Radio Frequency Unit inside the base station cabinet and another design scheme which composed of Distributed cabinet design with Remote Radio Unit on top of the tower.