Atoll allows mobile operators to plan and optimise 5G NR networks deployed in both NSA (Non Standalone) and SA (Standalone) modes, together with 4G and legacy 2G and 3G layers.
Atoll’s modular and advanced radio technology modelling capabilities, along with the support for mmWave propagation, massive MIMO, and 3D beamforming, provide operators with a complete and evolutionary framework for the design and deployment of 5G NR networks.
Atoll supports integrated network planning for multi-RAT networks. It features a multi-technology network database, a unified traffic model, a combined Monte Carlo simulator, and a multi-RAT ACP (Automatic Cell Planning) module. Atoll provides operators with a comprehensive and evolutionary framework for planning and optimising multi-technology 2G/3G/4G/5G networks including small cells, integrated Wi-Fi, and IoT.
5G Network Modelling
- Support for all 5G NR frequency bands including mmWave
- Support for TDD, FDD, SUL, and SDL duplex modes
- Support for all 5G NR carrier widths, from 5 to 400 MHz
- Support for multiple bandwidth part configurations
- Support for all 5G NR numerologies: 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 kHz
- Support for all 5G NR self-contained slot formats
- Support for standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) deployments
- Support for multi-layer network deployments
- Intra- and inter-band carrier aggregation
- Dual connectivity (5G NR + LTE)
- Dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) between 4G and 5G
- Coordinated multipoint (CoMP) transmission and reception
- Advanced bearer and service modelling
- Massive MIMO: SU-MIMO, MU-MIMO, and transmit/receive diversity
- 3D beamforming
5G Traffic Modelling
- Modelling of voice, data, and mobile broadband services
- Modelling of user equipment, user profiles, and traffic environments
- Multi-service raster and vector traffic demand maps from multiple sources including traffic data from live network measurements
- Fixed subscriber traffic modelling
5G Simulation and Analysis
- Advanced active beamforming antenna modelling with broadcast, service and refinement beams and support for beam sets
- Advanced RRM, interference coordination, aggregation, and backhaul capacity analyses
- Generation of prediction plots, based on calculated cell load figures or imported from the live network including:
- Cell and network coverage analysis
- Cell and beam acquisition plots
- Intra- and inter-technology interference analysis
- Downlink and uplink service areas
- Downlink and uplink throughputs
- PCI, PSS ID, SSS ID, and PRACH RSI collisions
- Coverage plots combining predicted and measured values from live network KPIs and UE/cell/MDT traces
Neighbour Planning
- Manual and automatic multi-frequency and multi-layer neighbour planning
- Hybrid neighbour allocation process based on predictions and live network data
Interference Matrices
- Prediction-based interference matrices
- Open format allowing import of measurement-based interference matrices and editing interference matrices using 3rd party applications
Multi-RAT 2G/3G/4G/5G Network Planning
- Integrated planning and optimisation for 5G NR with 4G LTE, NB-IoT, 3G UMTS, and 2G GSM:
- Unified network databases with site and antenna sharing
- Unified multi-service traffic model
- Combined Monte Carlo simulator
- Simultaneous display and analysis of network layers
- Inter-technology handover modelling
- Inter-technology interference analysis
5G/mmWave propagation modelling
5G frequency bands and urban propagation conditions require high-performance propagation models. The Aster propagation model, delivered as a separate module, is based on advanced ray-tracing propagation techniques and combines high accuracy with superior calculation speed
Atoll 5G AFP and ACP
Atoll AFP module provides PCI and RSI planning services for network-wide planning as well as incremental planning for network densification.
Atoll ACP module allows operators to streamline 5G planning and optimisation activities through automated 5G site selection and antenna parameter configuration.
Atoll AFP and ACP modules also supports multi-RAT 2G/3G/4G optimisation, especially for refarming 2G frequency bands to be reused by 4G/5G networks.
5G Automatic Frequency Planning - AFP
- User-definable constraints and flexible cost function
- Hybrid allocation process based on predictions and live network data (neighbours, handover KPIs, interference matrices, etc.)
- Automatic frequency carrier allocation
- Automatic PCI planning considering PSS, SSS, PBCH DMRS, and UL DMRS collisions
- Automatic PRACH RSI planning
5G Automatic Cell Planning - ACP
- Automatic optimisation of network coverage and capacity
- Site selection and activation for greenfield and densification scenarios
- Identification of critical network zones and high-traffic areas using live network KPIs and UE/cell/MDT traces
- Advanced radio coverage, quality, as well as capacity and throughput objectives
- Antenna selection and parameter optimisation (height, azimuth & tilt)
