 dimensioning exercise, and the main results would include the number of sectors and transceivers that would be required for these base stations. As noted in Chapter 2, coverage, capacity and quality go hand-in-hand, and network configuration plays a big role in achieving the desired service standards. There are four different types of service classes and numerous different kinds of services in each class. Enough coverage, sufficient capacity and desired throughput will be key in the network configuration design to achieve the desired quality standards. 7.5.2 Structure and Performance of the Physical Layer In a WCDMA radio network, the structure of the physical layer directly affects the perfor- mance of the network, SO some understanding of this is necessary to dimension the network. We have already seen the logical channels in Table 7.1. Here we briefly look at the transport and physical channels. Transport Channels Transport channels are of two types: dedicated and common. The channels listed in Table 7.2 are for the WCDMA_FDD mode of operation. There is only one dedicated channel and the remaining six are common. A dedicated channel (DCH) is one that supports the Table 7.2 Transport channels in a WCDMA radio network Channel Abbreviation Function/application Broadcast channel Transmits system- and cell-specific information Common packet channel Transports packet-based user data in uplink direction Dedicated channel Transmits user or control (UI/DL) information in either direction Downlink shared channel Shared by several UEs; carries user and control information Forward-access channel Transports control information to the UE Paging channel Used to page information to the UE Random-access channel Received from complete cell and contains control information from the UE RADIO NETWORK PLANNING PROCESS soft-handover phenomenon discussed later in the chapter. Both dedicated and some common channels support fast power control. Physical Channels There are two types of physical channel: dedicated and common. The transp