hroughout this project, and especially for their patience. Finally I should like to thank my parents, Mrs Sarojini Devi Mishra and Mr Bhumitra Mishra, who gave me the inspiration to undertake this project and deliver it to the best of my capability. Introduction The past few years have witnessed a phenomenal growth in the wireless industry, both in terms of mobile technology and subscribers. Mobile network operators and vendors have recognized the importance of efficient networks with equally efficient design processes. This has resulted in services related to network planning and optimization coming into sharp focus. With all the technological advances, and the simultaneous existence of 2G, 2.5G and 3G networks, the impact of network efficiency has become even more critical. Many new designing scenarios have developed, and the inter-operability of the networks has to be considered. Although scores of books are available on radio communications and technologies, the real need for a book for planning engineers remained unfulfilled. This book aims to cover the gap between mobile technologies and mobile networks. While earlier books on system engi- neering deal with radio planning aspects only, this book covers radio, transmission and core networks at the same time. Planning and optimization aspects for GSM, GPRS, EDGE and WCDMA, for all three sections (radio/transmission/core), are presented together. This will help planning and optimization engineers to understand not only the technological evolution but also the changes and modifications taking place in planning and optimization processes. The book is divided into four parts. After an introductory chapter, Part I deals with 2G (GSM) networks. Then Parts II and III deal with 2.5G (GPRS and EDGE) and 3G (WCDMA) networks respectively. All these three parts deal with fundamentals of radio, transmission and core network planning and optimization. Part IV of the book looks to the future: fourth-generation networks. Chapter 1 is an overview of mobile networks. It gives 