omplicated as the amount of interface with the radio planning teams increases consid- erably. In the GSM, the process of transmission network planning (shown in bold in Figure 3.1) can work almost stand-alone (with little impact on/from radio). However, this increases considerably in the EGPRS as the Abis becomes a limiting factor for the air interface throughput. In the UMTS, E2E quality and delay makes sure that all three major domains of network planning, radio, transmission and core, are heavily dependent on each other. The whole process does not really take place in the way shown in the figure. In any project most of the aspects start at a generic level right in the beginning. However, for the sake of understanding, the tasks can be subdivided into master planning and detail planning. Master planning includes dimensioning and other preplanning aspects. Detail plans consist of timeslot and 2 Mbit plans along with the synchronisation and network management plans. However, some tasks like microwave (MW) link planning are integrated in the transmission planning process SO much that they can be considered to be a part of both master and detail planning. 3.1.1 Master Planning Many tasks shown in Figure 3.2 are done in parallel during the initial phase of a network (NW) roll-out. In fact many tasks happen before actual roll-out takes place. The output of tasks such as dimensioning, equipments selection, etc., are utilised to order equipment for the network roll-out to start. This means that the the more accurate master planning is, the more accurate would be the equipment ordering, resulting in Advanced Cellular Network Planning and Optimisation Edited by Ajay R Mishra © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Transmission Network Planning and Optimisation Customer Requirements Transmission Input from RNP Coverage, Capacity, Quality Dimensioning RNP Dimensioning Coverage Plans Capacity Plans Topology/ Capacity Planning Site Surveys/ Technical Site Surveys (With Civil Engineers/ Installation Planners etc) Detail Planning Covera