im of this phase is to verify the functionality of the network. It should be shown that the parameter settings in the network are correct and that the planning targets can be met. 2.1.3 Network Planning Criteria and Targets Network planning is a complicated process consisting of several phases. The final target for the network planning process is to define the network design, which is then built as a cellular network. The network design can be an extension of the existing GSM network or a new network to be launched. The difficulty in network planning is to combine all of the requirements in an optimal way and to design a cost-effective network. Before the actual planning is started for a new network the current market situation is analysed. The market analysis covers all the competitors and the key information from them: market share, network coverage areas, services, tariffs, etc. Based on the market situation it is possible to create a future deployment strategy for the new operator. Questions arise about the nature of the targeted user group, how large is the coverage provided in the beginning and how it will grow in the future. It is also decided in the beginning what kind of services will be offered and which is connected to the target user group. This leads to estimations of market share in the beginning and objectives for the future. More detailed estimations are needed on how much each user of a certain type is using the services provided. The needed capacity for each service and onwards for the whole network can be calculated from the estimated average usage. The basic requirements for the cellular network are to meet coverage and quality targets. These requirements are also related to how the end user experiences the network. Coverage targets firstly mean the geographic area the network is covering with an agreed location probability, i.e. the probability to get service. The requirements also specify the signal strength values that need to be met inside different area types. The quality targets are rela