The LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature introduces the LTE BTS support of GPS and UTC time information broadcast in system information block type 16 (SIB16).
3.9.1 LTE3056 benefits
The LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature allows to retrieve system and local time from the common broadcasting channel.
Broadcasting reference time from the LTE network is useful in the following use cases:
• GPS time for GNSS
• Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) for MBMS
• Local time provisioning
3GPP proposed to introduce a new SIB to provide the GPS time and UTC time.
3.9.2 LTE3056 functional description
Flexi Multiradio BTS supports the broadcast of SIB16.
The SIB16 information element (IE) contains information related to the GPS time and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The UE may use the parameters provided in this system information block to obtain the UTC, the GPS, and the local time.
Figure 5 Content of the SIB16, as described in 3GPP TS 36.331
The SIB16 broadcast is not supported for 1.4-Mhz and 3-Mhz cells.
The LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature introduces an LNBTS feature flag to enable or disable the SIB16 broadcast function on a BTS level. If SIB16 is enabled on the BTS, its configuration in a specific cell schedule list can enable or disable the SIB16 on the cell level.
3.9.3 LTE3056 system impact
Interdependencies between features
The LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature affects the following features:
• LTE1441: Enhanced CS Fallback to CDMA/1xRTT (e1xCSFB)
This feature introduces the ltmOff and dayLt O&M parameters. These two parameters have the same meaning as localTimeOffset and
dayLightSavingTime parameters in SIB16.
• LTE2149: Supplemental Downlink Carrier
SIB16 is not broadcasted in a supplemental downlink carrier (SDLC) cell.
• LTE2353: SIB Multiplexing
This feature removes the static combination and supports dynamic SIB multiplexing.
• LTE117: Cell Bandwidth 1.4 MHz
• LTE116: Cell Bandwidth 3 MHz
SIB16 is not broadcasted on a 1.4-MHz and 3-MHz LTE bandwidth cell even if LTE3056 is activated on a BTS level.
• LTE891: Timing Over Packet With Phase Synch
When both LTE3056 and LTE891 are activated, UTC timing information for LTE3056 can be acquired through LTE891 instead of GPS.
• LTE80: GPS Synchronisation
This feature can provide phase synchronization; UTC timing information for LTE3056 can be acquired.
• LTE1710: Sync Hub Direct Forward
• LTE3071: NB-IoT Inband
The transmission of SIB16 message is not supported in NB-IoT.
Impact on interfaces
The LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature has no impact on interfaces.
Impact on network management tools
The LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature has no impact on network management tools.
Impact on system performance and capacity
The LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature has no impact on system performance or capacity.
3.9.4 LTE3056 reference data
Requirements
Table 33 LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) hardware and software requirements Multiradio 10
BTS
AirScale FDD Flexi Zone Micro BTS
Flexi Zone Access Point
FDD-LTE 17 Not supported FL17 FL17 FL17A FL17A
Flexi Zone Controller
OMS UE NetAct MME SAE GW
FL17A Support not required
3GPP R12 UE capabilities, 3GPP R13 UE capabilities
NetAct 17.2 Support not required
Support not required
Alarms
There are no alarms related to the LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature.
BTS faults and reported alarms
There are no faults related to the LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature.
Commands
There are no commands related to the LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature.
Measurements and counters
There are no measurements or counters related to the LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature.
Key performance indicators
There are no key performance indicators related to the LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature.
Parameters
Table 34 New parameters introduced by LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16)
Full name Abbreviated name Managed object
Parent structure
Activate GPS and UTC Time Broadcast
actUTCBroadcast LNBTS
-Table 35 Parameters modified by LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16)
Full name Abbreviated name Managed object
Parent structure
System Information Scheduling List, extended for SIB16
sibSchedulingList SIB
-Indicates which SIB is contained in the SI-Message, extended for SIB16
siMessageSibType (sibSchedulingLis t)
SIB
-Include day light savings time indicator
dayLtIncluded XPARAM
-Local time offset included
ltmOffIncluded XPARAM
-Table 36 Existing parameters related to LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16)
Full name Abbreviated name Managed object
Parent structure
Network synchronization mode
btsSyncMode BTSSCL
-Downlink channel bandwidth
dlChBw LNCEL_F
DD
-Table 37 Parameters migrated from MOC XPARAM to MOC SIB for LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16)
Full name Abbreviated name Managed object
Parent structure
Day light savings time indicator
dayLt SIB
-Local time offset ltmOff SIB
-For parameter descriptions, see Flexi Multiradio BTS LTE Commissioning, RNW and Transmission Parameters.
Sales information
Table 38 LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) sales information
Product structure class License control Activated by default Application software (ASW) Pool license No
3.9.5 Activating and configuring LTE3056
Before you start
• Procedure notifications
– The eNB is configured for phase synchronized mode; Network
synchronization mode (btsSyncMode) parameter is set to PhaseSync.
– The LTE3056: GPS and UTC time information broadcast support (SIB16) feature must be deactivated; Activate GPS and UTC Time Broadcast
(actUTCBroadcast) parameter is set to false.
• Feature interdependencies
The LTE3056: GPS and UTC Time Information Broadcast Support (SIB16) feature affects the following features:
– LTE1441: Enhanced CS Fallback to CDMA/1xRTT (e1xCSFB) – LTE2149: Supplemental Downlink Carrier
– LTE2353: SIB Multiplexing – LTE117: Cell Bandwidth 1.4 MHz – LTE116: Cell Bandwidth 3 MHz
– LTE891: Timing Over Packet With Phase Synch – LTE80: GPS Synchronisation
– LTE1710: Sync Hub Direct Forward – LTE3128: LTE-M
– LTE3071: NB-IoT Inband
• Preconfiguration
– The eNB is operational, and the radio network database is up and running.
– NetAct is operational, and a DCN connection to the eNB is available via OMS.
Procedure
1 Start the BTS Site Manager application and establish the connection to the BTS.
2 Start commissioning.
Sub-steps
a) Select View ► Commissioning or click Commissioning on the View Bar on the left.
The BTS Site checkbox, located in the Target section, is selected by default.
This is the recommended setting.
b) Use the Template, Manual, or Reconfiguration option, depending on the actual state of the BTS.
3 Proceed to the Radio Network Configuration page.
4 Go to the LNBTS object.
Object path: MRBTS ► LNBTS
5 Set the Activate GPS and UTC Time Broadcast (actUTCBroadcast) parameter value to true.
6 Go to the SIB object.
Object path: MRBTS ► LNBTS ► LNCEL ► SIB
7 Create new System information scheduling list and set the SIB type to SIB16.
8 Configure the Periodicity (siMessagePriodicity) and Repetition (siMessageRepetition) parameters.
9 Optionally, configure the Day light savings time indicator (dayLt) and Local time offset (ltmOff) SIB parameters.
10 Send the commissioning plan file to the BTS.
Sub-steps
a) Go to the Send Parameters page.
b) Select an appropriate Send option.
• If the BTS has not been commissioned, select All parameters.
• If the BTS has been already commissioned, select Only changes.
c) Click Send Parameters.
Result
The SIB16 is broadcasted in all eNB cells whose bandwidth is equal neither to 1.4 MHz nor 3 MHz.
3.9.6 Deactivating LTE3056
Before you start
• Procedure notifications
The LTE3056: GPS and UTC time information broadcast support (SIB16) feature must be deactivated; Activate GPS and UTC Time Broadcast
(actUTCBroadcast) parameter is set to true.
• Preconfiguration
– The eNB is operational, and the radio network database is up and running.
– NetAct is operational, and a DCN connection to the eNB is available via OMS.
Procedure
1 Start the BTS Site Manager application and establish the connection to the BTS.
2 Start commissioning.
Sub-steps
a) Select View ► Commissioning or click Commissioning on the View Bar on the left.
The BTS Site checkbox, located in the Target section, is selected by default.
This is the recommended setting.
b) Use the Template, Manual, or Reconfiguration option, depending on the actual state of the BTS.
3 Proceed to the Radio Network Configuration page.
4 Go to the LNBTS object.
Object path: MRBTS ► LNBTS
5 Set the Activate GPS and UTC Time Broadcast (actUTCBroadcast) parameter value to false.
6 Send the commissioning plan file to the BTS.
Sub-steps
a) Go to the Send Parameters page.
b) Select an appropriate Send option.
• If the BTS has not been commissioned, select All parameters.
• If the BTS has been already commissioned, select Only changes.
c) Click Send Parameters.
Result
The SIB16 broadcasting is stopped in all eNB cells.