Network level performance evaluation of EGPRS

In this paper, we investigate the performance of the Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EGPRS) from both the quality and capacity point of view. The performance evaluation is based on a sophisticated dynamic network level simulator developed at Nokia Research Center. The analysis is made both in a non-hopping and frequency hopping macro cell networks with different network configurations. The focus is on downlink performance since it is assumed that in most applications and scenarios the data flow is clearly asymmetrical in that direction. The key performance indicators considered in this paper are temporary block flow (TBF) throughput, logical link control (LLC) frame delay, spectrum efficiency (SE) and TBF blocking. The quality indicators (throughput, delay) are analyzed from both the average and percentile point of view. As these indicators are measured between the base station controller (BSC) and mobile station (MS), they are not end-to-end values. Those values depend heavily on issues like higher protocol layers (including the application level) and GPRS core network elements. These issues are out of the scope of this analysis. Ultimately, the whole analysis is focused on the characterization of data transport capabilities of the EGPRS BSS according to Release 99 specifications.