Optum is an automated cell planning (ACP) tool that can be used in conjunction with our Odyssey™ radio planning tool to provide comprehensive cell and network design data to enable radio planners to select the optimum locations for cell sites.

Optum examines the prediction files produced by Odyssey and generates a set of scenarios of cell configurations against a set of design criterion based on network cost, time to deploy, traffic, etc.

The diagram shows how the Optum planning tool works towards an optimum network, offering the best radio coverage for a given budget. As the coverage increases, so does the cost, but at some point there is an optimum coverage and network design for a particular network budget.

Planners can decide at what point on the curve to select a given network coverage for their design criterion, which is based on cost and time to deploy. The Optum planner uses this to generate a comprehensive roll-out plan in terms of which sites to select, in which order to deploy, and what configuration parameters to use, such as antenna and radiated power settings. The resulting modified network configuration can be used by the Odyssey planner, who generates the radio coverage plan for the optimized network an can run further analysis.

For more information or to order, email networksolutionssales@andrew.com or telephone +44(0)117 9060301.