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Planet - A powerful RF planning and optimization software

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Planet is a powerful RF planning and optimization software that enables accurate and efficient wireless network planning. It is the world’s first AI-powered RF planning solution that can intelligently plan and optimize 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks with its powerful capabilities. Planet has been developed to support 5G NR use cases like eMBB, FWA, or URLLC, and complies with the latest 3GPP standards.

Introduction

Wireless network planning and optimization is a critical task for mobile operators. It involves designing and optimizing radio access networks (RANs) to ensure that they meet the quality of service (QoS) requirements of subscribers while maximizing return on investment (ROI). With the advent of 5G, the complexity of wireless network planning and optimization has increased significantly. 5G employs radically new technologies like massive MIMO and flexible numerology, as well as new bands like sub-6 and mmWave. Planet has been developed to support 5G NR use cases like eMBB, FWA or URLLC, and complies with the latest 3GPP standards.

Beyond Traditional RF Planning:

Traditionally, RF planning relied on static tools and manual processes, often struggling to keep pace with the explosive growth and evolving complexity of modern networks. These limitations can lead to coverage holes, interference issues, and suboptimal resource utilization, ultimately impacting network performance and subscriber satisfaction. Planet breaks free from these shackles by introducing a paradigm shift in RF planning, characterized by:

  • Unified Indoor/Outdoor Planning: Gone are the days of siloed indoor and outdoor network planning. Planet seamlessly integrates with industry-leading in-building RF design solutions like iBwave, enabling unified optimization encompassing both macro and micro cells. This unified approach ensures consistent user experience across diverse environments, from bustling city streets to sprawling office complexes.
  • AI-powered Propagation Models: Accuracy is paramount in RF planning. Planet leverages the world's first commercially available AI-based propagation model, trained on massive datasets of real-world network data and terrain information. This intelligent model delivers unparalleled precision in predicting signal coverage, interference patterns, and network performance, empowering engineers to make confident decisions based on objective data.
  • Automated Workflows: Repetitive tasks often bog down RF engineers, reducing their focus on higher-value optimization strategies. Planet automates these tedious processes, from site selection and configuration to parameter tuning and interference mitigation. This automation frees up valuable time for engineers to delve deeper into network analysis, identify root causes of performance issues, and implement targeted optimization strategies.
  • Cloud-native Scalability: The sheer volume of data involved in modern network planning can overwhelm traditional software. Planet's cloud-native architecture delivers unmatched scalability, seamlessly handling large datasets and complex calculations. This enables efficient planning for networks of any size, from small local deployments to nationwide coverage.
  • 3D Visualization and Analysis: Visualizing complex network data is crucial for effective decision-making. Planet equips engineers with powerful 3D visualization tools, allowing them to visualize coverage maps, overlay terrain information, and analyze signal propagation in a realistic, immersive environment. This intuitive interface facilitates collaboration and communication, enabling teams to quickly identify potential issues and develop data-driven optimization strategies.

Unlocking Benefits for Network Operators

By embracing Planet's capabilities, network operators can reap significant benefits across various levels:

  • Enhanced User Experience: Optimized networks with superior coverage, consistent signal quality, and minimized interference translate to a seamless and reliable user experience, boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Improved Network Efficiency: Accurate planning and resource allocation help minimize unnecessary infrastructure expenses and optimize operational costs. By strategically deploying sites and allocating resources based on actual demand, operators can achieve significant cost savings.
  • Accelerated Network Rollouts: Automation and streamlined workflows enable faster deployments of new network infrastructure, allowing operators to capitalize on emerging technologies and stay ahead of the competition.
  • Future-proof Infrastructure: The flexibility and scalability of Planet's cloud-native architecture equip operators to handle the ever-growing demands of future network generations, including 5G and beyond.

Key benefits and features

Planet offers a range of key benefits and features that make it an essential tool for RF planning and optimization. Here are some of the key benefits and features of Planet:

Accelerate your 5G roll-out

With automatic site selection, advanced AI-driven propagation modeling, native 3D planning, and technology support for mmWave, latency, MIMO, and more, Planet can help you accelerate your 5G roll-out. Planet’s advanced AI-driven propagation modeling can enhance accuracy without the need for extensive calibration, while its native 3D planning capabilities can help you create more accurate designs.

Improve your RF propagation modeling

Planet’s AI-driven 3D propagation model, AIM, can help you enhance accuracy without the need for extensive calibration. AIM uses machine learning to improve propagation modeling accuracy, making it easier to create more accurate designs.

Automate and integrate for improved productivity

Planet can help you automate repetitive tasks to free up engineer time and integrate across business silos via open APIs to drive productivity. This can help you reduce the time-to-market of new designs and increase engineering efficiency.

Maximize your insight with external data sources

Planet’s support for multiple input data sources, including crowdsourced data, can help you base your planning on real-world data for improved accuracy. This can help you create more accurate designs and optimize your network CAPEX return on investment.

Optimize your network CAPEX return on investment

Planet ACP can help you determine your optimal network design based on network performance and quality targets as well as revenue and cost metrics. This can help you optimize your network CAPEX return on investment and ensure that you are getting the most out of your network.

Identify and resolve service quality issues faster

Planet Call Analytics can help you troubleshoot subscriber experience problems down to Layer 3 messages via live network call trace recording analysis. This can help you identify and resolve service quality issues faster, ensuring that your subscribers are getting the best possible experience.

Network planning accuracy makes business sense

A 1 dB improvement in RSRP modeling precision could save a nationwide U.S. mobile network approximately $2 billion over a 10-year period. Planet’s advanced 3D simulation technologies, underpinned by machine learning and multiple live data sources, can help you create more accurate designs, ensuring that you are getting the most out of your network.

Planet add-on modules

Planet offers a range of add-on modules that can be used to customize the software to meet your specific needs. Here are some of the add-on modules available for Planet:

Planet AIM

Planet AIM is an add-on module that can be used to improve propagation modeling accuracy with AI. AIM uses machine learning to improve propagation modeling accuracy, making it easier to create more accurate designs.

Planet ACP

Planet ACP is an add-on module that can be used to automate design optimization and 5G site selection. This can help you determine your optimal network design based on network performance and quality targets as well as revenue and cost metrics.

Planet Call Analytics

Planet Call Analytics is an add-on module that can be used to identify and troubleshoot service quality issues. This can help you troubleshoot subscriber experience problems down to Layer 3 messages via live network call trace recording analysis.

Planet Crowdsource

Planet Crowdsource is an add-on module that can be used to base planning decisions on real-world data. This can help you base your planning on real-world data for improved accuracy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Planet is a powerful RF planning and optimization software that can help you deliver higher quality radio network designs within the ever-tighter budgets and shorter deadlines demanded by the business. With its advanced AI-driven propagation modeling, native 3D planning capabilities, and support for multiple input data sources, Planet can help you create more accurate designs and optimize your network CAPEX return on investment.