Packet data messaging over TETRA: network performance analysis

In this paper, we address various aspects of packet data transmission in terrestrial trunked radio (TETRA) networks giving particular emphasis on the performance of applications transmitting small messages between a number of radio terminals and a fixed server. The utilization of such applications is constantly increasing in public safety networks and so does the need to dimension and configure TETRA networks to meet their reliability, delay and loss requirements. We present simulation results for a variety of practical scenarios such as loading the packet data channel (PDCH) with different mobile station (MS) populations engaged in transmitting packet data (PD) at various rates. We quantify key performance indicators of the PDCH such as packet delay and packet loss rate. Furthermore, we provide an in-depth analysis of the impact of non-PD MS population—i.e., the loading of main control channel (MCCH)—on the average packet delay. Our results provide an insight of how network loading parameters interact with the protocol performance and may help in dimensioning and planning TETRA networks, and in particular, in determining the number of PD terminals that can be supported in a cell for a given traffic profile and QoS requirements.