Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a system and method for identifying co-channel interference in a radio network. In an exemplary method according to the present invention, a first stream of transmission data having a first received signal frequency at a first reception location for a first period of time is received. Further, the first signal frequency of the first stream of transmission data is identified. Then the transmission data is correlated against a signal template to identify a first FCCH burst frame. Then, first FCCH time data corresponding to the first FCCH burst frame is identified and the signal frequency of the first stream of transmission data and the first FCCH time data is compared to a reference file to determine one or more probable transmission cells.

Abstract: Optimization of a cellular network is facilitated by an apparatus that performs drive test measurements of a cellular network to identify co-channel interference. The co-channel interference is identified by measuring the signal strengths at various locations within a cell sector and analyzing the recorded information. A key aspect of the invention is synthesizing the received signals to identify the cellular transmitters originating the signals. If signal energy is detected from more than one cellular transmitter on a single frequency, the co-channel interference is identified. This process is particular well suited within a GSM cellular system by detecting the transmission of forward control channel messages and using the information within the forward control channel messages to identify the origination cellular transmitters.