Next Generation Networks (The Radio Aspect)

Introduction
 3GPP Road Map

DL: 42 Mbps
UL: 11 Mbps

MIMO
Dual Carrier
DL(64 QAM): 21 Mbps
DL: 28 Mbps
UL: 11 Mbps

16QAM UL
DL: 14 Mbps 64QAM DL
UL: 5.7 Mbps MIMO 2x2

DL: 14 Mbps
UL: 0.4 Mbps

DL: 384 kbps

UL: 384 kbps

5 TS EDGE: DL Peak 296 kbps

UL Peak 59.2 kbps
We are here
 LTE

Only PS !!!
 LTE Features
• High data rates
Downlink: >100 Mbps
Uplink: >50 Mbps
Cell-edge data rates 2-3 x HSPA Rel. 6 (@ 2006)

• Low delay/latency
User plane RTT: < 10 ms RAN RTT (fewer nodes, shorter TTI)
Channel set-up: < 100 ms idle-to-active (fewer nodes, shorter messages, quicker node resp.)

• High spectral efficiency

Targeting 3 X HSPA Rel. 6 (@ 2006 )

• Spectrum flexibility
Operation in a wide-range of spectrum allocations, new and existing
Wide range of Bandwidth: 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz, FDD and TDD

• Simplicity – Less signaling, Auto Configuration e-NodeB

• Cost-effective migration from current/future 3G systems

• Focus on services from the packet-switched domain

 LTE Frequency Bands
• The E-UTRAN standard is based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and OFDMA
(Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) downlink operation and Single Carrier Frequency Domain
Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) uplink operation. These choices support great spectrum flexibility with a
number of possible deployments from 1.4 MHz up to 20MHz spectrum allocations.

• 3gpp have identified following 14 bands for LTE FDD.

LTE Bandwidths
 4G Basic Acronyms

• EPC: Evolved Packet Core. The packet core architecture

defined in 3gpp Rel 8.

• SAE: System Architecture Evolution. Working group in

3gpp standardizing the EPC.

• E-UTRAN: The RAN that implements LTE radio interface

technology

• LTE – 3GPP work item that developed the radio access

technology and E-UTRAN.

• EPS – 3GPP term referring to a complete end-to-end

system, that is UE, E-UTRAN and Core Network (EPC)
 LTE Network Architecture

4G

• No RNC in LTE RAN. All the functionalities of RNC

included in eNodeB.

• LTE Network has flat architecture for optimized

performance, better scalability and cost efficiency. Less
number of nodes imply less latency.

• Only PS domain is defined in LTE. This means that

traditional CS Services are to be carried by PS bearers.

• No soft/softer HO in LTE.

• For the purposes of handover

there is also an interface
between the eNBs, called X2. The
X2 interface allows eNBs to communicate
directly with each other and coordinate
their activities.
LTE Network Architecture
 e Node B
• eNB is the RAN node in the EPS architecture that is responsible for radio transmission to and reception
from UEs in one or more cells.

• The eNB is connected to EPC nodes by means of an S1 interface (S1-MME or SI-C with MME and S1-U with
S-GW)

• The eNB is also connected to its neighbor eNBs by means of the X2 interface
 e Node B Functionality
• Cell control and MME pool support
– eNB owns and controls the radio resources of its own cells. Cell resources are requested by and granted to MMEs in an ordered
fashion. S-GW pooling is managed by the MMEs and is not really seen in the eNB.

• Mobility control
– The eNB is responsible for controlling the mobility for terminals in active state. This is done by ordering the UE to perform
measurement and then performing handover when necessary.

• Control and User Plane security

– The ciphering of user plane data over the radio interface is terminated in the eNB. Also the ciphering and integrity protection of
RRC signaling is terminated in the eNB.

• Shared Channel handling

– Since the eNB owns the cell resources, the eNB also handles the shared and random access channels used for signaling and initial
access.

• HARQ
– A Medium Access Control (MAC) Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) layer with fast feedback provides a means for quickly
correcting most errors from the radio channel.

• Scheduling
– A scheduling with support for QoS provides for efficient scheduling of UP and CP data.

• Physical layer functionality

– The eNB handles the physical layer such as scrambling, Tx diversity, beamforming processing and OFDM modulation. The eNB
also handles layer one functions like link adaptation and power control.

• Measurements and reporting

– eNB provides functions for configuring and making measurements on the radio environment and eNB-internal variables and
conditions. The collected data is used internally for Radio Resource Management (RRM) but can be reported for the purpose of
 Evolved Packet Core (EPC)

• The interface between core and radio access networks is called S1, where S1 is defined in such a way that
implementation in the core network side would be possible with having control- (S1_MME) and user-plane
(S1_U) traffic processing in separate physical elements.
 EPC Nodes
MME: Mobility Management Entity

One can say that SGSN is split into two or Think of “MGW and MSS”
• Main controlling entity in the EPC. Similar to the MSC in 2G/3G Network
• Most important function is to Track the location of UE using Tracking Area (similar to LA/RA).
• Interacts with HSS Home Subscriber System (similar to HLR) to copy important user data for carrying
out functions like authentication, authorization etc.
• Controls other nodes in the EPC like S-GW and P-GW. For example instructs S-GW/P-GW to setup the
bearer.
• Related to call processing/transactional node and has nothing to do with user data/packet processing
i.e. is only for control.

S-GW: Serving Gateway

• Focused on user plane data.

• Acts as a local/mobility anchor i.e. forwards the user data to the single user that is on a specific eNB
from P-GW. And in case of movement of UE to another eNB, the S-GW disconnects bearer from
previous eNB and establishes the bearer with the new one.
• The node is engaged in exchanging of packet between UE and P-GW so should be able to handle high
data volumes. This also imply that this node requires high packet processing power.
• S-GW may be located remotely away from P-GW.
 EPC Nodes
P-GW

• Packet Data Network Gateway

• Similar to GGSN
• Gateway to the External Network like Internet, Blackberry service etc.
• Assigns IP address to the UE.

HSS: Home Subscriber Server

• The Home Subscriber Server (HSS) is a user database that stores subscription-related information to
support other call-control and session-management entities, including ones for user identification,
numbering, and service profiles.

• The HSS is primarily involved during user registration, authentication and authorization, using the S6a
interface to interact with the MME.

• The HSS generates security information for mutual authentication, integrity checking and ciphering, and
can also provide information about the user's physical location.

• A network may have one or more HSSs, depending on the number of mobile subscribers and the particular
hardware platform used.

• Functionality similar to Home Location Register (HLR) in 2G/3G systems.

 VoIP over LTE
• LTE is a PS only network and is significantly different from 2G/3G networks where there are dedicated
channels for voice. LTE, however, provides an end-to-end all-IP connection from handsets or other devices
to the core network and back. So LTE will carry voice in the form of VoIP.

• The mobile industry has reached consensus around a long-term migration strategy to LTE based on IP
Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), the 3GPP architecture that allows mobile operators to run voice, video, chat,
and other real-time Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based services over an all-IP network. However, this is
an expensive solution and involves large capex and opex from migrating from existing R4 based Core
architectures to IMS.
 Single Radio Voice Call Connectivity (SRVCC)

• SRVCC is an LTE functionality that allows a VoIP/IMS call in LTE packet domain to be moved to legacy voice
domain (GSM/UMTS).

• If a mobile moves outside the coverage area of LTE, then the network can use this technique to transfer
the UE from VoIP communications over the IMS to traditional CS domain over GSM/UMTS.
 Circuit Switched Fallback
• Most mobile operators have chosen to deploy 4G and LTE networks alongside their existing 2G and 3G
assets, using Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB) for voice services until they are ready to deploy IMS
throughout their network.
• CSFB allows LTE user equipment (UE) to drop their LTE connection and fall back to a 2G or 3G radio
network when a call is made or received.

• When the call ends, the user equipment reregisters with the LTE network.
CS Fall Back

SGs interface between the MSC and the MME

• UE is registered with the MME indicating

its CSFB capability. (Once Attach request is
received, MME will send a location update
request informing MSC of UE’s location. This way
UE is now known to LTE as well as CS network.)

• UE intiating a CS call sends

EMM_Extended_Service_Request.

• This will trigger RRC Connection Release with

redirected carrier info containing target RAT and
frequency.

• UE will switch to the target RAT by finding a

suitable cell, reading the System Info and
establishing a radio connection by Routing Area
Update procedure.

• RA Update procedure will be followed by normal

MO call setup.