Abstract
The mobile broadband technologies are reaching a commonality in the air interface and networking architecture; they are being converged to an IP-based network architecture with Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) based air interface technology. From technical perspective, fundamental goal of mobile broadband is to offer higher data rates with reduced latency. The third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) presents the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) project in order to accommodate increasing mobile data usage and new multimedia applications. In the near future, with the recent progress made by technical specifications and vendor technology demonstrations LTE will emerge as successor to cellular systems as a broadband wireless solution. This paper provides an overview of 3GPP LTE including its history, features, technology, architecture and future. The technology components include OFDMA air-interface, Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna technology and higher order modulation. The architecture includes Evolved Packet Core (EPC) and Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) components. This paper will concentrate to describe the main functions of the most important network elements. Also, the aim of this paper is to present the future potential of LTE which will make it an inevitable choice for wireless network operators around the globe.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- 3GPP:
-
Third generation partnership project
- CDMA:
-
Code division multiple access
- DHCP:
-
Dynamic host configuration protocol
- EDGE:
-
Enhanced data rates for GSM evolution
- eNodeB:
-
Enhanced node B
- EV-DO:
-
Evolution-data optimized
- FDD:
-
Frequency division multiplexing
- GSM:
-
Global system for mobile communications
- HSDPA:
-
High speed downlink packet access
- HSPA:
-
High speed packet access
- HSUPA:
-
High speed uplink packet access
- IP:
-
Internet protocol
- ITU:
-
International telecommunication union
- LSTI:
-
LTE-SAE trial initiative
- LTE:
-
Long-term evolution
- MIMO:
-
Multiple input/multiple output
- MME:
-
Mobility management entity
- NGMN:
-
Next generation of mobile networks
- OFDM:
-
Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
- OQAM:
-
Offset quadrature amplitude modulation
- PCF:
-
Policy control function
- PCRF:
-
Policy and charging rule function
- PDN-GW:
-
Packet data network gateway
- PDSN:
-
Packet data serving node
- PSTN:
-
Public switched telephone network
- QAM:
-
Quadrature amplitude modulation
- QoS:
-
Quality of service
- QPSK:
-
Quadrature phase shift keying
- RAN:
-
Radio access network
- RF:
-
Radio frequency
- RNC:
-
Radio network controller
- RRC:
-
Radio resource control
- SAE:
-
System architecture evolution
- SAE GW:
-
System architecture evolution gateway
- SC-FDMA:
-
Single carrier frequency multiple access
- SGSN:
-
Service GPRS service node
- TCP:
-
Transmission control protocol
- TDD:
-
Time division multiplexing
- TD-SCDMA:
-
Time division-synchronous code division multiple access
- UE:
-
User equipment
- UMTS:
-
Universal mobile telecommunications system
- WCDMA:
-
Wideband code division multiple access
- WiMAX:
-
Worldwide interoperability for microwave access
- WiFi:
-
Wireless fidelity
References
International Telecommunication Union (ITU). (2009). Measuring the information society. The ICT development index. http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/publications/idi/2009/material/IDI2009_w5.pdf.
3gamericas. (2008). All roads lead to LTE: The mobile broadband future: HSPA+ and LTE. http://www.3gamericas.org/documents/3g_america.pdf.
3gamericas. (2009). World cellular subscriptions—March, 2009. Informa Telecoms & Media, WCIS, March 2009. http://www.3gamericas.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageid=565(map).
Mobile Broadband (n.d.). Mobile broadband: Long term evolution (LTE)—Q & A. http://www.gsmworld.com/HSPA.
UMTS Forum. (2009). Mobile broadband evolution: The roadmap from HSPA to LTE. http://www.umts-forum.org/component/option,com_docman/Itemid,12/.
Ericsson. (2009). Ericsson LTE and SAE: The next step in mobile broadband. http://www.ericsson.com.
Ergen, M. (2009). Mobile broadband: Including WiMAX and LTE. Berlin: Springer.
3gamericas. (2009). 3G tech forecast 2009–2013. http://www.3gamericas.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageid=1008.
3gamericas. (2009). The mobile broadband evolution: 3GPP Release 8 and Beyond HSPA+, SAE/LTE and LTE—Advanced. http://3gamericas.org/documents/3GPP_Rel-8_Beyond_02_12_09.pdf.
Nokia Siemens Networks. (2009). LTE performance for initial deployments. http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/NR/rdonlyres/46DBDFFE-0B36-40E8-8279-5A56AADB8F6C/0/LTE_measurement_A4_1302.pdf.
Nokia Siemens Networks. (2009). Long term evolution (LTE) will meet the promise of global mobile broadband. http://www.nokiasiemensnetworks.com/NR/rdonlyres/52C8ACBF-8CC8-4177-9FA4-1F47137C2197/0/LTE_motivation_A4_0902.pdf.
3gamericas. (2008). EDGE, HSPA, LTE: Broadband innovation. http://www.rysavy.com/Articles/2008_09_Broadband_Innovation.pdf.