Skip to main content
Log in

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.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

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

  1. 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.

  2. 3gamericas. (2008). All roads lead to LTE: The mobile broadband future: HSPA+ and LTE. http://www.3gamericas.org/documents/3g_america.pdf.

  3. 3gamericas. (2009). World cellular subscriptions—March, 2009. Informa Telecoms & Media, WCIS, March 2009. http://www.3gamericas.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageid=565(map).

  4. Mobile Broadband (n.d.). Mobile broadband: Long term evolution (LTE)—Q & A. http://www.gsmworld.com/HSPA.

  5. UMTS Forum. (2009). Mobile broadband evolution: The roadmap from HSPA to LTE. http://www.umts-forum.org/component/option,com_docman/Itemid,12/.

  6. Ericsson. (2009). Ericsson LTE and SAE: The next step in mobile broadband. http://www.ericsson.com.

  7. Ergen, M. (2009). Mobile broadband: Including WiMAX and LTE. Berlin: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  8. 3gamericas. (2009). 3G tech forecast 2009–2013. http://www.3gamericas.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageid=1008.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 3gamericas. (2008). EDGE, HSPA, LTE: Broadband innovation. http://www.rysavy.com/Articles/2008_09_Broadband_Innovation.pdf.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amit Kumar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumar, A., Sengupta, J. & Liu, Yf. 3GPP LTE: The Future of Mobile Broadband. Wireless Pers Commun 62, 671–686 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-010-0088-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-010-0088-3

Keywords

Navigation