Enhanced High-Speed Packet Access

HSPA+

Background: HSPA Evolution

Higher data rates
Signaling Improvements
Architecture Evolution/ Home NodeB

HSPA+ (HSPA Evolution) Background

For operators deploying High Speed Packet Access (HSPA*) now, there is the
need to continue enhancing the HSPA technology
3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) being standardized now, but not
backwards compatible with HSPA
412 HSDPA networks in service in 157 countries (Oct. 11)**
Investment protection needed for current HSPA deployments
HSPA+ effort introduced in 3GPP in March 2006
Initiated by 3G Americas & the GSMA
HSPA+ defines a broad framework and set of requirements for the
evolution of HSPA
Rel.-7: improvements mainly in downlink
Rel.-8: mainly uplink enhancements
Rel.-9/10: further improvements
*HSPA is the combination of HSDPA and HSUPA
**http://www.4gamericas.org -> Statistics

HSPA+ introduced to continue focus on enhancements to HSPA

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

HSPA+ Goals
Based on the importance of the HSPA-based radio network, 3GPP
agreed that HSPA+ should:
Provide spectrum efficiency, peak data rates & latency comparable to
LTE in 5 MHz
Exploit full potential of the CDMA air interface before moving to OFDM

Allow operation in an optimized packet-only mode for voice and data

Utilization of shared channels only

Be backward compatible with Release 99 through Release 6

Offer a smooth migration path to LTE/SAE through commonality, and
facilitate joint technology operation
Ideally, only need a simple infrastructure upgrade from HSPA to HSPA+
HSPA evolution is two-fold
Improvement of the radio
Architecture evolution

Aggressive HSPA+ goals for enhancing HSPA

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

Higher Order Modulations (HOMs)

Uplink

BPSK
2 bits/symbol

Downlink

16QAM
4 bits/symbol

64QAM
6 bits/symbol

Increases the peak data rate in a high SNR environment

Very effective for micro cell and indoor deployments

HOMs increase the number of bits/symbols transmitted, thereby

increasing the peak rate
UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

HOM Peak Rate Performance Benefits: DL 64-QAM & UL 16-QAM

Downlink

Mb/s
42.2

Equal to LTE peak rates in 5 MHz

2x2 SU-MIMO + 64 QAM in DL
16-QAM in UL**

HSPA+
(64 QAM & 2x2 MIMO*)

The use of Higher Order

Modulations significantly
increases the theoretical
peak rates of HSPA

28.0
HSPA+
(16 QAM & 2x2 MIMO)

Provides data rate benefits

for users in very good
channel conditions (e.g.
quasi-static or fixed users
close to the cell center,
lightly loaded conditions)

21.1
HSPA+ (64 QAM)

Uplink

14.0
11.5
HSDPA (16 QAM)

HSPA+ (16 QAM)

5.74
HSUPA (BPSK)

*Part of 3GPP Rel-8

Theoretical Max Peak Rates In Perfect RF Conditions

Higher order modulations provide peak rate benefits for users in very
good channel conditions
UMTS Networks

**Using 2 resource
blocks for PUCCH
and max prime factor
restriction
=5
Andreas Mitschele-Thiel,
Jens Mckenheim
Nov.
2011

HSDPA Performance with 64QAM

Single micro-cell scenario, advanced receivers required
10000
9000

throughput/ kbps

8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Cat 10/ 15 users
average user throughput

Cat 14/ 15 users

95% user throughput

ave. cell throughput

Without 64-QAM

With 64-QAM

Gain

Cell Throughput

6.9 Mbit/s

7.65 Mbit/s

10.7%

95%-tile User Throughput

7.1 Mbit/s

8.7 Mbit/s

22.5%

HOMs provide significant improvements for hot spot deployments

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

16-QAM for E-DCH

16-QAM being considered in the uplink for HSPA Evolution, for use with the
2ms TTI and with 4 multicodes (2xSF2 + 2xSF4)
Increases peak rate from 5.76 Mbps to 11.52 Mbps
Simulation results showed:
16 QAM requires very high SNR at the receiver
16 QAM can be used only in case of one single HSUPA active user per cell

SF2

SF2

SF4

I
BPSK

BPSK

BPSK

SF2

I
SF4

SF4

UMTS Networks

16 QAM

16 QAM
Q

BPSK

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

Basic MIMO Channel

M Tx

N Rx

Coding/Modulation/
Weighting/Mapping

Weighting/Demapping
Demodulation/Decoding

The MIMO channel consists of M Tx and N Rx antennas

Each Tx antenna transmits a different signal
The signal from Tx antenna j is received at all Rx antennas i
Channel capacity can increase linearly
CMIMO

UMTS Networks

min{M,N}

CSISO

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

MIMO in HSPA+

Release 7 MIMO for HSDPA (D-TxAA)

2 x 2 MIMO scheme
4 rank-1 precoding vectors and 4 rank-2 precoding matrices are defined
The rank-2 matrices are unitary (the columns are orthogonal)

The mobile reports the rank of the channel and the preferred precoding
weights periodically
Dynamic switching between single stream and dual stream transmission is
supported
V11

Stream 1
Encode

Channel
interleave

Antenna 1

Modulator
(16QAM, QPSK)

V12

V21

Stream 2
Encode

Channel
interleave

Antenna 2

Modulator
(16QAM, QPSK)

V22

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

MIMO Performance Benefits

Data R ate G ain o f M IM O vs.

S IS O fo ran Iso lated Cell

SISO (1x1)

1.75

Note: All gains

normalized to
Near Cell Center
SISO Data Rate

1.5
1.25
1

MIMO (2x2)

0.75
0.5
0.25
0
Near Cell Center

Average Cell
Location

Cell Edge

Spectral Efficiency Gain (%) of 2x2

MIMO over 1x2 LMMSE

2x2 D-TxAA MIMO scheme doubles peak rate from 14.4 Mbps to 28.8 Mbps
2x2 D-TxAA MIMO provides significant experienced peak, mean & cell edge
user data rate benefits for isolated cells or noise/coverage limited cells
2x2 D-TxAA MIMO provides 20%-60% larger spectral efficiency than 1x2

100
80
60
40
20
0

Interference Limted
System

Isolated Cell

MIMO provides significant data rate and spectral efficiency benefits

for isolated, noise limited cells
UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

10

Overview of Dual Cell Operation

3GPP Rel-8 scope:
The dual cell operation only applies to downlink HS-DSCH
Uplink traffic is carried in one frequency
The two cells belong to the same Node-B and are on adjacent carriers
The two cells operate with a single TX antenna
Max two streams per user

Improvements in Rel.-9
Dual-Band HSDPA
MIMO in dual cell operation
Dual Cell uplink
Multi-carrier HSDPA

F1
Node-B
UTRAN configures one of the cell as the
serving cell for the uplink

UL
5 MHz

UMTS Networks

UE

F2

2.1
GHz
DL
DL

UL

5 MHz

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

5 MHz

Nov. 2011

11

Dual Cell HSDPA Operation for Load Balancing

Dual Cell HSDPA can optimally balance the load on two HSDPA carriers by scheduling
active users simultaneously or on least loaded carrier at given TTI

Dual Cell HSDPA operation versus Two legacy HSDPA carriers

8000

Throughput in kbps

Avg user throughput (2 HSDPA carriers)

7000

Avg Sector throughput (2 HSDPA carriers)

Avg user throughput (Dual Cell HSDPA operation)

6000

Avg Sector throughput (Dual Cell HSDPA operation)

Simple traffic and capacity

model
Avg Transfer size : 1000 kbytes

5000

Avg Time between transfers :

60 sec

4000
3000

No gain at very high load

2000
1000
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Nb of users in sector footprint

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

12

Enhanced Layer-2 Support for High Data Rates

Release 6 RLC layer cannot support
new peak rates offered by HSPA+
features such as MIMO & 64-QAM
RLC-AM peak rate limited to ~13
Mbps, even with aggressive
settings for the RLC PDU size and
RLC-AM window size
Release 7 introduces new Layer-2
features to improve HSDPA
Flexible RLC PDU size
MAC-ehs layer segmentation/
reassembly (based on radio
conditions)
MAC-ehs layer flow multiplexing
Release 8 improves E-DCH
MAC-i/ MAC-is

Traffic flow i for user k

1500 byte IP packet

RLC-AM
2

80

80

x19

..

80

Rel6

RLC-AM PDU

MAC-hs
22 bits

80

80

..

80

MAC-hs PDU
Traffic flow j for user k

Traffic flow i for user k

1500 byte IP packet

1500 byte IP packet

RLC-AM

RLC-AM

1500

RLC-AM PDU

1500

RLC-AM PDU

Rel7

MAC-ehs
1

1500

1500

MAC-ehs PDU

Layer-2 enhancements to support higher rates of HSPA+

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

13

MAC-ehs in NodeB

MAC-d flows
MAC-ehs

Scheduling/Priority handling
Priority Queue
distribution

Priority
Queue

Segment
ation

Priority
Queue

Segment
ation

Priority
Queue

MAC-ehs Functions (TS 25.321)

Flow Control
Scheduling/ Priority handling
HARQ handling
TFRC Selection
Priority Queue Mux
MAC Control
Segmentation

Segment
ation

Priority Queue MUX

HARQ entity
TFRC selection

Associated Uplink
Signalling

UMTS Networks

HS-DSCH

Associated Downlink
Signalling

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

14

HSDPA UE Physical Layer Capabilities

HS-DSCH
Category

Supported Modulation
Formats

Category 1

Maximum number
of HS-DSCH multicodes
5

Maximum
MAC-hs TB size

Total number of
soft channel bits

QPSK, 16QAM

Minimum
inter-TTI
interval
3

7298

19200

Theoretical
maximum data
rate (Mbit/s)
1.2

Category 2

QPSK, 16QAM

7298

28800

1.2

Category 3

QPSK, 16QAM

7298

28800

1.8

Category 4

QPSK, 16QAM

7298

38400

1.8

Category 5

QPSK, 16QAM

7298

57600

3.6

Category 6

QPSK, 16QAM

7298

67200

3.6

Category 7

10

QPSK, 16QAM

14411

115200

7.2

Category 8

10

QPSK, 16QAM

14411

134400

7.2

Category 9

15

QPSK, 16QAM

20251

172800

10.1

Category 10

15

QPSK, 16QAM

27952

172800

14.0

Category 11

QPSK

3630

14400

0.9

Category 12

QPSK

3630

28800

1.8

Category 13

15

QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM

35280

259200

17.6

Category 14

15

QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM

42192

259200

21.1

Category 15

15

QPSK, 16QAM

23370

345600

23.3

Category 16

15

QPSK, 16QAM

27952

345600

28.0

Category 17

15

Category 18

15

Category 19

15

QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM/

MIMO: QPSK, 16QAM
QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM/
MIMO: QPSK, 16QAM
QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM

35280/
23370
42192/
27952
35280

259200/
345600
259200/
345600
518400

17.6/
23.3
21.1/
28.0
35.2

Category 20

15

QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM

42192

518400

42.2

Note: UEs of Categories 15 20 support MIMO

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

cf. TS 25.306
Nov. 2011

15

E-DCH UE Physical Layer Capabilities

E-DCH
Category

Max. num.
Codes

Min SF

EDCH TTI

Maximum MAC-e
TB size

Theoretical maximum PHY

data rate (Mbit/s)

Category 1

SF4

10 msec

7110

0.71

Category 2

SF4

10 msec/
2 msec

14484/
2798

1.45/
1.4

Category 3

SF4

10 msec

14484

1.45

Category 4

SF2

10 msec/
2 msec

20000/
5772

2.0/
2.89

Category 5

SF2

10 msec

20000

2.0

Category 6

SF2

10 msec/
2 msec

20000/
11484

2.0/
5.74

Category 7
(Rel.7)

SF2

10 msec/
2 msec

20000/
22996

2.0/
11.5

NOTE 1: When 4 codes are transmitted in parallel, two codes shall be

transmitted with SF2 and two codes with SF4
NOTE 2: UE Category 7 supports 16QAM

cf. 25.306
UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

16

Continuous Packet Connectivity (CPC)

Uplink DPCCH gating during

inactivity
significant reduction
in UL interference
F-DPCH gating during inactivity
New uplink DPCCH slot format
optimized for transmission
DPCCH only

Prior to Rel-7
Data
Pilot

Rel-7 using CPC

Data
Pilot

HS-SCCH-less transmission introduced to reduce signaling bottleneck for realtime-services on HSDPA

CPC significantly reduces control channel overhead for low bit rate
real-time services (e.g. VoIP)
UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

17

CPC Performance Benefits

CPC provides up to a factor of two VoIP on HSPA capacity benefit compared
to Rel-99 AMR12.2 circuit voice and 35-40% benefit compared to Rel-6 VoIP
on HSPA

VoIP Capacity Gain of CPC

3
R'99 Circuit Voice
VoIP on HSPA (Rel'6)*
VoIP on HSPA (CPC)*

2.5
2

Note: All
capacity gains
normalized to
AMR12.2
Circuit Voice
Capacity

1.5
1
0.5
0

AMR12.2

AMR7.95

AMR5.9

CPC provides significant VoIP on HSPA capacity benefits

* All VoIP on HSPA capacities assume two receive antennas in the terminal
UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

18

Always On Enhancement of CPC

CPC allows UEs in CELL_DCH to sleep during periods of inactivity
Reduces signaling load and battery consumption (in combination with DRX)
Allows users to be kept in CELL_DCH with HSPA bearers configured
Need to page and re-establish bearers leads to call set up delay

UE in
URA_PCH
Incoming
call
Without CPC, users
typically kept in
URA_PCH or CELL_PCH
state to save radio
resources and battery

Page UE
Paging
Response

UE in
CELL_DCH
Incoming
call

CPC allows users to

kept in CELL_DCH

Send data almost

Immediately
(<50ms reactivation)

CELL_FACH
Re-establish
bearers

Avoids several hundred

ms of call setup delay

CELL_DCH
Send data

CPC avoids re-establishment delays

UMTS Networks

improves always on experience

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

19

Enhanced CELL_FACH & Enhanced Paging Procedure

UEs are not always kept in CELL_DCH
state, eventually fall back to
CELL_PCH/URA_PCH
HSPA+ introduces enhancements to
reduce the delay in signaling the
transition to CELL_DCH
use of
HSDPA in CELL_FACH and
URA/CELL_PCH states instead of SCCPCH
Enhanced CELL_FACH
Enhanced Paging procedure
In Rel.-8 improved RACH procedure
Direct use of HSUPA in CELL_FACH

UE in
URA_PCH
Incoming
call

Use HSDPA for

faster
transmission of
signaling
messages

Page UE
Paging
Response

CELL_FACH
Re-establish
bearers

2ms frame
length with up to
4 retransmissions

CELL_DCH
Send data

Enhanced CELL_FACH/Paging/RACH reduces setup delay

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

improves PoC
20

E-RACH High level description

RACH preamble ramping as in R99 with AICH/E-AICH acknowledgement
Transition to E-DCH transmission in CELL_FACH
Possibility to seamlessly transfer to Cell_DCH
NodeB can control common E-DCH resource in CELL_FACH
Resource assignment indicated from NodeB to UE

NodeB responds by
allocating common E-DCH
resources

Transmission starts
with power ramping
on preamble
reserved for E-DCH
access

#0

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

UE starts common E-DCH

transmission.
F-DPCH for power control, E-AGCH
for rate control, E-HICH for HARQ

#10 #11 #12 #13 #14

p
a

PRACH
access
slots

#0

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Access slot set 1

10 ms

UMTS Networks

#7

#8

#9

#10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #0

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10 #11 #12 #13 #14

Access slot set 2

10 ms

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

21

HSPA+ Architecture Evolution

Integration of some or all RNC functions into the NodeB provides benefits in terms of:
Network simplicity (fewer network elements)
Latency (fewer handshakes, particularly in combination with One-Tunnel)
Synergy with LTE (serving GW, MME, eNB)
Backwards compatible with legacy terminals
Central management of common resources

Traditional HSPA
Architecture

GGSN
User Plane

SGSN

HSPA with One-Tunnel

Architecture

HSPA+ with One-Tunnel

Architecture for PS services

GGSN

GGSN

SGSN

SGSN

Control Plane
RNC

RNC

NodeB

NodeB

NodeB+

HSPA+ offers flexibility for a flatter network architecture option

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

22

Evolved HSPA Architecture Full RNC/NodeB collapse

2 deployment scenarios: standalone UTRAN or carrier sharing with legacy
UTRAN

Evolved HSPA- with carrier sharing

Evolved HSPA- stand-alone

GGSN

GGSN
Iu

SGSN

RNC

SGSN
Control
plane: Iu

Userplane: Iu/Gn
( one tunnel)

Legacy
UTRAN

Control
plane: Iu

Userplane: Iu/Gn
( one tunnel)

EvolvedHSPA
NodeB

UMTS Networks

Iur
EvolvedHSPA
NodeB

Iur

NodeB
NodeB

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

23

Home NodeB Background

Home NodeB (aka Femtocell) located at
the customers premise
Connected via customers fixed line
(e.g. DSL)
Small power (~100mW) to only
provide coverage inside/ close to
the building
Advantages
Improved coverage esp. indoor
Single device for home/ on the
move
Special billing plans (e.g. home
zone)

UE

IP Network

Gateway

Challenges
Interference
Security
Costs

Operator
CN

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

24

Home NodeB architecture principles based on extending Iu interface

down to HNB (new Iuh interface)

RAN Gateway Approach with new Iuh Interface

Approach
Mobile CS/PS Core

Leverage Standard CN Interfaces (IuCS/PS)

Iu-CS/PS

RNC

CN Interface

Minimise functionality within Gateway

RAN GW
Iuh

NodeB

HNB

Move RNC Radio Control Functions to

Home NodeB and extend Iu NAS &
RAN control layers over IP network
Features
Security architecture
Plug-and-Play approach
Femto local control protocol
CS User Plane protocol
PS User Plane protocol
FMS interface

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

25

Summary
Enhancements for HSDPA & E-DCH specified in UMTS Rel.-7 & 8
Investment protection for HSPA operators
Fill the gap before deployment of LTE
Provide alternative to LTE in some selected scenarios
Improvements on capacity and performance
Higher peak data rates
Signaling improvements
Architecture evolution
HSPA+ features were designed to provide a smooth evolution from Rel-99 or
Rel-5/Rel-6 HSPA by enabling:
Backwards compatibility
Legacy Rel-99/Rel-5/Rel-6 terminals can be supported on an HSPA+ carrier
simultaneously with HSPA+ traffic
New HSPA+ terminals likely with support Rel-99 and/or Rel-5/Rel-6 HSPA

Simple upgrade of existing infrastructure (for both HW & SW)

Further improvements in Rel.-9 & 10 to further increase peak data rate
E.g. Dual Cell E-DCH (Rel.-9), 4 cell HSDPA (Rel.-10)
Meanwhile, 164 HSPA+ networks in service in 81 countries (Oct. 11)**
UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

26

HSPA+ References
Papers:
H. Holma et al: HSPA Evolution, Chapter 15 in Holma/ Toskala:
WCDMA for UMTS, Wiley 2010
R. Soni et al: Intelligent Antenna Solutions for UMTS: Algorithms and
Simulation Results, Communications Magazine, October 2004, pp. 2839

Standards
TS 25.xxx series: RAN Aspects
TR 25.308 HSDPA: UTRAN Overall Description (Stage 2)
TR 25.319 Enhanced Uplink: Overall Description (Stage 2)
TR 25.903 Continuous Connectivity for Packet Data Users
TR 25.876 Multiple-Input Multiple Output Antenna Processing for
HSDPA
TR 25.999 HSPA Evolution beyond Release 7 (FDD)
TR 25.820 (Rel.-8) 3G Home NodeB Study Item Technical Report

UMTS Networks

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

27

Abbreviations
AICH
AMR
BPSK
CLTD
CPC
CQI
DSL
E-RACH
F-DPCH
GW
HNB
HOM
HSPA
IA
LTE
MAC-ehs
MAC-i/is
MIMO

UMTS Networks

Acquisition Indicator Channel

Adaptive Multi-Rate
Binary Phase Shift Keying
Closed Loop Transmit Diversity
Continuous Packet Connectivity
Channel Quality Information
Digital Subscriber Line
Enhanced Random Access Channel
Fractional Dedicated Physical Control
Channel
Gateway
Home NodeB
Higher Order Modulation
High-Speed Packet-Access
Intelligent Antenna
Long Term Evolution
enhanced high-speed Medium Access
Control
improved E-DCH Medium Access
Control
Multiple-Input Multiple-Output

Mux

Multiplexing

PARC

Per Antenna Rate Control

PCI

Precoding Control Information

PDU

Protocol Data Unit

Rx

Receive

RTT

Round Trip Time

SDU

Service Data Unit

SAE

System Architecture Evolution

S-CPICH

Secondary Common Pilot Channel

SDMA

Spatial-Division Multiple-Access

SINR

Signal-to-Interference plus Noise Ratio

SISO

Single-Input Single-Output

SM

Spatial Multiplexing

Tx

Transmit

VoIP

Voice over Internet Protocol

16QAM

16 (state) Quadrature Amplitude

Modulation

64QAM

64 (state) Quadrature Amplitude

Modulation

Andreas Mitschele-Thiel, Jens Mckenheim

Nov. 2011

28