UMTS Interfaces and Protocols (3rd Generation Networks)

UMTS leveraged several industry standard, established protocols. This includes CC, MM, SM (GSM),
GTP (GPRS), BICC, SS7, introduces protocols structure at the new Iu interfaces. The detailed
specifications for each of these protocols are available from the 3GPP website. Sector 5.3.1 describes
these protocols in brief.

UTRAN interfaces and protocol structure

Figure below shows the general protocol model for UTRAN interfaces, i.e. Iub, Iur, Iu-CS, and Iu-PS. The
structure consists of two horizontal layer: the Radio Network Layer and the Transport Network layer.

The Radio network layer is connected with user data and control information. The Transport network
Layer is connected with the transport technologies used for the UTRAN interfaces. The two layers are
logically independent of each other. This makes it possible to change the transport network layer
without affecting radio network layer, if required. In Release 99, the transport network layer is based on

ATM. In release 5, IP is used.

The user plane includes the user data between the UE and the network and the data bearers. The user
data consist steams characterized by frame protocols specific to a UTRAN interface.
The control plane includes the application protocols and the signaling bearers, which transport the
control information.

The application protocols used at different UTRAn interfaces are:

IU-CS: Radio access network application protocol (RANAP)

IU-PS: RANNAP

Iub: NodeB application protocol (NBAP)

Iur: Radio network system application protocol (RNSAP)

The transport network control plane includes the access link control application (ALCAP). ALCAP is used
to set up transport bearers to carry user and control plane information. It is not visible to the Radio
Network Layer.

Several alternatives are available for the physical layer implementation within UTRAN. The specified
options in 3GPP release at Iu interfaces are:

Layer 1 synchronized option, i.e., PDH/SDH/SONET.

Layer 1 IP nonsynchronized option. i.e., Ethernet or any other suitable point-to-point or point-to-
multipoint technique.

Iu-CS interface protocol structure. In UMTS, the interface between RAN and CN is Iu. Iu-CS is the
specified between the RAN and the 3G MSC. The Iu-PS interface is defined between the RAN and the 3G
SGSN. In order to have uniformity, 3GPP protocol (RANAP) is the Radio Network Layer protocol for the Iu
interface. The RANAP per entities reside in 3G MSC/SGSN and the SRNC. The RANAP functions are
specified in 3GPP TS 25.413 in detail. In summary, RANAP procedures support the following key
funcions.

Radio access bearer RAB management including RAB setup, modification, and release

Iu connection management

Facilitate general UTRAL procedures from the core network, e.g., paging requests from the CN to UE

Services to upper layer including the transportation of upper layer nonstratum protocols (i.e., call
control, session management and mobility management) messages between the UE and CN

Overload and error handing

SRNS relocation

UE location reporting

Trace invocation for specified UE

Security functions including ciphering and integrity checks

RANAP uses services provided by the transport network layer to transfer RANAP messages across the Iu
interfaces. The transport layer ensures free message transfer between two RANAP entities. The Service
connection and control part (SCCP) offer both connectionless and connection-oriented services. Each
active UE is assigned a separate logical link in case of connection-oriented service between two RANAP
entities. The SCCP utilizes services provided by the lower layer to transport messages between two
entities. Layer 3 broadband massage transfer part MTP3b