1.

3G Systems 3G Systems are intended to provide a global mobility with wide range of services including telephony, paging, messaging, Internet and broadband data. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) started the process of defining the standard for third generation systems, referred to as International Mobile Telecommunications 2000 (IMT-2000). In Europe European Telecommunications Standards Institute(ETSI) was responsible of UMTS standardisation process. In 1998 Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) was formed to continue the technical specification work. 3GPP has five main UMTS standardisation areas: Radio Access Network, Core Network, Terminals, Services and System Aspects and GERAN. 3GPP Radio Access group is responsible of:
y y y y y y

Radio Layer 1, 2 and 3 RR specification Iub, Iur and Iu Interfaces UTRAN Operation and Maintenance requirements BTS radio performance specification Conformance test specification for testing of radio aspects of base stations Specifications for radio performance aspects from the system point of view

3GPP Core Network group is responsible of:

y Mobility management, call connection control signalling between the user equipment and the core network. y Core network signalling between the core network nodes. y Definition of interworking functions between the core network and external networks. y Packet related issues. y Core network aspects of the lu interface and Operation and Maintenance requirements

3GPP Terminal group is responsible of:

y y y y y

Service capability protocols Messaging Services end-to-end interworking USIM to Mobile Terminal interface Model/framework for terminal interfaces and services (application) execution

y Conformance test specifications of terminals, including radio aspects

3GPP Services and System Aspects group is responsible of:

y Definition of services and feature requirements. y Development of service capabilities and service architecture for cellular, fixed and cordless applications. y Charging and Accounting y Network Management and Security Aspects y Definition, evolution, and maintenance of overall architecture.

Third Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP) was formed for technical development of cdma2000 technology which is a member of IMT-2000 family. In February 1992 World Radio Conference allocated frequencies for UMTS use. Frequencies 1885 - 2025 and 2110 - 2200 MHz were identified for IMT-2000 use. See the UMTS Frequency page for more details. All 3G standards are still under constant development. In 1999 ETSI Standardisation finished for UMTS Phase 1 (Release '99, version 3) and next release is due December 2001. UMTS History page has a list of all major 3G and UMTS milestones. Most of the European countries and some countries round the world have already issued UMTS licenses either by beauty contest or auctions.
y 2. UMTS Services

UMTS offers teleservices (like speech or SMS) and bearer services, which provide the capability for information transfer between access points. It is possible to negotiate and renegotiate the characteristics of a bearer service at session or connection establishment and during ongoing session or connection. Both connection oriented and connectionless services are offered for Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint communication. Bearer services have different QoS parameters for maximum transfer delay, delay variation and bit error rate. Offered data rate targets are:
y 144 kbits/s satellite and rural outdoor y 384 kbits/s urban outdoor

y 2048 kbits/s indoor and low range outdoor

UMTS network services have different QoS classes for four types of traffic:
y y y y

Conversational class (voice, video telephony, video gaming) Streaming class (multimedia, video on demand, webcast) Interactive class (web browsing, network gaming, database access) Background class (email, SMS, downloading)

UMTS will also have a Virtual Home Environment (VHE). It is a concept for personal service environment portability across network boundaries and between terminals. Personal service environment means that users are consistently presented with the same personalised features, User Interface customisation and services in whatever network or terminal, wherever the user may be located. UMTS also has improved network security and location based services. y 3. UMTS Architecture A UMTS network consist of three interacting domains; Core Network (CN), UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) and User Equipment (UE). The main function of the core network is to provide switching, routing and transit for user traffic. Core network also contains the databases and network management functions. The basic Core Network architecture for UMTS is based on GSM network with GPRS. All equipment has to be modified for UMTS operation and services. The UTRAN provides the air interface access method for User Equipment. Base Station is referred as Node-B and control equipment for Node-B's is called Radio Network Controller (RNC). UMTS system page has an example, how UMTS network could be build. It is necessary for a network to know the approximate location in order to be able to page user equipment. Here is the list of system areas from largest to smallest.
y y y y y

UMTS systems (including satellite) Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) MSC/VLR or SGSN Location Area Routing Area (PS domain)

y UTRAN Registration Area (PS domain) y Cell y Sub cell 4. Core Network

The Core Network is divided in circuit switched and packet switched domains. Some of the circuit switched elements are Mobile services Switching Centre (MSC), Visitor location register (VLR) and Gateway MSC. Packet switched elements are Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN). Some network elements, like EIR, HLR, VLR and AUC are shared by both domains. The Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is defined for UMTS core transmission. ATM Adaptation Layer type 2 (AAL2) handles circuit switched connection and packet connection protocol AAL5 is designed for data delivery. The architecture of the Core Network may change when new services and features are introduced. Number Portability DataBase (NPDB) will be used to enable user to change the network while keeping their old phone number. Gateway Location Register (GLR) may be used to optimise the subscriber handling between network boundaries. MSC, VLR and SGSN can merge to become a UMTS MSC.
y 5. Radio Access

Wide band CDMA technology was selected to for UTRAN air interface. UMTS WCDMA is a Direct Sequence CDMA system where user data is multiplied with quasi-random bits derived fromWCDMA Spreading codes. In UMTS, in addition to channelisation, Codes are used for synchronisation and scrambling. WCDMA has two basic modes of operation: Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD). UTRAN interfaces are shown on UMTS Network page. The functions of Node-B are:
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Air interface Transmission / Reception Modulation / Demodulation CDMA Physical Channel coding Micro Diversity Error Handing

y Closed loop power control

The functions of RNC are:

y y y y y y y y y y

Radio Resource Control Admission Control Channel Allocation Power Control Settings Handover Control Macro Diversity Ciphering Segmentation / Reassembly Broadcast Signalling Open Loop Power Control

y 6. User Equipment

The UMTS standard does not restrict the functionality of the User Equipment in any way. Terminals work as an air interface counter part for Node-B and have many different types of identities. Most of these UMTS identity types are taken directly from GSM specifications.
y y y y y y y

International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) Packet Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (P-TMSI) Temporary Logical Link Identity (TLLI) Mobile station ISDN (MSISDN) International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI) International Mobile Station Equipment Identity and Software Number (IMEISV)

UMTS mobile station can operate in one of three modes of operation:

y PS/CS mode of operation: The MS is attached to both the PS domain and CS domain, and the MS is capable of simultaneously operating PS services and CS services. y PS mode of operation: The MS is attached to the PS domain only and may only operate services of the PS domain. However, this does not prevent CS-like services to be offered over the PS domain (like VoIP). y CS mode of operation: The MS is attached to the CS domain only and may only operate services of the CS domain.

UMTS IC card has same physical characteristics as GSM SIM card. It has several functions:
y Support of one User Service Identity Module (USIM) application (optionally more that one) y Support of one or more user profile on the USIM y Update USIM specific information over the air y Security functions y User authentication y Optional inclusion of payment methods y Optional secure downloading of new applications

Picture below shows how an UMTS 3G network could be build.

UMTS network layout example 3G and LAN Date Speeds

Here are the theoretical maximum data speeds of 2G, 2.5G, 3G and beyond, and compared to LAN data speeds.

Quality of Service Network Services are considered end-to-end, this means from a Terminal Equipment (TE) to another TE. An End-to-End Service may have a certain Quality of Service

(QoS) which is provided for the user of a network service. It is the user that decides whether he is satisfied with the provided QoS or not. To realise a certain network QoS a Bearer Service with clearly defined characteristics and functionality is to be set up from the source to the destination of a service. A bearer service includes all aspects to enable the provision of a contracted QoS. These aspects are among others the control signalling, user plane transport and QoS management functionality. A UMTS bearer service layered architecture is depicted below, each bearer service on a specific layer offers it's individual services using services provided by the layers below.

QoS Architecture

There are four different QoS classes:

y y y y

conversational class streaming class interactive class background class

Traffic class

Conversational class Real Time

Streaming class Interactive class

Background class

Real Time

Best Effort

Best Effort

- Preserve time Fundamental - Preserve time characteristics relation (variation) relation between information (variation) entities of the between stream information entities of the stream - Conversational pattern (stringent and low delay ) Example of the voice application streaming video

- Request response -Destination is not pattern expecting the data within a certain time -Preserve payload content -Preserve payload content

web browsing

telemetry, emails

UMTS QoS classes

List of UMTS Bearer Service Attributes:

y y y y y y y y y y y y

Traffic class ('conversational', 'streaming', 'interactive', 'background') Maximum bit rate (kbps) Guaranteed bit rate (kbps) Delivery order (y/n) Maximum SDU size (octets) SDU format information (bits) SDU error ratio Residual bit error ratio Delivery of erroneous SDUs (y/n/-) Transfer delay (ms) Traffic handling priority Allocation/Retention Priority

y Source statistics descriptor ('speech'/'unknown')

SDU = Service Data Unit

Further reading: 3GPP 23.107

Basic Mobile Originating Call Diagram

Cell search procedure

During the cell search, the UE searches for a cell and determines the downlink scrambling code and frame synchronisation of that cell. The cell search is typically carried out in three steps: Step 1: Slot synchronisation During the first step of the cell search procedure the UE uses the SCH's primary synchronisation code to acquire slot synchronisation to a cell. This is typically done with a single matched filter (or any similar device) matched to the primary synchronisation code which is common to all cells. The slot timing of the cell can be obtained by detecting peaks in the matched filter output. Step 2: Frame synchronisation and code-group identification During the second step of the cell search procedure, the UE uses the SCH's secondary synchronisation code to find frame synchronisation and identify the code group of the cell found in the first step. This is done by correlating the received signal with all possible secondary synchronisation code sequences, and identifying the maximum correlation value. Since the cyclic shifts of the sequences are unique the code group as well as the frame synchronisation is determined. Step 3: Scrambling-code identification During the third and last step of the cell search procedure, the UE determines the exact primary scrambling code used by the found cell. The primary scrambling code is typically identified through symbol-by-symbol correlation over the CPICH with all codes within the code group identified in the second step. After the primary scrambling code has been identified, the Primary CCPCH can be detected and the system- and cell specific BCH information can be read. If the UE has received information about which scrambling codes to search for, steps 2 and 3 above can be simplified

Structure of synchronization channel

The Synchronisation Channel (SCH) is a downlink signal used for cell search. The SCH consists of two sub channels, the Primary and Secondary SCH. The 10 ms radio frames of the Primary and Secondary SCH are divided into 15 slots, each of length 2560 chips. Picture above illustrates the structure of the SCH radio frame. The Primary SCH consists of a modulated code of length 256 chips, the primary synchronization code (PSC) is transmitted once every slot. The PSC is the same for every cell in the system. The Secondary SCH consists of repeatedly transmitting a length 15 sequence of modulated codes of length 256 chips, the Secondary Synchronisation Codes (SSC), transmitted in parallel with the Primary SCH. The SSC is denoted csi,k in figure 20, where i = 0, 1, , 63 is the number of the scrambling code group, and k = 0, 1, , 14 is the slot number. Each SSC is chosen from a set of 16 different codes of length 256. This sequence on the Secondary SCH indicates which of the code groups the cell's downlink scrambling code belongs to.

Summary of the process:

Channel Primary SCH Secondary SCH Synchronisation acquired Chip, Slot, Symbol Synchronisation Note

256 chips The same in all cells 15-code sequence of secondary synchronisation codes. Frame Synchronisation, There are 16 secondary synchronisation codes. Code Group (one of 64) There are 64 S-SCH sequences corresponding to the 64 scrambling code groups

Common Pilot Scrambling code CH (one of 8) Super Frame Synchronisation, PCCPCH *) BCCH info SCCPCH **)

256 chips, different for different cells and slot intervals To find the primary scrambling code from common pilot CH Fixed 30 kbps channel 27 kbps rate spreading factor 256 Carries FACH and PCH channels Variable bit rate

*) Primary Common Control Physical Channel **) Secondary Common Control Physical Channel

Further reading: 3GPP TS 25.211 25.213 3G Frequencies

According to "WARC-92 frequencies for IMT-2000" resolution: "The bands 18852025 MHz and 2110-2200 MHz are intended for use, on a worldwide basis, by administrations wishing to implement International Mobile Telecommunications2000 (IMT-2000). Such use does not preclude the use of these bands by other services to which they are allocated." Here is the summary of UMTS frequencies: 1920-1980 and 2110-2170 MHz Frequency Division Duplex (FDD, W-CDMA) Paired uplink and downlink, channel spacing is 5 MHz and raster is 200 kHz. An Operator needs 3 - 4 channels (2x15 MHz or 2x20 MHz) to be able to build a high-speed, highcapacity network. 1900-1920 and 2010-2025 MHz Time Division Duplex (TDD, TD/CDMA) Unpaired, channel spacing is 5 MHz and raster is 200 kHz. Tx and Rx are not separated in frequency. 1980-2010 and 2170-2200 MHz Satellite uplink and downlink. Carrier frequencies are designated by a UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel

Number (UARFCN). The general formula relating frequency to UARFN is: UARFCN = 5 * (frequency in MHz)

WARC-92 IMT-2000 Frequencies

WRC-2000 in Istanbul
y Identified the bands 1710 - 1885 and 2500 - 2690 MHz for IMT-2000 y Identified those parts of the band 806 - 960 MHz which are allocated to the mobile service on a primary basis y Admitted that High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) may use the WARC-92 frequency bands for terrestrial IMT-2000 on restrictive conditions

y Decided that the frequency bands 1525 - 1544, 1545 - 1559, 1610 - 1626.5, 1626.5 - 1645.5, 1646.5 - 1660.5 and 2483.5 - 2500 MHz may be used for the satellite component of IMT-2000, as well as the bands 2500 - 2520 MHz and 2670- 2690 MHz, depending on market developments y Decided that "the bands, or portions of the bands, 1710 - 1885 MHz and 2500 2690 MHz, are identified for use by administrations wishing to implement International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000). This identification does not preclude the use of these bands by any application of the services to which they are allocated and does not establish priority in the Radio Regulations".

WRC-2000 IMT-2000 Frequencies

From the TS 25.101 Specification:

UTRA FDD frequency bands

TX-RX frequency separation

UARFCN definition

UARFCN definition (Band II additional channels)

UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number

y USA spectrum allocation by Unstrung (10/09/04) y India spectrum allocation by 3G Newsroom (28/09/04)

UTRA Channels UTRA FDD radio interface has logical channels, which are mapped to transport channels, which are again mapped to physical channels. Logical to Transport channel conversion happens in Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, which is a lower sublayer in Data Link Layer (Layer 2). Logical Channels: Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), Downlink (DL) Paging Control Channel (PCCH), DL Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH), UL/DL Common Control Channel (CCCH), UL/DL Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH), UL/DL Common Traffic Channel (CTCH), Unidirectional (one to many) Transport Channels: Dedicated Transport Channel (DCH), UL/DL, mapped to DCCH and DTCH Broadcast Channel (BCH), DL, mapped to BCCH Forward Access Channel (FACH), DL, mapped to BCCH, CCCH, CTCH, DCCH and DTCH Paging Channel (PCH), DL, mapped to PCCH Random Access Channel (RACH), UL, mapped to CCCH, DCCH and DTCH Uplink Common Packet Channel (CPCH), UL, mapped to DCCH and DTCH Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH), DL, mapped to DCCH and DTCH Physical Channels:

Primary Common Control Physical Channel (PCCPCH), mapped to BCH Secondary Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH), mapped to FACH, PCH Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH), mapped to RACH Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH), mapped to DCH Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH), mapped to DCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), mapped to DSCH Physical Common Packet Channel (PCPCH), mapped to CPCH Synchronisation Channel (SCH) Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) Acquisition Indicator Channel (AICH) Paging Indication Channel (PICH) CPCH Status Indication Channel (CSICH) Collision Detection/Channel Assignment Indication Channel (CD/CA-ICH)

UTRA Channels