Hello, and welcome to the Verizon Training and Development Technical Sales Training offering, LTE Fundamentals, Part

1. My name is David Laney, and I will be your host for this self-paced training course designed to introduce to the technologies, components, and traffic flows that govern the operation of LTE networks. Long Term Evolution, more commonly known as LTE, is the culmination of a cooperative effort by members of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (consisting of groups of communications associations, operators, vendors and research institutes), to create standards and specifications for a new mobile system evolution based on earlier GSM standards. Given the exploding network traffic demands created by tremendous numbers of mobile device users, the partnership began a study to develop and standardize a new framework for 4G radio access technology. That framework became the technology that we know today as LTE. LTE has now taken its place as the next major step in mobile radio communications, providing wireless users with a communication experience that challenges what had only been available previously with wire line, broadband services.

PROPRIETARY STATEMENT This document and any attached materials are the sole property of Verizon and are not to be used by you other than to evaluate Verizons service. This document and any attached materials are not to be disseminated, distributed, or otherwise conveyed throughout your organization to employees without a need for this information or to any third parties without the express written permission of Verizon. The Verizon and Verizon Business names and logos and all other names, logos, and slogans identifying Verizons products and services are trademarks and service marks or registered trademarks and service marks of Verizon Trademark Services LLC or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

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Upon your completion of this self-paced training course, you will be able to support sales opportunities for LTE solutions, by describing the purpose and functionality of the components, traffic flows, and technologies that enable Verizons LTE network.

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This course includes three sections: Section 1: The Road to 4G - Offers a brief review of earlier 2G and 3G technologies that led to the creation and standardization of LTE Section 2: Network Architecture Provides a useful discussion of the components and interface connectivity that identifies LTE network architecture Section 3: Traffic Flows and Interfaces Describes the manner in which bearers and other LTEbased mechanisms are used for routing and controlling traffic policies.

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Upon completion of this section, you will be able to: Identify earlier mobile technologies that led to the creation of 4G networks Differentiate 4G network service capabilities Identify the service advantages and challenges of LTE solutions

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What we will see as we discuss these technologies in more detail, is that in the mobile telephony world, the drive has always been toward evolving technologies that can support the delivery of streaming video to devices that are constantly on the move. GSM first evolved into Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution or EDGE, which also became known as Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (Enhanced GPRS). EDGE quickly became a simple, pre3G solution for GSM network operators, offering a cost-efficient, three-fold increase in both throughput capacity and performance. EDGE achieved this through more sophisticated methods of coding and signal transmission, delivering higher bit-rates per radio channel. EDGE offered user bit-rates of around 250 kbit/s, with end-to-end latency of less than 150 ms.

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Now lets take a closer look at the 3G technologies that have enjoyed the most widespread adoption. But let me warn you, the mobile industry is just as liberal with its use of acronyms as the wire-line industry.

High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) identifies a 3G technology that resulted from the 3GPP adding two key enhancements to the earlier (2G) UTMS/W-CDMA standard. These include High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA). The first HSPA network was deployed by AT&T in 2005, with other wireless providers since having deployed the technology throughout the world. There are now more than 300 HSPA networks operating in more than 130 countries, with most of these having been created as software upgrades to earlier GSM/UTMS networks.

Utilizing an Multiple Input and Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna scheme, HSPA+ became the next 3G evolution of HSPA. HSPA+ doubles the data capacity of HSPA and increases voice capacity by three times. And being a packet-based technology, it also supports VoIP, thereby significantly increasing voice call capacity. Sometimes called Evolved HSPA, HSPA+ also introduces an optional all-IP architecture, where network base stations are interconnected via backhaul links to network edge routers. There are reportedly more than 20 HSPA+ networks operating in the world today.

It should be noted that while HSPA + provides higher data rates than HSPA, the data rates will not accommodate todays high-end video services. In most HSPA+ implementations, hardware and backhaul upgrades are required. And like HSPA, end users do not enjoy full, nationwide coverage.

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What many view as LTEs strongest 4G competitor, WiMAX identifies another high-capacity, wireless data networking solution that supports a variety of transmission modes, from point-to-point and multipoint links, to fully mobile internet access. WiMAX can be deployed as a new network installation, or as an independent overlay to complement existing 2G and 3G wireless solutions. The technology is based on the IEEE 802.16 standard (also know as Broadband Wireless Access). WiMax is most often deployed as last-mile access for traditional wire line networks. In fact, the WiMAX forum describes the technology as a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL". WiMAX has several strengths including high capacity and a single station that can serve hundreds of users. The technology also allows service providers to support multiple usage models, including fixed and mobile access, over the same WiMAX infrastructure while operating their networks within multiple radio spectrums. WiMAX allows for a much faster deployment since user devices are readily available, and enjoys some support from OEMs and vendors for network equipment. Still, WiMAX is not without its challenges. While WiMAX speeds are commonly disputed, the technology still does not match the performance of LTE networks. It suffers from a lack of backwards compatibility, and it does not play well with non-IP based, 2G and 3G technologies like CDMA and GSM. WiMAX is also a very power intensive technology, which increases its installation and operational costs. Clear (a new company created through a partnership between Sprint, Google, Intel, Comcast, Bright House, and Time Warner) announced its intention to create a nation-wide, WiMAX network. And while AT&T initially announced plans to deploy WiMax as well, it later halted the plan and announced an intention to deploy LTE as its 4G technology.

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As was noted earlier, much of the technology focus within the mobile network industry has been in providing customers with performance that is capable of supporting both live and recorded, streaming video. And since many of these technologies are still in their deployment stage, reading through carrier literature and industry whitepapers in an effort to determine the expected performance becomes a challenge in itself. This diagram illustrates the average data rates an end user should experience for each technology, and they are presented here for purposes of comparison only. Again, data rates are dependent on many factors, including and not limited to user device location, building construction, locations of other, nearby building structures, geography, radio channel conditions, and environmental factors. HSPA+ provides downlink rates of 3-4 Mbps and uplink rates of 1-2 Mbps. WiMAX provides downlink rates of 5-6 Mbps and uplink rates of 2-3 Mbps. Verizons initial LTE network will provide downlink rates of 5-12 Mbps, and uplink rates of 2-5 Mbps.

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LTE has distinct advantages over the other 4G technologies. As was just noted in the previous slide, LTE provides higher bandwidth and data rates than other competing 4G technologies. In an effort to maximize the performance of LTE solutions, the 3GPP set the peak data rate, downlink and uplink targets, at 100 Mbps and 50 Mbps respectively. These numbers represent downlinks speeds that are three to four times faster than earlier HSPA networks, and two to three times faster than HSPA uplink performance. LTE also offers scalable bandwidth and lower latency than any competing 4G technology. Here again, the 3GPP set a round-trip latency target of less than 10 milliseconds, a distinctive improvement over the 20-40ms delay common to wire line, DSL-based networks. Still, it should be noted that such low delay performance is not indicative of the true latency that LTE customers can expect, given current LTE network implementations. Verizons current LTE network carries a 30ms latency target, while its 3G, EV-DO Rev. A network latency target is 250 ms. Like WiMax and HSPA+, LTE is an IP-based technology, and its increased performance and capacity supports unprecedented, multimedia services, including live and on-demand streaming video and gaming services. Additionally, LTEs architecture allows for easy integration with existing 2G and 3G technologies, including EV-DO, WiMax and HSPA. LTEs use of multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) antenna technology helps increase network reliability, while also allowing for more widespread roaming potential. LTE also has the best indoor coverage of the emerging 3G and 4G technologies.

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At this point, it should be clear that LTE represents the next step in the evolution of mobile cellular systems. Unlike earlier 2G and 3G, GSM and CDMA technologies that focused more on supporting voice traffic, LTE has been designed with new radio access and core network architectures that are IP-based endto-end. LTE also offers sophisticated Quality of Service (QoS) performance necessary in supporting multimedia applications. More specifically, the use of IP lays the foundation for the IP Multimedia System (IMS). IMS helps to simply LTEs network design, by creating a flat architecture, thereby increasing network efficiency, while also allowing improved connectivity to both wireless and wire line network types. And finally, LTEs scalability allows mobile service providers to add additional core processing and transmission capacity at lower incremental costs.

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Before concluding our review of 3G and 4G technologies, heres a comparison of the LTE, WiMAX, HSPA and HSPA+ radio spectrums currently in use within the United States. In 2008, Verizon Wireless, bidding more than $9 billion, was awarded the lions share of the 22 MHz C block, in the US governments 700 MHz auction of radio spectrum. Many within the telecommunication industry consider the C block to be one of the most coveted frequency spectrums, due to its propagation characteristics that provides increased range and building penetration. This makes it especially valuable to Verizon in creating its new LTE network, since it reduces the number of LTE base stations that would otherwise be required to provide the same radio coverage. During this same auction, AT&T won 227 licenses for the B block of regional licenses. However, AT&T had earlier purchased other members of the C block spectrum from Aloha Partners for some 2.5 billion in cash. This chart also reflects the higher frequency spectrum that has been assigned to 4G WiMax, and 3G HSPA and HSPA+ solutions. Because of their higher radio frequency spectrum, these solutions cannot match the signal penetration performance of LTE.

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While LTE offers customers their greatest experience yet in mobile networking, it is not without its challenges. LTEs flexibility is a strength, but can also be viewed as a challenge since there are many options and decisions in configuring the LTE network and integrating it with existing networks and technologies. For carriers, implementation of LTE requires new equipment and installation costs, as well as the need for both employee and customer training. And since LTE uses a variety of RF channel bandwidths, RF engineering will be more complex. Due to higher traffic demands, the core network will need more processing power. Carriers no longer consider data as being emails, text, and web page interactions, now setting their network operating standards around video and bandwidth intensive multimedia applications. And with LTE is still in its early stages of adoption, customers have fewer options when it comes to selecting an LTE-enabled mobile device. And while it is true that LTE will integrate with GSM, CDMA, EV-DO, HSPA, and other technologies, user equipment must still be LTE-enabled to take full advantage of LTEs more efficient and faster radio access network. Most smart phone and laptop manufacturers, as well as other device makers, are already in the process of creating LTE enabled devices. But until a proliferation of these devices are on the market, carriers cannot validate the capacity of their LTE infrastructures.

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Upon completion of this section, you will be able to: Identify the core network components of LTEs System Architecture Evolution (SAE) Define IP Multimedia System (IMS) and identify its role in supporting Verizons LTE network List the core components and transmission methodologies that enable the LTE Radio Interface Network

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Lets begin to take a closer look at the architectural makeup of Verizons LTE network. . With wire line, broadband networks having seen explosive growth, the mobile telephone industry recognized that its own growth is very much dependant on the development of mobile networks that are capable of matching or exceeding the performance of DSL offerings. Two industry groups began working in the mid-1990s on new standards that would satisfy the heavily anticipated growth in network traffic resulting from the explosive use of multimedia applications on mobile devices. The first of these, the Radio Access Network (RAN) group, began work on what would eventually become known as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) Project. About this same time, the Systems Aspects Group focused their efforts on a new, Systems Architecture Evolution (SAE) Project. These two groups eventually pooled their efforts and in mid-2006, began finalizing the design of a new radio access network called the Enhanced Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) as an evolution of the earlier UTMS radio access network. The SAE group soon finalized new standards for an all-IP, packet-based, core network architecture that would support the new E-UTRAN radio access network. This new core network became known at the Evolved Packet Core (EPC). Together, these two solution standards become formally known as the Evolved Packet System. The LTE-SAE architecture and concepts were designed to optimize network performance, improve cost-efficiency, and facilitate the quick deployment of new, IP-based applications within the mobile environment.

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Taking a closer look now at the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) of the LTE architecture, it defines a series of components and functions that operate within a flat hierarchy, thereby reducing the number of nodes within the network, and reducing tranmission latency. And although the EPC architecture can be broadly seen as an evolution of GSM and other core networks, the revolutionary aspect of the EPC relates to how connectivity to legacy networks (including wire line networks) has been accommodated. More specifically, the EPC provides a converged, packet-based core network, capable of supporting all-IP access, including EV-DO, as well as legacy CDMA2000 standards. Another key aspect of LTE network design is that unlike earlier UTMS networks that utilized a new radio access network, while keeping the same GPRS core, LTE includes both a new radio access and core networks. For this reason, both GSM and CDMA network providers alike find themselves having to build-out entirely new network infrastructures. This illustration also shows the IP Multimedia System (IMS) which provides the architectural framework for delivering voice, video, and data to multimedia mobile devices. The IMS and its functions will be discussed in much greater detail later in this section. Now lets briefly review key EPC components.

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Our first EPC component is the Mobility Management Entity (MME). The MME manages device limitation mechanisms, including user equipment ID allocations, security (which includes user equipment authentication), and roaming control. The MME is also responsible for tracking and paging procedures for user equipment that is currently in the idle state. The MME also authorizes connections to the Serving Gateway (SGW) and Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway, both of which will be discussed later in this section. During the authentication process, the MME downloads subscriber information from the Home Subscriber Server (HSS). The HSS is a subscriber database located in the IMS that contains subscriber information used to perform authentication and authorization of the mobile devices. In addition to providing the MME with subscriber profile information, the HSS also supplies the IP address and access point name or APN for the PDN gateway. By now you have probably noticed that when it comes to describing LTE network architectures, all cell phones, laptops, and LTE-enabled device are referred to simply as user equipment (UE). UE encompasses any and every LTE enabled device, from a Blackberry or Droid, to a chip in a pacemaker that transmits status information to a cardiologists office through an LTE network.

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Now lets talk briefly about two key components that help route and manage traffic within the Verizon LTE network. These include the Serving Gateway (SGW) and Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (PGW). The Serving Gateway (SGW) forwards and routes packets to and from the enhanced Node base stations (eNodeB) that provide the air/radio interface for all user equipment. Acting as an anchor point, the Serving Gateway also enables eNodeB handovers when a mobile device moves from one LTE cell to another, as well as during all 3G network handovers when a device moves into a legacy EV-DO or CDMA cell. The Packet Data Network Gateway acts as the interface between packet data networks (such as public and private IP networks), and the LTE network. Perhaps the most important function of the PGW is that of assigning a public IP address to each mobile device for use in establishing IP sessions. The PGW is also responsible for charging, deep packet inspection, lawful intercept, and other services. Another important function of the PDN gateway is applying Quality of Service (QoS) policy enforcement metrics on traffic that passes through it. It should be noted that unlike its EV-DO mobile network, static IP addresses are not currently available with Verizons LTE network. Additionally, all public IP addresses are NATed to private IP address ranges (typically in the 10.0 range) within the Verizon LTE network.

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Another key point concerning the Serving and PDN gateways, is that they are logically connected to the Policy Control module within the IP Multimedia System (IMS). The Policy Control module stores billing and charging information for subscribers, as well as Quality of Service traffic policies. Available with future enhancements to the IMS platform, these policies might include rules that assign a higher priority to certain subscriber packet streams. This information is communicated to the gateway and matched with the subscribers user profile. For example, if a subscriber has a video conference package, the policy control might provide a larger bandwidth allocation, or assign multicast resources to the user. The gateways, having downloaded the policy parameters from the Policy Control module, would then bill the subscriber for this service in accordance with their service level agreement. But again, it should be noted that QoS treatment of customer traffic is not currently available with Verizons LTE network. This feature capability will be made available as future enhancements are completed within the IMS platform.

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Having already referred to it numerous times, lets now focus greater attention on the IP Multimedia System (IMS). The IMS is an architectural framework (rather than a specific hardware component) that enables the delivery of IP-based, multimedia services. The IMS was not created as a means to standardize end user applications, but rather to provide the logical connectivity between multimedia (voice, video and data) applications originating from mobile user equipment, and the LTE network. The IMS has several components, all of which utilize the IP protocol. Now lets briefly review each of these IMS components and their function in supporting the overall LTE network architecture.

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The IP Multimedia System is a collection of components and related functions, linked by standardized interfaces, that form one administrative network. These functions and components do not follow a one-to-one relationship, since multiple functions may be combined within a single network component. Additionally, a single function might be split between two or more hardware components. As we learned earlier when discussing the Mobility Management Entity (MME), the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) serves as a master user database that supports the IMS networks ability to manage customer connections. The HSS provides authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) functions. The MME downloads subscriber information from the HSS. The HSS also supplies the MME with the IP address and access point name or APN for the PDN gateway connection that a user device is utilizing to exchange information with a distant application operating within a public or private IP network. The Policy Control component of the IMS, which is sometimes called the Policy Charging Rules Function (PCRF) or Session Charging Function (SCF), applies policies for billing and charging for different levels of service and applications. The Policy Control component houses policy information including Quality of Service standards. Policy information is communicated to the gateway and matched with the subscribers profile to provide the correct services at the correct rates. Finally, application servers (AS) within the IMS serve the same function as application web servers, and can host data-rich applications such as enhanced video messaging, gaming applications, medical device applications, social networking, GPS enabled and other applications. An application server can be located in the home network or in an external thirdparty network. If located in the home network, the application server can make easier use of other resources in the IMS such as subscriber information in the HSS.

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Now that weve discussed LTEs Evolved Packet Core (EPC), lets explore its new radio access network. As noted earlier, the new LTE architecture differs from earlier UTMS networks because it defines both a new radio access and core network design. However, because the 3GPP operated within the viewpoint that LTE should be seen as a wireless data extension of GSM, it defined LTEs new radio access network as the Evolved UTMS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). Still, the new E-UTRAN air interface carries significant performance improvements over its UTMS/UTRAN predecessor, by providing greater end-user throughput, increased sector capacity, and reduced latency. All of this amounts to a significantly improved user experience with full broadband mobility. And unlike earlier 3G networks, LTE has been designed to carry IP-based, packet-switched traffic with various Quality of Service traffic classes. In fact, one of E-UTRANs design requirements was minimize the number of interface elements, while still being able to manage and control Quality of Service performance within both its EPC core and radio access network segments, ensuring better support for VoIP and multimedia end user applications.

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Moving our discussion now to the outside edge of the LTE network, the Evolved Node B base stations provide the customer edge of the E-UTRAN architecture. Each eNodeB base station includes two components a Node B or Base Transceiver Station (BTS), and a Radio Network Controller (RNC). The BTS contains the radio frequency transmitters and receivers that provide the radio interface necessary in communicating with mobile devices. The RNC carries out radio resource management, some of the mobility management functions, and is the point where transmission encryption is performed. Additionally, the new E-UTRAN design allows for combining the functions of the BTS and RNC into a single node, significantly reducing network hardware and increasing network efficiency.

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Without a separate radio network controller to support multiple base transceiver stations, each eNodeB has to support all control and user plane functions. These include the coding and modulation of RF signals, scheduling uplink and downlink transmissions, managing radio resources, supporting handovers, call control, compression and decompression of packets, encryption, and enforcing Quality of Service policies. It is for all these reasons it can be said again, that the eNodeB base stations serve as the foundation of the LTE network.

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The eNodeB combines the functions of the Radio Network Controller and the NodeB Base Station Transceiver (BTS) into a single node, significantly reducing the number of nodes in the network and improving efficiency.

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Before we complete our discussion of E-UTRAN, LTEs air or radio network interface, lets briefly touch upon two key technologies that enable the uplink and downlink transmissions to/from mobile devices. Within LTEs E-UTRAN air interface, downlink and uplink transmissions are based on the use of frequency division multiple access (FDMA) technologies. More specifically, LTE makes use of orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) for its downlink access interface, and singlecarrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) for its uplink interface. Lets now discuss these technologies in more detail.

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OFDMA, LTEs downlink technology, is a multi-carrier transmission scheme that evolved from two pivotal technologies, Frequency Digital Multiplexing (FDM) and Multicarrier Communication. OFDMA is a variant of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, a digital multi-carrier modulation scheme that is widely used in wireless systems but relatively new to cellular. The term Orthogonal refers to signals that do not cause interference with one another, in this case those being the subcarrier frequencies. This allows the subcarriers to overlap and save bandwidth, resulting in higher data rates and excellent spectrum efficiency. Heres another way of viewing the transmission scheme. Rather than transmitting on a single carrier frequency, OFDM makes use of a large number of closely spaced, orthogonal subcarriers that are transmitted in parallel. This allows OFDM transceivers to handle the most common radio frequency (RF) distortions, without the need for complex equalization techniques. It also allows OFDM networks to scale more easily to fit different bandwidth requirements.

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Whereas LTEs downlink channel access method accommodates multiple carriers, its uplink method is single carrier, frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA). The use of single carrier modulation in the uplink yields a higher peak-to-average signal ratio (PAR). Signals with low a PAR do not require large differences between peak and average signal strength, making SC-FDMA transmissions more power efficient, which helps extend battery life in mobile devices. SC-FDMA transmission are also synchronous, with uplink signals being synchronized at the base station receiver through continuous timing adjustments. This allows each base station to perform most of the signal processing, thereby reducing the need for user equipment to process complex equalization schemes. Working together, these mechanisms reduce the interference between users using the same signal timeslot, thereby increasing system capacity.

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At the very outside edge of LTE network air interface, is its Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna configuration. By using multiple network antennas, an improved signal-to-noise ratio is achieved, which creates greater received signal diversity and a reduction in signal fading. The MIMO design also provides for spatial multiplexing, a technique where each Base Transceiver System transmits an independent and separately encoded signal stream, rather than transmitting a single stream from multiple antennas. This allows the air space dimension to be reused, or multiplexed, more than one time, which leads to an increase in spectral efficiency (the number of bits per second per Hz that can be transmitted over the wireless channel). In summary, spatial multiplexing created by the MIMO design allows for more efficient signal-to-noise ratios, and significantly higher data rates.

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Upon completion of this section, you will be able to: Identify the network interfaces that dictate the traffic and signaling flows that occur within an LTE network. Define General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Tunneling Protocol (GTP) and its role in supporting bearer traffic flows within an LTE network Identify the components and mechanisms that control user authentication and service feature policies.

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Now lets take a look at the interfaces that exist within an LTE network, so that we can better understand its traffic flows. All traffic flows within an LTE network occur within one of two planes a user plane and a control plane. Traffic that flows within the user plane contains IP packets that represent application-specific voice, data, or video being transmitted between the Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW) and user equipment (UE). This is achieved by encapsulating the data into an EPC-specific protocol so they can be tunneled to/from the Packet Data Network Gateway and eNodeB base stations (residing at the edges of the network) using the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP). From the eNodeB base stations, the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) is used to transmit and receive data from mobile devices (UE). A separate control plane is used to carry signaling information between the LTE networks Mobility Management Entity (MME) and user equipment. The control information is used to manage bearer tunnel setup, QoS management, communication discovery, and mobility management functions.

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This diagram shows the interfaces and traffic that occur between devices operating within LTEs EUTRAN segment. X2 identifies the interfaces and traffic flows between a given set of eNodeB base stations, as they facilitate soft handovers between mobile users. Whenever a mobile user moves from one cell coverage area to another, an X2 interface is used to forward traffic between the leaving and entering eNodeB service areas. This eliminates the need for each eNodeB to funnel control traffic back and forth between separate Radio Network Controllers in each eNodeB. X2 interfaces operate within both the control plane and user planes and support eNodeB handovers, mobility related signaling, setting up and managing user plane tunnels, multicell radio resource management, reporting, and traffic exchange. Additionally, the X2 interface is used to maintain the GTP tunnels that carry data packets between eNodeBs so that no information is lost as users move between cell coverage areas.

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Lets move our focus from the edges of the LTE network to the manner in which traffic flows to and from its EPC core. Each eNodeB base station within in the E-UTRAN portion of the network, is connected physically and logically to the EPC through an S1 bearer interface. Information is exchanged between the base stations and the Mobility Management Entity (MME) and Serving Gateway (SGW) elements in a many-to-many relationship. This many-to-many structure of the S1 interface allows for redundancy, load sharing and network sharing, thereby improving the reliability of the network. And by load sharing among the MMEs, mobile users are better able move from one eNodeB to the next, without requiring a change in their connection to the MME. Each S1 interface is also divided into a S1-MME interface at the control plane, and an S-1U interface at the user plane. The S1-MME interface controls signaling information, which also supports the authentication and IP address allocation for the user equipment. The S1-MME interface is also responsible for bearer setup/release procedures, handover signaling procedures, paging, and some transport procedures. The S1-U interface between the eNodeB and the Serving Gateway supports GTP transport for user data, as well as inter-eNodeB path switching during soft handovers.

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This diagram illustrates the S7 interface that provides logical connectivity between the serving and PDN gateways, and the Policy Control Module (PCM). The S7 interface transfers QoS parameters, including service level agreement and charging rules, between the Policy Control Module (PCM) and the PDN gateway. And in some cases, this information may be stored in the serving gateway, depending on how the policy charging and enforcement functions are configured within the EPC core, .

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The S11 interface runs between the MME and the SGW, and carries control information, including radio channel information, and mobility management parameters required in performing soft handovers.

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The S5 interface is the IP connection used in transmitting multimedia traffic, within the user plane and between the PDN and serving gateways.

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Finally, the S6a interface provides logical connectivity between the MME and the HSS, and is used to transmit control information regarding subscriber authentication and authorization, as well as UE roaming information.

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Now lets take a brief look at the functionality of the GTP Protocol mentioned earlier. Utilizing encapsulating tunnels or bearers, GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) enables the provisioning and transport of signaling and user data within an LTE network in accordance with specific QoS policies. These tunnels can be established at various points throughout the network, in order to make the most efficient use of available network resources. For example, the Serving Gateway will create an S1 bearer to a given eNodeB base station, for use in transporting streaming video and audio to a distant UE device.

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Establishing dedicated bearers facilitate or provision for the transport of signaling and user data between nodes or points in the network based on Quality of Service (QoS) by establishing a set of network resources.

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This is the first in a series of illustrations that we will use to describe the manner in which data traverses an LTE network. Well also use it to describe how a mobile device authenticates itself with the network, as well as how a connection to an Internet web server is established. For example purposes, lets consider Bob Smith, an account executive who sells financial services for a large brokerage firm. Bob just happens to be on the road when he receives an important email telling him of a new direction in the companys sales strategy. The message advises him to access the company intranet and view an eight-minute video from the CEO. Naturally, Bob would like to view this video before his meeting with the client. Once Bob takes out his LTE-enabled laptop to access and watch the video, a MIMO antenna that serves the nearest LTE cell, picks up his laptops signal and begins forwarding its messages to an eNodeB base station. After completing basic network acquisition and timing procedures, Bobs laptop will be authenticated in the following steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. To authenticate the user device, the eNodeB sends an attach message to the MME. The MME accesses the HSS in the IMS to get Bobs subscriber information. Utilizing its master user database, the HSS authorizes and authenticates that Bob is a subscriber and sends his information back to the MME. The HSS also identifies an IP address and anchor point name necessary in creating a PDN gateway connection, which is then sent back to the MME for use in forwarding all subsequent data requests. With authentication now successful, a security mode is enabled. The MME relays a message back to the eNodeB, authorizing services for Bob.

5.

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With authentication now established and Bobs LTE network connection having received an IP address, Bobs laptop can utilize the network via data requests to eNodeB base stations. The eNodeB, recognizing that Bob is an authorized user, passes the data request onto the MME. The MME, having earlier received IP address information from the HSS, forwards the request to an assigned, serving gateway (SGW), which acts as an anchor point for Bobs IP connection within the LTE network. The SGW passes the request to the PDN gateway. The PDN gateway receives the request and then routes it to the Policy Control Module located within the IP Multimedia System (IMS). The Policy Control Module (PCM) evaluates the request and establishes a network response in accordance with policy limits and service level agreements such as download speeds, bandwidth allocation, billing rate and other policy parameters. The Policy Control Module sends this information back to the gateways. These traffic and policy parameters are primary drivers for Quality of Service standards throughout the network. Network components will consider these parameters as well as current traffic conditions for assigning priority to packets. However, please keep in mind that policies that control subscriber bandwidth should be considered as future capabilities. There are currently no limitations on subscriber bandwidth, short of those dictated by radio signal performance, and current network loading.

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With the request from Bobs laptop now under the parameters imposed by policy control mechanisms (which again, is a future Verizon capability), the network utilizes the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) to establish an IP connection for carrying video and audio traffic between his laptop and the companys web server. First, the PDN gateway dynamically allocates a publically routable IP address for Bobs LTE network connection. With this IP address now established, the PDN gateway evaluates traffic conditions before setting up an S5 access bearer to the serving gateway (SGW). Based on subscriber information from the policy control module, and current traffic loading, the SGW establishes an S1, GTP tunnel to the eNodeB that is communicating with Bobs laptop transceiver. Completing the connection to the PDN gateway, the eNodeB establishes a radio bearer to Bobs LTE laptop transceiver. With the radio bearer now established, the eNodeB communicates back to the SGW through the S1 access bearer, the conditions of the LTE network radio bearer. Additionally, each eNodeB base station controls traffic flows into the core network. This intelligent routing of traffic increases the efficiency and capacity of the LTE mobile broadband network. In fact, after the serving gateway learns of the radio network conditions at the radio bearer, it then relays those conditions to the PDN gateway and adjustments can be made accordingly. This radio bearer, S1 bearer and S5 access bearer together form the Evolved Packet System or EPS bearer to deliver the requested packets with the appropriate amount of network resources that can be supported, given the current traffic load. The process of regulating packet flow based on current traffic loading, subscriber information, and the request itself is sometimes called admission control.

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SLIDE 51. 2006. Verizon Business. All Rights Reserved. 10/3/2011

The course exam and survey, which serves as both the course and instructor evaluation, are located on the same page within VZLearn. Because the VZLearn system applies exam credits during nightly file processing, your will receive final credit for this course on the following day after passing the exam. To access either the exam or survey: 1. Click on the course title, LTE Fundamentals Part 1, as it appears on the My Learning Home Page 2. Click on the Launch link for either the exam or the survey to access the desired item.

SLIDE 52. 2006. Verizon Business. All Rights Reserved. 10/3/2011

SLIDE 53. 2006. Verizon Business. All Rights Reserved. 10/3/2011