Index

1. Introduction
2. LTE Key feature
3. LTE Network Elements(Architecture)
4. LTE Network Interfaces
5. LTE-Channel
 LTE Introduction
3G LTE evolution
Although there are major step changes between LTE and its 3G predecessors, it is nevertheless
looked upon as an evolution of the UMTS / 3GPP 3G standards. Although it uses a different form of
radio interface, using OFDMA / SC-FDMA instead of CDMA, there are many similarities with the
earlier forms of 3G architecture and there is scope for much re-use.
LTE can be seen for provide a further evolution of functionality, increased speeds and general
improved performance.
WCDMA HSPA HSPA+ LTE
(UMTS) HSDPA / HSUPA
Max downlink speed 384 k 14 M 28 M 100M
bps
Max uplink speed 128 k 5.7 M 11 M 50 M
bps
Latency 150 ms 100 ms 50ms (max) ~10 ms
round trip time
approx
3GPP releases Rel 99/4 Rel 5 / 6 Rel 7 Rel 8

Approx years of initial 2003 / 4 2005 / 6 HSDPA 2008 / 9 2009 / 10

roll out 2007 / 8 HSUPA
Access methodology CDMA CDMA CDMA OFDMA / SC-FDMA

In addition to this, LTE is an all IP based network, supporting both IPv4 and IPv6. There is also no
basic provision for voice, although this can be carried as VoIP.
3GPP LTE technologies
LTE has introduced a number of new technologies when compared to the previous cellular
systems. They enable LTE to be able to operate more efficiently with respect to the use of
spectrum, and also to provide the much higher data rates that are being required.

OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex): OFDM technology has been

incorporated into LTE because it enables high data bandwidths to be transmitted efficiently
while still providing a high degree of resilience to reflections and interference. The access
schemes differ between the uplink and downlink: OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division
Multiple Access is used in the downlink; while SC-FDMA(Single Carrier - Frequency Division
Multiple Access) is used in the uplink. SC-FDMA is used in view of the fact that its peak to
average power ratio is small and the more constant power enables high RF power amplifier
efficiency in the mobile handsets - an important factor for battery power equipment.

MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output): One of the main problems that previous
telecommunications systems has encountered is that of multiple signals arising from the
many reflections that are encountered. By using MIMO, these additional signal paths can be
used to advantage and are able to be used to increase the throughput.
When using MIMO, it is necessary to use multiple antennas to enable the different paths
to be distinguished. Accordingly schemes using 2 x 2, 4 x 2, or 4 x 4 antenna matrices can
be used. While it is relatively easy to add further antennas to a base station, the same is
not true of mobile handsets, where the dimensions of the user equipment limit the
number of antennas which should be place at least a half wavelength apart.

Architecture Evolution: With the very high data rate and low latency requirements for
3G LTE, it is necessary to evolve the system architecture to enable the improved
performance to be achieved. One change is that a number of the functions previously
handled by the core network have been transferred out to the periphery. Essentially this
provides a much "flatter" form of network architecture. In this way latency times can be
reduced and data can be routed more directly to its destination.
LTE specification overview
It is worth summarizing the key parameters of the 3G LTE specification. In view of the fact that there
are a number of differences between the operation of the uplink and downlink, these naturally
differ in the performance they can offer.
PARAMETER DETAILS

Peak downlink speed 100 (SISO), 172 (2x2 MIMO), 326 (4x4 MIMO)
64QAM
(Mbps)
Peak uplink speeds 50 (QPSK), 57 (16QAM), 86 (64QAM)
(Mbps)
Data type All packet switched data (voice and data). No circuit
switched.
Channel bandwidths 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20
(MHz)
Duplex schemes FDD and TDD

Mobility 0 - 15 km/h (optimised),

15 - 120 km/h (high performance)
Latency Idle to active less than 100ms
Small packets ~10 ms
Spectral efficiency Downlink: 3 - 4 times Rel 6 HSDPA
Uplink: 2 -3 x Rel 6 HSUPA
Access schemes OFDMA (Downlink)
SC-FDMA (Uplink)
Modulation types supported QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM (Uplink and downlink)
 LTE Key Features

Evolved NodeB (eNB)

No RNC is provided anymore
The evolved Node Bs take over all radio management functionality.
This will make radio management faster and hopefully the network architecture simpler

IP transport layer
EUTRAN exclusively uses IP as transport layer

UL/DL resource scheduling

In UMTS physical resources are either shared or dedicated
Evolved Node B handles all physical resource via a scheduler and assigns them
dynamically to users and channels
This provides greater flexibility than the older system
 LTE Network Architecture

Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN) Evolved Packet Core (EPC)

HSS

MME: Mobility Management Entity

S6a

MME S10
X2
Evolved
Node B S1-MME
LTE-UE (eNB)
S11
S1-U S5/S8
cell
LTE-Uu Serving PDN
Gateway Gateway

LTE
Gateway
 Evolved Node B (eNB) eNB Functions
LTE-UE
Inter-cell RRM: HO, load balancing between cells
LTE-Uu Evolved
Node B Radio Bearer Control: setup, modifications and
cell
(eNB) release of Radio Resources
Connection Mgt. Control: UE State Mgmt. MME-UE
Connection
It is the only network element defined as part Radio Admission Control
of EUTRAN.
eNode B Measurements
It replaces the old Node B / RNC combination Collection and evaluation
from 3G.
Dynamic Resource
It terminates the complete radio interface Allocation (Scheduler)
including physical layer.
It provides all radio management functions IP Header Compression/ de-compression

An eNB can handle several cells.
To enable efficient inter-cell radio
management for cells not attached to the same
eNB, there is a inter-eNB interface X2 specified.
It will allow to coordinate inter-eNB handovers
without direct involvement of EPC during this
process.
Access Layer Security: ciphering and integrity
protection on the radio interface
MME Selection at Attach of the UE
User Data Routing to the LTE GW.
Transmission of Paging Message coming from MME
Transmission of Broadcast Info (System info, MBMS)
 Mobility Management Entity (MME)
MME Functions
Evolved HSS
S1-MME MME Control plane NE in EPC
Node B
S6a
(eNB)
S11 Non-Access-Stratum (NAS)
S1-U Signalling
Serving
Gateway Idle State Mobility Handling

It is a pure signaling entity inside the EPC. Tracking Area updates

LTE uses tracking areas to track the position of idle UEs. The Subscriber attach/detach
basic principle is identical to location or routing areas from
2G/3G. Signaling coordination for
LTE Bearer Setup/Release & HO
MME handles attaches and detaches to the LTE system, as
well as tracking area updates Security (Authentication,
Ciphering, Integrity protection)
Therefore it possesses an interface towards the HSS (home
subscriber server) which stores the subscription relevant Trigger and distribution of
Paging Messages to eNB
information and the currently assigned MME in its permanent
data base. Roaming Control (S6a interface
to HSS)
A second functionality of the MME is the signaling
coordination to setup transport bearers (LTE bearers) through Inter-CN Node Signaling
(S10 interface), allows efficient
the EPC for a UE. inter-MME tracking area updates
MMEs can be interconnected via the S10 interface and attaches

It generates and allocates temporary ids for UEs

 Serving Gateway
Evolved
S1-MME MME
Node B
S6a
(eNB)
S11
S1-U S5/S8

Serving PDN
Gateway Gateway Serving Gateway Functions

The serving gateway is a network element that manages Local Mobility Anchor Point:
Switching the User plane to a new
the user data path ( bearers) within EPC. eNB in case of Handover
It therefore connects via the S1-U interface towards eNB Mobility anchoring for inter-3GPP
and receives uplink packet data from here and transmits mobility. This is sometimes referred
downlink packet data on it. to as the 3GPP Anchor function

Thus the serving gateway is some kind of distribution and Packet Buffering and notification to
packet data anchoring function within EPC. MME for UEs in Idle Mode

It relays the packet data within EPC via the S5/S8 interface Packet Routing/Forwarding
to or from the PDN gateway. between eNB, PDN GW and SGSN

A serving gateway is controlled by one or more MMEs via Lawful Interception support
S11 interface.
At a given time, the UE is connected to the EPC via a single
Serving-GW
 Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway
MME
S6a
S11
S5/S8
Serving PDN LTE
Gateway Gateway
The PDN gateway provides the connection between
EPC and a number of external data networks.
Thus it is comparable to GGSN in 2G/3G networks.
A major functionality provided by a PDN gateway is the
QoS coordination between the external PDN and EPC.
Therefore the PDN gateway can be connected via S7 to
a PCRF (Policy and Charging Rule Function).
If a UE is connected simultaneously to several PDNs this
may involved connections to more than one PDN-GW
PDN Gateway Functions
Mobility anchor for mobility between
3GPP access systems and non-3GPP
access systems. This is sometimes
referred to as the LTE Anchor function
Policy Enforcement (PCEF)
Per User based Packet Filtering (i.e.
deep packet inspection)
Charging Support
Lawful Interception support
IP Address Allocation for UE
Packet Routing/Forwarding between
Serving GW and external Data Network
Packet screening (firewall functionality)
 Home Subscriber Server (HSS)
HSS

MME
S6a
HSS Functions

The HSS is already introduced by UMTS release 5. Permanent and central subscriber
database
With LTE/LTE the HSS will get additionally data per
subscriber for LTE mobility and service handling. Stores mobility and service data for
every subscriber
Some changes in the database as well as in the HSS
Contains the Authentication Center
protocol (DIAMETER) will be necessary to enable HSS (AuC) functionality.
for LTE/LTE.
The HSS can be accessed by the MME via S6a
interface.
 LTE UE Categories
All categories support 20 MHz
64QAM mandatory in downlink, but not in uplink (except Class 5)
2x2 MIMO mandatory in other classes except Class 1

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5

Peak rate DL/UL 10/5 Mbps 50/25 Mbps 100/50 Mbps 150/50 Mbps 300/75 Mbps
RF bandwidth 20 MHz 20 MHz 20 MHz 20 MHz 20 MHz
Modulation DL 64QAM 64QAM 64QAM 64QAM 64QAM
Modulation UL 16QAM 16QAM 16QAM 16QAM 64QAM
Rx diversity Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
BTS tx diversity 1-4 tx 1-4 tx 1-4 tx 1-4 tx 1-4 tx
MIMO DL Optional 2x2 2x2 2x2 4x4

Qualcomm first chipset has 50 Mbps downlink and 25 Mbps uplink

LTE-Channel
 DCCH
UL-SCH PUSCH
DTCH
UL

PUCCH
CCCH RACH PRACH
MTCH
MCH PMCH
MCCH
Transport channels

PDCCH
Logical channels

Air interface
Upper Layers

PHY
MAC
RLC

PCFICH
PHICH
DL

DTCH
DCCH
DL-SCH PDSCH
CCCH
PCCH PCH
BCCH BCH PBCH
Physical channels: These are transmission channels that carry user data and control
messages.

Transport channels: The physical layer transport channels offer information transfer
to Medium Access Control (MAC) and higher layers.

Logical channels: Provide services for the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer within
the LTE protocol structure.
 Logical channels

BCCH Broadcast Control CH

System information sent to all UEs
PCCH Paging Control CH
Paging information when addressing UE
CCCH Common Control CH
Access information during call establishment
DCCH Dedicated Control CH
User specific signaling and control
DTCH Dedicated Traffic CH
User data
MCCH Multicast Control CH
Signaling for multi-cast
MTCH Multicast Traffic CH
Multicast data

LTE Channels
 Transport channels

BCH Broadcast CH
Transport for BCCH
PCH Paging CH
Transport for PCH
DL-SCH Downlink Shared CH
Transport of user data and signaling. Used by
many logical channels
MCH Multicast channel
Used for multicast transmission
UL-SCH Uplink Shared CH
Transport for user data and signaling
RACH Random Access CH
Used for UEs accessing the network

LTE Channels
 Physical Channel

PDSCH Physical DL Shared CH

Uni-cast transmission and paging
PBCH Physical Broadcast CH
Broadcast information necessary for accessing the network
PMCH Physical Multicast Channel
Data and signaling for multicast
PDCCH Physical Downlink Control CH
Carries mainly scheduling information
PHICH Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator
Reports status of Hybrid ARQ
PCIFIC Physical Control Format Indicator
Information required by UE so that PDSCH can be
demodulated (format of PDSCH)
PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel
Uplink user data and signaling
PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel
Reports Hybrid ARQ acknowledgements
PRACH Physical Random Access Channel
Used for random access
LTE Channels
 Radio Resource Control (RRC) States
From a mobility perspective, the UE can be in one of three states.

LTE_DETACHED

LTE_IDLE

LTE_ACTIVE OFF
Power Up

LTE_DETACHED

Registration De-registration

Timeout of
LTE_ACTIVE
Tracking Area
Update/PLMN
Inactivity New Traffic
Change

LTE_IDLE
 UE States
Power On

Release due to
Registration (Attach) Inactivity
Allocate C-RNTI, S_TMSI Release RRC connection
Allocate IP addresses Release C-RNTI
Authentication Configure DRX for paging
Establish security context

LTE_DETACHED LTE_ACTIVE LTE_IDLE

Deregistration (Detach) New Traffic

Change PLMN
Establish RRC Connection
Release C-RNTI, S-TMSI Allocate C-RNTI
Release IP addresses

Timeout of Periodic TA
Update

Release S-TMSI
Release IP addresses
LTE_DETACHED state is typically a transitory state in which the UE is powered-on but is in

the process of searching and registering with the network.

LTE_ACTIVE state, the UE is registered with the network and has an RRC connection with

the eNB. In LTE_ACTIVE state, the network knows the cell to which the UE belongs and

can transmit/receive data from the UE.

LTE_IDLE state is a power-conservation state for the UE, where typically the UE is not

transmitting or receiving packets. In LTE_IDLE state, no context about the UE is stored in

the eNB. In this state, the location of the UE is only known at the MME and only at the

granularity of a tracking area (TA) that consists of multiple eNBs. The MME knows the TA

in which the UE last registered and paging is necessary to locate the UE to a cell.
Thank You