ONWUEJEOGWU IKECHUKWU SYLVESTER EAA 070810 A SEMINAR REPORT IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF A MASTERS DEGREE IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (MIT) FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY; LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY; OGBOMOSO, OYO STATE. MARCH 2008. ABSTRACT Based on the study, 4G mobile technology is in a determining and standardization stage. Although 4G wireless technology offers higher data rates and the ability to roam across multiple heterogeneous wireless networks, several issues require further research and development. Since 4G is still in the cloud of the sensible standards creation, ITU and IEEE form several task forces to work on the possible completion for the 4G mobile standards as well. 3GPP LTE is an evolution standard from UMTS, and WiMAX is another candidate from IEEE. These technologies have different characteristics and try to meet 4G characteristics to become a leading technology in the future market. Under these circumstances, this paper will present about the current trends and its underlying technologies to implement the 4G mobile technology. INTRODUCTION In a world of fast changing technology, there is the rising need for people to communicate and get connected with each other, having appropriate and timely access to information regardless of each individuals location or the information required. The increasing demands and requirements for wireless communication systems ubiquity have led to the need for a better understanding of fundamental issues in communication theory and electromagnetism; and their implications in the design of highly capable wireless systems. In the future, wireless service provision will be characterized by global mobile access (terminal and personal mobility), high quality of services (full coverage, intelligible, no drop and no/lower call blocking and latency), and easy and simple access to multimedia services for voice, data, message, video, world-wide web, GPS, etc via one single terminal. In continuous development of mobile environments, major service providers in the wireless market have kept on monitoring the growth of 4G mobile technology. The emerging 4G mobile communication systems are projected to solve still remaining problems associated with 3G systems and to provide a variety of new services, from high-quality voice to high-definition video to high data-rate wireless channels. The term 4G is used broadly to include several types of broadband wireless communication systems, not only cellular telephone systems. Mobile consumers want responsive and reliable cell calls, email paging, and web access. 4G is the difference between truly mobile as applied to merely portable computing and it is a difference that has since been understood by tens of thousands of workers who were left office- less since the September 11 attacks on lower Manhattan. One of the terms used to describe 4G is MAGIC- Mobile multimedia, anytime anywhere, global mobility support, integrated wireless solution, and customized personal service. As a promise for the future, 4G systems, that is, cellular broadband wireless access systems have been attracting much interest in the mobile communication arena. 4G systems not only will support the next generation of mobile services, but also will support fixed wireless networks. This seminar work presents an overall vision of the 4G features, framework, and integration of mobile communication. The features of 4G systems might be summarized with one word- INTEGRATION. 4G systems are all about seamless integrating terminals, networks, and applications to satisfy increasing user demands. The continuous expansion of mobile communication and wireless networks shows evidence of exceptional growth in the areas of mobile subscriber, wireless network access, mobile services and applications. An estimate of 1 billion users by the end of 2003 justifies the study and research for 4G mobile communication systems. Thus, the overall purpose of this report is to give the reader some fresh perspectives on the issue of 4G by looking at this technology, not as an isolated phenomenon, but as part of an on-going technological evolution. SECTION 1 1.0: HISTORY/EVOLUTION OF MOBILE TELEPHONE TECHNOLOGIES. Each generation of mobile technology has been based on a dominant technology, which has significantly improved spectrum capacity. Until the invention of IMT_2000, cellular networks had been developed under a number of proprietary standards. These various standards vary across each generation of mobile technology and each mobile service provider. Presently, mobile telephone technologies can be divided into four main generations; each generation is an improvement of the previous generations standards and with each generation came the need for a unified standardization of mobile technology to meet the increasing demands of mobile users. The first radio-telephone service was introduced in the US at the end of the 1940s, and was meant to connect mobile users in cars to the public fixed network. In the 1960s, a new system launched by Bell Systems, called Improved Mobile Telephone Service (IMTS), brought many improvements like direct dialing and higher bandwidth. The first analog cellular systems were based on IMTS and developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The systems were cellular because coverage areas were split into smaller areas or cells, each of which is served by a low power transmitter and receiver. A summary of each of these generations are highlighted below in the following sub-sections: 1.1: FIRST GENERATION (1G): In 1970 the first set of designs which have become known as 1G were implemented based on analog technology and basic cellular structure of mobile communication. Many fundamental problems were solved by these early systems such as the invention of the microprocessor and the digitization of the control link between the mobile phone and the cell site. A lot of incompatible analog systems were placed in service around the world during 1980s. Among such systems were; Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS): This was launched first in the US, an analog system based on FDMA technology. Today, it is the most used analog system and the second largest in the world. Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT): Developed in the Nordic countries (Asia, Russia, and other eastern European countries.) Total access communication system (TACS): First used in 1985 in the U.K and was based on the AMPS technology which had been launched earlier in the US. There were also numerous other proprietary systems associated with 1G which rarely sold outside the home country. 1.2: SECOUND GENERATION (2G): Designed in the 1980s, this generation of mobile technology was still used mainly for voice applications but was based on digital technology, including digital signal processing techniques. 2G systems provided circuit switched data communication services at a low speed. The competition to design and implementation of digital systems led once again to a variety of different incompatible standards such as; Global system for mobile communication (GSM): Developed in the 1980s through a pan-European initiative, involving the European commission, telecommunication operators and equipment manufacturers. GSM which was the first commercially operated digital cellular system uses TDMA technology. The standardization of GSM was the sole responsibility of the European telecommunications standards institute. It is being used by all European countries, and has been adopted in other continents (i.e. Africa). It is the dominant cellular standard today, with over 45% of the worlds subscribers as at April 1999. TDMA I S-136: This is the digital enhancement of the analog AMPS technology of the 1 st generation mobile technology. Also, called D-AMPS on its introduction in 1991. Its main objective was the protection of the substantial investment service providers had made in AMPS technology. Digital AMPS service have been launched in over 70 countries worldwide (by March 1999, there were almost 22 million TDMA handsets in circulation, dominant markets being America and parts of Asia. CDMA I S-95: A family of digital communication techniques and another US based system; CDMA IS-95 increases the capacity by using the entire radio band with each using a unique code called CDMA. These systems operate nationwide and internationally and are todays mainstream systems, although the data rate for users in these system is very limited. South Korea is the largest single CDMA IS-95 market in the world. Personal digital cellular (PDC): This is the second largest digital mobile standard which is exclusively used in Japan, where it was introduced in 1994. It is based on TDMA access technology. In November 2001, 66.39million PDC users were estimated in Japan. Personal handy-phone system (PHS): A digital system first launched in 1995 and used in Japan as a cheaper alternative to cellular systems. It is in between a cellular and a cordless technology with inferior coverage and limited usage in moving vehicles. It was estimated in November 2001 that Japan had 5.68 million PHS subscribers. 2.5G: The transition from 2G to 3G was technically challenging and highly expensive (it required development of radically new transmission technologies and vast capital outlay on new infrastructure.) Due to this reasons 2.5G technology was initiated as an intermediate standards for 3G. 2.5G radio transmission is radically different from 2G because it uses packet switching. General packet radio service (GPRS): A European 2.5G standard and the upgrade from GSM. GPRS overlays a packet-switched architecture onto the GSM circuit-switched architecture. It is a useful evolutionary step on the road to 3G because it gives telecoms operators experience of operating packet networks, and changing for packet data. Data transfer rates will reach 50kpbs. Enhanced data for global evolution (EDGE): Another upgrade from GSM, EDGE is attractive for American operators as it is possible to upgrade to EDGE from both TDMA (IS-136) networks as well as from GSM. EDGE data rates are 3 times faster than GPRS. 1.3: THIRD GENERATION (3G): The international telecommunication union (ITU), created the 3G standards known as IMT-2000. IMT-2000s aim is to bring harmonization worldwide to 3G systems for the provision of global roaming. It is in the mid-1980s that the concept for IMT- 2000, International Mobile Telecommunications, was born at the ITU as the third generation system for mobile communications. After over ten years of hard work under the leadership of the ITU, a historic decision was taken in the year 2000: unanimous approval of the technical specifications for third generation systems under the brand IMT-2000. The spectrum between 400 MHz and 3 GHz is technically suitable for the third generation. The entire telecommunication industry, including both industry, national and regional standards-setting bodies gave a concerted effort to avoid the fragmentation that had thus far characterized the mobile market. This approval meant that for the first time, full interoperability and internetworking of mobile systems could be achieved. IMT-2000 is the result of collaboration of many entities, inside the ITU (ITU-R and ITU-T), and outside the ITU (3GPP, 3GPP2, UWCC and so on) IMT-2000 offers the capability of providing value-added services and applications on the basis of a single standard. The system envisages a platform for distributing converged fixed, mobile, voice, data, internet and multimedia services. One of its key visions is to provide seamless global roaming, enabling users to move across borders while using the same number and handset. IMT- 2000 also aims to provide seamless delivery of services, over a number of media (satellite, fixed, etc). It is expected that IMT-2000 will provide higher transmission rates: a minimum speed of 2Mbit/s for stationary or walking users, and 348kbit/s in a moving vehicle. Second-generation systems only provide speeds ranging from 9.6kbit/s to 28.8kbit/s. In addition; IMT-2000 has the following key characteristics: Flexibility: With the large number of mergers and consolidations occurring in the mobile industry, and the move into foreign markets, operators wanted to avoid having to support a wide range of different interfaces and technologies. This would surely have hindered the growth of 3G worldwide. The IMT-2000 standard addresses this problem, by providing a highly flexible system, capable of supporting a wide range of services and applications. The IMT-2000 standard accommodates five possible radio interfaces based on three different access technologies (FDMA, TDMA and CDMA). Affordability: There was agreement among industry that 3G systems had to be affordable, in order to encourage their adoption by consumers and operators. Compatibility with existing systems: IMT-2000 services have to be compatible with existing systems. 2G systems, such as the GSM standard (prevalent in Europe, Asia and Africa) will continue to exist for some time and compatibility with these systems must be assured through effective/seamless migration paths. Modular Design: The vision for IMT-2000 systems is that they must be easily expandable in order to allow for growth in users, coverage areas, and new services, with minimum initial investment. Like the first two generations of mobile technology, harmonization has proved to be extremely difficult. As a result, 3G has left us with five different standards as grouped together under the IMT-2000 label, prominent among these standards are: W-CDMA: The 3G standards that have been agreed for Europe and Japan is known as UMTS. UMTS is an upgrade from GSM via GPRS or EDGE. UMTS is the European vision of 3G, and has been sold as the successor to the ultra-successful GSM. The standardization work for UMTS is being carried-out under the supervision of 3GPP. W- CDMA has recently been renamed 3GSM (to avoid confusion with CDMA2000). CDMA2000: Europes UMTS chief competitor is San Diego-based Qualcomms CDMA2000. The standardization work for CDMA2000 is being carried out under the supervision of the 3GPP2. Even though CDMA2000 and W-CDMA both have CDMA in their names, they are completely different systems using different technologies. CDMA2000 consists of two phases; phase 1 is 1XRTT (144kbps) (also known as 1X). The next evolutionary step is to the two CDMA2000 1X EV (EV= Evolution) standards. CDMA2000 1X EV-DO (Data only) will use separate frequencies for data and voice. The following step is to CDMA2000 1X EV-DV (Data and voice) which will integrate voice and data on the same frequency band. TD-CDMA/TD-SCDMA: The UMTS standard also contains another radio transmission standard which rarely is mentioned: TD-CDMA (also known as time division duplex (TDD UTRAN) because it is the TDD component of UTRAN). TD-CDMA was developed by siemens. While W-CDMA is a frequency division duplex (FDD) technology requiring paired spectrum, TD-CDMA is a TDD technology and thus can use unpaired spectrum. TDD is well suited to the transmission of internet data. DECT: Used for cordless phones you have at home, and is a standard that could be used for 3G short-range (hot-spots),hence, it could be considered as being part of a 3G network, but it does not allow full network coverage and so is not considered a core 3G standard. UWC-136: Another name given to EDGE which is considered generally as a 2.5G solution. Like DECT, UWC-136 does not allow full network coverage. At this point, the definition of what is and what is not "3G" becomes somewhat murky. Of these five standards, only three allow full network coverage over macro cells, micro cells and pico cells and can thus be considered as full bona fide 3G solutions: W-CDMA, CDMA2000, and TD-SCDMA. Table 1.0 below gives us a summary of mobile telephone technologies. Table 1.0: Short History of Mobile Telephone Technologies TECHNOLOGY 1G 2G 2.5G 3G 4G Design began 1970 1980 1985 1990 2000 Implementation 1984 1991 1999 2002 2010? Service Analog voice, synchronous data to 9.6kbps Digital voice, short messages Higher capacity, packetized data Higher capacity, broadband data up to 2Mbps Higher capacity, completely IP-oriented, multimedia, data to hundreds of megabits Standards AMPS, TACS, NMT etc TDMA, CDMA, GSM, PDC GPRS, EDGE, 1xRTT WCDMA, CDMA 2000 Single standard Data Bandwidth 1.9 kbps 14.4kbps 384 kbps 2Mbps 200Mbps Multiplexing FDMA TDMA, CDMA TDMA, CDMA CDMA CDMA?, OFDM Core Network PSTN PSTN PSTN,packet network Packet network Internet 1.4: ACCESS TECHNOLOGIES FOR 1G, 2G AND 3G FDMA: Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) is the most common analog system. It is a technique whereby spectrum is divided up into frequencies and then assigned to users. With FDMA, only one subscriber at any given time is assigned to a channel. The channel therefore is closed to other conversations until the initial call is finished, or until it is handed-off to a different channel. A full-duplex FDMA transmission requires two channels, one for transmitting and the other for receiving. FDMA has been used for first generation analog systems. TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) improves spectrum capacity by splitting each frequency into time slots. TDMA allows each user to access the entire radio frequency channel for the short period of a call. Other users share this same frequency channel at different time slots. The base station continually switches from user to user on the channel. TDMA is the dominant technology for the second generation mobile cellular networks. CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access is based on spread spectrum technology. Since it is suitable for encrypted transmissions, it has long been used for military purposes. CDMA increases spectrum capacity by allowing all users to occupy all channels at the same time. Transmissions are spread over the whole radio band, and each voice or data call are assigned a unique code to differentiate from the other calls carried over the same spectrum. CDMA allows for a soft hand-off, which means that terminals can communicate with several base stations at the same time. The dominant radio interface for third-generation mobile, or IMT-2000, will be a wideband version of CDMA with three modes (IMT-DS, IMT-MC and IMT-TC). Fig 1.0: Access Schemes SECTION 2 2.0: DEFINITION OF 4G 4G is the short term for fourth generation wireless, the stage of broadband mobile communications that will supersede 3G. While neither standards bodies nor carriers have concretely defined or agreed upon what exactly 4G will be, it is expected that end-to-end IP and high quality streaming video will be among 4Gs distinguishing features. Fourth generation networks are likely to use a combination of WiMAX and WiFi. A 4G system will be able to provide a comprehensive IP solution where voice, data and streamed multi-media can be given to users on an Anytime, Anywhere basis, and at higher data rates than previous generations (The future 4G infrastructures will consists of a set of various networks using IP (Internet Protocol) as a common protocol so that users are in control because they will be able to choose every application and environment). There is no formal definition for what 4G is; however, there are certain objectives that are projected for 4G. These objectives include: That 4G will be a fully IP-based integrated system. This will be achieved after wired and wireless technologies converge and will be capable of providing between 100Mbit/s and 1Gbit/s speeds both indoors and outdoors, with premium quality and high security. 4G will offer all types of services at an affordable cost. When fully implemented, 4G is expected to enable pervasive computing, in which simultaneous connections to multiple high-speed networks provide seamless handoffs through out a geographical area. Network operators may employ technologies such as cognitive radio and wireless mesh networks to ensure connectivity and efficiently distribute both network traffic and spectrum. The high speeds offered by 4G will create new markets and opportunities for both traditional and start up telecommunications companies. 4G networks, when coupled with cellular phones equipped with higher quality digital cameras and even HD capabilities, will enable v-logs to go mobile, as has already occurred with text-based mob-logs. New models for collaborative citizen journalism are likely to emerge as well in areas with 4G connectivity. Technologies employed by 4G may include SDR receivers, OFDM, OFDMA, MIMO technologies, UMTS and TD-SCDMA. All of these delivery methods are typified by high rates of data transmission and packet-switched transmission protocols. 3G technologies, by contrast, are a mix of packet and circuit-switched networks. 4G will be powered by a complete revolution in radio technology aimed at packing information more efficiently on scarce and expensive air waves. High spectral efficiency is made possible with a 4G interface technology called OFDM. In addition to this, another innovative technique that provides a killer combination for 4G wireless access is MIMO antenna technology. With MIMO, the BTS has the intelligence to further boost capacity and coverage using various algorithms that take advantage of the mobile environment to provide the multi-megabit per-second user experience. On the core network side, 4G combines many of the routing and mobility management functions to deliver a flat all IP- network architecture that enhances data performance and reduces operational costs. We are on the threshold of a new era with more innovation and opportunity not witnessed in previous eras. 4G will eliminate the gap between mobile and fixed broadband. It will create revenue and cost reduction opportunities for service providers and a rich seamless experience for the end-user, making wireless broadband affordable and facilitating a gamut of applications from basic VOIP to bandwidth hungry video applications in fixed or mobile environments. OFDM and MIMO have proven to be the most cost-effective air interface solutions that will also deliver the scalability required for mobile broadband performance enhancement for years to come. Up to 2001, web-based service by using dial-up or always-on IP connection has been dominant. Now, mobile Internet is very popular and the driving force is mobile. The flexible and secure broadband seamless networking is the key to establish ubiquitous network which is characterized by distributed computing, broadband and wireless, and peer-to peer for everything, and driving force is service. In our view, 4G systems are regarded as a shopping mall type, whereas 3G systems are department store type. Key issues for seamless operation are: Service discovery and fast seamless connections/services in the IP-based multi-modal access Mobility management IP multimedia services platform independent of radio access technology and underlying IP transport technology Enhancement to support Human (H) to H, H to Machine (M) and M to M communications Flexible introduction of new technologies into a system and service Fig 2.0: Seamless IP-based 4G Network 2.1: OBJECTIVE AND APPROACH OF 4G Certain objectives have been projected for 4G. These objectives include: that 4G will be a fully IP-based integrated system. This will be achieved after wired and wireless technologies converge and will be capable of providing between 100 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s speeds both indoors and outdoors, with premium quality and high security. 4G will offer all types of services at an affordable cost. 4G is being developed to accommodate the QoS and rate requirements set by forthcoming applications like wireless broadband access, Multimedia Messaging Service, video CONNECTION IP CORE NETWORK CELLULAR GSM 2G+ CELLULAR UMTS 3G BROADCAST SHORT RANGE PAN/LAN/W AN/MAN CELLULAR 4G WLAN HIPERLAN chat, mobile TV, High definition TV content, DVB, minimal service like voice and data, and other streaming services for "anytime-anywhere". The 4G working group has defined the following as objectives of the 4G wireless communication standard: A spectrally efficient system (in bits/s/Hz and bits/s/Hz/site), High network capacity: more simultaneous users per cell, A nominal data rate of 100 Mbit/s while the client physically moves at high speeds relative to the station, and 1 Gbit/s while client and station are in relatively fixed positions as defined by the ITU-R, A data rate of at least 100 Mbit/s between any two points in the world, Smooth handoff across heterogeneous networks, Seamless connectivity and global roaming across multiple networks, High quality of service for next generation multimedia support (real time audio, high speed data, HDTV video content, mobile TV, etc) , Interoperability with existing wireless standards, and An all IP, packet switched network. In summary, the 4G system should dynamically share and utilise network resources to meet the minimal requirements of all the 4G enabled users. 2.2: REASONS TO HAVE 4G The following are a few reasons to have 4G: Support for interactive multimedia services: teleconferencing, wireless internet. Wider bandwidths, higher bit rates. Global mobility, service portability and low cost. Scalability of mobile networks 2.3: MOTIVATION FOR 4G RESEARCH 3G performance may not be sufficient to meet needs of future high-performance applications like multi-media, full-motion video, wireless teleconferencing. We need a network technology that extends 3G capacity by an order of magnitude. There are multiple standards for 3G making it difficult to roam and interoperate across networks. we need global mobility and service portability 3G is based on primarily a wide-area concept. We need hybrid networks that utilize both wireless LAN (hot spot) concept and cell or base-station wide area network design. We need wider bandwidth Researchers have come up with spectrally more efficient modulation schemes that can not be retrofitted into 3G infrastructure We need all digital packet networks that utilize IP in its fullest form with converged voice and data capability Fig 2.1: Key elements of 4G Vision 2.4: 4G CHARACTERISTICS CONVERGENCE SERVI CES: The idea of convergence means the creation of an atmosphere that can eventually provide seamless, high-reliable, quality broadband mobile communication service and ubiquitous service through wired and wireless convergence networks without the space problem and terrestrial limitation, by means of ubiquitous connectivity. Convergence among industries is also accelerated by formation of alliances through participation in various projects to provide convergence services. 4G mobile systems will mainly be characterized by a horizontal communication model, where such different access technologies as cellular, cordless, wireless LAN type systems, short-range wireless connectivity, and wired systems will be combined on a common platform to complement each other in the best possible way for different service requirements and radio environments. The development is expected to inspire the trend of progressive information technologies far from the current technical focus on fully mobile and widespread convergence of media. The trends from the service perspective include integration of services and convergence of service delivery mechanisms. In accordance with these trends, mobile network architecture will become flexible and versatile, and new services will be easy to deploy. BROADBAND SERVI CES: Broadband is a basis for the purpose of enabling multimedia communications including video service, which requires transmission of a large amount of data; it naturally calls media convergence aspect, based on packet transport, advocating the integration of various media on different qualities. The increasing position of broadband services like ADSL and optical fiber access systems and office or home LANs is expected to lead to a demand for similar services in the mobile communication environment. 4G service application characteristics will give broadband service its advantages; 2010 Ubiquitous Mobile Access Fully Converged Services Diverse User Devices Autonomous Networks Software Independency 1) Low cost: To make broadband services available to the user to exchange various kinds of information, it is necessary to lower charges considerably in order to keep the cost at or below the cost of existing service. 2) Coverage of Wide Area: One feature of mobile communications is that its availability and omnipresent. That advantage is important for future mobile communication as well. In particular, it is important to maintain the service area in which the terminals of the new system can be used during the transition from the existing system to a new system. 3) Wide Variety of Services Capability: Mobile communication is for various types of users. In the future, we expect to make the advanced system performance and functionality to introduce a variety of services not only the ordinary telephone service. Those services must be made easier for anyone to use. 2.5: OPEN WIRELESS ARCHITECTURE (OWA) Fourth Generation (4G) mobile communications would not focus only on the data rate increase and new air interfaces. 4G mobile would also, converge the advanced wireless mobile communications and high-speed wireless access systems into an Open Wireless Architecture (OWA) platform which becomes the core of this emerging next generation mobile technology. Based on this OWA model, 4G mobile will deliver the best business cases to the wireless and mobile industries, i.e cdma2000/WLAN/GPRS 3-in-1 product, W-CDMA/OFDM/WLAN 3-in-1 product, etc. This converged wireless communications can provide the following advantages: Greatly increase the spectrum efficiency Mostly ensure the highest data-rate to the wireless terminal Best share the network resources and channel utilization Optimally manage the service quality and multimedia applications Any single architecture wireless system, including 3G, HSDPA, WiMAX etc is a transitional solution only, and will be replaced by open wireless architecture system very soon where various different wireless standards can be integrated and converged on this open platform. The 4G mobile communications will be based on the Open Wireless Architecture (OWA) to ensure the single terminal can seamlessly and automatically connect to the local high-speed wireless access systems when the users are in the offices, airports, homes or shopping mall where wireless access networks (i.e. Wireless LAN, Broadband Wireless Access, Wireless Local Loop, Home RF, Wireless ATM etc) are available. When the users move to the mobile zone (i.e. High-way, Beach, Remote area etc), the same terminal, can automatically switch to the wireless mobile networks (i.e. GPRS, W-CDMA, cdma2000, TD-SCDMA, etc.) A characteristic of "4G" networks is that they are fundamentally based upon TCP/IP, the core protocol of the Internet, with higher level services such as voice, video, and messaging, built on top of this. An all IP-based 4G wireless network has intrinsic advantages over its predecessors. For starters, IP is compatible with, and independent of, the actual radio access technology. "With IP, you basically get rid of the lock-in between the core networking protocol and the link layer of the radio protocol. "IP tolerates a variety of radio protocols. It lets you design a core network that gives you complete flexibility as to what the access network is. You could be a core network provider that supports many different access technologies, 802.11, WCDMA, Bluetooth, HyperLAN, and some that we haven't even invented yet, such as some new CDMA protocols." An all IP network's technology tolerance means unimpeded innovation all around. "The core IP network can evolve independently from the access network. That's the key for using all IP. A 4G IP wireless network enjoys a financial advantage over 3G as well. "4G equipment costs are four to ten times cheaper than equivalent circuit-switched equipment for 2G and 3G wireless infrastructure." An open system IP wireless environment would probably further reduce the cost for service providers by ushering in an era of real equipment interoperability. Wireless service providers would no longer be bound by single-system vendors of proprietary equipment. An IP wireless network would replace the old SS7 telecommunications protocol, a task that many believe to be long overdue. The SS7 network is massively redundant. That's because SS7 signal transmission uses a heartbeat that consumes a large part of the network bandwidth even when there is no signaling traffic. IP networks use other less bandwidth-expensive mechanisms to achieve reliability. Last but not least, an all-IP wireless core network would enable services that are sufficiently varied for consumers. That means improved data access for mobile Internet devices. Today, wireless communications are heavily biased towards voice, even though studies indicate that growth in wireless data traffic is rising exponentially relative to demand for voice traffic. Because an all IP core layer is easily scalable, it is ideally suited to meet this challenge. "The goal; "is a merged data/voice/multimedia network." 2.6: KEY 4G TECHNOLOGIES: Many technologies are competing on the road to 4G. Some of these key technologies are described below as follows. MULTIPLE INPUT, MULTIPLE OUTPUT (MIMO) The performance of radio communications obviously depends on the advances of an antenna system, refered to as smart or intelligent antenna. Recently, multiple antenna technologies are emerging to achieve the goal of 4G systems such as high rate, high reliability, and long range communications. In the early 90s, to cater for the growing data rate needs of data communication, many transmission schemes were proposed. One technology, spatial multiplexing, gained importance for its bandwidth conservation and power efficiency. Spatial multiplexing involves deploying multiple antennas at the transmitter and at the receiver. Independent streams can then be transmitted simultaneously from all the antennas. This increases the data rate into multiple folds with the number equal to minimum of the number of transmit and receive antennas. This is called MIMO (as a branch of intelligent antenna). Apart from this, the reliability in transmitting high speed data in the fading channel can be improved by using more antennas at the transmitter or at the receiver. This is called transmit or receive diversity. Both transmit/receive diversity and transmit spatial multiplexing are categorized into the space- time coding techniques, which does not necessarily require the channel knowledge at the transmit. The other category is closed-loop multiple antenna technologies which use the channel knowledge at the transmitter. In radio, multiple-input and multiple-output, or MIMO (pronounced mee-moh or my-moh), is the use of multiple antennas at both the transmitter and receiver to improve communication performance. It is one of several forms of smart antenna (SA), and the state of the art of SA technology. MIMO technology has attracted attention in wireless communications, since it offers significant increases in data throughput and link range without additional bandwidth or transmit power. It achieves this by higher spectral efficiency (more bits per second per hertz of bandwidth) and link reliability or diversity (reduced fading). Because of these properties, MIMO is a current theme of international wireless research. FUNCTIONS OF MIMO MIMO can be sub-divided into three main categories, precoding, spatial multiplexing and diversity coding. Precoding is multi-layer beam-forming in a narrow sense or all spatial processing at the transmitter in a wide-sense. In beam-forming, the same signal is emitted from each of the transmit antennas with appropriate phase weighting such that the signal power is maximized at the receiver input. The benefits of beam-forming are to increase the signal gain from constructive combining and to reduce the multipath fading effect. In the absence of scattering, beam-forming results in a well defined directional pattern, but in typical cellular, conventional beams are not a good analogy. When the receiver has multiple antennas, the transmit beam-forming cannot simultaneously maximize the signal level at all of the receive antenna and precoding is used. Note that precoding requires knowledge of the channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter. Spatial multiplexing requires MIMO antenna configuration. In spatial multiplexing, a high rate signal is split into multiple lower rate streams and each stream is transmitted from a different transmit antenna in the same frequency channel. If these signals arrive at the receiver antenna array with sufficiently different spatial signatures, the receiver can separate these streams, creating parallel channels for free. Spatial multiplexing is a very powerful technique for increasing channel capacity at higher SNR. The maximum number of spatial streams is limited by lessen the number of antennas at the transmitter or receiver. Spatial multiplexing can be used with/without transmit channel knowledge. It can also be combined with precoding when the channel is known at the transmitter or combined with diversity coding when decoding reliability is in trade-off Diversity coding techniques are used when there is no channel knowledge at the transmitter. In diversity coding a single stream (unlike multiple streams in spatial multiplexing) is transmitted, but the signal is coded using techniques called space-time coding. The signal is emitted from each of the transmit antennas using certain principles of full/near orthogonal coding. Diversity exploits the independent fading in the multiple antenna links to enhance signal diversity. Because there is no channel knowledge, there is no beam-forming/array gain from diversity coding. FORMS OF MIMO Multi-antenna types: Up to now, multi-antenna MIMO technology has been mainly developed and is implemented in some standards, e.g. 802.11n (draft) products. SISO/SIMO/MISO are degenerate cases of MIMO Multiple-input and single-output (MISO) is a degenerate case when the receiver has a single antenna. Single-input and multiple-output (SIMO) is a degenerate case when the transmitter has a single antenna. single-input single-output (SISO) is a radio system where neither the transmitter nor receiver have multiple antenna. Multi-user types: Recently, the research on multi-user MIMO technology is emerging. While full multi-user MIMO can have higher potentials, from its practicality the research on multi-user MIMO technology is more active. Multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) PU 2 RC allows the network to allocate each antenna to the different users instead of allocating only single user as in single-user MIMO scheduling. The network can transmit user data through a codebook-based spatial beam or physical antenna. Efficient user scheduling, such as pairing spatially distinguishable users with codebook based spatial beams, are additionally discussed for the simplification of wireless networks in terms of additional wireless resource requirements and complex protocol modification. Enhanced multiuser MIMO: 1) Employ advanced decoding techniques, 2) Employ advanced precoding techniques SDMA represents either space-division multiple access or super-division multiple access where super emphasises that orthogonal division such as frequency and time division is not used but non-orthogonal approaches such as super-position coding are used. Cooperative MIMO (CO-MIMO) : Utilizes distributed antennas which belong to other users. Fig 2.2: Understanding of SISO, SIMO, MISO and MIMO Fig 2.3: MIMO Communication IPv6 Unlike 3G, which is based on two parallel infrastructures consisting of circuit switched and packet switched network nodes respectively, 4G will be based on packet switching only. This will require low-latency data transmission. It is generally believed that 4th generation wireless networks will support a greater number of wireless devices that are directly addressable and routable. So, in the context of 4G, IPv6 is an important network layer technology and standard that can support a large number of wireless-enabled devices. By increasing the number of IP addresses, IPv6 removes the need for NAT, a method of sharing a limited number of addresses among a larger group of devices. IPv6 also enables a number of applications with better multicast, security, and route optimization capabilities. With the available address space and number of addressing bits, many innovative coding schemes can be developed for 4G devices and applications that could aid deployment of 4G networks and services. ORTHOGONAL FREQUENCY DIVISION MULTIPLEXING OFDM is an extremely successful radio access technology that is ideal for high data rate communications. It is currently deployed in a number of wireless and wire-line applications including broadcast (DAB and DVB), wireless WLAN (IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11g) and WiMAX (IEEE 802.16), and ADSL/ADSL2+. OFDM has proven, as indicated by these extensive applications, to be an extremely scalable and spectrally efficient technology for wireless broadband data communications. It is widely accepted as the basis for the air-interface technology necessary to meet the requirements of 4G mobile networks. OFDM not only provides clear advantages for physical layer performance, but also a framework for improving layer 2 performance by proposing an additional degree of freedom. Using ODFM, it is possible to exploit the time domain, the space domain, the frequency domain and even the code domain to optimize radio channel usage. It ensures very robust transmission in multi-path environments with reduced receiver complexity. Signal is split into orthogonal sub-carriers, on each of which the signal is narrowband and therefore immune to multi-path effects, provided a guard interval is inserted between each OFDM symbol. OFDM also provides a frequency diversity gain, improving the physical layer performance. It is also compatible with other enhancement technologies, such as SA and MIMO. OFDM modulation can also be employed as a multiple access technology (OFDMA). In this case, each OFDM symbol can transmit information to/from several users using a different set of sub-carriers (sub-channels). This not only provides additional flexibility for resource allocation (increasing the capacity), but also enables cross-layer optimization of radio link usage. 2.7: ORTHAGONAL FREQUENCY-DIVISION MULTIPLE ACCESS OFDMA is a multi-user version of the popular OFDM digital modulation scheme. Multiple access is achieved in OFDMA by assigning subsets of subcarriers to individual users . This allows simultaneous low data rate transmission from several users. Based on feedback information about the channel conditions, adaptive user-to-subcarrier assignment can be achieved. If the assignment is done sufficiently fast, this further improves the OFDM robustness to fast fading and narrow-band co-channel interference, and makes it possible to achieve even better system spectral efficiency. Different number of sub-carriers can be assigned to different users, in view to support differentiated QoS, i.e. to control the data rate and error probability individually for each user. OFDMA resembles CDMA spread spectrum, where users can achieve different data rates by assigning a different code spreading factor or a different number of spreading codes to each user. OFDMA can also be seen as an alternative to combining OFDM with TDMA or time-domain statistical multiplexing, i.e. packet mode communication. Low data rate users can send continuously with low transmission power instead of using a "pulsed" high-power carrier. Constant delay, and shorter delay, can be achieved. However, OFDMA can also be described as a combination of frequency domain and time domain multiple access, where the resources are partitioned in the time-frequency space, and slots are assigned along the OFDM symbol index as well as OFDM sub-carrier index. SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO SDR benefits from todays high processing power to develop multi-band, multi-standard base stations and terminals. Although in future the terminals will adapt the air interface to the available radio access technology, at present this is done by the infrastructure. Several infrastructure gains are expected from SDR. For example, to increase network capacity at a specific time (e.g. during a sports event), an operator will reconfigure its network adding several modems at a given BTS. SDR makes this reconfiguration easy. In the context of 4G systems, SDR will become an enabler for the aggregation of multi-standard pico/micro cells. For a manufacturer, this can be a powerful aid to providing multi-standard, multi-band equipment with reduced development effort and costs through simultaneous multi-channel processing. 2.8: DEFINITION OF TERMS WiMAX: Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a telecommunications technology aimed at providing wireless data over long distances in a variety of ways, from point- to-point links to full mobile cellular type access. It is based on the IEEE 802.16 standard, which is also called WirelessMAN. The name WiMAX was created by the WiMAX Forum, formed in June 2001 to promote conformance/interoperability of the standard. The forum describes WiMAX as "a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access as an alternative to cable and DSL." USES: The bandwidth/reach of WiMAX make it suitable for these potential applications: Connecting Wi-Fi hotspots with each other and to other parts of the internet. Providing a wireless alternative to cable and DSL for last mile broadband access. Providing high-speed data and telecommunications services. Providing a diverse source of Internet connectivity as part of a business continuity plan. That is, if a business has a fixed and a wireless internet connection, especially from unrelated providers, they are unlikely to be affected by the same service outage. Providing nomadic connectivity. SPECTRAL EFFICIENCY Spectral efficiency/spectrum efficiency refers to the amount of information that can be transmitted over a given bandwidth in a specific communication system. It is a measure of how efficiently a limited frequency spectrum is utilized by the physical layer protocol, and sometimes by the media access control (the channel access protocol). LINK SPECTRAL EFFICIENCY The link spectral efficiency of a digital communication system is measured in bit/s/Hz, and is the maximum throughput of a point-to-point link with a given modulation method. If a FEC code is combined with the modulation, a "bit" refers to a user data bit; FEC overhead is always excluded. A transmission technique using one kilo hertz of bandwidth to transmit 1000 bits/sec has a spectral efficiency of 1 bit/s/Hz. SYSTEM SPECTRAL EFFICIENCY OR AREA SPECTRAL EFFICIENCY In digital wireless networks, the system spectral efficiency or area spectral efficiency is typically measured in bit/s/Hz/area unit, bit/s/Hz/cell or bit/s/Hz/site. It is a measure of the quantity of users/services that can be simultaneously supported by a limited radio frequency bandwidth in a defined geographic area. It may be defined as the maximum throughput/goodput, summed over all users in the system, divided by the channel bandwidth. This measure is affected not only by the single user transmission technique, but also by multiple access schemes and radio resource management techniques utilized. It can be substantially improved by dynamic radio resource management. If it is defined as a measure of the maximum goodput, retransmissions due to co-channel interference and collisions are excluded. Higher-layer protocol overhead is normally neglected. QUALITY OF SERVICE In the field computer networking and other packet-switched telecommunication networks, the traffic engineering term QoS, refers to resource reservation control mechanisms rather than the achieved service quality. Quality of Service is the ability to provide different priority to different applications, users, or data flows, or to guarantee a certain level of performance to a data flow. For example, a required bit rate, delay, jitter, packet dropping probability and/or bit error rate may be guaranteed. Quality of Service guarantees are important if the network capacity is insufficient, especially for real-time streaming multimedia applications such as VOIP and IP-TV, since these often require fixed bit rate and are delay sensitive, and in networks where the capacity is a limited resource, for example in cellular data communication. In absence of network congestion, QoS mechanisms are not required. A network/protocol that supports QoS may agree on a traffic contract with the application software and reserve capacity in the network nodes, for example during a session establishment phase. During the session it may monitor the achieved level of performance, for example the data rate and delay, and dynamically control scheduling priorities in the network nodes. It may release the reserved capacity during a tear down phase. A best-effort network or service does not support QoS. An alternative to complex QoS control mechanisms is to provide high quality communication over a best-effort network by over- provisioning the capacity so that it is sufficient for the expected peak traffic load. In the field of telephony, QoS was defined in the ITU standard X.902 as "A set of quality requirements on the collective behavior of one or more objects". QoS comprises requirements on all the aspects of a connection, such as service response time, loss, SNR, cross-talk, echo, interrupts, frequency response, loudness levels, and so on. A subset of telephony QoS is GoS requirements, which comprises aspects of a connection relating to capacity and coverage of a network, for example guaranteed maximum blocking probability and outage probability. QoS is sometimes used as a quality measure, with many alternative definitions, rather than referring to the ability to reserve resources. QoS sometimes refers to the level of Quality of service (guaranteed service quality). High QoS is often confused with a high level of performance/achieved service quality, i.e high bit rate, low latency and low bit error probability. APPLICATIONS REQUIRING QUALITY OF SERVICE. A defined QoS may be required for certain types of network traffic, for example Streaming multimedia may require guaranteed throughput to insure that a minimum level of quality is maintained. IP telephony/VOIP may require strict limits on jitter and delay VTC requires low jitter and latency Alarm signalling (e.g Burglar alarm) Dedicated link emulation requires both guaranteed throughput and imposes limits on maximum delay and jitter Safety-critical application, such as remote surgery may require a guaranteed level of availability (this is also called hard QoS). Remote system administrator may want to prioritize variable, and usually small, amounts of SSH traffic to ensure a responsive session even over a heavily-laden link. These types of service are called inelastic, meaning that they require a certain minimum level of bandwidth and a certain maximum latency to function. By contrast, elastic applications can take advantage of however much or little bandwidth is available. Bulk file transfer applications that rely on TCP are generally elastic. SECTION 3 3.0: CONCLUSION In the future wireless service provision will be characterized by global mobile access (terminal/personal mobility), high quality of services (full coverage, intelligible, no drop and no/lower call blocking and latency), and easy and simple access to multimedia services for voice, data, message, video, world-wide web, GPS, etc. via ONE user SINGLE terminal. This vision from the user perspective can be implemented by integration of these different evolving and emerging wireless access technologies in a common flexible and expandable platform to provide a multiplicity of possibilities for current and future services and applications to users in a single terminal. Systems of fourth generation mobile will mainly be characterized by a horizontal communication model, where different access technologies as cellular, cordless, WLAN type systems, short range wireless connectivity and wired systems will be combined on a common platform to complement each other in an optimum way for different service requirements and radio environments which is technically called "Converged Broadband Wireless Platform, or Open Wireless Architecture (OWA)". OWA defines the open interfaces in wireless networks and systems, including base-band signal processing parts, RF parts, networking parts, and OS and application parts, so that the system can support different industrial standards and integrate the various wireless networks into an open broadband platform. For comparison, SDR is only a radio in which the operating parameters including inter alia frequency range, modulation type, and/or output power limitations can be set or altered by software. Therefore, SDR is just one of the implemental modules of the OWA system. OWA will eventually become the global industry leading solution to integrate various wireless air-interfaces into one wireless open terminal where the same end equipment can flexibly work in the wireless access domain as well as in the mobile cellular networks. As mobile terminal (rather than wire-line phone) will become the most important communicator in future, this single equipment with single number and multiple air interfaces (powered by OWA) will definitely dominate the wireless communication industries. As stated in the newest OECD report in April 2005, "As too many wireless systems come out every day, the current closed architecture and proprietary systems do not bode well for its success", therefore open architecture platform will definitely drive the future wireless and mobile communications. 4G mobile communication will basically focus on the Open Wireless Architecture, and Cost-effective and Spectrum-efficient High-speed wireless mobile transmission. The 3G system suffers tremendously worldwide because it did not fundamentally improve the wireless architecture, and making the architecture open is the final solution in the wireless industry. The 4G system is projected to be a convergence platform extended to all network layers for a wide variety of new high-quality services. These network layers span from Fixed Wired (no mobility), through Personal Networks, Hot Spots, Metropolitan, Cellular, and to the Distribution Networks. The support and availability of these networks will enable the end user to be connected "almost" anywhere and sharing the networks will smooth the problem related to spectrum limitation of 3G cellular networks. Thus 4G has recently been referred to as a Network of Networks. 3.1: WHAT IS NEEDED TO BUILD 4G NETWORKS OF THE FUTURE? A number of spectrum allocation decisions, spectrum standardization decisions, spectrum availability decisions, technology innovations, component development, signal processing and switching enhancements and inter-vendor cooperation have to take place before the vision of 4G will materialize. 3G experiences (good or bad, technological or business) will be useful in guiding the industry in this effort. The following issues and problems that must be analyzed and resolved: Lower Price Points Only Slightly Higher than Alternatives: The business visionaries should do some economic modeling before they start 4G hype on the same lines as 3G hype. They should understand that 4G data applications like streaming video must compete with very low cost wire-line applications. The users would pay only a delta premium (not a multiple) for most wireless pplications. More Coordination Among Spectrum Regulators Around the World: Spectrum regulation bodies must get involved in guiding the researchers by indicating which frequency band might be used for 4G. FCC in USA must cooperate more actively with International bodies like ITU and perhaps modify its hands-off policy in guiding the industry. When public interest, national security interest and economic interest are at stake, leadership must come from regulators. At appropriate time, industry builds its own self-regulation mechanisms. More Academic Research: Universities must spend more effort in solving fundamental problems in radio communications (especially multi-band and wideband radios, intelligent antennas and signal processing. Standardization of Wireless Networks: In terms of modulation techniques, switching schemes and roaming is an absolute necessity for 4G. A Voice-independent Business Justification Thinking: Business development and technology executives should not bias their business models by using voice channels as economic determinant for data applications. Voice has a built-in demand limit - data applications do not. Integration Across Different Network Topologies: Network architects must base their architecture on hybrid network concepts that integrates wireless WANS, wireless LANS (IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.15 and IEEE 802.16, Bluetooth with fiber-based Internet backbone). Broadband wireless networks must be a part of this integrated network architecture. Non-disruptive Implementation: 4G must allow us to move from 3G to 4G. Strengths in 4G: 4G visions take into account installed base and past investments Strong position of telecommunications vendors expected in the marketplace. Faster data transmission and higher bit rate and bandwidth, allow more business applications and commercialization. Has advantage for personalized multimedia communication tools. Weakness in 4G: No large user community for advanced mobile data applications yet Growing divergence between telecommunications vendors and operators Not possible to offer full internet experience due to limited speed and bandwidth Comparatively higher cost to use and deploy infrastructure compared fast mobile generation Opportunities in 4G: Evolutionary approach may yield opportunities for the 4G. Emphasis on heterogeneous networks capitalizes on past investments Strategic alliance and coalition opportunities with traditional non-telecommunication industries. Sophisticated and mature commercialization of 4G technology would encourage more applications of e-commerce and m-commerce Worldwide economy recover stimulates consumption and consumer confidence, therefore bring in opportunities for telecommunication sections It is expected and predicted that consumers will continue to replace handsets with newer technology at a fast rate. Desirable higher data capacity rates, the growth opportunity for 4G is very bright and hopeful. Threats in 4G: Faster rate of growth and developments in other region Since 3G mobile is still in the market, it squeezes the market competition in the mobile industry. GLOSSARY 1G First Generation 2G Second Generation 3G Third Generatiom 3GPP 3 rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP2 3 rd Generation Partnership Project 2 4G Fourth Generation ADSL Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Loop ADSL Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line AMPS Advanced Mobile Phone System BTS Base Transmission Station CSI Channel State Information CDMA Code Division Multiple Access CO-MIMOCooperative MIMO DAB Digital Audio Broadcast D-AMPS Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System DVB Digital Video Broadcast EDGE Enhanced Data for Global Evolution FDMA Frequency Division Multiple Access FEC Forward Error Correction GoS Grade of Service GPRS General Packet Radio Service GSMGlobal System for Mobile Communication HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers IETF Internet Engineering task force IMTS Improved Mobile Telephone Service IMT International Mobile Telecommunications ITU International Telecommunication Union ITU-T International Telecommunication Union Telecommunications LAN Local Area Network MIMO Multiple Input Multiple Output MISO Multiple Input Single Output MU-MIMO Multi-User MIMO NAT Network Address Translation NMT Nordic Mobile Telephone OECD Organization of Economy, Cooperation and Development OFDMOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access OS Operating System OWA Open Wireless Architecture PDC Personal Digital Cellular PHS Personal Handy-Phone System QoS Quality of Service SA Smart Antenna SDMA Space Division Multiple Access/ Super Division Multiple Access SDR Software Defined Radio SIMO Single Input Multiple Output SISO Single Input Single Output SMSpatial Multiplexing SNR Signal-to-Noise Ratio SS7 Signaling System 7 TACS Total Access Communication System TDMA Time Division Multiple Access VOIP Voice over IP VoWLAN Voice over Wireless LAN WAP Wireless Application Protocol WIBRO Wireless Broadband WiFi Wireless Fidelity WiMAX World-wide Interoperability for Microwave Access TCP/IP Transmission Control Protocol/Internet protocol ISDN Integrated Services Digital Network LAN Local Area Network MMS Multimedia Messaging Service UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems VPN Virtual Private Network VTC Video Teleconferencing REFERENCES http://3gamericas.com/PDFs/3G_Americas_Defining_4G_WP_July2007.pdf http://www1.alcatel-lucent.com/com/en/appcontent/apl/A0506-4G_Mobile- EN_tcm172-262201635.pdf http://b3g.org/docs/OWA_China_Communications_April06.pdf http://www.3glicensing.com/news.asp. http://www.3gpp.org/Highlights/LTE/LTE.htm http://www.bechteltelecoms.com/docs/Article2.pdf http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-18-2004-56792.asp http://www.cdg.org/technology/applications.asp http://www.cellular.co.za/technologies/cdma/cdma2000.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spectral_efficiency http://www.eurotechnology.com/4G/index.html http://www.federalnewsradio.com/pdfs/OpenWirelessArchitecture.pdf http://www.icics.org/2005/download/P0842.pdf http://www.iese.edu/en/files/6_13370.pdf http://www.intoweb.co.za/articles-3g.html http://www.itu.int http://www.itu.int/osg/csd/ni/3G/technology/index.html http://www.mobileinfo.com/3G/4GVision&Technologies.htm http://www.nd.edu/~mhaenggi/NET/wireless/4G/ http://nicta.com.au/business/nicta_short_courses/flyers/freeseminars/Broadband_ Wireless_Technologies_and_Business.pdf http://www.ntt.co.jp/tr/0409/files/ntr200409012.pdf http://www.nortel.com/solutions/4g/nn121221.pdf http://www.ptc.org/events/ptc07/program/papers/T24_RoyConsulta.pdf http://www.sasase.ics.keio.ac.jp/pdf/Research%20Activities%20on%20Mobie%2 0and%2 0Wireless%20Communications%20(Sasase%20Lab.).pdf http://www.three-g.net/3g_spectrum.html http://www.three-g.net/3g_technology.html http://www.umtsworld.com/technology/overview.htm http://www.wolfcontractors.com/Article-4G.html