LTE Mobility Management

Contents

LTE Measurements
PLMN Selection
Cell Selection/Re-selection
Handover

LTE Measurements
Intra LTE measurements ( from LTE to LTE)
UE measurements
CQI measurements
Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)
Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ)
e-NodB measurements
Standardized: DL RS Tx Power, Received Interference Power, Thermal Noise Power
Non standardized :TA, Average RSSI, Average SINR, detected PRACH preambles, transport
channel BLER

Measurements from LTE to other systems

UE measurements are mainly intended for handover.
UTRA FDD: CPICH RSCP, CPICH Ec/No and carrier RSSI
GSM: GSM carrier RSSI
UTRA TDD: carrier RSSI, RSCP, P-CCPCH
CDMA2000: 1xRTT Pilot Strength, HRPD Pilot Strength

LTE Measurements
List of detected preambles
The eNB shall report a list of detected PRACH preambles to higher layers. Higher layer utilize this
info for the RACH procedure

Transport BLER
The ACK/ NACKs for each transmission of the HARQ process are reported to the MAC. Based on
these ACK/NACKs the higher layers compute the BLER for RRM issues.

TA
The eNB needs to measure the initial timing advance (TA) of the uplink channels based on the RACH
preamble.

Average SINR
In UL the eNB measures SINR per UE. The average SINR can be used as a quality indicator for the
UL power control

UL CSI
Channel state information per PRB for each UE. The CSI shall be the received signal power
averaged per PRB.

LTE Measurements
REFERENCE SIGNAL RECEIVED POWER (RSRP)
The received power on the resource elements that carry cell-specific reference
signals

LTE Measurements
Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ)
The relation of N times the Reference Signal Received Power divided by the total received power in
the channel bandwidth. Within the RSRQ also the noise and interference contributions are
considered.

LTE Measurements
Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)
RSSI comprises the linear average of the total received power (in [W]) observed only in OFDM
symbols containing reference symbols for antenna port 0, in the measurement bandwidth, over
N number of resource blocks by the UE from all sources, including co-channel serving and
non-serving cells, adjacent channel interference, thermal noise etc.

Contents

LTE Measurements
PLMN Selection
Cell Selection/Re-selection
Handover

PLMN Selection
When the UE is switched on, it attempts to establish a contact with a public land mobile
network (PLMN) using a certain radio access technology.

The overall process is divided into three sub-processes:

PLMN selection and reselection to search for an available mobile network.
Cell selection and reselection to search for a suitable cell belonging to the selected PLMN.
Location registration to register the UEs presence in a registration area

PLMN Selection
When an UE is switched on, it attempts to make contact with a PLMN. The selection of the PLMN
could be either automatically or manually.

Automatic mode: Utilizes a list of PLMN to be selected in priority order.

Manual mode: The mobile station indicates available PLMN to the user.

PLMN Selection
Service Types
LIMITED SERVICE: emergency calls on an acceptable cell
UE may camp to obtain limited service like emergency call. The minimum set of requirements for initiating an
emergency call in a UTRAN network are:
The cell is not barred.
The cell selection criteria are fulfilled.

NORMAL SERVICE: for public use on a suitable cell

UE may camp on to obtain normal service. Such a cell shall fulfill all the following requirements:
The cell is part of the selected / registered / equivalent PLMN
The cell is not barred
The cell is not part of a forbidden registration area
The cell selection criteria are fulfilled
In case of CSG cell it is part of the white list

OPERATOR SERVICE: For operators only on a reserved cell.

Reserved cell: When the cell status "reserved for operator use" is indicated and the Access Class of the UE is 11 or
15 the UE may select/re-select this cell if in Home-PLMN
Barred cell: When cell status "barred" is indicated the UE is not permitted to select/re-select this cell, not even for
limited services.
This information is set by office data.
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PLMN Selection

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Contents

LTE Measurements
PLMN Selection
Cell Selection/Re-selection
Handover

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
Cell Search

The UE scans all RF channels in the UTRAN band according to its capabilities to find

available PLMNs.

On each carrier, the UE searches for the strongest cell according to the cell search

procedure (refer cell searching) and read its system information in order to find out which
PLMN the cell belongs to.

If the UE can read the PLMN identity, the PLMN and the measured signal strength is
reported to the NAS: if: signal >= - x dBm (high quality PLMN); without the measured
signal strength if < x dBm

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
Cell Search

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
Cell Search

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
Cell Selection Procedure
After selecting a PLMN, the cell selection process starts. The UE selects a suitable cell and the radio access
mode based on idle mode measurements and cell selection criteria. The UE searches a suitable cell of that
PLMN to camp on according to the following steps:

1) The UE creates a candidate list of potential cells to camp on by using one of the two search
procedures:
Initial Cell Selection: UE scans all RF channels in the UTRAN band to find a suitable cell. On each
carrier, UE searches for the strongest cell and reads its system information. Once the UE has found
the suitable cell for the selected PLMN, the UE creates a candidate list consisting of this cell and its
neighboring cells as received in measurement control information.
Stored Information Cell Selection (optionally): This procedure requires information stored from
previously received measurement control information elements (cell parameters, carrier frequencies,
etc). After the UE has found a suitable cell for the selected PLMN, candidate list is created same as the
initial cell selection process.
2) Each cell on the candidate list is evaluated according to the selection
criteria S as described below.
3) After selecting a suitable cell (S criterion fulfilled)
for camp on, UE reports this event to NAS for
registration procedures. If the registration
is successful, the UE enters into
"camped normally state.
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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
Cell Selection Procedure
If the UE is unable to find any suitable cell in the selected PLMN, the UE enters to "any cell selection"
state.
Camped normally state : UE obtains normal service and performs the following tasks:
Select and monitor the PCH of the cell.
Performs system information monitoring.
Performs necessary measurements for the cell reselection evaluation procedure.
Execute the cell reselection procedure

If after cell reselection evaluation process a better cell is found, the cell reselection is performed. If no
suitable cel is found, the UE enters to next state any cell selection
Any cell selection: UE searches an acceptable cell of any PLMN to camp on. If an acceptable cell is
found, the UE reports to NAS and camp on this cell obtaining limited service.
And UE enters to camp on any cell state. If the UE cant
find any acceptable cell, it stay in this state.
Camped on any cell state: UE obtains limited service
and periodically searches for a suitable cell in the
selected PLMN. If a suitable cell is found
the states changed to Camped
normally.
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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
S-Criteria R8
UE selects a eUTRA cell if the S (selection) criteria is fulfilled:

Srxlev > 0

Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas (Qrxlevmin* + Qrxlevminoffset**) - Pcompensation

UE measurement
(RSRP)

SIB1 Parameter

SIB1 Parameter

Pcompensation = max (PEMAX*** PUMAX, 0) (dB)

SIB1 Parameter

* Qrxlevmin = LNCEL: qrxlevmin

qrxlevmin

** Qrxlevminoffset = LNCEL: qRxLevMinOffset (used

qRxLevMinOffset

only when camped in VPLMN)

pMaxOwnCell

*** PEMAX = LNCEL: pMaxOwnCell

PUMAX is UE class specific max. UL Tx power

*PUMAX: UE class specific max. UL Tx power; 23 dBm

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
S-Criteria R9
UE selects a eUTRA cell if the S (selection) criteria is fulfilled:
Srxlev > 0 and Squal > 0
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas (Qrxlevmin + Qrxlevminoffset) - Pcompensation
Squal = Qqualmeas (Qqualmin + Qqualminoffset)
Pcompensation = max (PEMAX PUMAX, 0) (dB)

Squal = Cell selection quality value (dB)

Qqualmeas = Measured cell quality value (RSRQ)
Qqualmin = Minimum required quality level in the cell (dB)
Qqualminoffset

Offset to Qqualmin for a higher priority

qQualMinR9
qQualMinOffsetR9

PLMN while camped normally in a VPLMN

*PUMAX: UE class specific max. UL Tx power; 23 dBm
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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
Reselection Process Overview

Measurements trigger

Evaluate cell reselection criteria R

UE is measuring the neighbor cells

only when the RSRP signal level is
below some threshold. The measurements
trigger is based primarily on absolute
priorities. In case of equal priority additional
thresholds are defined

For the reselection there are different cases

depending on priorities of the neighbor
frequency Layers (for inter-frequency
and inter-RAT)

Execute cell reselection

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria

The cell reselection evaluation process depends on whether Hierarchical Cell Structure (HCS) is
used or not.
In order to perform cell reselection UE measures and ranks the neighbor cells.
For each type of neighbor cells (Intra-Frequency; Inter-Frequency; Inter-RAT, i.e. GSM)
thresholds are definable. Measurements of neighbor cells will be triggered if these thresholds are
reached.

HIGH MOBILITY / MEDIUM MOBILITY / NORMAL MOBILITY:

For faster moving UEs the procedure alters - speed dependent scaling rules are applied.
If the number of (different cells) cell reselections during the past time period TCRmax exceeds
NCR_H, high mobility has been detected. If the number exceeds NCR_M, and not NCR_H, medium
mobility has been detected.

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria

In high/medium-mobility states, a UE:

multiplies Qhyst by "Speed dependent ScalingFactor for Qhyst for high/medium mobility state" if
sent.
multiplies TreselectionRAT by "Speed dependent ScalingFactor for TreselectionRAT for * mobility
state for RAT cells. (RAT = EUTRAN, UTRAN, GERAN).

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria
For inter-frequency and inter-system measurements,
depending on the UE capability, the network
allocates measurement gaps during which no data
are sent for the UE, so that the UE could perform
the necessary measurements using a single
receiver.
During the measurement gaps, the particular UE
cannot be scheduled for data transmission, but the
vacant resources could still be used for other UEs,
because of the shared channel mechanism.

FOR INTRA-FREQUENCY AND EQUAL PRIORITY INTER-FREQUENCY CELLS:

(Re-) Selected cell is a suitable cell (e.g. fulfills the S criterion) and is the best ranked cell (has the highest R).
The UE shall however reselect the new cell, only if the following conditions are met:
The new cell is better ranked than the serving cell during a time interval Treselections
more than 1 second has elapsed since the UE has camped on the current serving cell.
The cell-ranking criterion R is defined as shown below:
Note,
s indicates the serving cell,
n indicates the candidate cell.

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
Reselection Process Overview

Measurements trigger

Evaluate cell reselection criteria R

UE is measuring the neighbor cells

only when the RSRP signal level is
below some threshold. The measurements
trigger is based primarily on absolute
priorities. In case of equal priority additional
thresholds are defined

For the reselection there are different cases

depending on priorities of the neighbor
frequency Layers (for inter-frequency
and inter-RAT)

Execute cell reselection

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria
Neighbor Cell Measurement

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria
Neighbor Cell Measurement

FOR INTER-FREQUENCY AND INTER-RAT NEIGHBOUR CELLS:

If UE camps longer than 1 sec in the serving cell and:

- a higher priority neighbor fulfills (during TreselectionRAT):

SnonServingCell,x > Threshhigh reselect neighbor cell.

- no cell fulfills SnonServingCell,x > Threshhigh :

SServingCell < Threshserving,low and SnonServingCell,x > Threshx,low reselect neighbor cell.

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria
Neighbor Cell Measurement

Cell Reselection from WCDMA to LTE

UE must measure the LTE frequencies and detect the available LTE cell in order to perform cell
reselection to LTE.
UE measures two physical properties called for WCDMA signal. One is CPICH RSCP and CPICH
EcNo. RSCP determines Srxlev and EcNo determines Squal.
Srxlev = Qrxlevemeas - qRxLevMin. Qrxlevemeas is RSCP level measured by UE and qRxLevMin is
the value specified in SIB.

Squal = Qqualmeas - qQualMin. Qqualmeas is EcNo level measured by UE and qQualMin is the
value specified in SIB.
The detection measurement of LTE frequencies should be done at least once every 60s for higher
priority LTE frequencies.
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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria
Neighbor Cell Measurement

Cell Reselection from WCDMA to LTE

In following condition, detection measurements of lower priority LTE frequency is not required.
Srxlev > absPrioCellRes.sPrioritySearch1
Squal > absPrioCellRes.sPrioritySearch2

In following condition, UE should detect once every 30s for both lower and higher priority LTE
frequencies
Srxlev <= absPrioCellRes.sPrioritySearch1
Squal <= absPrioCellRes.sPrioritySearch2
The maximum number of LTE FDD Frequencies are 4. In this case, UE should have performed
measurement for detecting LTE cells on all 4 LTE frequencies once every 240 (4 x 60) s or 120(4 x 30)
s depending if UE measures above or below parameter threshold absPrioCellRes.sPrioritySearch1

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria
Neighbor Cell Measurement

Cell Reselection from LTE to WCDMA

Measurement Criteria (From High Priority LTE Cell to Lower Priority WCDMA Cell): When LTE cell
has higher priority than WCDMA, it would stay in LTE cell but it performs measurement for the low
priority WCDMA if UE is under the following condition :
Srxlev of the serving cell < sNonIntraSearch (SIB3),
where Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - qRxLevMin (SIB3),
where Qrxlevemeas = measured RSRP level, qRxLevMin = minimum RSRP level for
camping
Measurement Criteria (From High Priority LTE Cell to Lower Priority WCDMA Cell): When LTE cell
has lower priority than WCDMA (WCDMA cell priority defined in SIB6 is higher than the serving cell
priority),The UE always have to perform measurements on WCDMA cell. How often UE has to
measure for WCDMA depends on whether Srxlev of the serving cell is greater or lower than
sNonIntraSearch(SIB3). If no parameter is set (meaning in default condition), detection of WCDMA
cell should be performed at least every 60 seconds.

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria
Neighbor Cell Measurement

Cell Reselection from LTE to WCDMA

Reselection Criteria (From High Priority LTE Cell to Lower Priority WCDMA Cell): If UE in LTE cell is
under the following condition with the duration longer than tReselectionUtra (SIB6), it should reselect
to WCDMA cell.
Srxlev of LTE cell (serving cell) < threshServingLow (SIB3),
where Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - qRxLevMin (SIB3),
where Qrxlevemeas = measured RSRP level, qRxLevMin = minimum RSRP level for camping
Srxlev of WCDMA cell > threshXLow (SIB6),
where Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - qRxLevMin (SIB3),
where Qrxlevemeas = measured RSCP level, qRxLevMin = minimum RSCP level for camping
Note : If more than one WCDMA meet this condition, UE should select to the cell with highest Srxlev
Note : If these values are not specified in SIB and UE has to apply default values, UE has to perform
reselection when LTE RSRP is lower than -145 dBm and WCDMA cell is better than -119 dBm for at
least 2 seconds.
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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria
Neighbor Cell Measurement

Cell Reselection from LTE to WCDMA

Reselection Criteria (From Lower Priority LTE Cell to Higher Priority WCDMA Cell): If UE in LTE cell
is under the following condition with the duration longer than tReselectionUtra (SIB6), it should
reselect to WCDMA cell.
Srxlev of WCDMA cell > threshXHigh (SIB6),
where Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - qRxLevMin (SIB3),
where Qrxlevemeas = measured RSCP level, qRxLevMin = minimum RSCP level for camping

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Cell Selection/Re-Selection
R-Criteria

32

Contents

LTE Measurements
PLMN Selection
Cell Selection/Re-selection
Handover

33

Handover
HO Process Overview

Measurements activation/de-activation

Event based neighbor reports

Measurement Reports from UE

HO target & mode selection in eNodeB

HO execution

UE continuously monitors the

serving cell. Events A2/A1 are used
to activate/de-activate neighbors
measurements when radio conditions
are getting worse
The reports of neighbors are
triggered by A3 & A5 events for intraRAT A4 for Inter frequency and B1,
B2 events for inter-RAT
The Measurement Report message
contains a prioritized list of neighbors (best
neighbor first)
eNodeB decides the urgency of HO and
identifies a prioritized list of HO target
cells. The eNodeB selects the target
cell for HO as well as the handover mode.
The HO/NACC mode could be:
-Intra eNB HO
-Intra LTE inter eNB via X2
-Intra LTE inter eNB via S1
-HO to WCDMA
-NACC to GSM
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Handover
HO Options

Intra cell handovers used for UE operation change within cell

Intra-LTE (or Intra-RAT) handovers:
Intra frequency handovers within the same frequency band. There are 2 scenarios:
Intra-eNodeB handover (i.e. inter sector/ intra site);
Inter-eNodeB handover (i.e. inter site);
Inter-eNodeB handover can happen via the X2 interface or via the S1 interface. The DL data
forwarding is applied for lossless data path switching.

Inter-frequency handovers that allow service continuity for LTE deployments in different frequency
bands and also for LTE deployments within one frequency band but with different center frequencies.

Inter-RAT mobility:
Inter-RAT PS handover These are the transfers to other radio access technologies (RAT) to
provide continuous PS coverage.
Network assisted cell change (NACC) to GSM; Unlike in the handover procedure no resources
are prepared in the target system. The UE will enter GSM in RRC Idle mode and start the RRC
Connection Setup procedure in GSM.
SRVCC an Inter RAT HO of PS voice bearers to CS voice bearers.

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Handover
HO in LTE

Hard handovers: resources are prepared in the target cell before the UE is
commanded to move to the target cell
Lossless: Packets are forwarded from the source to the target cell.

Network controlled: The target cell is selected by the network not by the UE. The
handover control is in the e-UTRAN not in the Core Network.
UE-assisted: Measurements are made and reported by the UE to the network
although it is the network (eNodeB) which triggers those measurements.

Late path switch: Only when the inter eNodeB handover is successful, the packet
core is involved (X2 required).

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Handover
HO Signaling
HANDOVER INTRA E-UTRAN

Intra E-UTRAN Handover is used to hand over

a UE from a source eNodeB to a target eNodeB
using X2 when the MME is unchanged.
The intra E-UTRAN HO in RRC_CONNECTED
state is UE assisted NW controlled HO, with
HO preparation signalling in E-UTRAN.
To prepare the HO, the source eNB passes all
necessary information to the target eNB (e.g. ERAB attributes and RRC context) and UE
accesses the target cell via RACH following a
contention-free procedure using a dedicated
RACH preamble.
The HO procedure is performed without EPC
involvement, i.e. preparation messages are
directly exchanged between the eNBs.

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Handover
HO Signaling

38

Handover
HO Signaling

39

Handover
HO Signaling

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Handover
HO Events 1/2

If we can see the algorithm, it looks like 3G HO event concept:

hysteresis time to trigger cell individual offset

Event Type

Description

Event A1 Serving becomes better than threshold

Event A2 Serving becomes worse than threshld
Event A3 Neighbour becomes offset better than serving
Event A4 Neighbour becomes better than threshold
Event A5 Serving becomes worse than threshold1 and neighbour becomes better than threshold2
Event B1 Inter RAT neighbour becomes better than threshold
Serving becomes worse than threshold1 and inter RAT neighbour becomes better than
Event B2 threshold2

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Handover
HO Events 2/2

Intra-LTE (Intra-frequency & inter-frequency) measurements

RSRP & RSRQ as event-triggering & reporting quantity

Resulting configurable events for reporting to E-UTRAN

Event A1: Serving cells RSRP upcrossing certain RSRP threshold

Event A2: Serving cells RSRP/Q downg certain RSRP/Q threshold
Event A3: Neighbor cells RSRP is a predefined offset better than serving cells
RSRP
Event A4: Neighbor cells RSRP is a better than threshold
Event A5: Serving cells RSRP downcrossing certain threshold, while neighbor
cells RSRP upcrossing an other threshold

RSRP

RSRP
A2
trigger

A2
threshold

RSRP/Q
serving
move
direction

RSRP
A3 neighbor
trigger

RSRP
A4
threshold

RSRP
neighbor

RSRP

A5
trigger

A4
trigger
A5 thold 2

A3
offset

RSRP
serving

move
direction

RSRP
neighbor
move
direction

A5 thold 1
RSRP
serving
move
direction

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Handover
HO Measurement De-activation

HANDOVER EVENTS : A1

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Handover
HO Measurement Activation 1/2
HANDOVER EVENTS : A2

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Handover
HO Measurement Activation 2/2

radio coverage by RSRP decreases

RSRP (reported)
Threshold2GERAN

Intra-frequency
& Interfrequency &
GERAN & UMTS
measurements

Threshold2Wcdma

Intra-frequency
& Interfrequency &
UMTS
measurements

Threshold2InterFreq

Intra-frequency
& Interfrequency
measurements

Threshold1

Intrafrequency
measurements
only

No neighbors
measurements
except the
serving cell

Assumptions* for this example:

Threshold2GERAN < Threshold2Wcdma < Threshold2InterFreq< Threshold1

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Handover
Intra-Frequency Handover 1/4
HANDOVER EVENTS A3: Better Cell Handover

Better Cell Handover aims to keep the UE always on best

cell
(measured by RSRP)

Based on 3GPP reporting event A3 :

Event A3 defines relative offset LNCEL: a3-offset
Timer to Trigger LNCEL: a3-TimeToTrigger
Reporting Interval LNCEL: a3-ReportInterval

RSRP at serving cell + a3Offset < RSRP at neighbor cell

Better Cell Handover can be enabled / disabled:

enableBetterCellHo
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Handover
Intra-Frequency Handover 2/4
HANDOVER EVENTS A3: Better Cell Handover

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Handover
Intra-Frequency Handover 3/4
HANDOVER EVENTS A5: Coverage Based

Coverage Handover is used to HO to other eUTRA cell in

case:

serving cell RSRP gets below an absolute threshold and (&&)

neighbor cell RSRP gets better than an absolute threshold

Based on 3GPP reporting event A5 :

3GPP ThresholdEUTRA used to define absolute RRP level for

a) serving cell: LNCEL: threshold3 and
b) neighbor cell: LNCEL: threshold3a
Timer to Trigger LNCEL: a5-TimeToTrigger
Reporting Interval LNCEL: a5-ReportInterval

Coverage Handover can be enabled / disabled:

enableCovHo
3GPP event A5 is UE optional;
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Handover
Intra-Frequency Handover 4/4
HANDOVER EVENTS A5: Coverage Based

49

Handover
Inter-Frequency Handover 1/2

UE needs to support both bands and inter-frequency HO

Service continuity for LTE deployment in different frequency
bands as well as for LTE deployments within one frequency
band but with different center frequencies
The UE performs the measurements as configured by eNodeB:
eutraCarrierInfo parameter specifies the inter-frequency band
The trigger for this procedure is:
better neighbor cell (frequency) coverage (A3, RSRP)
better neighbor cell (frequency) quality (A3, RSRQ)
limited serving cell (frequency) & sufficient neighbor cell (frequency)
coverage (A5)

Measurement gaps
if needed then gap pattern 0 is used (6ms gap each 40ms)
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Handover
Inter-Frequency Handover 2/2
Example of A3 based inter frequency handover

51

Handover
Inter-RAT Handover 1/5

LTE Support Handover to other technologies:

UMTS
GSM
Other non 3GPP Systems like CDMA, HRPD and 1xRTT...
Basic features related to inter-RAT Handovers are
CSFB to 2G or 3G
SRVCC to 2G or 3G

Inter RAT Handovers are based on events A2 for measurement Activation and event B1, event B2
for Handovers.

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Handover
Inter-RAT Handover 2/5
HANDOVER EVENTS B1

53

Handover
Inter-RAT Handover 3/5
HANDOVER EVENTS B2

54

Handover
Inter-RAT Handover 4/5
HANDOVER IRAT TO 2G/3G

55

Handover
Inter-RAT Handover 5/5
HANDOVER IRAT TO CDMA 2000

56

Handover
Speed Dependent Handover
Speed dependent scaling of measurement parameters

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Thanks for your attention

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