An Introduction to

LONG-TERM EVOLUTION
Design, Planning, and Optimization
TOPIC OUTLINE
Mobile Communications Evolution

LTE Overview and Architecture

LTE Radio Interface

LTE Planning and Optimization

Mobile Communications Evolution
INTRODUCTION
Network and handset capability have met with content
and billing regimes and along with growing consumer
confidence and experience this is leading to increased
use of data services provided by operators.
As consumers, operators and third party application
providers gain more experience with data services
beyond the plain WAP home page, the demand for data
is forecast to continue growing for the foreseeable future.
Typical Next Generation Services
Access-independent Internet applications

Web2.0

Streaming Services

Interactive Remote Gaming

Quadruple play

Mobile Office
Typical Network Evolutions
Guaranteed
radio
Low latency coverage
High
average data
High peak throughput
user data rates
rates
Typical Network Evolutions
Competitive
prices, flat-
Single sign- rate fees
on to all
Individual network
quality of access
Service service
continuity (QoS)
between
access
networks
LTE Overview and Architecture
2G vs 3G vs LTE Architecture
2G 3G LTE
Mobile User
User Element User Equipment
Station Equipment

Radio Access GERAN UTRAN E-UTRAN

Network - BTS/BSC - NodeB/RNC - eNodeB

Mobile CS: MSC/GMSC Evolved

Core Network Switching Packet Core
Center (MSC) PS: SGSN/GGSN (EPC)
LTE E-UTRAN Objectives
LTE is focusing on optimum support of Packet Switched
(PS) Services. Main requirements for the design of an LTE
system are outlined in 3GPP TR 25.913 (2006) and can be
summarized as follows:
LTE E-UTRAN Objectives
PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Data Rate Peak data rates target 100 Mbps (downlink)
and 50 Mbps (uplink) for 20 MHz spectrum
allocation, assuming 2 receive antennas
and 1 transmit antenna at the terminal.
Throughput Target for downlink average user
throughput per MHz is 3-4 times better
than release 6. Target for uplink average
user throughput per MHz is 2-3 times better
than release 6. (release 6 – HSPA)
LTE E-UTRAN Objectives
PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Spectrum Efficiency Downlink target is 3-4 times better than
release 6. Uplink target is 2-3 times better
than release 6.
Latency The one-way transit time between a packet
being available at the IP layer in either the
UE or radio access network and the
availability of this packet at IP layer in the
radio access network/UE is less than 5ms.
LTE E-UTRAN Objectives
PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Bandwidth Scalable bandwidths of 5, 10, 15, 20 MHz are
supported. Also bandwidths smaller than 5MHz
are supported for more flexibility.
Interworking Interworking with existing UTRAN/GERAN systems
and non-3GPP systems is ensured. Multimode
terminals support handover to and from UTRAN
and GERAN as well as inter-RAT measurements.
Interruption time for handover between E-UTRAN
and UTRAN/GERAN is less than 300 ms for real
time services and less than 500 ms for non real
time services.
LTE E-UTRAN Objectives
PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Multimedia MBMS is further enhanced and is then
Broadcast Multicast referred to as E-MBMS.
Services

Mobility The system is optimized for low mobile

speed (0-15km/h), but higher mobile
speeds are supported as well including
high speed train environment as special
case.
LTE E-UTRAN Objectives
PARAMETER DESCRIPTION
Spectrum allocation Operation in paired (Frequency Division Duplex /
FDD mode) and unpaired spectrum (Time Division
Duplex / TDD mode).
Co-existence Co-existence in the same geographical area and
co-location with GERAN/UTRAN. Also, co-
existence between operators in adjacent bands as
well as cross-border coexistence.
Quality of Service End-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) is supported.
System Architecture Evolution
One of the main objectives of the LTE architecture is an
overall simplification of the network with a reduction in
the number of nodes required in the radio access and
core network components. The evolution of the network
is designed to optimize performance and improve cost
efficiency. Also interoperability with the existing 3.5G
infrastructure is important, particularly mobility and
handover between the networks.
The Evolved Packet System (EPS) is divided in to radio
access and core network.
Evolved UMTS Radio Access
Network (E-UTRAN)
Evolved UMTS Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)
contains a single element known as the Evolved NodeBs
(eNB). The eNB supports all the user plane and control
plane protocols to enable communication with the UE. It
also supports radio resource management, admission
control, scheduling, uplink QoS enforcement, cell
broadcast, encryption and compression/decompression
of user data
Evolved UMTS Radio Access
Network (E-UTRAN)
The eNB is connected to the core network on the S1
interface. The S1 interface allows the eNB to
communicate with the Mobility Management Entity
(MME) via the S1-MME interface and the Serving Gateway
(SGW) via the S1-U interface. The interfaces support a
many to many relationship between eNB and SGW/MME.
Evolved UMTS Radio Access
Network (E-UTRAN)
The eNB are also networked together using the X2
interface. The X2 interface is based on the same set of
protocols as the S1 and is primarily in place to allow user
plane tunneling of packets during handover to minimize
packet loss.
Evolved Packet Core (EPC)
The Evolved Packet Core contains two principle functions, high
speed packet handling and mobility management, these
functions are carried out by the SGW and MME.
This separation of function allows each to be implemented on a
platform optimized for data handling or message processing.
This will result in more optimized performance and allows
independent scaling of each component and efficient topological
optimization of platforms to ensure consistent service i.e. reduced
latencies and maximized throughput.
Evolved Packet Core (EPC)
Serving Gateway (SGW)
The SGW acts as a router, routing and forwarding packets of user
data, it is able to provide transport level packet marking, and the
marking process may be used for QoS management by other
network elements.
The SGW will act as a local anchoring point for inter eNB
handover and can also act as a 3GPP anchoring point for
handovers between UMTS and LTE. It provides idle mode
functions such as packet buffering and initiation of network
triggered service request.
Evolved Packet Core (EPC)
Mobility Management Entity (MME)
The Mobility management entity (MME) is the primary signaling
node in the EPC, NAS signalling is terminated at this point and
included signalling related to bearer establishment and
authentication of the UEs through interaction with the Home
Subscriber Server (HSS). It is also the decision point for SGW
selection, and MME, SGW selection during handover where EPC
node change is necessary.
The MME handles roaming functions such as allocation of
temporary identities, admission control and communication with
the home HSS on the S6a interface.
Evolved Packet Core (EPC)
Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW)
The P-GW is the entry and exit point for UE connectivity
with external data networks. It provides functions of
packet filtering, via deep packet inspection, allocation of
UE IP addresses, downlink packet marking, and service
level charging, gating and rate enforcement.
The P-GW also acts as an anchor for mobility between
3GPP and non-3GPP technologies such as 3GPP2
CDMA2000 and WiMAX.
Evolved Packet Core (EPC)
PARAMETER DESCRIPTION / FUNCTION
Serving Gateway; router, packet marking, anchor for
SGW
inter-eNB handover, some accounting
Mobility Management Entity; NAS signalling point,
MME admission control, bearer setup, authentication,
roaming functions, selects SGW
Packet Gateway; date entry/exit point, packet
P-GW inspection/filtering, IP address allocation, mobility
anchor for non-3GPP handover
LTE
Reference
Points
LTE Roaming Architecture
Roaming is supported by the SAE, the figure opposite
show the situation where a user is roamed on to a V-
PLMN (Visitor – PLMN). A roaming agreement must exist
between the home and visited systems. The pictured
scenario may be when the user visits a different country
or where national roaming is supported.
The data sessions are managed
locally by the visited network but
the call is anchored in the home
network, allowing the home
operator to maintain control of the
session.
Interworking with 2G/3G
networks
Where 2G/3G cells are adjacent or overlaid on to E-
UTRAN cells there will be a requirement for interworking
between the different infrastructures to support inter-
system mobility. No new systems elements are required
but 2 additional interfaces are specified, S3 and S4.
Interworking with 2G/3G
networks
S3 supports the user and bearer information exchange
between the SGSN and the MME during handover/cell
reselection.
S4 carries the user plane data between the SGSN and
the SGW. The SGW play the role of the mobility anchor
in inter-system exchanges, similar role to GGSN in
2G/3G networks.
LTE Spectrum Requirements
The table opposite shows the existing bands supported by 3GPP
and 3GPP2. The majority of these are already in use with the well
known 2G/3G technologies. One of the largest areas of interest
for operators and regulators alike is the potential for spectrum re-
farming in these bands. Spectrum neutrality is becoming
increasing wide spread, where the regulator lifts the technology
specific nature of the licenses.
UMTS900 has already been approved and there is work taking
place on the USA in the 700MHz band. The digital dividend is
also another area of interest, analogue TV broadcast are coming
to an end in many parts of the word leaving behind spectrum in
the ranges 470 – 862 MHz.
LTE Radio Interface
Resource Sharing Techniques
Used 2nd Used 3rd
Generation Generation
Systems like Systems for
GSM, GPRS & TDMA CDMA UMTS
EDGE. BW = 1.25MHz
BW = 200KHz

Used in AMPS Used 3rd

or the 1st Generation
Generation FDMA W-CDMA 3GPP UMTS to
Analog System HSPA+
BW = 30KHz BW = 5MHz
W-CDMA Improvements

Poor Spectral
Efficiency
Resource Wastage
Congestion in
Peak Hours
Low Data
Rates
High Demand Problems

Exhaustion of High Spectral

Spectrum Efficiency

Very High
Data Rates
Complexity in Wireless Channels

Frequency Inter
Multipath Delay Scarcity of
Selective channel
Fading Spread Bandwidth
Fading Interference
Multi-Carrier Wireless
Transmission System
Instead of sending single carrier wideband channel, it is
divided into multiple subcarriers of lesser bandwidth.
Compare to single carrier wideband channel, delay
spread is negligible which increases the transmission
efficiency.
OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiplexing)
CYCLIC PREFIX
Since the ISI cannot be eliminated from the channel, the
information must be protected from its effect. The
solution in OFDM systems is to extend the length of each
symbol by a factor equivalent to the likely delay spread in
the channel. This extension to the symbol is known as the
cyclic prefix (CP) or guard time.
CYCLIC PREFIX
In cyclic prefix, the last part of the symbol is transmitted
in the preceding guard period. It ensures orthogonality
between sub-carriers.
CYCLIC PREFIX
OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiple Access)
It is special case FDMA wherein users are provided with a
sets of sub-carriers overlapping in frequency domain.
However, these sub-carriers are specially designed to be
orthogonal with each other which allows them to occupy
same bandwidth without interference. They are placed in
a manner that all other sub-carriers has a zero
component at the peak of one sub-carrier.
Orthogonality is achieved by
ensuring that all sub-carriers
have the same symbol
duration of Ts and sub-
carrier spacing is maintained
at 1/Ts.
OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiple Access)

Bandwidth Scalability

Carrier Aggregation

Low ISI (Inter Symbol Interference)

OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiple Access)
It was first introduce in Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) and
subsequently in WIMAX (World-wide Interoperability for
Multiple Access) by IEEE, but WIMAX lacks backward
compatibility and support for mobile wireless at
inception, operators remains stacked on W-CDMA.
OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency
Division Multiple Access)
Usable
Usable Window size
bandwidth in
Channel Usable Bandwidth in Measurement in number of
number of
Bandwidth Bandwidth number of window size raster
resource
sub-carriers frequencies
blocks
1.4 MHz 1.08 MHz 72 6 1.1 MHz 11
3MHz 2.7 MHz 180 15 2.7 MHz 27
5 MHz 4.5 MHz 300 25 4.5 MHz 45
10 MHz 9 MHz 600 50 9.1 MHz 91
15 MHz 13.5 MHz 900 75 13.5 MHz 135
20 MHz 18 MHz 1200 100 18.1 MHz 181
LTE Planning and Optimization
RESOURCE ELEMENT
IFFT (Inverse Fast Fourier Transform)
SC-FDMA (Single Carrier - Frequency
Division Multiple Access)
MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple
Output) Techniques
Single Input Single Output (SISO)
This is the “traditional” method of accessing the radio
channel. Each transmitter has a single antenna, as does
each receiver.
MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple
Output) Techniques
Multiple Input Single Output (MISO) – Transmit Diversity
MISO is also known as transmit diversity. Each transmit
antenna transmits essentially the same stream of data.
This is used to improve the signal to noise ratio at the
receiver and thus the reliability of data transmission.
MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple
Output) Techniques
Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO)
SIMO uses one transmitter and two or more receivers
and is usually referred to as receive diversity. It is
particularly well suited for low SNR conditions. There is
no improvement in the data rate as only one data stream
is transmitted, but coverage at the cell edge is improved
due to the lowering of the usable SNR.
MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple
Output) Techniques
MIMO requires two or more transmitters and two or more
receivers. Multiple data streams are transmitted
simultaneously in the same frequency and time, taking
full advantage of the multiple paths in the radio channel.
For a system to be described as MIMO, it must have at
least as many receivers as there are transmit streams.
MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple
Output) Techniques
One other crucial factor for MIMO operation is that the
transmissions from each antenna must be uniquely
identifiable so that each receiver can determine what
combination of transmissions has been received. This
identification is usually done with pilot or reference
signals.
Single User, Multiple User, and
Co-operative MIMO
Single User MIMO (SU-MIMO)
This is the most common form of MIMO and can be
applied in the uplink or downlink. The primary purpose
of SU-MIMO is to increase the data rate to a single user.
There is also a corresponding increase in the capacity of
the cell.
Single User, Multiple User, and
Co-operative MIMO
Multiple User MIMO (MU-MIMO)
MU-MIMO is used only in the uplink. MU-MIMO does not
increase an individual user’s data rate but does offer cell
capacity gains. MU-MIMO has an additional important
advantage: the UE does not require the expense and
power drain of two transmitters, yet the cell still benefits
from increased capacity.
Single User, Multiple User, and
Co-operative MIMO
Co-operative MIMO (Co-MIMO).
The essential element of Co-MIMO is that two separate
entities are involved at the transmission end. The most
advantageous use of downlink Co-MIMO occurs when
the UE is at the cell edge. Here the SNR will be at its worst
but the radio paths will be uncorrelated, which offers
significant potential for increased performance. Uplink
Co-MIMO is also known as virtual MIMO and the
downlink in network MIMO.
Beamforming
Beamforming uses the same signal processing and
antenna techniques as MIMO but rather than exploit de-
correlation in the radio path, beamforming aims to
exploit correlation so that the radiation pattern from the
transmitter is directed towards the receiver. This is done
by applying small time delays to a calibrated phase array
of antennas. The effectiveness of beamforming varies
with the number of antennas.
High Level Network Design
Cycle

PHASE 4
PHASE 3 Build plan and
drive test
RF predictions optimization
and confirm
PHASE 2 assumptions
Site inspection and
backhaul planning
PHASE 1
Information gathering and
initial objective setting
Factors Affecting the LTE
Planning Process
LTE Frequency
In the Philippines, in the case with SMART, we are using 3
FDD LTE Frequency bands as of today. They are L700,
L1800 and L2100. For TDD LTE we are using L2300.
Thank you.