1.

Identify the frequency spectrum allocated by Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission
(MCMC) for cellular service (GSM and 3G) operators in Malaysia. Provide details on the frequency or code
planning adopted by at least one of the service operator.

Answer :

1. Global System for Mobile 900 Mhz band :

Upper band : 925 to 969 Mhz

Lower band : 880 to 915 Mhz

GSM 900 Operators :

Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad

Maxis Mobile Sdn. Bhd.
DiGi Telecommunication Sdn. Bhd.

2. Global System for Mobile 1800 Mhz band:

Upper band : 1805 to 1880 Mhz

Lower band : 1710 to 1785 Mhz

GSM 1800 Operators :

Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad

Maxis Mobile Sdn. Bhd.
DiGi Telecommunication Sdn. Bhd
3. International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT2000) :

 Frequency Division Duplex (FDD)

 Upper band: 2110 to 2200 MHz

 Lower band: 1920 to 2010 MHz

 Time Division Duplex (TDD)

 Frequency: 1915 to 1920MHz

 Frequency: 2010 to 2025MHz

IMT2000 Operators :
 
Celcom (Malaysia) Berhad
UMTS (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
U Mobile Sdn Bhd
DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd
2. The Fourth Generation (4G) technology candidates is foreseen most likely to be between Long Term
Evolution Advanced (LTE-Advanced) proposed by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and
Mobile WiMAX using 802.16m standardised by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Distinguish the technical differences between these two technologies and give your opinion on the scenario
and deployment of 4G in the near future.

Table below presents the key elements of a comparison between Mobile WiMAX and LTE-Advanced
standars as they converge to 4G broadband wireless access systems.

Aspect Mobile Wimax 3GPP-LTE

(IEEE802.16 e-2005) (E-UTRAN)
Core Network All IP network UTRAN moving towards all IP
Evolved UTRA CN with IMS
Access Technology : OFDMA OFDMA
Downlink (DL) SC-FDMA
Uplink (UL)
Frequency Band 2.3 -2.4 GHz, 2.496 – 2.69 GHz, Existing and new frequemcy bands
3.3. – 3.8 GHz (~2GHz)
Bitrate :
DL 75Mbps (MIMO 2TX 2RX) 100 Mbps (MIMO 2TX 2RX)
UL 25Mbps 50Mbps
Channel Bandwidth 5, 8.75, 10Mhz 1.25-20MHz
Cell Radius 2 – 7km 5km
Cell Capacity 100 – 200 users >200 users @ 5MHz
>400 users for larger bandwidth
Spectral Efficiency 3.75 bits/sec/Hz 5 bits/sec/Hz

Aspect Mobile Wimax 3GPP-LTE

(IEEE802.16 e-2005) (E-UTRAN)
Mobility :
Speed Up to 12km/hr Up to 250km/hr
Handovers Optimized hard handover Inter-cell soft handover supported
Legacy IEEE802.16a through 16d GSM/GPRS/EGPRS/UMTS/HSPA
MIMO:
DL 2Tx X 2Rx 2Tx X 2Rx
UL 1Tx X NRx (Collaborative SM) 2Tx X 2Rx
No of code words 1
Standardization Coverage IEEE802.16 e-2005 PHY and RAN (PHY + MAC) + CN
MAC
CN standdardization in Wimax
Forum
Roaming Framework New Aoto through existing
GSM/UMTS
Schedule Forecast :
Standard complete 2005 2007
Initial Deployment 2007 through 2008 2010
Mass market 2009 2012

The parameters presented in Table 1 show that the Mobile WiMax and 3GPP-LTE standars are technically
similar. However, in term of market perspective the two standard differ in term of expected time to market
and legacy. Although currently less matured and widespread, Mobile Wimax appears as if it will be first to
market. Significantly, WiMax is already being tested for example in Korea, whereas LTE has not yet been
standized.

Following this observation, we may conclude that due to timeline benefits new service provider as well as
existing cable and DSL providers wishing to offer mobile services are likely to select Mobile WiMax as their
technology for mobile broadband access. We may also conclude that the developed world major
UMTS/HSPA service provider naturally evolve to 3GPP-LTE, whereas most CDMA2000 provider, as well
GSM/EDGE providers in the developing world, will select Mobile Wimax for mobile broadband wireless
access while providing service continuity over their legacy network.
3. In GSM and WCDMA (UMTS), during authentication process and roaming, the user database stored in the
Home Location Register (HLR), Visitor Location Register (VLR) and Authentication Centre (AuC) will be
checked using Mobile Equipment and UMTS/Subscriber Identity Module (ME-U/SIM). Using example,
explain how the process can be carried out and show signaling details involving MSIDN, IMSI, IMSEI and
other identity.

GSM network

The GSM network consists mainly of the following functional parts:

MSC – the mobile service switching centre (MSC) is the core switching entity in the network. The MSC is connected
to the radio access network (RAN). RAN is formed by the BSCs and BTSs within the Public Land Mobile Network
(PLMN). Users of the GSM network are registered with an MSC. All calls to and from the user are controlled by the
MSC. A GSM network has one or more MSCs, geographically distributed.

VLR –the visitor location register (VLR) contains subscriber data for subscribers registered in an MSC. Every MSC
contains a VLR. Although MSC and VLR are individually addressable, they are always contained in one integrated
node.

GMSC – the gateway MSC (GMSC) is the switching entity that controls mobile terminating calls. When a call is
established towards a GSM subscriber, a GMSC contacts the HLR of that subscriber to obtain the address of the
MSC where that subscriber is currently registered. That MSC address is used to route the call to that subscriber.

HLR –the home location register (HLR) is the database that contains a subscription record for each subscriber of the
network. A GSM subscriber is normally associated with one particular HLR. The HLR is responsible for the sending
of subscription data to the VLR during registration or GMSC during mobile terminating call handling.

CN –the core network (CN) consists of, amongst other things, MSC, GMSC and HLR .These entities are the main
components for call handling and subscriber management. Other main entities in the CN are the equipment
identification register (EIR) and authentication centre (AUC).

BSS –the base station system (BSS) is composed of one or more base station controllers (BSC) and one or more
base transceiver stations (BTS). The BTS contains one or more transceivers (TRX). The TRX is responsible for radio
signal transmission and reception. BTS and BSC are connected through the interface. The BSS is connected to the
MSC through the A interface.

MS –the mobile station (MS) is the GSM handset.

A GSM network is a public land mobile network (PLMN). Other types of PLMN are the time division multiple access
(TDMA) network or code division multiple access (CDMA) network. GSM uses the following sub-division of the
PLMN:

Home PLMN (HPLMN) –the HPLMN is the GSM network that a GSM user is a subscriber of. That implies that GSM
user’s subscription data resides in the HLR in that PLMN. The HLR may transfer the subscription data to a VLR
during registration in a PLMN or a GMSC during mobile terminating call handling. The HPLMN may also contain
various service nodes, such as a short message service centre (SMSC) and service control point (SCP).

Visited PLMN (VPLMN) –the VPLMN is the GSM network where a subscriber is currently registered. The subscriber
may be registered in her HPLMN or in another PLMN. In the latter case, the subscribers are outbound roaming and
inbound roaming when the subscriber is currently registered in her HPLMN, then the HPLMN is at the same time
VPLMN.

Interrogating PLMN (IPLMN) –the IPLMN is the PLMN containing the GMSC that handles mobile terminating (MT)
calls.

MT calls are always handled by a GMSC in the PLMN, regardless of the origin of the call. For most operators, MT
call handling is done by a GMSC in the HPLMN. In that case, the HPLMN is at the same time IPLMN. This implies
that calls destined for a GSM subscriber are always routed to the HPLMN of that GSM subscriber. Once the call has
arrived in the HPLMN, the HPLMN will act as IPLMN.

The user of a GSM network is referred to as the served subscriber, the MSC that is serving that subscriber is known
as the serving MSC. Examples are:
 Mobile originated call –the MSC that is handling the call is the serving MSC for this call. The calling
subscriber is the served subscriber;
 Mobile terminated call –the GMSC that is handling the call is the serving GMSC for this call. The called
subscriber is the served subscriber

Signalling in GSM

The various entities in the GSM network are connected to one another through signalling networks. Signalling is used
for example, for subscriber mobility, subscriber registration and call establishment. The connections to the various
entities are known as reference points. Examples include:

• A interface –the connection between MSC and BSC

• Abis interface –the connection between BSC and BTS
• D interface –the connection between MSC and HLR
• Um interface –the radio connection between MS and BTS

Various signalling protocols are used over the reference points. Some of these protocols for GSM are the following:

• mobile application part (MAP) – used for call control, subscriber registration, short
message service. MAP is used over many of the GSM network interfaces.
• base station system application part (BSSAP) – used over the A interface.
• direct transfer application part (DTAP) –used between MS and MSC. DTAP is carried over the Abis and the A
interface.
• ISDN user part (ISUP) –ISUP is the protocol for establishing and releasing circuit switched calls. ISUP is also
used in landline Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). A circuit is the data channel that is established between
two users in the network. Within ISDN, the data channel is generally a 64 kbit/s channel. The circuit is used for the
transfer of the encoded speech or other data

When it comes to call establishment, GSM makes a distinction between signalling and payload. Signalling refers
to the exchange of information for call set up; payload refers to the data that is transferred within a call, i.e. voice,
video, fax etc. For a mobile terminated GSM call, the signalling consists of exchange of MAP messages between
GMSC, HLR and visited MSC (VMSC). The payload is transferred by the ISUP connection between GMSC and
VMSC. It is a continual aim to optimize the payload transfer through the network, as payload transfer has a direct
cost aspect associated with it. Some network services are designed to optimize the payload transfer. One example is
optimal routing.

ROAMING

Roaming with GSM is made possible through the separation of switching capability and subscription data. A GSM
subscriber has her subscription data, permanently registered in the HLR in her HPLMN. The GSM operator is
responsible for provisioning this data in the HLR. The MSC and GMSC in a PLMN, on the other hand, are not specific
for one subscriber group. The switching capability of the MSC in a PLMN may be used by that PLMN’s own
subscribers, but also by inbound roaming subscribers.

In Figure below, the GSM user who is a subscriber of PLMN-A roams to PLMN-B. The HLR in PLMN-A transfers the
user’s subscription data to the MSC in PLMN-B. The subscriber’s subscription data remains in the MSC/VLR as long
as she is served by a BSS that is connected to that MSC. Even when the user switches her MS off and then on
again, the subscription data remains in the MSC. After an extended period of the MS being switched off, the
subscription data will be purged from the MSC. When the subscriber switches her MS on again, the subscriber has to
re-register with the MSC, which entails the MSC asking the HLR in the HPLMN to re-send the subscription data for
that subscriber.
 Transfer of GSM subscription data for a roaming subscriber

When the subscriber moves from one MSC service area to another MSC service area the HLR will instruct MSC to
purge the subscription data of this subscriber and will send the subscription data to the new MSC.

Mobile Station (MS), for example the GSM handset, is logically built up from the following components:
• mobile equipment (ME) –this is the GSM terminal, excluding the SIM card;
• subscriber identification module (SIM) –this is the chip embedded in the SIM card that identifies a subscriber of a
GSM network, the SIM is embedded in the SIM card. When the SIM card is inserted in the ME, the subscriber may
register with a GSM network. The ME is now effectively personalized for this GSM subscriber. The SIM card contains
information such as IMSI, advice of charge parameters and operator specific emergency number. For the UMTS
network an enhanced SIM is specified, the universal subscriber identity module.

Identifiers in the GSM Network

GSM uses several identifiers for the routing of calls, identifying subscribers, locating the HLR and identifying
equipment. Some of these identifiers play an important role for intelligence network.

International Mobile Subscriber Identity

The international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is embedded on the SIM card and is used to identify a subscriber.
The IMSI is also contained in the subscription data in the HLR. The IMSI is used for identifying a subscriber for
various processes in the GSM network. Some of these are
 Components of the mobile station

Structure of the IMSI

 location update –when attaching to a network, the MS reports the IMSI to the MSC, which uses the
IMSI to derive the global title (GT) of the HLR associated with the subscriber
 terminating call –when the GSM network handles a call to a GSM subscriber, the HLR uses the IMSI
to identify the subscriber in the MSC/VLR, to start a process for delivering the call to that subscriber
in that MSC/VLR.
 roaming charging –a VPLMN uses the IMSI to send billing records to the HPLMN of a subscriber.
 mobile country code (MCC) –the MCC identifies the country for mobile networks. The MCC is not
used for call establishment. The MCC values are allocated and published by the ITU-T.
 mobile network code (MNC) –the MNC identifies the mobile network within a mobile country MCC
and MNC together identify a PLMN. The MNC may be two or three digits in length. Common
practice is that, within a country all MNCs are either two or three digits.
 mobile subscriber identification number (MSIN) –the MSIN is the subscriber identifier within a
PLMN. The IMSI is reported to the SCP during CAMEL service invocation. The IMSI may be
needed, for example, when identifying a country; countries in North America have equal country
code.
 Mobile Station Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN Number) - The MSISDN
is used to identify the subscriber when, among other things, establishing a call to that subscriber or
sending an SMS to that subscriber. Hence, the MSISDN is used for routing purposes.
 country code (CC) –the CC identifies the country or group of countries of the subscriber
 national destination code (NDC) –each PLMN in a country has one or more NDCs allocated to it,
the NDC may be used to route a call to the appropriate network
 subscriber number (SN) –the SN identifies the subscriber within the number plan of a PLMN

Structure of the MSISDN

 Structure of IMEI and IMEISV

The MSISDN is not stored on the subscriber’s SIM card and is normally not available in the MS.2The MSISDN is
provisioned in the HLR, as part of the subscriber’s profile, and is sent to MSC during registration. The MSISDN is
also reported to SCP. One subscriber may have multiple MSISDNs. These MSISDNs are provisioned in the HLR. At
any one moment, only a single MSISDN is available in the MSC/VLR for the subscriber.

International Mobile Equipment Identifier

The international mobile equipment identifier (IMEI) is used to identify the ME [or user equipment. Each ME has a
unique IMEI. The IMEI is hard-coded in the ME and cannot be modified. The IMEI is not used for routing or
subscriber identification.

Mobile Station Roaming Number

The mobile station roaming number (MSRN) is used in the GSM network for routing a call to a MS. The need for the
MSRN stems from the fact that the MSISDN identifies a subscriber, but not the current location of that subscriber in a
telecommunications network. The MSRN is allocated to a subscriber during MT call handling and is released when
the call to that subscriber is established. Each MSC in a PLMN has a (limited) range of MSRNs allocated to it. An
MSRN may be allocated to any subscriber registered in that MSC. The MSRN has the form of an E.164 number and
can be used by the GMSC for establishing a call to a GSM subscriber. An MSRN is part of a GSM operator’s number
plan. The MSRN indicates the GSM network a subscriber is registered in, but not the GSM network the subscriber
belongs to. The MSRN is not meant for call initiation. GSM operators may configure their MSC such that subscribers
cannot dial numbers that fall within the MSRN range of that operator.

Basic Services

All activities that may be done in the GSM network, such as establishing a voice call, establishing a data call and
sending a short message are classified as basic services. In order for a subscriber to use a GSM basic service, she
must have a subscription to that service. The handling of a basic service is fully standardized. Hence, a subscriber
may use a basic service in any GSM network she roams to, provided that that basic service is supported in that
network. The HLR will send a list of subscribed basic services to the MSC/VLR, during registration. When a GSM
subscriber initiates a call, the MS supplies the serving MSC with a set of parameters describing the circuit- switched
connection that is requested. These parameters are the bearer capability (BC), low-layer compatibility (LLC) and
high-layer compatibility (HLC). The MSC uses the BC, LLC and HLC to derive the basic service for this call. The
MSC then checks whether the subscriber has a subscription to the requested basic service, for example whether the
subscription data in the VLR contains that basic service. If the service is not subscribed to, then the MSC disallows
the call. The basic service is not transported over ISUP.

Usage of MSRN during call establishment to a GSM subscriber

When an intelligence network service is invoked, the MSC reports the requested basic service to the SCP. The
SCP may use the indication of the requested basic service for call service processing. Examples include:

• video calls may be charged at a higher rate than speech calls

• for data calls and fax calls

Basic services are divided into two groups which are teleservices and bearer services
4. The public cellular service operator in Malaysia are subjected to mandatory standards for Quality of Service
(QoS) or Grade of Service (GOS) by Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). List
various parameters and schemes used for providing QoS/GOS in cellular network and discuss their
advantages/disadvantages to the subscribers and operators. How can QoS provisioning be managed in the
future 4G cellular network?
Source: http://www.skmm.gov.my/index.php?c=public&v=art_view&art_id=402

QoS advantages:

 Guarantees bandwidth for key applications and users.

 Can put off the need for faster network infrastructure.
 Can help in network planning by measuring and managing traffic flow.

QoS disadvantages:
  Management-software packages are a must to avoid complex configuration challenges.
 Implementations may require swapping out some old gear.
 Can create political problems as battles arise over who gets the good QoS and who controls it.

4G broadband wireless technologies such as IEEE 802.16e/m and Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) – Long Term
Evolution (LTE) have been designed with different QoS frameworks and means to enable delivery of the evolving Internet
applications. QoS specifically for evolving Internet applications is a fundamental requirement to provide satisfactory service
delivery to users and also to manage network resources. QoS refers to the ability (or probability) of the network to provide a
desired level of service for selected traffic on the network.
Service levels are specified in terms of throughput, latency, jitter and packet errors or loss. Different service levels are specified
for different types or streams of traffic. To provide QoS, the network identifies or “classifies” different types or streams of traffic
and processes these traffic classes differently to achieve the desired service level for each traffic class. The effectiveness of
any QoS scheme can be measured based on its ability to achieve the desired service levels for a typical combination of traffic
classes.  

QOS over LTE networks:

The QoS level of granularity in the LTE evolved packet system (EPS) is bearer, which is a packet flow established between the
packet data network gateway and the user terminal. The traffic running between a particular client application and a service can
be differentiated into separate service data flows (SDFs).

SDFs mapped to the same bearer receive a common QoS treatment for example scheduling policy, queue management policy,
rate shaping policy, radio link control (RLC) configuration. A bearer is assigned a scalar value referred to as a QoS class
identifier (QCI), which specifies the class to which the bearer belongs. QCI refers to a set of packet forwarding treatments
preconfigured by the operator for each network element. The class-based method improves the scalability of the LTE QoS
framework.  The bearer management and control in LTE follows the network-initiated QoS control paradigm, and the network
initiated establishment, modification, and deletion of the bearers.

LTE bearers:

Guaranteed bit rate (GBR): Dedicated network resources related to a GBR value associated with the bearer are permanently
allocated when a bearer becomes established or modified.

Non-guaranteed bit rate (non-GBR): A service utilizing a non-GBR bearer may experience A non-GBR bearer is referred to as
the default bearer, which is also used to establish IP connectivity, similar to the initial Service Flow in WiMAX. Any additional
bearer(s) is referred to as a dedicated bearer and can be GBR or non-GBR.
In LTE the mapping of SDFs to a dedicated bearer is classified by IP five-tuple based packet filter either provisioned in PCRF or
defined by the application layer signalling. However, the default bearer typically uses a match all packet filter, any SDF that
does not match any of the existing dedicated bearer packet filters is mapped onto the default bearer. Therefore, if a dedicated
the default bearer.

LTE specifies a number of standardized QCI values with standardized characteristics, which are preconfigured for the network
elements. This ensures multivendor deployments and roaming. The mapping of standardized QCI values to standardized
characteristics is captured below diagram. Besides QCI, the following are QoS attributes associated with the LTE bearer:

QCI: A scalar representing a set of packet forwarding treatments for example scheduling weights, admission thresholds, queue
management thresholds, and link layer protocol configuration.

Allocation and retention priority (ARP): A parameter used by call admission control and overload control for control plane
treatment of a bearer. The call admission control uses the ARP to decide whether a bearer establishment or modification
request is to be accepted or rejected. Also, the overload control uses the ARP to decide which bearer to release during
overload situations.

Maximum bit rate (MBR): The maximum sustained traffic rate the bearer may not exceed; only valid for GBR bearers.

GBR: The minimum reserved traffic rate the network guarantees; only valid for GBR bearers

Aggregate MBR (AMBR): The total amount of bit rate of a group of non-GBR bearers In 3GPP Release 8 the MBR must be
equal to the GBR, but for future 3GPP releases an MBR can be greater than a GBR. The AMBR can help an operator to
differentiate between its subscribers by assigning higher values of AMBR to its higher-priority customers compared to lower-
priority ones.

LTE air interface scheduler

The LTE air interface scheduler is responsible for dynamically allocating DL and UL air interface resources among the bearers
appropriately while maintaining their desired QoS level in both DL and UL directions. In order to make a scheduling decision,
the LTE air interface scheduler uses the following information as input:
Radio conditions at the UE measured at the eNB and/or reported by the UE. The state of different bearers, such as uplink
buffer status reports (BSR) that are required to provide support for QoS-aware packet scheduling, elapsed time. The QoS
attributes of bearers and packet forwarding parameters associated with the QCIs. The interference situation in the neighboring
cells. The LTE scheduler can try to control intercell interference on a slow basis. This improves the QoE associated with the
MSs at the cell edge.

QOS over WiMAX networks:

WiMAX employs flow-based QoS – traffic can be classified to different service flows with different QoS parameters. The ASN
(Access Service Network) supports admission control & resource scheduling to manage (nonguaranteed) QoS per service flow.
The WiMAX ASN also marks traffic to enable other networks/elements (e.g. backhaul network) to provide QoS consistent with
the air interface. WiMAX provides QoS by classifying traffic to service flows with different QoS. A service flow (SF) is a
unidirectional MAC-layer transport connection with particular QoS parameters.
The WiMAX network creates at least two (1 DL + 1 UL) service flows (default service flows) for a device when it enters the
network.

-  The default service flows are Best Effort and support most traffic.

-   The default service flows are also used for DHCP and DNS.

Devices may also be pre-provisioned with additional “dedicated” service flows to provide QoS for selected applications.

-  Traffic must be classified to dedicated service flows.

-  A single device can currently support up to 8 active service flows (4 DL + 4 UL), including the default service flows.
WiMAX provides mechanisms for dynamically creating, modifying and deleting dedicated service flows during a subscriber’s
active session.

-  Requests can be initiated by either the network or device.

WiMAX Service Flows:

IEEE 802.16e supports 5 SF types:

Unsolicited grant service (UGS): Supports real-time traffic with fixed-size data packets on a periodic basis

Real-time polling service (rtPS): Supports real-time traffic with variable-size data packets on a periodic basis

Extended rtPS (ertPS): Supports real-time traffic that generates variable-size data packets on a periodic basis with a sequence
of active and silence intervals

Non-real-time polling service (nrtPS): Supports delay-tolerant traffic that requires a minimum reserved rate

Best effort (BE) service: Supports regular data services

WiMAX air interface scheduler

The SF framework provides QoS granularity and inter-SF isolation over the air interface. The air interface scheduler is
responsible for enforcing QoS by assigning DL and UL physical (PHY) layer resource blocks among SFs. This mechanism is
called bandwidth allocation. A scheduling decision is determined based on appropriate SFs’ QoS state variables, like buffer
lengths, elapsed packet delay, SFs’ QoS requirements such as MRTR and maximum latency, and radio frequency (RF)
conditions of different MSs.

In general:
 SFs with shorter maximum latency or SFs with higher MRTR receive higher priorities in the scheduling decision.
 SFs with late packets or long buffer lengths also, receive higher priorities in the scheduling decision.
 MSs with better RF conditions receive higher priorities by the scheduler in order to improve overall sector throughput.
However, an operator can adjust fairness to ensure MSs in poor RF conditions receive reasonable QoS.
The air interface scheduler may differentiate between traffic flows within an SF by packet priority levels such as DSCP values
(intra-SF). Also, it may further utilize the traffic priority attribute of SFs to differentiate between traffic associated with SFs of the
same type (inter-SF).

WiMAX and LTE Comparison:

There are more components and functionalities in an end-to-end network providing QoS than the air interface QoS features
discussed above, such as policy control and charging (PCC) functions in QoS provisioning. Here, we focus on a comparison of
the QoS framework between LTE and IEEE 802.16e/IEEE 802.16m at the air interface:

QoS transport unit: The basic QoS transport unit in the IEEE 802.16e/IEEE 802.16m system is an SF, which is a unidirectional
flow of packets either UL from the MS/AMS or DL packets from the BS/ABS. The basic QoS transport in LTE is a bearer
between UE and the PDNGW. All packets mapped to the same bearer receive the same treatment.

QoS scheduling types: There are six scheduling service types in IEEE 802.16m including UGS, ertPS, rtPS, nrtPS, and BE
from IEEE 802.16e and the newly defined aGP service. LTE supports GBR and non-GBR bearers. The GBR bearer will be
provided by the network with a guaranteed service rate, and its mechanism is like rtPS; the non-GBR has no such requirement
and performs like BE in IEEE 802.16e/IEEE 802.16m.

QoS parameters per transport unit: Depending on the SF type, IEEE 802.16e/IEEE 802.16m can control maximum packet
delay and jitter, maximum sustained traffic rate (MSTR), minimum reserved traffic rate (MRTR), and traffic priority. LTE MBR
and GBR are similar to IEEE 802.16e/IEEE 802.16m MSTR and MRTR, respectively. However, MBR and GBR are only
attributes of GBR bearers, while in IEEE 802.16e/IEEE 802.16m even a BE SF can be rate limited using its MSTR. Also, with
3GPP Release 8, GBR and MBR are set equal, while IEEE 802.16e/IEEE 802.16m allows the operator to select independent
values for MSTR and MRTR. On the other hand, LTE AMBR allows the operator to rate cap the total non-GBR bearers of a
subscriber.

QoS handling in the control plane: The SF QoS parameters are signaled in IEEE 802.16e/IEEE 802.16m via DSx/AAI-DSx
messages. In LTE the QCI and associated nine standardized characteristics are not signaled on any interface. Network initiated
or client initiated QoS are both supported in IEEE 802.16e/IEEE 802.16m systems. Therefore, both operator managed service
and unmanaged service can be supported. The flexible architecture gives the mobile client opportunities for differentiation. LTE
only supports network initiated QoS control.

QoS user plane treatment: The ARP parameter in LTE provides the following flexibilities to the operator:
 Accept or reject establishment or modification of bearers during the call admission control decision based on not only
the requested bandwidth, available bandwidth, or number of established bearers, but also the priority of the bearer
 Selectively tear down bearers based on their priorities during an overload situation.

5. The Very Small Aperture Terminal, VSAT service is becoming more popular in Malaysia. Obtain information
on VSAT service operator in Malaysia including examples of application, network topology, user
equipments, lease procedure and services offered and their data rate. How can a VSAT system
accommodate subscriber that need higher data rate services.

TM Berhad
Maxis
TIME Dot Com

VSAT stands for Very Small Aperture Terminal. It is a small satellite dish that is capable of both receiving
and sending satellite signals. VSAT systems can be designed to serve both broadcast and interactive
applications whether data, voice or video, which are now being served by terrestrial lines. VSAT offers
highly reliable, flexible support of integrated multimedia communications. Compared to alternative
technologies, VSAT offers customers the following features and benefits:

* Star network topology - offers end-to-end shared hub services for network requirements that cannot
economically support a dedicated hub and operated by experienced staff to ensure optimum service levels.
* Full mesh connectivity - provides a hubless network using only one satellite hop, offers lower delay and
better response times. Smaller networks can be implemented at lower costs than traditional hub-based
systems.
* Bandwidth-on-Demand - architecture automatically allocates a pool of bandwidth to meet customer
requirements of any site. The customer can move or add host computers and PABX's without having to re-
engineer or re-size the network. Servers may be centralized or distributed. The bandwidth automatically
"follows" the new traffic patterns.
* Scalability of network capacity - The aggregate network capacity can be increase from time to time as the
number of sites and volume per site grows.
* Modularity and open system architecture - supports modular and open system architecture. The customer
can expand the number of interfaces at the indoor unit as he requires.
* Economics of statistical multiplexing - Multiple applications share the same bandwidth. The customer uses
and pays for less total bandwidth than with the more traditional multiple dedicated network approaches.
* Network Management and Control - operating on global standards and operational 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week for some of major Earth Stations.
* Cost effective solution - provides cost-effective communication solutions with high level functionality and
performance since the pricing is distance independent. It offers a competitive alternative even for countries,
which have a high degree of communication infrastructure.

Why VSAT

The dish is small, easily transportable and installation lead-time is much shorter if compared to terrestrial
links. In addition, VSAT network allows rapid, low-cost network re-configuration and expansion to meet new
or unexpected business requirements.Cost effective transmission and network operations are made
possible by use of the C-band satellite frequency and frequency times division multiple access (FTDMA),
Frequency division multiple access (FDMA) or Time division multiple access (TDMA) transmission
techniques. VSAT offers a wide of protocols and features, providing extraordinary flexibility and virtually
unlimited expansion capabilities. In addition, VSAT network is typically engineered to achieve a minimum of
99.7% end-to-end availability for all locations.

Application

VSAT is an ideal satellite network that provides communications support for a wide range of applications:
  Point-of-sales transaction
 Order-Entry Billing
 Inventory Control
 Financial Management
 Data processing
 Reservation System
 Telemetry & Data Collection
 News Wire Services
 Private-Line Voice
 Virtual Private Networks
 Distance Education
 High Speed Internet Acces

VSAT TOPOLOGY

VSAT can be customised and implemented with the topology of network that is best suited to the customers'
requirement.

1) Hub type

Hub type is a private network designed for data, multimedia and voice applications, providing highly reliable
communications between a central hub and almost any number of geographically dispersed sites. It
integrates both high-speed Internet access and video multicasting capabilities. The network is suitable for
point to multi-point communication for customers having a single data center requiring connectivity to its
branches in geographically dispersed locations. This service supports transmission bandwidth ranging from
9.6 kbps to 2 Mbps duplex. One of the advantages of Star topologies is that the hub can maintain effective
control of the network through centralized processing. It is well suited for business traffic from the hub at the
company headquarters and individual VSATs located at field offices, retail outlets or branches.

2) Hubless type

Hubless type is a low cost rural telephony and Internet solutions that provides voice, fax and Internet service
via satellite. It delivers toll-quality voice and IP transmission and represents the most cost-effective
solutions.

Hubless type may also be a communication network that provides on-demand data, voice and fax to remote
locations via satellite with a flexible multi-channel communications for public, corporate and government
applications. The available bandwidth ranging from 9.6 kbps up to 2048 kbps duplex. Its point-to-point or
mesh architecture is useful for providing inter-connectivity amongst relatively high volume VSATs utilization.
It supports connection on demand between any pairs or terminals in the system.

How high is VSAT reachability?

VSAT is a satellite-based service covering national and regional telecommunications needs. The service is
served from small parabolic dishes (1.8m/2.4m/3.8m) accessing to the satellite directly from the customer
premises. That explains the capability of the service reaching out to challenging areas of the country and
region. This means of communication can also serve as part of company's network diversity. Value added
services that VSAT can offer is as follows:
1) Gyro Stabilized System - Practical to cater for offshore communication especially for rough and choppy
sea condition. A total service package that VSAT can offer to oil and gas customer. Typical applications are
data transfer, voice communication and facsimile during oil exploration or drilling activities.
2) Potential back-up service

What is the access speeds for VSAT?

The list of access speeds (in Kbps) are as below;

  1. 1.2 up to 56     6. 512

  2. 64     7. 768
  3. 128     8. 1024
  4. 256     9. 1536
  5. 384   10. 2048

Satellite limitations: Satellite delay of 600 milisecond transmit and 600 milisecond receive is a universal
standard.

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