Anda di halaman 1dari 3

3G to 4G MIGRATION

With the convergence of the Internet and wireless


communications, mobile data services are
undergoing tremendous growth. However, the
mobile wireless environment has been challenged
to keep up with the growth, in part because of
limitations on access speed. If mobile operators
are to succeed in today's communications
landscape, they must continue to focus on the
quality of experience for their users.
This article outlines how mobile operators can
prepare their networks to support fourth-
generation (4G) broadband services that will
improve the user experience and yield new
revenue opportunities. Specifically, it addresses
the role of Long-Term Evolution (LTE), a Third-
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard
that provides much greater spectral efficiency
than the most advanced 3G networks.

Introduction
Designated as a fourth-generation (4G) mobile
specification, LTE is designed to provide
multimegabit bandwidth, more efficient use of the
radio network, latency reduction, and improved
mobility. This combination aims to enhance the
subscriber's interaction with the network and
further accelerate the demand for mobile
multimedia services. With wireless broadband,
users can more readily access their Internet
services, such as online television, video
streaming, blogging, social networking, and
interactive gaming - all while mobile.
Changes in mobile communications have always
been evolutionary, and the deployment of LTE will
be the same. It will be a transition from 3G to 4G
over a period of several years, as is the case still
with the transition from 2G to 3G. As a result,
mobile operators must look for strategies and
solutions that will enhance their existing 3G
networks while addressing their 4G deployment
requirements without requiring a complete
equipment upgrade.
Specifically, mobile operators need the
multimedia core network to be readily upgradable
to meet the requirements of the System
Architecture Evolution (SAE), the 4G core network
architecture of the LTE standard.
Solutions already deployed in the market may
include many of the elements required of the 4G
network, including integrated intelligence,
simplified network architecture, high bandwidth
performance capabilities with on-demand
scalability, and enhanced mobility. Only solutions
capable of supporting multiple functions in a
single node through a software upgrade will
protect today's investment for tomorrow's
network and avoid a costly replacement of the
existing systems.


Evolution Analysis

2G/3G PS and 4G EPC(evolved packet core) are
defined differently in 3GPP. In the 2G and 3G eras,
a core network is divided into CS and PS domains
that provide voice and data services, respectively.
In a 2G network, the control and user planes are
combined in order to achieve a download rate of
up to 460 kbps. Since the 3G era, the control plane
has been gradually split from the user plane in
order to make a flat network in which direct
tunnels can be deployed. With HSDPA, a download
rate of more than 10 Mbps can be achieved. Now
in the 4G era, the CS domain is gone, and EPC can
provide all telecom services with an optimum
download rate of more than 100 Mbps and
support both 3GPP and non-3GPP access.

Implementation Mode
There are two ways to introduce an EPC: upgrade
the existing PS domain or build a new EPC that can
be incorporated into existing PS services at a later
stage.

In order to upgrade a traditional PS to make it
serve as an EPC, the traditional GSN needs to
support LTE access and provide a large space for
LTE services. All-IP networking should also be
supported. This implementation mode requires
low initial investment but high maintenance cost
and may affect existing services.
A new EPC needs to have large capacity for LTE
access, all-IP networking, and 2G/3G access. With
this implementation mode, initial investment is
high but maintenance cost is low, and the new EPC
network does not affect existing services.
No matter which mode an operator adopts, the
core network will become a converged
SGSN/MME or GGSN/SGW/PGW network that
supports 2G, 3G, and 4G access.



Evolving the Packet Core
Radio access solutions are a primary consideration
of the LTE deployment strategy, because LTE
affects the mobile operators' most valued asset:
spectrum. As an equally important part of this
equation, the multimedia core network will play a
central role in enhancing mobility, service control,
efficient use of network resources, and a smooth
migration from 2G or 3G to 4G. As a result, SAE
calls for a transition to a "flat", all-IP core
network, called the Evolved Packet Core (EPC),
which features a simplified architecture and open
interfaces as defined by the 3GPP standards body.
A key EPC goal is to enhance service provisioning
while simplifying interworking with non-3GPP
mobile networks. The standards promise an all-IP
core network with a simplified and flattened
architecture that supports higher throughput,
lower latency, and mobility between 3GPP (Global
System for Mobile Communications [GSM],
Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service
[UMTS], and LTE) and non-3GPP radio access
technologies, including Code Division Multiple
Access (CDMA), WiMAX, Wi-Fi, High-Rate Packet
Data (HRPD), evolved HRPD (eHRPD), and
European Telecommunications Standards Institute
(ETSI)-defined Telecoms and Internet
Converged Services and Protocols for Advanced
Networks (TISPAN) networks





UMTS / HSPA RAN Site Upgrade to LTE

The vast majority of legacy UMTS equipment
currently deployed in the field is not LTE capable
and even the latest Multi-technology BTS will
require new hardware (baseband
and radios) to run an LTE network as the
underlying enabling technologies behind LTE
(OFDM and All IP Flat Core Architecture), are
fundamentally different from GSM and UMTS
Also, the very high throughput of LTE means that
the baseband processing requirement is
significantly higher than that of even the latest
HSPA+ incarnation

HSPA networks will not be switched off when LTE
is launched and because LTE will most likely be
deployed initially in new spectrum bands (2600
or/and 800MHz), operators
will have to overlay their existing HSPA
equipment with new baseband, new radios and
other ancillary elements.

GSM and UMTS networks are the still active
networks today, so to de-risk the installation of
LTE and ensure no disruption of existing
services, an LTE overlay solution has the benefit of
limiting the risk of disruption of
legacy technologies in the early phase of LTE
deployment.
.
The LTE radio transceivers, which can be mounted
either locally or remotely to the LTE BCU, are
connected back to the LTE BCU via a CPRI like
fiber interface, with their RF outputs duplexed
onto the same RF feeder cables as the UMTS
Node B. This allows the operator to re-use much of
the ancillary equipment previously purchased at
the Node B whilst being able to offer both UMTS
and LTE services.


In general, whenever technically and commercially
feasible, antennas should be shared between the
existing UMTS equipment
and the new LTE system. The goal is to reduce the
operator OPEX associated with running
multiple technologies at the same site. Since each
deployment scenario and requirements are
different


Backhaul Site Upgrade to LTE

Backhaul consideration for LTE E-UTRAN
deployment is also critical. A typical LTE site (20
MHz, 3 Sectors, 2x2 MIMO) may present
a Busy Hour (BH) backhaul load of nearly 100
Mbps average throughput, with individual
peaks well above that. This amount of bandwidth
in the I/O will most likely require controller and
backhaul upgrades

Todays E1 backhaul 2Mbps is very unsuited for
4G technologies so a significant
upgrade on the backhaul network will also be
required. Wireless high speed IP microwave
backhaul, fibre can provide a very cost effective
and high speed solution for
backhauling LTE sites.& ensure that LTE network
capability is not throttled by backhaul limitations

Conclusion

Innovative solutions currently deployed around
the globe already meet many of the requirements
of LTE and EPC, such as integrated intelligence,
simplified network architecture, high bandwidth
performance capabilities, and enhanced mobility.
Some solutions are capable of supporting 2G and
3G today on a single platform, and through
software upgrades can support 4G functions when
LTE networks are deployed.
Mobile operators will benefit from solutions that
can provide 2G and 3G functions now and evolve
to 4G functions later without replacing costly
systems and equipment that will still be needed to
support legacy networks while subscribers
transition to the new network.

Anda mungkin juga menyukai