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.