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Competence Center NGNI

Fraunhofer FOKUS

Integrating Off-the-shelf 3GPP Access


Networks in the OpenEPC Software Toolkit
- Realizing cost-efficient and complete small-scale-operator testbeds -

Marius Corici, Mihai Constatin, Dwianto Dana Satriya, Dragos


Vingarzan, Valentin Vlad, Lukas Wllner
Fraunhofer Institute FOKUS, Germany
dragos.vingarzan@fokus.fraunhofer.de
www.FOKUS.fraunhofer.de/go/ngni
www.FUSECO-Playground.org
www.OpenEPC.net

Competence Center NGNI

Overview

The Problem
Providing research infrastructure for both the academia and the industry
Cost-effective solutions for NGN test-beds in the mobile domain
Realizing realistic testing environments

The OpenEPC Project


Short overview

Integrating off-the-shelf 2G/GPRS femto-cells in OpenEPC


Interfaces and protocol stacks
Procedures and implemented functionalities
Lessons learned
Validation

Outlook
3G/UMTS progress status
4G/LTE short overview

Q&A

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The Problem: Access to Mobile Technology

Wireless testbeds
Most deal with WiFi (e.g. open source WiFi drivers like MADWIFI have spurred the
creation of numerous test-beds and incredible innovation)
Also numerous related to ZigBee or Bluetooth
Yet for the most used today GPRS, UMTS, LTE very few

Blocking issues
Very complex interfaces and protocol stacks
Education: how many here have learned about the GPRS protocols during university
courses?
Equipment costs
Proprietary/Specialized hardware
Interoperability and vendor-locking
Secret algorithms
Spectrum license required

Today mobile drives innovation in the telecommunication domain


Such test-beds are must-have for all universities and R&D organizations

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What is the 3GPP Evolved Packet Core

An overlay over the operator core network


providing all-IP connectivity
Over heterogeneous accesses (LTE, 3G, 2G,
non-3GPP, femto, )
Using the operator transport network
Towards all IP based applications

IP connectivity services include features for:


Seamless mobility management
Mobile device reachability
QoS and charging control
Secure access and authorization
Based on the subscription profile
Based on the application requirements
With reduced OPEX for the operator
Forwarding of IP data packets

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Background: The OpenEPC Project


www.openepc.net
OpenEPC includes the main functions of 3GPP Evolved Packet Core (Rel. 8, 9, 10, 11, )
The principles of standard alignment, configurability and extensibility have been respected
in the overall architecture and in the specific components implemented
OpenEPC Rel. 4 enables the establishment of small operator network testbeds including:
Core network mobility support (GTP, PMIP)
Integration with real LTE, 3G, 2G and WiFi
AAA for 3GPP and non-3GPP accesses
Policy and Charging Control
Access network selection
Common mobile equipment support
PLEASE NOTE: OpenEPC does not claim 100%
standard compliance, but allows for early prototyping

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OpenEPC Rel. 4 Functions and Interfaces

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Open Source IMS Core and OpenEPC test-beds


around the world

Americas

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3GPP EPC 2G/GPRS Architecture with EPC

GPRS/EDGE RAN (GERAN) is connected to the core network through two interfaces:
A interface
for CS attachment, IDLE mode management, CS service establishment,

Gb interface
for PS attachment, IDLE mode management, PS bearer establishment,

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In 2G MSC attachment is mandatory for PS services!

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3GPP EPC Gb Signaling Plane

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3GPP EPC Gb User-data Plane

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3GPP EPC - Gb BSS <-> SGSN Communication

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Network Service (NS)


BSS GPRS Protocol (BSSGP)

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Network Service

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NS provides the services:


Service Data Unit (SDU) transfer
exchange of upper layer protocol
data units

Network congestion indication


Status indication

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BSS GPRS Protocol (BSSGP)

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Provisioning of parameters between:


BSS - derived from RLC/MAC
SGSN - received from higher layers
Provisioning of functionality to enable two physically distinct nodes to operate management control
functions.

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Logical Link Control (LLC)

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Provides a reliable link between the MS and SGSN

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Logical Link Control (LLC)

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Provides a reliable link between MS and SGSN


Separate channels for GMM, SMS, IP, etc
LLC transmission modes:
Unacknowledged mode
Acknowledged mode
Modes of operations:
Async. Disconnected Mode (ADM)
Async. Balanced Mode (ABM)
Functions:
Error detection, recovery, reorder
Congestion control, window management
XID negotiation parameter exchange
Data cyphering

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3GPP EPC 2G Integration


Signaling Plane GSM Layer 3

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GPRS Mobility Management (GMM)


Session Management (SM)

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GPRS Mobility Management and Session Management

GPRS Mobility Management


Enables the service continuity while the MS is mobile
Procedures:

Attachment/Detachment
Authentication
Paging (PS and CS)
Location procedures Routing area updates

Session Management
Establishes PDP Contexts, which provide the IP data paths
Management of QoS parameters

Short Message Service


Delivery (SMS-MT) and reception (SMS-MO) of short messages to/from MS

For future development


Call Control enabling CS call management

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UE-SGSN Interface User-Plane Data

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Link Layer Connection (LLC) Protocol


Subnetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol (SNDCP)

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Packet Transmission Protocol Stack

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The IP data packets are processed and


encapsulated by the SNDCP and LLC
SNDCP:
Maps IP packets to network
characteristics
Packets are conveyed to Network
PDUs (N-PDUs)
An SNDCP header is added
LLC:
Provides a reliable MS-SGSN link
Adds an LL header
RLC or BSSGP:
Receive the LL PDUs
Encapsulate them in RLC or BSSGP
PDUs

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The ip.access nanoGSM/nanoBTS Picocell


(model 165G)

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Working with Off-the-Shelf Devices

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Extensive OpenEPC Laboratory Test-bed

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OpenEPC can be deployed on multiple machines realizing a comprehensive small mobile


operator

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Personal OpenEPC Test-bed

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OpenEPC can be completely virtualized in a single box


External connections are used for connecting base stations, to the
Internet or own components
Some components can be disabled, if not required
Excellent for development
Each developer can have his/her own EPC test-bed instance

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Single-box OpenEPC Connectivity Solution

OpenEPC can be minimized and run as separate functions in a single box


Addressing micro-deployments which require complete or partial functionality
Optimizing data paths and control while maintaining standard alignment

Can be integrated with radio-access and offering IP connectivity


For reduced areas - e.g. femto/nano-cell, hotspots, home
With one or multiple radio (or fixed technologies)
in an enterprise wireless environment

Especially useful in Professional Mobile Radio application

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Competence Center NGNI

1. Demo Scenario
CS Attachment

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2. Demo Scenario
SMS

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3. Demo Scenario
PS Attachment

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4. Demo Scenario
Operator Indicated Access Network Selection

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5. Demo Scenario
Seamless Handover

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Lessons Learned
2G/GPRS was/is hard to implement!
Many and very complex protocols
Lots of testing and learning needed to develop them
Unfortunately has some secret parts
The A3/A8 GSM algorithms with the COMP128 authentication secret
but reverse engineered
Using instead the USIM fallback with public AKA/Milenage
transformation

Or expensive/impractical protocols
The A interface should use MTP to transport SCCP
Using vendor proprietary SIG-IP to transport SCCP as pure-IP solution
(cell was probably developed before 3G/UMTS brought the M3UA over
SCTP standard alternative)

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Lessons Learned
3G/UMTS seems simpler now
Reusing protocols and interfaces towards the Core Network
Reusing many state-machines in the SGSN and MSC components
Fortunately over-IP from day 1
CS parts mostly optional, but not entirely eliminated as initially scoped
4G/LTE even simpler
More intelligence in eNodeB less components between the Access Point
and the Core Network
Much simpler to integrate with a Core Network, yet a different type of
complexity
Finally no PS requires IMS for calls, but that exists already in test-beds

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The ip.access nano3G Picocell Access Points

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Cost-effective Mobile Network Testbeds

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OpenEPC enables the establishment of small scale networks


Reduced number of subscribers, reduced number of base stations
Re-using standard 3GPP radio equipment designed for micro-deployments
Including all security, efficiency, subscriber oriented characteristics
Deployment examples besides research test-beds:
isolated regions, enterprise networks, specialized networks
Professional Mobile Radio: security, M2M (energy, gas), trains, logistics, military

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2G/GPRS References

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3GPP TS 23.060 - General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Service description; Stage 2
3GPP TS 48.016 - General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Base Station System (BSS) - Serving GPRS
Support Node (SGSN) interface; Network service
3GPP TS 48.018 - General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Base Station System (BSS) - Serving GPRS
Support Node (SGSN); BSS GPRS protocol (BSSGP)
3GPP TS 44.064 - Mobile Station - Serving GPRS Support Node (MS-SGSN); Logical Link Control
(LLC) Layer Specification
3GPP TS 44.065 - Mobile Station (MS) - Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN); Subnetwork
Dependent Convergence Protocol (SNDCP)
3GPP TS 24.008 - Mobile radio interface Layer 3 specification; Core network protocols; Stage 3
ITU-T Q.711 - Functional description of the signalling connection control part
ITU-T Q.712 - Definition and function of Signalling connection control part messages
ITU-T Q.714 - Signalling connection control part procedures
ITU-T Q.715 - Signalling connection control part user guide
ITU-T Q.716 - Signalling System No. 7 - Signalling connection control part (SCCP) performance
3GPP TS 48.006 Signalling Transport Mechanism Specification for the Base Station System - Mobile
Services Switching Centre (BSS-MSC) Interface
3GPP TS 48.008 - Mobile Switching Centre - Base Station system (MSC-BSS) interface; Layer 3
specification
3GPP TS 29.272 - Evolved Packet System (EPS); Mobility Management Entity (MME) and Serving
GPRS Support Node (SGSN) related interfaces based on Diameter protocol

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Acronyms

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BSS Base Station Subsystem


BSSGP BSS GPRS Protocol
BTS Base Transceiver Station
CC Call Control
CS Circuit Switched
EPC Evolved Packet Core
GERAN GSM EDGE RAN
GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
GMM GPRS Mobility Management
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
GTP GPRS Tunneling Protocol
HLR Home Location Register
HSS Home Subscriber Server
LLC Logical Link Control
ME(or MS) Mobile Equipment (Station)
MSC Mobile Switching Centre

NS Network Service
PDP Packet Data Protocol
PGW Packet Data Network Gateway
PS Packet Switched
RAN Radio Access Network
SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node
SGW Serving Gateway
SIM Subscriber Identity Module
SM Session Managements
SMS Short Messaging System
SNDCP Sub-network Dependent
Convergent Protocol
USIM UMTS SIM

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Backup Slides

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OpenEPC is not a product!

Or at least not yet ;-)

Targeted at test-beds and technology trials


Driven by your demand

Implementing 90% of the standards with 10% efforts


All the required security mechanisms, but unsecure for the
real-life deployments
Functionality wins over stability
No high-availability
Basic provisioning but not proper management
Decent performance, without deep acceleration

This is not a proper car


either, but it beats the Ferrari

No 100% compliance
Yet doing very well on interoperability
Always going for the latest concepts (think 3GPP Rel.10-11, IETF drafts, crazy new ideas
to make-it-work)

But nothing wrong with not-a-product


It takes just days to get a new concept working
Sometimes its actually faster and better

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Competence Center NGNI

OpenEPC in Quick Numbers


7700 revisions
And this is just the internal development tree
20+ external/project-specific development trees
8.5 commits / week-day (again just internal tree)
Wharf source code statistics (our platform)
120 Mbytes
4000 files
450K lines of C code
64K lines of comments
75K lines of PHP (GUI and provisioning)

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Integration of Access Networks

OpenEPC integrates with all 3GPP and non-3GPP access networks:


LTE interfaces towards third party eNodeB, common UE (S1-U, S1-MME)
HSPA/UMTS interfaces towards third party NodeB/RNC, common UE (Iu-PS)
EDGE/GPRS interfaces towards third party BTS/BSC, common UE (A, Gb)
Trusted non-3GPP AAA and IP connectivity interface
Untrusted non-3GPP AAA, IPsec, and IP overlay connectivity interface

Access Network Integration Use Cases:


Deployment of realistic testbeds
Perceiving the effect of the radio
communication on applications
Trustfully evaluations of new features

As backup solution, OpenEPC includes its


own emulation of the 3GPP accesses
Using public spectrum (WiFi)
Enables replication without RAN equipment

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Competence Center NGNI

Fraunhofer FOKUS

OpenEPC as an EPC functional reference

OpenEPC enables functional testing


End-to-end scenarios
Most standard functions implemented
Most reference points exported
Completing the testbed ecosystem by integrating with other technologies:
RAN, transport, IP, applications, etc.
UTRAN
SGSN
HSS

GERAN
S3
S1-MME

S6a
MME

PCRF
S11

S10

LTE-Uu
UE

S4
Serving
Gateway

E-UTRAN
S1-U

(From 3GPP TS 23.401)


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S12
S5

Rx

Gx
PDN
Gateway

SGi

Operator's IP
Services
(e.g. IMS, PSS etc.)

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OpenEPC as an EPC functional reference (cont.)

Validation of standards
Vendor independent implementation
All features have been demanded and used
If its not there, chances are that you dont need it

Identification of weak spots


E.g. PDN GW handovers not so seamless
E.g. AAA Server S6b functionality not usable in the current state (TS 29.273)
UTRAN
SGSN
HSS

GERAN
S3
S1-MME

S6a
MME

PCRF
S11

S10

LTE-Uu
UE

S12
S4
Serving
Gateway

E-UTRAN
S1-U

3GPP TS 23.401
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S5

Rx

Gx
PDN
Gateway

SGi

Operator's IP
Services
(e.g. IMS, PSS etc.)

OpenEPC Realization

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Education

Today students still do not have enough access to Telco technologies


Never heard of SS7 in school
IMS is slowly making its way in the curriculum
The average Telecommunication graduate might know how to design an antenna, but
rarely how IP routing works
Computer Science/Engineering degrees give you a lot of insight into TCP/IP though
This hurts also the industry
NG(M)Ns should be built now for the NGStudents

OpenEPC offers and independent and extensive implementation of a mobile network


Empowering students to try their ideas
Affordable, comprehensive, trouble-free start-up test-bed
EPC-in-a-bottle + University-wide licensing = low cost/student

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Operators and Service Providers

Technology field-trials
Understand & evaluate the new architectures
Early estimations
Fast functionality gap-filling

Trial new service concepts without major investments


Invest <1% in an independent test-bed
Major vendors give bigger trials for free, but:
There are ulterior motives
You dont get the sources

Ensure correctness, feasibility and charging method


E.g. can IPv6 be deployed now?
E.g. can charging support fair split of costs between subscribers, content/service
providers, advertisers, etc

Prevent vendor-locking by challenging vendors to export and integrate on standard


reference points

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Openness

Open = Source code and full control


For trying new concepts and ideas
For implementing missing functionality
Independent, Comprehensive, Flexible

patents
ideas

standards

research
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pre-products/prototypes

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Hardware and Software Requirements

OpenEPC is designed to work on COTS hardware


Standard x86 would do, other platforms also feasible
Could be optimized for a specific platform

Running on standard Linux


Reference setup realized on the most used and most user-friendly distribution today,
Ubuntu Linux
Other Debian-based distros should be usable out of the box
With Rel.4 we are adding Fedora Core and other RedHat-based distros
For the rest, its just a matter of extending some installation scripts

Low memory foot-print, easy on CPU usage


Typically using Intel Atom small-form-factor, inexpensive systems

Scalable multi-process architecture


C-based platform, optional C++ modules

Using standard libraries, tools and enablers


MySQL, Apache, PHP, BIND9,

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Just add Radio, Devices and Applications

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Small-to-Medium Size Operator Network Testbeds

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OpenEPC enables the establishment of small scale networks


Reduced number of subscribers, reduced number of base stations
Re-using standard 3GPP radio equipment designed for micro-deployments
Including all security, efficiency, subscriber oriented characteristics
Deployment examples:
Small countries, isolated regions, enterprise networks, specialized networks
Professional Mobile Radio: security, M2M (energy, gas), trains, logistics, military

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Trialing Radio Technologies

OpenEPC provides the network functionality for various radio technologies


No need for emulations of core network
Radio technology developers can concentrate on radio technology

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Developing new LTE-A, 3G, and 2G equipment


Carrier Aggregation
Separation of Base Band Units from Radio Heads

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Trialing Applications

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Realizing real network conditions in which applications can be


tested
Mirroring the look-and-feel of network operator
environment
Reproducible network conditions
Using multiple access networks
Can be developed and evaluated over multiple mobile
devices
Effects of wireless communication can be determined

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OpenEPC at Deutsche Telekom

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Telekom Innovation Laboratories established an OpenEPC testbed at their premises for


enabling the further research in the area of various access technologies, access and
core network energy efficiency, as well as in other innovation areas related to the
Operator Infrastructures for the Future Internet.

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VoLTE

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A cost and effort efficient VoLTE testbed presumes putting together the following
functionality:
A VoLTE mobile device application e.g. FOKUS RCS Client for Android
An LTE capable smartphone
An LTE Radio Access Network
OpenEPC core network providing default and dedicated bearers
Open IMS Core
(Optional) IMS Application Servers, Session Border Nodes, Media Servers,

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SRVCC

A typical OpenEPC testbed setup including VoLTE features


Integration of CS voice
A new CS-PS handover module for mobile devices
CS-PS voice translation
SRVCC AS + specific interfaces
CS-PS
CS Voice

SRVCC
AS

Translation

BTS

BSC

GPRS

CS
Voice
Stack
CS-PS
Control
Mobile Phone
Mobility
Manager

NodeB RNC

eNodeB

S6a

S1-U

Charging
System

PCRF
S4
S11 S12

S1-MME

Rx

Sp

Iu-PS

MME

UMTS

HSS/SPR

S6d

SGSN

LTE
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Gb

OpenIMSCore

Sp

MSC

S-GW

Gxx

Gx
S5/S8

Gy/Gz

PDN GW

SGi

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Emulating LTE over Public Spectrum

Emulating LTE-Uu eNodeB simulation with WiFi


Spectrum-license free
Full protocols, but no real radio
Emulating RRC, PDCP, RLC and MAC
Mobile Station and eNodeB prototypes

LTE-Uu Emulation

WiFi
802.11

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