UMTS Channels

Layer/Type Abrev. Full Name

3_LOGICAL BCCH broadcast control channel

3_LOGICAL CCCH common control channel

3_LOGICAL CTCH common traffic channel

3_LOGICAL DCCH dedicated control channel

3_LOGICAL DTCH dedicated traffic channel

3_LOGICAL PCCH paging control channel

2_TRANSPORT BCH broadcast channel

2_TRANSPORT CPCH common packet channel

2_TRANSPORT DCH dedicated channel

2_TRANSPORT DSCH downlink shared channel

2_TRANSPORT E-DCH enhanced dedicated channel

2_TRANSPORT FACH forward access channel

2_TRANSPORT HS-DSCH high speed downlink shared channel

2_TRANSPORT PCH paging channel

2_TRANSPORT RACH random access channel

1_PHYSICAL AICH acquisition indicator channel

collision detection/channel assignment

1_PHYSICAL CD/CA-ICH indicator channel

1_PHYSICAL CPICH common pilot channel

1_PHYSICAL CSICH cpch status indication channel

1_PHYSICAL DPCCH dedicated physical control channel

1_PHYSICAL DPDCH dedicated physical data channel

1_PHYSICAL E-AGCH enhanced absolute grant channel

1_PHYSICAL E-DPCCH enhanced dedicated physical control channel

1_PHYSICAL E-DPDCH enhanced dedicated physical data channel

1_PHYSICAL E-HICH enhanced hybrid indicator channel

1_PHYSICAL E-RGCH enhanced relative grant channel

high speed dedicated physical control
1_PHYSICAL HS-DPCCH
channel
1_PHYSICAL HS-PDSCH high speed physical downlink shared channel

1_PHYSICAL HS-SCCH high speed shared control channel

1_PHYSICAL P-CCPCH primary common control physical channels

1_PHYSICAL PCPCH physical common packet channel

1_PHYSICAL PDSCH physical downlink shared channel
1_PHYSICAL PICH page indicator channel
1_PHYSICAL PRACH physical random access channel
1_PHYSICAL S-CCPCH secondary common control physical channels

1_PHYSICAL SCH synchronization channel

UMTS Channels
Description UL/DL
For broadcasting system control information DL
Supports common procedures required to establish a dedicated link UL/DL
with the network.
A point-to-multipoint unidirectional channel for transfer of dedicated
DL
user information for all or a group of specified UEs.
A point-to-point dedicated channel for transmitting dedicated control UL/DL
information between a UE and the network.
A point-to-point channel dedicated to one UE for the transfer of user
UL/DL
information.
Transfers paging information. Used when the network does not know
the location cell of the UE or the UE is in sleep mode. DL

Used to broadcast cell and system information. DL

Used for transmission of bursty data traffic. Shared by the UEs in a
cell. Employs fast power control. NOTE - removed after R5. UL

Allocated to an individual user and typically used to support a speech

UL/DL
channel.
Carries dedicated user data or control information. May be shared by
several UEs. Associated with a downlink DCH. NOTE - removed after DL
R5.
HSUPA Enhanced (high-speed) dedicated uplink transport channel. UL
Carries control information to UEs in a cell (may also be used to
DL
transmit packet data). Makes up the RACH/FACH pair.
The HSDPA transport channel. Shared by several UEs. DL
Carries paging procedure data (for sleep mode) used by network to DL
establish connection to UE. Always transmitted over entire cell.

Used to gain access to the system when first attaching to it (can also
carry packet data). Makes up the RACH/FACH pair. Always received
UL
from entire cell. Entails a collision risk. Transmitted using open loop
power control.

Carries acquisition indicators. AI corresponds to signature on the

DL
PRACH. Fixed rate (sf=256).
Carries CD Indicator (CDI) or CD Indicator/CA Indicator (CDI/CAI).
Fixed rate (sf=256). NOTE - removed after R5. DL

Provides the default phase reference for demodulation of the other

downlink channels and enables channel estimation. Uses a pre- DL
defined bit sequence. Fixed rate (sf=256).
Carries CPCH status information. Fixed rate (sf=256). NOTE - removed
DL
after R5.

Carries physical layer control information including known pilot bits to

support channel estimation, transmit power-control (TPC) commands,
feedback information (FBI) and, optionally, transport-format UL/DL
combination indicator (TFCI).

Carries DCH data. Used with DPCCH. May be multiple DPDCHs on

UL/DL
each radio link.
 [HSUPA] Establishes absolute power lever for UE transmission on E-
DL
DCH. Fixed rate (sf=256).
[HSUPA] Control information associated with E-DCH. Transmitted UL/DL
along with E-DPDCH.
[HSUPA] Carries the E-DCH transport channel. Transmitted along with
UL
E-DPCCH.
[HSUPA] Dedicated channel which carries the E-DCH hybrid ARQ
DL
acknowledgement indicator. Fixed rate (sf=128).
[HSUPA] Carries the uplink E-DCH relative grants. Fixed rate (sf=128). DL
[HSDPA] Carries feedback signalling related to HS-DSCH including
UL
HARQ-ACK and CQI.
[HSDPA] Carries actual user data for HS-DSCH. DL
[HSDPA] Contains downlink signalling information related to HS-DSCH.
Fixed rate (sf=128). DL

Carries BCH (Broadcast Channel). There is one P-CCPCH within a cell

used to carry synchronization and broadcast information for all users. DL

Carries CPCH (Common Packet Channel). NOTE - removed after R5. UL

Carries DSCH. NOTE - removed after R5. DL
Carries PCH. Fixed rate (sf=256). DL
Carries RACH (Random Access Channel). UL
Carries FACH (Forward Access Channel) and PCH (Paging Channel). DL
Used for cell search and conveying synchronization information.
DL
Consists of two sub-channels - Primary and Secondary SCH.