Module 1 – LTE Introduction Ver 1.0 (8)

Module 1 – LTE Introduction
By
Nex-G Innovations – NESPL
© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Copyright © Nex-G Innovations - NESPL
LTE Introduction

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt.
Ltd.
LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
LTE stands for Long Term Evolution and it was started as a

project in 2004 by telecommunication body known as the Third
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
SAE (System Architecture Evolution) is the corresponding evolution

of the GPRS/3G packet core network evolution.
The term LTE is typically used to represent both LTE and SAE.
LTE evolved from an earlier 3GPP system known as the Universal

Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), which in turn evolved
from the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM).

LTE Introduction
Even related specifications were formally known as the evolved

UMTS terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) and evolved UMTS terrestrial
radio access network (E-UTRAN).

LTE Introduction
LTE Evolution
Year Event
Mar 2000 Release 99 - UMTS/WCDMA
Mar 2002 Rel 5 – HSDPA
Mar 2005 Rel 6 – HSUPA
Year 2007 Rel 7 - DL MIMO, IMS (IP Multimedia
Subsystem)
January 2008 Release 8 – LTE 1st Version
March 2010 Release 9
September 2011 Release 10
June 2017 Release 14

LTE Introduction
First version of LTE was documented in Release 8 of the 3GPP

specifications.
A rapid increase of mobile data usage and emergence of new

applications such as MMOG (Multimedia Online Gaming),
mobile TV, Web 2.0, streaming contents have motivated the
3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to work on the
Long-Term Evolution (LTE) on the way towards fourth-
generation mobile.
The main goal of LTE is to provide a high data rate, low

latency and packet optimized radio access technology
supporting flexible bandwidth deployments.
Same time its network architecture has been designed with

the goal to support packet-switched traffic with seamless
mobility and great quality of service.

LTE Introduction
LTE Release 8/9 Characteristics
• LTE is a pure packet-switched system

• LTE Physical Layer
Downlink Uplink
(eNodeB => UE) (UE => eNodeB)
OFDMA (Orthogonal SC-FDMA (Single Carrier-
Frequency Division Multiple Frequency Division Multiple
Access) Access)
Note 1: SC-FDMA has lower peak-to-average power ratios (PAPR)

than OFDMA which was preferred for an easier UE power amplifier
design/a higher efficiency (increased coverage/lower power
consumption)

LTE Introduction
• LTE allows 6 different channel bandwidths:

• 1.4 MHz
• 3 MHz
• 5 MHz
• 10 MHz
• 15 MHz
• 20 MHz
• While UMTS has an RNC (Radio Network Controller)

between NodeB and core network, the functionalities of
this network entity are split between eNodeB and core
network in LTE => no RNC in LTE => flat/simpler radio
architecture
• UMTS/UTRA as well as LTE/E-UTRA use both a 10ms radio

frame, both have FDD and TDD modes and LTE/E-UTRA
supports full interoperability with UMTS/UTRA and
GSM/GERAN/EDGE.
LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
LTE-Release 9
• Release 9 introduces the complete integration of the Femtocell

concept (Home eNodeB) and evolved important features such as
self organising networks (SON)
• Evolved multimedia broadcast and multicast service (eMBMS)
• Positioning support (LCS)
• New spectrum bands (e.g., 800 MHz and 1500 MHz) for LTE
operation.

LTE Introduction
LTE-Advanced (Rel-10/Rel-11/Rel-12)
• Additional spectrum proposed for IMT systems by WRC-07

• 450 MHz band in UHF band
• 698-960 MHz in 2.3-2.4 GHz band
• 3400-4200 MHz in C-band
As well as the ITU-R request for the development of an

IMT-Advanced radio interface triggered developments of the 4th
generation of mobile communication systems.

LTE Introduction
Key features for IMT-Advanced were summarized as follows:
• High degree of commonality of functionality worldwide while

retaining the flexibility to support a wide range of services and
applications in a cost efficient manner
• Compatibility of services within IMT and with fixed networks
• Capability of interworking with other radio access systems
• High-quality mobile services
• User equipment suitable for worldwide use
• User-friendly applications, services and equipment
• Worldwide roaming capability

LTE Introduction
• Enhanced peak data rates to support advanced services and

applications
• Support of wider bandwidth: aggregation of multiple component

carriers with up to 20MHz bandwidth
• Spatial multiplexing: DL up to 8 layers, UL up to 4 layers (Ref

3GPP 36.211)
• Coordinated multiple point transmission and reception: to

improve the coverage of high data rates, the cell-edge
throughput and/or to increase system throughput
• Relaying functionality: to improve e.g. the coverage of high data

rates, group mobility, temporary network deployment, the cell-
edge throughput and/or to provide coverage in new areas

LTE Introduction
• Carrier Aggregation for LTE
• UL multiple antenna transmission for LTE
• Enhanced Downlink Multiple Antenna Transmission for LTE
• Latency reduction
• Further enhancements to MBMS for LTE
• LTE Self Optimizing Networks (SON) enhancements
• Minimization of drive tests for E-UTRAN and UTRAN

LTE Introduction
LTE-Advanced Pro (Rel-13 and above)
Release 13 (Sep.14-Dec.15, ASN.1 freeze: March 16)
• Narrowband Internet of Things (IOT)
• Further LTE Physical Layer Enhancements for MTC
• Dual Connectivity enhancements for LTE
• Extension of Dual Connectivity in E-UTRAN
• Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA) using LTE
• Elevation Beamforming/Full-Dimension (FD) MIMO for LTE
• Indoor Positioning enhancements for UTRA and LTE

LTE Introduction
• Further Enhancements of Minimization of Drive Tests for E-

UTRAN
• Enhanced LTE Device to Device Proximity Services
• Multicarrier Load Distribution of UEs in LTE
• Support of single-cell point-to-multipoint transmission in LTE
• Enhanced Signalling for Inter-eNB Coordinated Multi-Point

(CoMP) for LTE
• RAN enhancements for extended DRX in LTE
• LTE-WLAN Radio Level Integration and Interworking

Enhancement, LTE-WLAN RAN Level Integration supporting
legacy WLAN

LTE Introduction
• RAN aspects of Application specific Congestion control for Data

Communication
• Base Station (BS) RF requirements for Active Antenna System

(AAS), SON for AAS-based deployments
• Dedicated Core Networks
• RAN Aspects of RAN Sharing Enhancements for LTE
• Radiated requirements for the verification of multi-antenna

reception perf. of UEs
• UE core requirements for uplink 64 QAM
• LTE DL 4 Rx antenna ports

LTE Introduction
Rel-14 (Dec.15-March 17, ASN.1 freeze: June 17):
• Enhancements of NB-IoT
• Further enhanced MTC for LTE
• Flexible eNB-ID and Cell-ID in E-UTRAN
• Enhanced Licensed Assisted Access (LAA) for LTE
• Support for V2V services based on LTE sidelink, LTE-based V2X

Services
• Enhancements on Full-Dimension (FD) MIMO for LTE
• Downlink Multiuser Superposition Transmission for LTE

LTE Introduction
• SRS (sounding reference signal) switching between LTE

component carriers
• Further Indoor Positioning Enhancements for UTRA and LTE
• Uplink Capacity Enhancements for LTE
• eMBMS enhancements for LTE
• L2 latency reduction techniques for LTE
• Further mobility enhancements in LTE
• Voice and Video Enhancement for LTE

LTE Introduction
• Enhanced LTE-WLAN Aggregation (LWA), Enhanced LTE WLAN

Radio Level Integration with IPsec Tunnel (eLWIP)
• Enhancements of Dedicated Core (DECOR) Networks for UMTS

and LTE
• LTE Measurement Gap Enhancement
• Requirements for a new UE category with single receiver based

on Cat.1 for LTE
• Performance enhancements for high speed scenario in LTE
• 4 receiver (RX) antenna ports with Carrier Aggregation for LTE

downlink (DL)

LTE Introduction
• Multi-Band Base Station testing with three or more bands
• Radiated perf. requirements for the verification of multi-antenna

reception of UEs

LTE Introduction
Advantages of LTE
• High throughput: High data rates can be achieved in both

downlink as well as uplink. This causes high throughput.
• Low latency: Time required to connect to the network is in

range of a few hundred milliseconds and power saving states
can now be entered and exited very quickly.
• FDD and TDD in the same platform: Frequency Division

Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD), both schemes
can be used on same platform.

LTE Introduction
• Superior end-user experience: Optimized signaling for

connection establishment and other air interface and mobility
management procedures have further improved the user
experience. Reduced latency (to 10 ms) for better user
experience.
• Seamless Connection: LTE will also support seamless

connection to existing networks such as GSM, CDMA and
WCDMA.
• Plug and play: The user does not have to manually install
drivers for the device. Instead system automatically recognizes
the device, loads new drivers for the hardware if needed, and
begins to work with the newly connected device.
• Simple architecture: Because of Simple architecture low

operating expenditure (OPEX)

LTE Introduction
LTE – QoS
LTE architecture supports hard QoS (Establishes a contract to

guarantee service level), with end-to-end quality of service and
guaranteed bit rate (GBR) for radio bearers.
Just as Ethernet and the internet have different types of QoS,

for example, various levels of QoS can be applied to LTE
traffic for different applications.
Because the LTE MAC is fully scheduled, QoS is a natural fit.
Evolved Packet System (EPS) bearers provide one-to-one

correspondence with RLC radio bearers and provide support
for Traffic Flow Templates (TFT).

LTE Introduction
There are four types of EPS bearers:
• GBR Bearer resources permanently allocated by admission

control
• Non-GBR Bearer no admission control
• Dedicated Bearer associated with specific TFT (GBR or non-

GBR)
• Default Bearer Non GBR, catch-all for unassigned traffic

LTE Introduction
QoS Parameters
• QCI (QoS Class Identifier)
• ARP (Allocation and Retention Priority)
• GBR (Guaranteed Bit Rate)
• MBR (Maximum Bit Rate)
• APN-AMBR
• UE-AMBR

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
LTE Basic Parameters

Parameters Description
Frequency range UMTS FDD bands and TDD bands
defined in 36.101(v860)
Duplexing FDD, TDD, half-duplex FDD
Channel coding Turbo code
Mobility 350 km/h
Channel Bandwidth 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20
(MHz)
Transmission 6, 15, 25, 50, 75, 100
Bandwidth
Configuration NRB : (1
resource block =
180kHz in 1ms TTI )
Modulation Schemes UL: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM(optional)
DL: QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM

LTE Introduction

Multiple • UL: SC-FDMA (Single Carrier Frequency Division
Access Multiple Access) supports 50Mbps+ (20MHz
Schemes spectrum)
• DL: OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple

Access) supports 100Mbps+ (20MHz spectrum)
Multi-Antenna • UL: Multi-user collaborative MIMO

Technology • DL: TxAA (Transmit Antenna Array), Spatial
Multiplexing, Cyclic Delay Diversity (CDD), Max
4x4 array
Peak data rate • UL: 75Mbps(20MHz bandwidth)
in LTE • DL: 150Mbps(UE Category 4, 2x2 MIMO, 20MHz
bandwidth)
• DL: 300Mbps(UE category 5, 4x4 MIMO, 20MHz
bandwidth)

LTE Introduction

MIMO UL: 1 x 2, 1 x 4
(Multiple Input Multiple DL: 2 x 2, 4 x 2, 4 x 4
Output)
Coverage 5 - 100km with slight degradation after
30km
QoS E2E QOS allowing prioritization of
different class of service
Latency End-user latency < 10mS

LTE Introduction
Frequency Bands

LTE Introduction
LTE Network Architecture
The high-level network architecture of LTE is comprised of

following three main components:
• The User Equipment (UE).

• The Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN).
• The Evolved Packet Core (EPC).
The evolved packet core communicates with packet data networks

in the outside world such as the internet, private corporate networks
or the IP multimedia subsystem.

LTE Introduction
The interfaces between the different parts of the system are denoted
Uu, S1 and SGi as shown below:

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
The User Equipment (UE)
The internal architecture of the user equipment for LTE is identical to

the one used by UMTS and GSM which is actually a Mobile
Equipment (ME).
The mobile equipment comprised of the following important modules:
Mobile Termination (MT) : This handles all the communication

functions.
Terminal Equipment (TE) : This terminates the data streams.

LTE Introduction
Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC)
This is also known as the SIM card for LTE equipment's.
It runs an application known as the Universal Subscriber Identity

Module (USIM).
A USIM stores user-specific data very similar to 3G SIM card.
This keeps information about the user's phone number, home

network identity and security keys etc.

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
The E-UTRAN (The access network)
The architecture of evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network

(E-UTRAN) has been illustrated below

eNB Functionality

eNB Functionality
eNB is the RAN node in the EPS architecture that is responsible for
radio transmission to and reception from UEs in one or more cells.
The eNB is connected to EPC nodes by means of an S1 interface.
The eNB is also connected to its neighbor eNBs by means of the

X2 interface.
Some significant changes have been made to the eNB functional

allocation compared to UTRAN. Most Rel-6 RNC functionality has
been moved to the E-UTRAN eNB.
Below follows a description of the functionality provided by eNB.

eNB Functionality
• Cell control and MME pool support
eNB owns and controls the radio resources of its own cells.
Cell resources are requested by and granted to MMEs in an

ordered fashion.
This arrangement supports the MME pooling concept.
S-GW pooling is managed by the MMEs and is not really seen in the
eNB.
• Mobility control
The eNB is responsible for controlling the mobility for terminals in

active state.
This is done by ordering the UE to perform measurement and then

performing handover when necessary.

eNB Functionality
• Control and User Plane security
The ciphering of user plane data over the radio interface is

terminated in the eNB.
Also the ciphering and integrity protection of RRC signaling is

terminated in the eNB.
• Shared Channel handling
Since the eNB owns the cell resources, the eNB also handles the
shared and random access channels used for signaling and initial
access.

eNB Functionality
• Segmentation/Concatenation
Radio Link Control (RLC) Service Data Units (SDUs) received from
the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer consist of whole
IP packets and may be larger than the transport block size provided
by the physical layer.
Thus, the RLC layer must support segmentation and concatenation

to adapt the payload to the transport block size.

eNB Functionality
• HARQ
A Medium Access Control (MAC) Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest

(HARQ) layer with fast feedback provides a means for quickly
correcting most errors from the radio channel.
To achieve low delay and efficient use of radio resources, the HARQ
operates with a native error rate which is sufficient only for services
with moderate error rate requirements such as for instance VoIP.
Lower error rates are achieved by letting an outer Automatic Repeat

reQuest (ARQ) layer in the eNB handle the HARQ errors.

eNB Functionality
• Scheduling
A scheduling with support for QoS provides for efficient scheduling

of UP and CP data.
• Multiplexing and Mapping
The eNB performs mapping of logical channels onto transport

channels.
• Physical layer functionality
The eNB handles the physical layer such as scrambling, Tx diversity,

beamforming processing and OFDM modulation.
The eNB also handles layer one functions like link adaptation and
power control.

eNB Functionality
• Measurements and reporting
eNB provides functions for configuring and makingmeasurements on

the radio environment and eNB-internal variables and conditions.
The collected data is used internally for Radio Resource

Management (RRM) but can be reported for the purpose of multi-
cell RRM.
• Automated operation and maintenance.
eNB provides functions for Automated Neighbor Relations (ANR) and

Automatic Integration of RBS.

LTE Introduction
The Evolved Packet Core (EPC) (The core network)
The architecture of Evolved Packet Core (EPC) has been

illustrated below.
There are few more components which have not been shown in the
diagram to keep it simple.
These components are like the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning

System (ETWS), the Equipment Identity Register (EIR) and Policy
Control and Charging Rules Function (PCRF).

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
Below is a brief description of each of the components shown in the

above architecture:
Home Subscriber Server (HSS)
This component has been carried forward from UMTS.
HSS is a user data base that stores subscription related information

to support other call control & session management entities.
It is storehouse for user identification, numbering & service profile.

It is mainly involved in user authentication & authorization.
During registration MME talks to HSS via S6a interface for user
authentication & ciphering.
The HSS generates security information for mutual authentication,

integrity check & ciphering & can also provide information about the
user physical location.

LTE Introduction
Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway (P-GW)
This node communicates with the outside world i.e. packet data
networks PDN, using SGi interface.
Each packet data network is identified by an access point name

(APN).
The PDN gateway has the same role as the GPRS support node
(GGSN) and the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) with UMTS and
GSM.
The functions of the PGW include:

• Policy enforcement
• Packet filtering
• Charging support
• Lawful interception
• Packet screening

LTE Introduction
Another important role of the PGW is to provide mobility between

3GPP and non-3GPP networks.
For example, mobility between WiMAX and 3GPP2 or between CMDA

1X and EVDO are supported by the PGW.

LTE Introduction
Serving Gateway (S-GW)
The main function of the Serving Gateway is routing and forwarding

of user data packets.
It is also responsible for inter-eNB handovers in the U-plane and

provides mobility between LTE and other types of networks, such as
between 2G/3G and P-GW.
The DL data from the UEs in idle state is terminated at the SGW,
and arrival of DL data triggers paging for the UE.
The SGW keeps context information such as parameters of the IP

bearer and routing information, and stores the UE contexts when
paging happens.
It is also responsible for replicating user traffic for lawful

interception.

LTE Introduction
Mobility Management Entity (MME)
The MME is an important controller node in the LTE network.
It is responsible for:
• Idle mode UE (User Equipment) tracking
• Paging procedure such as re-transmissions
• Bearer activation and deactivation process
• S-GW selection for a UE at the initial attach
• Intra-LTE handover with Core Network node relocation
• User authentication with HSS

LTE Introduction
When the signaling of Non-Access Stratum (NAS) terminates at the

MME, it generates and allocates temporary identities to UEs.
Then, it authorizes the UE for the Public Land Mobile Network

(PLMN).
It is also responsible for the enforcement of UE roaming restrictions.
The MME handles the ciphering/integrity protection for NAS

signaling and the security key management.
It supports lawful interception of signaling, and the control plane

function for mobility between LTE and legacy networks with the S3
interface.
The S6a interface connects the MME to the HSS for roaming UEs.

LTE Introduction
Policy Control and Charging Rules Function (PCRF)
This component which is not shown in the above diagram but it is

responsible for policy control decision-making, as well as for
controlling the flow-based charging functionalities in the Policy
Control Enforcement Function (PCEF), which resides in the P-GW.
The interface between the serving and PDN gateways is known as

S5/S8.
This has two slightly different implementations, namely S5 if the

two devices are in the same network, and S8 if they are in different
networks.

LTE Introduction
LTE Charging Workflow

LTE Introduction
LTE Charging Workflow

LTE Bearer Service Architecture
• An E-RAB transports the packets of an EPS bearer between the

UE and the EPC.
When an E-RAB exists, there is a one-to-one mapping between

this E-RAB and an EPS bearer.
• A data radio bearer transports the packets of an EPS bearer

between a UE and an eNB.
When a data radio bearer exists, there is a one-to-one mapping

between this data radio bearer and the EPS bearer/E-RAB.
• An S1 bearer transports the packets of an E-RAB between an

eNodeB and a Serving GW.

• An S5/S8 bearer transports the packets of an EPS bearer

between a Serving GW and a PDN GW.
• A UE stores a mapping between an uplink packet filter and a

data radio bearer to create the binding between an SDF and a
data radio bearer in the uplink.
• An UL TFT in the UE binds an SDF to an EPS bearer in the uplink

direction.
Multiple SDFs can be multiplexed onto the same EPS bearer by

including multiple uplink packet filters in the UL TFT.

• A DL TFT in the PDN GW binds an SDF to an EPS bearer in the

downlink direction.
Multiple SDFs can be multiplexed onto the same EPS bearer by

including multiple downlink packet filters in the DL TFT.
• A PDN GW stores a mapping between a downlink packet filter

and an S5/S8a bearer to create the binding between an SDF
and an S5/S8a bearer in the downlink.

• An eNB stores a one-to-one mapping between a data radio

bearer and an S1 bearer to create the binding between a data
radio bearer and an S1 bearer in both the uplink and downlink.
• A Serving GW stores a one-to-one mapping between an S1

bearer and an S5/S8a bearer to create the binding between an
S1 bearer and an S5/S8a bearer in both the uplink and
downlink.

LTE Introduction
Functional split between the E-UTRAN and the EPC
Following diagram shows the functional split between the

E-UTRAN and the EPC for an LTE network:

LTE Introduction
LTE Numbering & Addressing
An LTE network area is divided into three different types of

geographical areas explained below:
Area Description
MME pool areas This is an area through which the mobile can
move without a change of serving MME.
Every MME pool area is controlled by one or more

MMEs on the network.
S-GW service This is an area served by one or more serving
areas gateways S-GW, through which the mobile can
move without a change of serving gateway.

LTE Introduction
Area Description
Tracking areas The MME pool areas and the S-GW service areas
are both made from smaller, non-overlapping
units known as tracking areas (TAs).
They are similar to the location and routing areas

from UMTS and GSM and will be used to track
the locations of mobiles that are on standby
mode.

LTE Introduction
The Network IDs
The network itself will be identified using Public Land Mobile

Network Identity (PLMN-ID) which will have a three digit
mobile country code (MCC) and a two or three digit mobile
network code (MNC).
For example, the Mobile Country Code for the UK is 234,

while Vodafone's UK network uses a Mobile Network Code of
15.

LTE Introduction
The MME IDs
Each MME has three main identities.
An MME code (MMEC) uniquely identifies the MME within all the pool
areas.
A group of MMEs is assigned an MME Group Identity (MMEGI) which

works along with MMEC to make MME identifier (MMEI).
A MMEI uniquely identifies the MME within a particular network.

LTE Introduction
The MME IDs
If we combine PLMN-ID with the MMEI then we arrive at a Globally

Unique MME Identifier (GUMMEI), which identifies an MME anywhere
in the world:

LTE Introduction
The Cell IDs
Each cell in the network has three types of identity.
The E-UTRAN cell identity (ECI) identifies a cell within a particular

network, while the E-UTRAN cell global identifier (ECGI) identifies a
cell anywhere in the world.
The physical cell identity, which is a number from 0 to 503 and it

distinguishes a cell from its immediate neighbours.

LTE Introduction
The Mobile Equipment ID
The international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) is a unique

identity for the mobile equipment and the International Mobile
Subscriber Identity (IMSI) is a unique identity for the UICC and the
USIM.
The M temporary mobile subscriber identity (M-TMSI) identifies a

mobile to its serving MME.
Adding the MME code in M-TMSI results in a S temporary mobile

subscriber identity (S-TMSI), which identifies the mobile within an
MME pool area.

LTE Introduction
Finally adding the MME group identity and the PLMN identity with
S-TMSI results in the Globally Unique Temporary Identity (GUTI).

LTE Introduction
LTE Radio Protocol Architecture
The radio protocol architecture for LTE can be separated into

control plane architecture and user plane architecture as shown
below:

LTE Introduction
At user plane side, the application creates data packets that are
processed by protocols such as TCP, UDP and IP, while in the control
plane, the radio resource control (RRC) protocol writes the signalling
messages that are exchanged between the base station and the
mobile.
In both cases, the information is processed by the packet data

convergence protocol (PDCP), the radio link control (RLC) protocol
and the medium access control (MAC) protocol, before being passed
to the physical layer for transmission.

LTE Introduction
User Plane
The user plane protocol stack between the e-Node B and UE

consists of the following sub-layers:
• PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol)
• RLC (radio Link Control)
• Medium Access Control (MAC)

LTE Introduction
On the user plane, packets in the core network (EPC) are

encapsulated in a specific EPC protocol and tunnelled between the
P-GW and the eNodeB.
Different tunnelling protocols are used depending on the interface.
GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (GTP) is used on the S1 interface between

the eNodeB and S-GW and on the S5/S8 interface between the
S-GW and P-GW.

LTE Introduction
Protocol stack of User Plane

LTE Introduction
Protocol stack of S1-MME interface

LTE Introduction
Protocol stack of S3 interface

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
Protocol stack of S5/S8 interface

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
Protocol stack of S6a interface

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
Packets received by a layer are called Service Data Unit (SDU) while
the packet output of a layer is referred to by Protocol Data Unit
(PDU) and IP packets at user plane flow from top to bottom layers.

LTE Introduction
Control Plane
The control plane includes additionally the Radio Resource Control

layer (RRC) which is responsible for configuring the lower layers.
The Control Plane handles radio-specific functionality which depends

on the state of the user equipment which includes two states: idle
or connected.

LTE Introduction
Mode Description
Idle The user equipment camps on a cell after a cell
selection or reselection process where factors like
radio link quality, cell status and radio access
technology are considered.
The UE also monitors a paging channel to detect

incoming calls and acquire system information.
In this mode, control plane protocols include cell

selection and reselection procedures.
Connected The UE supplies the E-UTRAN with downlink channel
quality and neighbour cell information to enable the
E-UTRAN to select the most suitable cell for the UE.
In this case, control plane protocol includes the

Radio Link Control (RRC) protocol.

LTE Introduction
The protocol stack for the control plane between the UE and
MME is shown below.
The grey region of the stack indicates the access stratum

(AS) protocols.
The lower layers perform the same functions as for the user
plane with the exception that there is no header compression
function for the control plane.

LTE Introduction

LTE Introduction
Let's have a close look at all the layers available in E-UTRAN

Protocol Stack which we have seen in previous chapter.
Below is a more elaborated diagram of E-UTRAN Protocol Stack:

LTE Introduction
Physical Layer (Layer 1)
Physical Layer carries all information from the MAC transport

channels over the air interface.
Physical layer takes care of

• The link adaptation (AMC)
• Power control
• Cell search (for initial synchronization and handover purposes)
• Other measurements (inside the LTE system and between
systems) for the RRC layer

LTE Introduction
Medium Access Layer (MAC)
MAC layer is responsible for

• Mapping between logical channels and transport channels
• Multiplexing of MAC SDUs from one or different logical channels
onto transport blocks (TB) to be delivered to the physical layer
on transport channels
• De multiplexing of MAC SDUs from one or different logical
channels from transport blocks (TB) delivered from the physical
layer on transport channels
• Scheduling information reporting
• Error correction through HARQ
• Priority handling between UEs by means of dynamic scheduling
• Priority handling between logical channels of one UE
• Logical Channel prioritization

LTE Introduction
Radio Link Control (RLC)
RLC operates in 3 modes of operation:
• Transparent Mode (TM), Unacknowledged Mode (UM), and

Acknowledged Mode (AM).
RLC Layer is responsible for:-

• Transfer of upper layer PDUs
• Error correction through ARQ (Only for AM data transfer)
• Concatenation, segmentation and reassembly of RLC SDUs (Only
for UM and AM data transfer)
• Re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs (Only for AM data transfer)
• Reordering of RLC data PDUs (Only for UM and AM data transfer)
• Duplicate detection (Only for UM and AM data transfer)
• RLC SDU discard (Only for UM and AM data transfer)
• RLC re-establishment, and protocol error detection (Only for AM
data transfer)

LTE Introduction
Radio Resource Control (RRC)
The main services and functions of the RRC sublayer include

• Broadcast of System Information related to the non-access
stratum (NAS)
• Broadcast of System Information related to the access stratum
(AS)
• Paging
• Establishment, maintenance and release of an RRC connection
between the UE and E-UTRAN
• Security functions including key management, establishment,
configuration, maintenance and release of point to point Radio
Bearers.

LTE Introduction
Packet Data Convergence Control (PDCP)
PDCP Layer is responsible for
• Header compression and decompression of IP data

• Transfer of data (user plane or control plane)
• Maintenance of PDCP Sequence Numbers (SNs)
• In-sequence delivery of upper layer PDUs at re-establishment of
lower layers
• Duplicate elimination of lower layer SDUs at re-establishment of
lower layers for radio bearers mapped on RLC AM
• Ciphering and deciphering of user plane data and control plane
data
• Integrity protection and integrity verification of control plane
data
• Timer based discard
• Duplicate discarding
• PDCP is used for SRBs and DRBs mapped on DCCH and DTCH
type of logical channels.

LTE Introduction
Non Access Stratum (NAS) Protocols
The non-access stratum (NAS) protocols form the highest stratum of

the control plane between the user equipment (UE) and MME.
NAS protocols support the mobility of the UE and the session

management procedures to establish and maintain IP connectivity
between the UE and a PDN GW.
The NAS PROTOCOLS are

• EMM
• ESM

NAS Protocols and their Functions
EMM(EPS MOBILITY MANAGEMENT)

• The EMM protocol is responsible for handling the UE mobility
within the system. It includes functions for attaching to and
detaching from the network.
• Performing location updating in between. This is called Tracking
Area Updating(TAU), and it happens in idle mode. Note that the
handovers in connected mode are handled by the lower layer
protocols.
• Authentication and protecting the UE identity, i.e. allocating the
temporary identity GUTI to the UE are also part of the EMM layer,
as well as the control of NAS layer security functions, encryption
and integrity protection.
ESM(EPS session management)
• This protocol may be used to handle the bearer management
between the UE and MME, and it is used in addition for E-UTRAN
bearer management procedures.

NAS Procedures
Types of EMM procedures:
Three types of EMM procedures can be distinguished
EMM common procedures:
An EMM common procedure can always be initiated whilst a NAS

signaling connection exists
The procedures belonging to this type are:
Initiated by the NW
• GUTI reallocation
• Authentication
• Security mode control
• Identification
• EMM information.

NAS Procedures
EMM specific procedures:
At any time only one UE initiated EMM specific procedure can be

running
The procedures belonging to this type are:
Initiated by the UE:

• Attach
• Detach
• Tracking Area Update
• Normal and periodic tracking area updating procedure
• Combined tracking area updating procedure
Initiated by the NW:

• Detach

NAS Procedures
EMM connection management procedures (S1 mode only):
Initiated by the UE:-

• Service request
Initiated by the UE/NW:-

• Transport of NAS Messages
• Generic transport of NAS messages procedure
Initiated by the NW:-

• Paging Procedure

NAS Procedures
Types of ESM procedures:
Two types of ESM procedures can be distinguished
Procedures related to EPS bearer contexts

• Default EPS bearer context activation
• Dedicated EPS bearer context activation
• EPS bearer context modification
• EPS bearer context deactivation

NAS Procedures
Transaction related procedures
Initiated by the UE:-

• PDN connectivity procedure
• PDN disconnect procedure
• Bearer resource allocation procedure
• Bearer resource modification procedure

• ESM information request procedure
• ESM status procedure
• Notification procedure

LTE Introduction
Below is a logical diagram of E-UTRAN Protocol layers with a

depiction of data flow through various layers:

LTE Introduction
Packets received by a layer are called Service Data Unit (SDU) while
the packet output of a layer is referred to by Protocol Data Unit
(PDU).
Let's see the flow of data from top to bottom:
IP Layer submits PDCP SDUs (IP Packets) to the PDCP layer.
PDCP layer does header compression and adds PDCP header to

these PDCP SDUs.
PDCP Layer submits PDCP PDUs (RLC SDUs) to RLC layer.
PDCP Header Compression : PDCP removes IP header (Minimum

20 bytes) from PDU, and adds Token of 1-4 bytes.
Which provides a tremendous savings in the amount of header that

would otherwise have to go over the air.

LTE Introduction
RLC layer does segmentation of these SDUS to make the RLC PDUs.
RLC adds header based on RLC mode of operation.
RLC submits these RLC PDUs (MAC SDUs) to the MAC layer.

LTE Introduction
RLC Segmentation : If an RLC SDU is large, or the available radio

data rate is low (resulting in small transport blocks), the RLC SDU
May be split among several RLC PDUs.
If the RLC SDU is small, or the available radio data rate is high,
several RLC SDUs may be packed into a single PDU.
MAC layer adds header and does padding to fit this MAC SDU in TTI.
MAC layer submits MAC PDU to physical layer for transmitting it

onto physical channels.
Physical channel transmits this data into slots of sub frame.

LTE Introduction
The information flows between the different protocols are known as

channels and signals.
LTE uses several different types of logical, transport and physical

channel, which are distinguished by the kind of information they
carry and by the way in which the information is processed.
Logical Channels : Define whattype of information is transmitted

over the air, e.g. traffic channels, control channels, system
broadcast, etc.
Data and signalling messages are carried on logical channels

between the RLC and MAC protocols.

LTE Introduction
Transport Channels : Define howis something transmitted over

the air, e.g. what are encoding, interleaving options used to
transmit data.
Data and signalling messages are carried on transport channels

between the MAC and the physical layer.
Physical Channels : Define whereis something transmitted over

the air, e.g. first N symbols in the DL frame.
Data and signalling messages are carried on physical channels

between the different levels of the physical layer.

LTE Introduction
Logical Channels
Logical channels define what type of data is transferred.
These channels define the data-transfer services offered by the MAC

layer.
Data and signalling messages are carried on logical channels

between the RLC and MAC protocols.
Logical channels can be divided into control channels and traffic

channels.
Control Channel can be either common channel or dedicated

channel.

LTE Introduction
A common channel means common to all users in a cell (Point to

multipoint) while dedicated channels means channels can be used
only by one user (Point to Point).
Logical channels are distinguished by the information they carry and

can be classified in two ways.
Firstly, logical traffic channels carry data in the user plane, while
logical control channels carry signalling messages in the control
plane.

LTE Introduction
Following table lists the logical channels that are used by LTE:
Channel Name Acronym Contro Traffic

l channel
channe
l
Broadcast Control BCCH X
Channel
Paging Control Channel PCCH X
Common Control Channel CCCH X
Dedicated Control DCCH X
Channel
Multicast Control Channel MCCH X
Dedicated Traffic Channel DTCH X
Multicast Traffic Channel MTCH X

LTE Introduction
Transport Channels
Transport channels define how and with what type of characteristics

the data is transferred by the physical layer.
Data and signalling messages are carried on transport channels

between the MAC and the physical layer.
Transport Channels are distinguished by the ways in which the

transport channel processor manipulates them.

LTE Introduction
Following table lists the transport channels that are used by LTE:
Channel Name Acronym Downlink Uplink

Broadcast Channel BCH X
Downlink Shared Channel DL-SCH X
Paging Channel PCH X
Multicast Channel MCH X
Uplink Shared Channel UL-SCH X
Random Access Channel RACH X

LTE Introduction
Physical Channels
Data and signalling messages are carried on physical channels

between the different levels of the physical layer and accordingly
They are divided into two parts:
• Physical Data Channels

• Physical Control Channels

LTE Introduction
Physical data channels
Physical data channels are distinguished by the ways in which the

physical channel processor manipulates them, and by the ways in
which they are mapped onto the symbols and sub-carriers used by
Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDMA).

LTE Introduction
Following table lists the physical data channels that are used by
LTE:
Channel Name Acronym Downli Uplink

nk
Physical downlink shared PDSCH X
channel
Physical broadcast channel PBCH X
Physical multicast channel PMCH X
Physical uplink shared PUSCH X
channel
Physical random access PRACH X
channel

LTE Introduction
The transport channel processor composes several types of

control information, to support the low-level operation of the
physical layer.
These are listed in the below table:
Field Name Acronym Downli Uplink

nk
Downlink control DCI X
information
Control format indicator CFI X
Hybrid ARQ indicator HI X
Uplink control information UCI X

LTE Introduction
Physical Control Channels
The transport channel processor also creates control information

that supports the low-level operation of the physical layer and sends
this information to the physical channel processor in the form of
physical control channels.
The information travels as far as the transport channel processor in

the receiver, but is completely invisible to higher layers.
Similarly, the physical channel processor creates physical signals,

which support the lowest-level aspects of the system.

LTE Introduction
Physical Control Channels are listed in the below table:
Channel Name Acronym Downlin Uplink

k
Physical control format PCFICH X
indicator channel
Physical hybrid ARQ PHICH X
indicator channel
Physical downlink control PDCCH X
channel
Relay physical downlink R-PDCCH X
control channel
Physical uplink control PUCCH X
channel

LTE Introduction
The base station also transmits two other physical signals, which
help the mobile acquire the base station after it first switches on.
These are known as the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and

the secondary synchronization signal (SSS)

Radio Interface Protocols
The S1 interface connects the E-UTRAN to the EPC, and involves

the following protocols:
S1 Application Protocol (S1AP):
S1AP handles the UE’s CP and UP connections between the E-UTRAN
and EPC, including participating in the handover when EPC is
involved.
SCTP/IP signaling transport:
The Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) and Internet
Protocol (IP) represent standard IP transport suitable for signaling
messages.
SCTP provides the reliable transport and sequenced delivery
functions.

In the EPC, there are two alternative protocols for the S5/S8
interface. The following protocols are involved, when GTP is used in
S5/S8:
GPRS Tunneling Protocol, Control Plane (GTP-C):
It manages the UP connections in the EPC.
This includes signalling the QoS and other parameters.
If GTP is used in the S5/S8 interface it also manages the GTP-U
tunnels.
GTP-C also performs the mobility management functions within the
EPC, e.g. when the GTP-U tunnels of a UE need to be switched from
one node to the other.

UDP/IP transport :
The Unit Data Protocol (UDP) and IP are used as the standard
and basic IP transport.
UDP is used instead of Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) because

the higher layers already provide reliable transport with error
recovery and re-transmission.
IP packets in EPC may be transported on top of a variety of L2 and

L1 technologies.
Ethernet and ATM are some examples.

The following protocols are used, when S5/S8 is based on PMIP:

Proxy Mobile IP (PMIP):
PMIP is the alternative protocol for the S5/S8 interface.
It takes care of mobility management, but does not include bearer
management functions as such.
All traffic belonging to a UE’s connection to a particular PDN is
handled together.
IP:
PMIP runs directly on top of IP, and it is used as the standard IP
transport.

Thank You
Website
www.exuberantsolutions.com
Email
info@nexg.in
Skype
nex.g.exuberant.solutions
Contact
+91-8826900551, 52


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Module 1 – LTE Introduction

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

LTE stands for Long Term Evolution and it was started as a

SAE (System Architecture Evolution) is the corresponding evolution

LTE evolved from an earlier 3GPP system known as the Universal

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Even related specifications were formally known as the evolved

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

First version of LTE was documented in Release 8 of the 3GPP

A rapid increase of mobile data usage and emergence of new

The main goal of LTE is to provide a high data rate, low

Same time its network architecture has been designed with

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

LTE Release 8/9 Characteristics

• LTE is a pure packet-switched system

Note 1: SC-FDMA has lower peak-to-average power ratios (PAPR)

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

• LTE allows 6 different channel bandwidths:

• While UMTS has an RNC (Radio Network Controller)

• UMTS/UTRA as well as LTE/E-UTRA use both a 10ms radio

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

• Release 9 introduces the complete integration of the Femtocell

• Evolved multimedia broadcast and multicast service (eMBMS)

• Positioning support (LCS)

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

• Additional spectrum proposed for IMT systems by WRC-07

As well as the ITU-R request for the development of an

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Key features for IMT-Advanced were summarized as follows:

• High degree of commonality of functionality worldwide while

• Compatibility of services within IMT and with fixed networks

• Capability of interworking with other radio access systems

• High-quality mobile services

• User equipment suitable for worldwide use

• User-friendly applications, services and equipment

• Worldwide roaming capability

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

• Enhanced peak data rates to support advanced services and

• Support of wider bandwidth: aggregation of multiple component

• Spatial multiplexing: DL up to 8 layers, UL up to 4 layers (Ref

• Coordinated multiple point transmission and reception: to

• Relaying functionality: to improve e.g. the coverage of high data

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

• Carrier Aggregation for LTE

• UL multiple antenna transmission for LTE

• Enhanced Downlink Multiple Antenna Transmission for LTE

• Further enhancements to MBMS for LTE

• LTE Self Optimizing Networks (SON) enhancements

• Minimization of drive tests for E-UTRAN and UTRAN

© Nex-G Exuberant Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

LTE-Advanced Pro (Rel-13 and above)

Release 13 (Sep.14-Dec.15, ASN.1 freeze: March 16)

• Narrowband Internet of Things (IOT)

• Further LTE Physical Layer Enhancements for MTC

• Dual Connectivity enhancements for LTE

• Extension of Dual Connectivity in E-UTRAN

• Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA) using LTE

• Elevation Beamforming/Full-Dimension (FD) MIMO for LTE

• Indoor Positioning enhancements for UTRA and LTE