1.

LTE Networks
• LTE (Long Term Evolution) refers to the set of 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) Release 8 and later
specifications that describe the next steps, or evolution, of the existing GERAN (GSM EDGE Radio Access
Networks) and UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Networks) specifications. The 3GPP LTE specifications
describe the building blocks of E-UTRA (Evolved UTRA) networks.
• LTE uses SOFDMA (Scalable Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) and SC-FDMA (Single-Carrier
Frequency Division Multiple Access) technologies in the downlink and the uplink, respectively. The aim of LTE is
to provide mobile broadband wireless access that supports handovers between LTE cells as well as between
LTE and UMTS/GSM cells at high user speeds.
• The Atoll LTE module enables you to design and optimise LTE broadband wireless access networks. You can
use Atoll to predict radio coverage, manage mobile and fixed subscriber data, and evaluate network capacity.
The LTE module also supports smart antennas, MIMO, carrier aggregation, and coordinated multipoint
transmission and reception (CoMP).
• With Atoll, you can model fixed and mobile users in LTE environments. The data input corresponding to mobile
users and fixed subscribers is modelled through comprehensive support of mobile user traffic maps and
subscriber databases. You can carry out calculations on fixed subscriber locations as well as base your
calculations on mobile user scenarios during Monte Carlo simulations. You can also perform interference
predictions, resource allocation, and other calculations on mobile users.
• Atoll uses Monte Carlo simulations to generate realistic network scenarios (snapshots) using a Monte Carlo
statistical engine for scheduling and resource allocation. Realistic user distributions can be generated using
different types of traffic maps. Atoll uses these user distributions as input for the simulations.
• You can create coverage predictions to analyse the following and other parameters for LTE channels in downlink
and in uplink:
• Signal levels
• Carrier-to-interference-and-noise ratio
• Service areas and radio bearer coverage
• Cell capacity and throughputs per cell
• Coverage predictions that depend on network traffic loads can be created from either Monte Carlo simulation
results or from a user-defined network load configuration (uplink and downlink traffic loads, and uplink noise
rise). GSM GPRS EDGE, UMTS HSPA, CDMA2000, TDSCDMA, and WiMAX networks can be planned in the
same Atoll session
• Before working with the LTE module for the first time, it is highly recommended to go through the Glossary of
LTE Terms. This will help you get accustomed to the terminology used by the 3GPP and in the product