LTE Radio Access System Overview

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Content

LTE / EPS Architecture and Interfaces

EPS Mobility and Connection States

EPS Bearer Concept

E-UTRAN Functionalities

NSN LTE / EPC Solution

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NSN Network Architecture Evolution - Summary
3GPP Rel 6 / HSPA
Internet
Node B RNC SGSN GGSN

3GPP Rel 7 / HSPA SGSN

GGSN
Internet
Node B RNC Direct tunnel

3GPP Rel 7 / Internet HSPA SGSN

GGSN
Internet
Node B
Direct tunnel
(RNC Funct.)
MME
3GPP Rel 8 / LTE
SAE GW
Internet
Evolved Node B
Direct tunnel
4 © Nokia Siemens Networks RA41121EN05GLA0
LTE/EPS Network Architecture Subsystems
• LTE/EPS architecture is driven by the goal to optimize the system for packet data
transfer.
• No circuit switched components
• New approach in the inter-connection between radio access network and core
network (S1 interface)

•The EPS architecture is made up of an EPC IMS/PDN

(Packet Core Network, also referred as SAE)
and an eUTRAN Radio Access Network (also
referred as LTE)
EPC
•The EPC provides access to external packet
IP networks and performs a number of CN
related functions (e.g. QoS, security, mobility
eUTRAN
and terminal context management) for idle EPS
(camped) and active terminals
•The eUTRAN performs all radio interface
related functions LTE-UE

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LTE/EPS Network Elements
Main references to architecture in 3GPP specs.:
TS23.401,TS23.402,TS36.300

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 LTE Radio Interface and the X2 Interface
Control Plane User Plane

TS 24.301 NAS Protocols

User PDUs LTE-Uu
TS 36.331 (E)-RRC
TS 36.323 PDCP
• Air interface of EUTRAN
TS 36.322 RLC TS 36.300 • Based on OFDMA in downlink and SC-FDMA in uplink
TS 36.321 MAC • FDD and TDD duplex methods
• Scalable bandwidth: from 1.4 up to 20 MHz
LTE-L1 (FDD/TDD-OFDMA/SC-FDMA)
• Data rates up to 150 Mbps(DL), 50Mbps (UL)
• MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) is a major
LTE-Uu component although optional.
eNB

X2-CP X2-UP
(Control Plane) (User Plane) X2
User PDUs
• Inter eNB interface
TS 36.423 X2-AP GTP-U TS 29.281
X2 • Handover coordination without involving the EPC
SCTP UDP • X2AP: special signaling protocol
TS 36.422 TS 36.424 • During HO, Source eNB can use the X2 interface to
IP IP
forward downlink packets still buffered or arriving from
TS 36.421 L1/L2 L1/L2 TS 36.421 the serving gateway to the target eNB.
• This will avoid loss of a huge amount of packets
during inter-eNB handover.
TS 36.420
[X2 general aspects & principles)

eNB
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S1-MME & S1-U Interfaces TS 36.410
[S1 general aspects & principles]

S1-MME S1-MME
(Control Plane)
• Control interface between eNB and MME TS 24.301 NAS Protocols
• MME and UE will exchange non-access stratum TS 36.413 S1-AP MME
signaling via eNB through this interface.
• E.g.: if a UE performs a tracking area update the TS 36.412
SCTP
TRACKING AREA UPDATE REQUEST message IP
will be sent from UE to eNB and the eNB will eNB L1/L2 TS 36.411
forward the message via S1-MME to the MME.
• S1AP:S1 Application Protocol S1-U
• S1flex  1 eNB to connect to several MME (User Plane)
User PDUs

TS 29.281 GTP-U Serving

UDP Gateway
S1-U TS 36.414
IP
• User plane interface between eNB and serving
gateway. TS 36.411 L1/L2
• It is a pure user data interface (U=User plane).
• S1flex-U also supported: a single eNB can connect
to several Serving GWs. TS 36.410
[S1 general aspects & principles]
• Which Serving GW a user’s SAE bearer will have
to use is signaled from the MME of this user.

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LTE/EPS Mobility Areas
Two areas are defined for handling of mobility in LTE/EPS:

The Cell
• Smallest entity regarding mobility
• When the UE is in connected mode, the MME will know the UE´s
position on cell level
• Cells are identified by the Cell Global Identification (CGI), at the
system level, and by the Physical Cell Identification (PCI), at the
physical layer

Tracking Area (TA)

• It is the successor of location and routing areas from 2G/3G.
• When a UE is attached to the network, the MME will know the UE’s
position on tracking area level.
• In case the UE has to be paged, this will be done in the full tracking
area.
• Tracking areas are identified by a Tracking Area Identity (TAI).

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LTE Mobility & Connection States

1.- EPS* Mobility Management (EMM) states

• Deregistered
• No location information in MME, no IP address or Default
Bearer
• Registered
• MME knows location at cell or tracking area level, Default
Bearer and IP address allocated for UE.

2.- EPS* Connection Management (ECM) states

• ECM Idle
• No NAS connection between UE and MME, mobility is based on
tracking area and cell reselection, no E-RAB (S1 and Uu), but
EPS Default Bearer is still allocated (S5 / S8).
• ECM Connected
• NAS connection established, E-RAB (S1 and Uu) is allocated,
mobility based on handover a cell level.

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LTE/EPS Bearer: Identity & Architecture
•An EPS bearer identity uniquely identifies an EPS bearer for one UE. The EPS Bearer Identity is
allocated by the MME.
•LTE/EPS Bearer spans the complete network, from UE over EUTRAN and EPC up to the connector of
the external PDN.
•The SAE bearer is associated with a quality of service (QoS) usually expressed by a label or QoS
Class Identifier (QCI)

LTE-Uu S1-U S5/S8 SGi

LTE-UE eNB Serving PDN
Gateway Gateway
cell PDN

End-to-End Service

EPS Bearer External Bearer

Radio Bearer S1 Bearer S5/S8 Bearer

E-UTRAN EPC PDN

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EPS Bearers Establishment can be triggered by….
MME:This happens typically during
PDN Gateway: The external data network
the attach procedure of an UE.
can request the setup of an EPS bearer by
Depending on the information coming
issuing this request via PCRF to the PDN
from HSS, the MME will set up an
gateway. This request will include the quality
initial bearer, also known as the
of service granted to the new bearer. Those
Default EPS bearer. This EPS bearer
are referred as Dedicated EPS bearers.
provides the initial connectivity of the
UE with its external data network or
IMS platform. MME
Gx/S7
PCRF
S1-MME Rx
UE eNB S11
S1-U S5 SGi
cell PDN
Serving
Gateway PDN
Gateway

EPS Bearer External Bearer

UE: Note here the differences to GPRS in 2G/3G Further Reading in

Note Page
networks, where only MS/UE initiated PDP context setup
is defined.

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The Default Bearer Concept

•Each UE that is attached to the LTE network has at least one bearer available,
that is called the default bearer.
•Its goal is to provide continuous IP connectivity towards the EPC (“always-on”
concept)
•From the QoS point of view, the default bearer is normally a quite basic bearer
•If an specific service requires more stringent QoS attributes, then a dedicated
bearer should be established.

MME

S1-MME
UE eNB S11 PDN
S5 Gateway
S1-U Sgi
cell PDN
Serving
Gateway

Default EPS Bearer

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EPS Bearer QoS Attributes

Default Bearer/Dedicated Bearer

GBR/N-GBR

MBR
EPS Bearer QoS Parameters
(To be defined per Bearer)
UL/DL-TFT

QCI

ARP

EPS Bearer QoS Parameters

(To be defined per User) AMBR

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QoS Class Identifier (QCI) Table in 3GPP

Priorit
QCI Guarantee Delay budget Loss rate Application
y

1 GBR 2 100 ms 1e-2 VoIP

2 GBR 4 150 ms 1e-3 Video call

3 GBR 5 300 ms 1e-6 Streaming

4 GBR 3 50 ms 1e-3 Real time gaming

5 Non-GBR 1 100 ms 1e-6 IMS signaling

6 Non-GBR 6 100 ms 1e-3 Interactive gaming

7 Non-GBR 7 300 ms 1e-6

TCP protocols :
8 Non-GBR 8 300 ms 1e-6 browsing, email, file
download
9 Non-GBR 9 300 ms 1e-6

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EMM & ECM States Transitions
Power On

Release due to
Registration (Attach) Inactivity
• Allocate C-RNTI, GUTI
• Release RRC connection
• Allocate IP address • Release C-RNTI
• Authentication • Configure DRX for paging
• Establish security context

EMM_Deregistered EMM_Registered EMM_Registered

ECM_Idle ECM_Connected ECM_Idle

New Traffic
Deregistration (Detach) TAU
Change PLMN
•Establish RRC Connection
• Release C-RNTI, GUTI •Allocate C-RNTI
• Release IP address

Timeout of Periodic TA
Update

• Release GUTI
• Release IP address

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E-UTRAN Functionalities 3GPP TS 36.401

Transfer of user data

Radio channel ciphering and deciphering LTE-UE

LTE-Uu Evolved
Integrity protection Node B
cell
(eNB)
Header compression

Mobility control functions:

Connection setup and release

E-UTRAN It replaces the
consists of one old Node B /
Load Balancing or more RNC
Evolved Node combination
Distribution function for NAS messages Bs (eNB) from 3G.

NAS node selection function

Synchronization It terminates
It provides all
the complete
radio
radio interface
Radio access network sharing management
including
functions
physical layer.
Subscriber and equipment trace

RAN Information Management

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NSN LTE / EPC Portfolio

Flexi Multiradio BTS LTE

• Evolved Node B (eNB)

Flexi Network Server

• Mobility Management Entity
(MME)

Flexi Network Gateway

• S-GW and P-GW

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Flexi Multiradio BTS LTE
A complete macro high power outdoor 1+1+1 @ 60 W Flexi Multiradio BTS
consists of:

system module

3-sector RF module for 60 W per sector/cell

optional AC/DC and battery module

A complete macro high power outdoor 1+1+1 @ 60 W + 60 W Flexi

Multiradio BTS consists of:

system module

two 3-sector RF modules for 60 W + 60 W per sector/cell

optional AC/DC and battery module

The Flexi Multiradio BTS provides very high radio downlink output power
when using the Flexi 210W 3-sector Radio Module. In the 3-sector BTS,
all RF functions are integrated to one single outdoor installable 3U high
module. With two 3-sector RF Modules in 2TX MIMO configuration, TX
power is 120W per sector/cell (60 W + 60 W).
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Flexi Multiradio BTS LTE

Another option especially for feederless and distributed LTE BTS sites is the Flexi Multiradio
Remote Radio Head (RRH) that can support one sector with the following integrated features:

two transceivers to support 2TX MIMO

30 W + 30 W output power at antenna connectors

two linear power amplifiers

two RF filters for TX/RX

2 way RX diversity

wide bandwidth support (up to 20 MHz depending on 3GPP band RF variant)

48 V DC input power supply

no fans

OBSAI optical interface to the BTS system module

antenna tilt support

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Flexi Network Server

Flexi Network Server (Flexi NS) is a high transaction capacity product on top of Advanced TCA
(ATCA). It is optimized for all-IP flat architecture, and is used for control plane-only mobility
management entity (MME) functionality.

The Flexi NS is an essential part of the Nokia Siemens Networks LTE and EPS end-to-end
offering. The MME has a similar role in LTE as 2G/3G SGSN has in 2G/3G networks.

The Flexi NS is designed to serve as a pure control plane element for all-IP flat networks.
Therefore, R8 S4 3G SGSN is considered as a natural evolution step for Flexi NS, leveraging the
all-IP, control plane only optimized design.

Flexi NS implements high transaction and connectivity capacity to accommodate the increased
signaling load and higher service penetration in an operators’ subscriber base. The product
footprint is small, so you can install up to three high capacity units in a standard 19” rack. Flexi
NS is power efficient, offering reduction in energy consumption.

Innovative control plane-only architecture of Flexi NS allows implementing session redundancy

within a single Flexi NS network element. In case of a failure of any single hardware unit, the
subscriber session can be preserved.

Nokia Siemens Networks SGSN has demonstrated market leading reliability levels in live
networks over a time period of several years. The same DMX software platform is applied also
as a basis for the Flexi NS.

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Flexi Network Gateway

The new Flexi NG product family targets current and future mobile
networks as well as converged networks. It is targeted to support high-
speed packet access (HSPA), evolved high-speed packet access
(HSPA+), Internet high-speed packet access (I-HSPA) and Long Term
Evolution (LTE) access networks. Different applications, such as
gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) or Evolved Packet Core (EPC)
gateway, can be installed on same platform.

Flexi NG provides high throughput and signaling capacity to

accommodate the traffic growth in next generation networks. The key to
Flexi NG performance is in the use of multi-core packet processor
(MPP) technology in the control plane and in the user plane. MPPs are
designed for fast networking applications and contain several hardware
units that accelerate packet data processing. MPP technology is highly
flexible and scalable, and enables faster development cycles.

Flexi NG is based on the Nokia Siemens Networks AdvancedTCA

(ATCA) hardware platform and Nokia Siemens Networks FlexiPlatform
operating software and middleware. FlexiPlatform is a robust, carrier
grade Linux based platform, offering versatile services for operation and
maintenance (O&M), networking and platform services using the latest
technologies available.

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NSN O&M Solution – NetAct & iOMS

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LTE SON has key operational benefits

Healing Configuration
• Error self-detection and • Simplified installation
mitigation procedures
• Reduced operator effort - less prone to errors
• Faster maintenance • Faster roll-out
• Reduced outage time • Fewer drive-tests
• More flexibility in logistics
(no site specifics)
Self
Quality
Coverage
• Reduced site planning

Capacity
Optimization
• Error self-detection and
mitigation
• Reduced operator effort
• Faster maintenance
• Reduced outage time

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Nokia Siemens Networks’ SON is built on our detailed
understanding of how networks operate

Nokia Siemens Networks SON Suite

• Network automation and
optimization for various Mobility
robustness
Open
northbound interfaces
use cases
Cell outage Packet
• Full end-to-end solution detection and
compensation Core
combining distributed and LTE SON
Drive test SON
centralized SON minimization
• Multi-technology, multi- Power saving
vendor solution through Plug and Play Other
open 3GPP interfaces vendor network
Automated
• Flexible system enabling neighbor relat.

control and stop points Load balancing

Interference
optimization 2G/3G SON
Self Healing /
alarm
management

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In all SON use cases the features reside in both element and OSS
level
… Management Network Planning tools Network …
Engineering
Planning tools Operations

• NetAct Centralized SON

SON Workflow Coordinator

Optimizer Configurator Monitor & SW Manager

Reporter

Network Data Multi-vendor Data SON Data CM, FM, PM

Distributed SON

LTE WCDMA/GSM Vendor X Vendor Y

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SON Suite Features

LTE WCDMA & GSM

Self- • SON Plug and Play • SON Plug and Play

• Automated Neighbor Relations • Automated Neighbor Relations
configuration Management Management

• Automated Neighbor Relations • Automated Neighbor Relations

Management Management
• Power Saving • Power Saving
Self- • Mobility Load Balancing • Interference Optimization
optimization • Mobility Robustness Optimization • Load Balancing
• Service Quality Optimization
• Minimization of Drive Tests
• Alarm Triggered Log Correction
(WCDMA)
• Cell Outage Detection, Repair • Automatic OMS resiliency
Self- and Compensation (WCDMA)
healing • Automatic interface alarm • OMS Overload Control
correlation (WCDMA)

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See Notes

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