UMTS is the 3G wireless standard that provides data transfer rates greater than 2Mbps. It combines the GSM network infrastructure with CDMA air interface technology. UMTS uses W-CDMA technology and offers download speeds of 11Mbps theoretically, though most users experience around 384Kbps. It requires new network equipment and frequencies compared to 2G networks. In the US, Cingular and T-Mobile have begun limited UMTS deployments, but coverage remains poor overall. Potential applications include video telephony, media downloads, and television on mobile phones, but network and device limitations have prevented widespread adoption.

1. UMTS / 3G WirelessUMTS / 3G Wireless
ENGR 475 – TelecommunicationsENGR 475 – Telecommunications
November 7, 2006November 7, 2006
Harding UniversityHarding University
Jonathan WhiteJonathan White

2. OutlineOutline
 What 3G MeansWhat 3G Means
 UMTSUMTS
 Technical operating ProceduresTechnical operating Procedures
 Evolution from GSM to UMTSEvolution from GSM to UMTS
 Why evolve?Why evolve?
 Types of equipment.Types of equipment.
 Problems with UMTSProblems with UMTS

3. 3G3G
 Third Generation of mobile phonesThird Generation of mobile phones
– Standard that supports data transfer greaterStandard that supports data transfer greater
than 2 Mbps.than 2 Mbps.
 IEEE 802.11 is not a 3G standardIEEE 802.11 is not a 3G standard
– Wide area cellular networks that support data-Wide area cellular networks that support data-
intensive applications.intensive applications.
– Not just an improvement of 2G networks.Not just an improvement of 2G networks.
 Requires new equipment and new frequencyRequires new equipment and new frequency
bandwidths.bandwidths.

4. UMTSUMTS
 UMTS – Universal Mobile TelephoneUMTS – Universal Mobile Telephone
SystemSystem
– Most popular 3G wireless standard.Most popular 3G wireless standard.
– Combines the infrastructure of the GSMCombines the infrastructure of the GSM
network with superior technology of thenetwork with superior technology of the
CDMA air interface.CDMA air interface.
 UMTS was originally a EuropeanUMTS was originally a European
standard.standard.
– Widely adopted in JapanWidely adopted in Japan
 Approx. complete deployment by the end of 2006.Approx. complete deployment by the end of 2006.

5. GPRS and EDGEGPRS and EDGE
 GPRS – General Packet Radio ServicesGPRS – General Packet Radio Services
– 2.5G protocol2.5G protocol
– Involved only software changes to the GSM network.Involved only software changes to the GSM network.
– Used under utilized TDMA channels more effectively.Used under utilized TDMA channels more effectively.
– Increased data rates to a max of 170 Kbps.Increased data rates to a max of 170 Kbps.
 EDGE – Enhanced Data rates for GSMEDGE – Enhanced Data rates for GSM
Evolution.Evolution.
– 2.75G protocol.2.75G protocol.
– Required minimal hardware changesRequired minimal hardware changes
– Added a new encoding scheme that allowed for moreAdded a new encoding scheme that allowed for more
bits to be added into each time slice.bits to be added into each time slice.
– Data can now be passed optimally at 384 Kbps.Data can now be passed optimally at 384 Kbps.
 Both of these use TDMA over GSM

6. 3G - UMTS3G - UMTS
 Uses W-CDMAUses W-CDMA
– 5 MHz of bandwidth for each channel.5 MHz of bandwidth for each channel.
– Several thousand users can be supported on eachSeveral thousand users can be supported on each
cell site.cell site.
 Offers 11 Mbps download speeds in theory.Offers 11 Mbps download speeds in theory.
– Uplink speeds are much slowerUplink speeds are much slower
 Meaning, that you wouldn’t want your cell phone to be a webMeaning, that you wouldn’t want your cell phone to be a web
server.server.
– Speeds for moving devices are also slower.Speeds for moving devices are also slower.
– Most users are finding download throughput of aboutMost users are finding download throughput of about
384 Kbps.384 Kbps.
 However, this is still much faster than the 14.4 KbpsHowever, this is still much faster than the 14.4 Kbps
optimally that GSM offered.optimally that GSM offered.

7. 3G - Frequencies3G - Frequencies
 In Europe:In Europe:
– Uses 1900 MHz band for uplinkUses 1900 MHz band for uplink
– And 2100 MHz band for downloadingAnd 2100 MHz band for downloading
– Heavily contested bandwidth auctions.Heavily contested bandwidth auctions.
– Limited acceptance.Limited acceptance.
 In Japan and South Korea:In Japan and South Korea:
– Bandwidth is for the public’s good, so frequencies are open forBandwidth is for the public’s good, so frequencies are open for
cellular communications.cellular communications.
– Highly accepted.Highly accepted.
 In North America:In North America:
– Bands are used by other things (AMPS, GSM, satelliteBands are used by other things (AMPS, GSM, satellite
communication in the 2100 MHz band.communication in the 2100 MHz band.
 Must use existing frequency space.Must use existing frequency space.
– Very limited acceptance.Very limited acceptance.

8. Current US DeploymentCurrent US Deployment
 Cingular was required as part of the AT&TCingular was required as part of the AT&T
buyout to deploy UMTS by the end of 2004.buyout to deploy UMTS by the end of 2004.
– However, they are only in 17 markets in 52 cities.However, they are only in 17 markets in 52 cities.
– Markets include New York (NY), Austin (TX), Baltimore, Boston,Markets include New York (NY), Austin (TX), Baltimore, Boston,
Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland (OR),Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland (OR),
Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA),Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA),
Seattle, Tacoma and Washington, D.C.Seattle, Tacoma and Washington, D.C.
– Also, they are only operating in the 850 MHz /1900Also, they are only operating in the 850 MHz /1900
MHz band.MHz band.
 T-Mobile won a recent bandwidth auction in theT-Mobile won a recent bandwidth auction in the
2150 MHz band, and they have begun a2150 MHz band, and they have begun a
nationwide rollout.nationwide rollout.

9. Evolution from GSM/CDMA toEvolution from GSM/CDMA to
UMTSUMTS
 There are several nice steps from GSM toThere are several nice steps from GSM to
UMTS, with the wide rollout of GPRS andUMTS, with the wide rollout of GPRS and
EDGE.EDGE.
 However, to convert to UMTS, the networkHowever, to convert to UMTS, the network
needs to be reengineered from the groundneeds to be reengineered from the ground
up.up.
– Actually uses the lower 3 layers of the OSIActually uses the lower 3 layers of the OSI
model.model.

10. Why EvolveWhy Evolve
 Killer App – Video TelephonyKiller App – Video Telephony
– Never realized.Never realized.
 What people do use (at least in Japan):What people do use (at least in Japan):
– MP3 downloads.MP3 downloads.
 Potential good applications:Potential good applications:
– TV on a cellphone.TV on a cellphone.

11. Other ApplicationsOther Applications
 Computer / PDA replacementComputer / PDA replacement
– BlackberryBlackberry
 Pager replacementPager replacement
 VideoconferencingVideoconferencing
 NewspaperNewspaper
 DiaryDiary
– MySpaceMySpace
 Credit Card replacement.Credit Card replacement.
– Heightened security?Heightened security?

13. UMTS ProblemsUMTS Problems
 Web wasn’t designed for a 2 inch by 3 inchWeb wasn’t designed for a 2 inch by 3 inch
screen.screen.
– Inputting information is much more difficult.Inputting information is much more difficult.
 Voice recognition would help.Voice recognition would help.
 Overweight handsets with poor battery life.Overweight handsets with poor battery life.
 Poor coverage in the US.Poor coverage in the US.
 To support full motion video on demand, baseTo support full motion video on demand, base
stations will need to setup every .5 miles, whichstations will need to setup every .5 miles, which
isn’t feasible in rural areas.isn’t feasible in rural areas.
– Because it is so data intensive.Because it is so data intensive.