A presentation made at A 2-day Annual Symposium, organized by Electrical/Electronic Engineering Department, FUTO, at School of Engineering and Engineering Technology (SEET) Complex Auditorium, FUTO, Imo State. (August 18, 2016)

1. LONG TERM EVOLUTION TECHNOLOGIES,
3G & 4G
Tobechukwu Obiefuna
MTN Nigeria
tobyobiefuna@gmail.com
tobecho@mtnnigeria.net

2. Outline
Introduction
Background
Overview of Wireless Telecommunication
Networks
Motivation For LTE
Network Architecture
Specification Differences
4G Applications
Challenges of Migrating 3G to 4G
Conclusion
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3. Introduction
The quest for faster speed, improved QoS, lower latency
and convergence of voice and data on a purely IP
system to improve network resource efficiency has
resulted in the emergence of the 4G network, gradually
but surely eclipsing the 3G network.
The integration of new MIMO antenna technologies,
OFDMA modulation scheme, IPV6 and simplification and
flattening of the existing 3G architecture have made the
4G network a reality today.
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4. Background
LTE is the fourth-generation (4G) network and is the current
generation of wireless communications systems.
mobile service provision is facing important advancements
towards more flexible business models, with novel and
dynamic Internet-like services, with the introduction of new
2.5G/3G generations of mobile communication systems, like
GPRS, UMTS and CDMA.
LTE was planned to encompass many wireless networking and
cellular technologies including Wireless Personal Area Network
(WPAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and third
generation (3G) cellular network.
Internet Protocol (IP) is further introduced and utilized to
seamlessly interconnect these wireless networking
technologies on a backbone network.
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5. Background
Nearly everyone has been directly affected by two major
systems:
1. Wired and wireless data connectivity (WLAN IEEE
802.11/a/b/g standards & xDSL)
2. Mobile communication via 2G network (GSM)
These two networks when merged, creates a more robust
superior network capable of delivering virtually all the benefits
of the 2 networks.
The third-generation (3G) network was the first bold step en
route a convergence between both networks.
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6. Overview of Wireless
Telecommunication Networks

7. Overview of Wireless
Telecommunication Networks

8. 3G performance is no longer sufficient to meet needs of
high-performance multi-media, full-motion video and
wireless teleconferencing applications.
High data speed demand.
3G is based on primarily a wide-area concept. Hybrid
networks that utilize both wireless LAN (hot spot)
concept and cell or base-station wide area network
design is required.
Demand for wider bandwidth.
Spectrally more efficient modulation schemes that
cannot be retrofitted into 3G infrastructure are now
available. Hence the need for a new generation
technology.
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Motivation For LTE

9. Simplifying the RAN by:
a. Reduce the number of different types of RAN
nodes, and their complexity.
b. Minimize the number of RAN interface types.
Reduce latency (which is a prerequisite for CS
replacement).
Increase throughput and spectrum efficiency.
Provide greater flexibility with regard to the frequency
bands in which the system may be deployed (Frequency
Refarming)
Migrate to an optimized PS domain, with no CS domain
in the core network.
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Motivation For LTE - Requirements

10. Provide efficient support for a variety of different
services. Traditional CS services will be supported via
VoIP, etc.
Minimize the presence of single points of failure in the
network above the evolved Node Bs (eNBs).
Support inter-working with existing 3G systems and
non-3GPP specified systems in order to support
handover to/from these systems.
All-IP transport network.
Improve terminal power efficiency.
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Motivation For LTE - Requirements

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Network Architecture 3G UMTS

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Network Architecture 3G UMTS
The key International Mobile Telecommunications-2000
(IMT-2000) proposals are the MTS (W-CDMA) as the
successor to GSM. UMTS licenses have already been
awarded across Europe and Asia through 3GPP group.
UMTS differs from GSM Phase 2+ (2.5 and 2.75G) (W–
CDMA instead of TDMA/ FDMA).
The air interface access for User Equipment (UE) is
provided by the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network
(UTRAN).
UTRAN introduces two new network elements: RNC
(Radio Network Controller) and Node B.
The circuit switched elements include: (MSC)/ (VLR)
and Gateway MSC.
Packet switched elements are (SGSN) and (GGSN).

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Network Architecture 4G LTE

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Network Architecture 4G LTE
The first release of LTE (release 8) was labeled as
“3.9G”. The goal was to provide a high-data rate, low-
latency and packet-optimized radio access technology.
The 4G LTE network architecture is a highly simplified
flatter architecture, see Figure 2, with only two types of
node:
1. Evolved Node-B (eNB)
2. Mobility Management Entity/Gateway (MME/GW)
RNC eliminated, functions in many eNB –better latency.
eNB and other IP interfaces are connected to MME/GW.
GMSC/GGSN eliminated, functions now logical entities:
1. The serving gateway (S-GW)
2. The packet data network gateway (P-GW).

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Network Architecture Evolution

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Network Architecture Evolution
From 3GPP Rel6/ HSPA,
Original 3G architecture.
2 nodes in the RAN.
2 nodes in the PS Core Network.
Every Node introduces additional delay.
Common path for User plane and Control plane data.
Air interface based on WCDMA.
RAN interfaces based on ATM.
Option for Iu-PS interface to be based on IP.

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Network Architecture Evolution
Then, 3GPP Rel7/ HSPA,
Separated path for Control Plane and User Plane data in
the PS Core Network.
Direct GTP tunnel from the GGSN to the RNC for User
plane data: simplifies the Core Network and reduces
Signalling.
First step towards a flat network Architecture.
30% core network OPEX and CAPEX savings with Direct
Tunnel.
The SGSN still controls traffic plane handling, performs
session and mobility management, and manages
paging.
Still 2 nodes in the RAN.

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Network Architecture Evolution
To 3GPP Rel8/ LTE,
LTE takes the same Flat architecture from Internet
HSPA.
Air interface based on OFDMA.
All-IP network.
New spectrum allocation (i.e 2600 MHz band)

19. Specification Differences
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Specifications 3G 4G
Frequency Band 1.8 – 2.5 GHz 2 – 8 GHz
Bandwidth 5-20 MHz 5-20 MHz
Data rate Up to 2Mbps 20 Mbps or more
Access Wideband CDMA Multi-carrier – CDMA or OFDM(TDMA)
FEC Turbo-codes Concatenated codes
Switching Circuit/Packet Packet
Data Throughput Up to 3.1mbps
3to5mbps but potential estimated at a range
of 10 to300 mbps.
Peak Upload Rate: 50 Mbit/s 50 Mbit/s
Peak Download Rate 100Mbit/s 1Gbit/s
Switching Technique packet switching/circuit switch packet switching, message switching
Network
Architecture
Wide Area Cell Based Integration of wireless LAN and Wide area.
Services And
Applications:
CDMA 2000, UMTS,EDGE etc Wimax2 and LTE-Advance
Forward error
correction (FEC)
3G uses Turbo codes for error
correction
Concatenated codes are used for error
correctionsin4G.
Frequency Band: 1.8 – 2.5GHz 2 – 8GHz

20. 4G Applications
4G networks handle broadcast quality data loads over
much faster, cheaper, and more mobile connections.
Tele-geo processing which is a combination of GIS
(Geographical Information System) and GPS (Global
Positioning System) gives required location by querying.
Tele-Medicine by remote health monitoring of patients.
Users get assistance from a doctor at anytime and
anywhere via videoconference.
Rapid crisis management capability rectifies breakdown in
communication systems quickly, avoiding long MTTR.
Cloud services become considerably more reliable,
functional and secure for the mobile users.
More interactive and cost effective online education.
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21. Challenges of Migrating 3G to 4G
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Security: Monitoring, detecting, analyzing and preventing
worms and viruses on wireless, and mobile networks
combined would be more difficult, challenging.
Many operators: A large number of network operators are
expected to co-exist and collaborate in the 4G - Networks.
This will be complicated by versatile trust relationships
between network operators.
Infrastructure: New 4G frequencies means new
components in cell towers are required.
New Handsets ad PDAs: Consumers are forced to buy a
new device compatible with the 4G network.
Coverage issues: Rural areas and multistory buildings in
metropolitan areas are not being served well by existing
wireless networks. 4G has not yet overcome this challenge.

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3G and 4G nodes installed in a chilled switch room

23. Conclusion
The evolution from 3G to 4G has been planned, studied
and implemented yet it has already been discovered that
their performances are still unable to completely solve the
unending problems of poor coverage, poor QoS, bad
interconnectivity, and flexibility.
An important characteristic of the 5G technology will be
the ability of mobile devices to simultaneously send and
receive information from cell tower, that things are not
currently possible with older networks.
5G can be a completed wireless communication without
limitation, delivering perfect real world wireless – World
Wide Wireless Web (WWWW). 5G should be the driver for
the ‘Internet of Things’ concept.

24. Thank you
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