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Objective

 Pre LTE/EPC Network Architecture

 Network Architecture Evolution
 EPS Network Architecture
 EPS network Element and Functionalities
 EPS Network Interfaces and Functionalities
Pre LTE/EPC Network Architecture and Architecture
Evolution
 Typical 2G Architecture

BSC
PSDN

BSC
HLR SMS-SC BSC

PLMN MSC/VLR
BSC MSC/VLR

GMSC

Tandem
PSTN Tandem
CO CO

CO
 2.5 G Architecture

2G MS (voice only)
•NSS

•BSS

E PSTN
Abis
A PSTN
B
BSC C
MS MSC GMSC
D
BTS VLR
Gs
•SS7
H
Gb
2G+ MS (voice & data)
Gr HLR
AuC
Gc

Gn Gi
PSDN
SGSN •IP GGSN

BSS — Base Station System NSS — Network Sub-System SGSN — Serving GPRS Support Node
BTS — Base Transceiver Station MSC — Mobile-service Switching Controller GGSN — Gateway GPRS Support Node
BSC — Base Station Controller VLR — Visitor Location Register
HLR — Home Location Register
AuC — Authentication Server GPRS — General Packet Radio Service
GMSC — Gateway MSC
 Rel 99 Architecture

2G MS (voice only)
CN

BSS

E PSTN
Abis
A PSTN
B
BSC C
MSC GMSC
Gb D
BTS VLR
Gs
H
2G+ MS (voice & data)
IuCS
RNS
Gr HLR
AuC
•ATM •Gc
Iub
IuPS
Gn Gi
PSDN
RNC
SGSN •IP GGSN
Node B
3G UE (voice & data)
BSS — Base Station System CN — Core Network SGSN — Serving GPRS Support Node
BTS — Base Transceiver Station MSC — Mobile-service Switching Controller GGSN — Gateway GPRS Support Node
BSC — Base Station Controller VLR — Visitor Location Register
HLR — Home Location Register
RNS — Radio Network System AuC — Authentication Server UMTS — Universal Mobile Telecommunication System
RNC — Radio Network Controller GMSC — Gateway MSC
 Rel. 4 Architecture

2G MS (voice only)
CN
CS-MGW
Nb
BSS
CS-MGW
A
Abis Nc PSTN PSTN
•Mc
B
BSC C
MSC Server GMSC server
Gb D
BTS VLR
Gs •SS7
H
2G+ MS (voice & data)
IuCS
RNS
Gr HLR
AuC
•IP/ATM
•ATM Gc
Iub
IuPS
Gn Gi
PSDN
RNC
SGSN GGSN
Node B
3G UE (voice & data)
BSS — Base Station System CN — Core Network SGSN — Serving GPRS Support Node
BTS — Base Transceiver Station MSC — Mobile-service Switching Controller GGSN — Gateway GPRS Support Node
BSC — Base Station Controller VLR — Visitor Location Register
HLR — Home Location Register
RNS — Radio Network System AuC — Authentication Server
RNC — Radio Network Controller GMSC — Gateway MSC
 Architecture Evolution

HSPA Direct tunnel I-HSPA LTE

HSPA R6 HSPA R7 HSPA R7 LTE R8

GGSN GGSN GGSN SAE GW

SGSN SGSN SGSN MME/SGSN

RNC RNC

Node B Node B Node B + Evolved

(NB) (NB) RNC Node B
Functionalit (eNB)
y

User plane
Control Plane
EPS Network Architecture, Elements and Functionalities
 EPS Network Architecture

HSS Home
•eNB Subscriber
Server EPC
EUTRAN
Mobility
Management Policy &
S6a
Entity Charging Rule
Function
MME S10
X2 S7 Rx+
PCRF

S11
LTE-Uu
S1-U S5/S8 SGi
PDN

Serving PDN
LTE-UE eNode B
Gateway Gateway

•SAE
SAE Gateway
•Gateway

CP +UP CP UP
 Evolved Node B (eNB)

LTE-Uu cell

Evolved
LTE-UE Node B

Only Network element in EUTRAN

Replaces the old NodeB/RNC combination from 3G

Terminates the complete radio interface including physical layer

Performs all Radio Resource Management functionality

An eNB can handle several cells

 Mobility Management Entity (MME)
HSS

S6a
S1-MME MME S10
S11
S1-U
S-GW

Pure Signaling Entity inside EPC

Handles attach and Detach to the SAE system as well as Tracking Area update

Interface to the HSS for the subscriber relevant information

the signaling coordination to setup transport bearers through the EPC for a UE

MMEs can be interconnected via the S10 interface

It generates and allocates temporary IDs for UEs

 Serving Gateway

MME

S11

S1-U S5/S8

Serving PDN
eNode B
Gateway Gateway

Manages the user data path with in EPC

Connects via S1 interface towards eNB

Packet Data Anchor with in EPC

Connects the P-GW with S5/S8 interface

A serving gateway is controlled by one or more MMEs via S11 interface

 Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway
S7 Rx+
PCRF

S5/S8 SGi
PDN

Serving PDN
Gateway Gateway

provides the connection between EPC and a number of external data networks

IP Address allocation to the UE

Packet Filtering

QoS coordination between the external PDN and EPC

connected via S7 to a PCRF

 Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF)
S7 Rx+
PCRF

S5/S8 SGi
PDN

Serving PDN
Gateway Gateway

Quality of Service (QoS) coordination between the external PDN and EPC

PCRF is connected via Rx+ interface to the external Data network (PDN)

Check and modify the QoS associated with a SAE bearer setup from SAE or to request the setup of a
SAE bearer from the PDN
 Home Subscriber Server (HSS)

S6a
MME S10
S1-MME
S11
S1-U
S-GW

Similar to HLR in 2G/3G Network

With LTE/EPS the HSS will get additionally data per subscriber for mobility and service handling

The HSS can be accessed by the MME via S6a interface

 EPS Interfaces

Iu-PS Gn
UTRAN SGSN GGSN

Gi
HSS
•eNB S3 S4 EPC
EUTRAN
S6a
MME S10
X2 S7 Rx+
PCRF
S11
LTE-Uu
S1-U S5/S8 SGi
PDN

eNode B S-GW P-GW

LTE-UE
•SAE
•Gateway
EPS Network Interfaces and Functionalities
 LTE Interfaces
LTE Uu

Air interface of LTE, based on OFDMA in DL and SC-FDMA in UL

FDD and TDD duplex methods

Scalable bandwidth 1.4MHz to currently 20 MHz

X2

Inter eNB interface ,uses X2APspecial signalling protocol

For an inter- eNB HO to facilitate handover and provide data forwarding

In RRM to provide e.g. load information to neighbouring eNBs to facilitate interference management

S1-MME

Control interface between eNB and MME, Uses S1AP protocol

MME and UE will exchange non-access stratum signaling via eNB through this interface ( i.e. authentication,
tracking area updates)
S1-U

User plane interface between eNB and serving gateway

Pure user data interface (U=User plane)

 EUTRAN and EPC - S1 Flex

S-GW

eNB 1

MME P-GW

eNB 2 S-GW

eNB 1 Single S1-MME and Single S1-U

MME
eNB 2 Single S1-MME and Multiple S1-US1Flex-U

eNB 3 Multiple S1-MMES1Flex MME and Single S1-U

eNB 3

eNB 4 (Not shown in picture)

S1 MME
Multiple S1-MMES1Flex MME and Multiple S1-US1Flex-U
S1 U
 LTE Interfaces
S5/S8

This is the interface between the S-GW and P-GW

S8 is used when roaming between different operators while S5 is network internal

S5/S8 is a many-to-many interface

S6a

It enables transfer of subscription and authentication data for authenticating/ authorizing user access to the
evolved system (AAA interface) between MME and HSS

S7

It provides transfer of (QoS) policy and charging rules from Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) to Policy and
Charging Enforcement Function (PCEF) in the PDN GW

S10

Interface between MME and other MME

Reference point between MMEs for MME relocation (e.g handover) and MME to MME information transfer
 LTE Interfaces

S11

Reference point between MME and SGW

SGi

It is the reference point between the PDN GW and the packet data network

S3

It is the interface between SGSN and MME

Enables user and bearer information exchange for inter 3GPP access network mobility in idle and/or active state

based on Gn reference point as defined between SGSNs

S4

It provides the user plane with related control and mobility support between SGSN and the SGW

Based on Gn reference point as defined between SGSN and GGSN

 UE Categories

All categories support 20 MHz

64QAM mandatory in downlink, but not in uplink(except Class 5)

2x2 MIMO mandatory in other classes except Class 1

Class 1 Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 Class 5

Peak rate DL/UL 10/5 Mbps 50/25 Mbps 100/50 Mbps 150/50 Mbps 300/75 Mbps

RF bandwidth 20 MHz 20 MHz 20 MHz 20 MHz 20 MHz

Modulation DL 64QAM 64QAM 64QAM 64QAM 64QAM

Modulation UL 16QAM 16QAM 16QAM 16QAM 64QAM

Rx diversity Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

BTS tx diversity 1-4 tx 1-4 tx 1-4 tx 1-4 tx 1-4 tx

MIMO DL Optional 2x2 2x2 2x2 4x4

 “HAPPY LEARNING”

MobileComm Professionals, Inc.

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