Long Term Evolution

UMTS technologies deliver high bit rates but there is still a need for more bandwidth in wireless environments. One solution is LTE (3GPP Long Term Evolution) the next-generation network beyond 3G (3.9G or 4G). In addition to enabling fixed to mobile migrations of Internet applications such as Voice over IP (VoIP), video streaming, mobile multimedia and many others, LTE networks will also provide the capacity to support an explosion in demand for connectivity from a new generation of mobile services.

LTE encompasses the pillars of next-generation networks:

  • Broadband wireless as the new access reality - High-throughput, low-latency mobile access based on OFDM/MIMO, efficiently delivering unicast, multicast and broadcast media.
  • Convergence of technology and networks - A single applications domain serving customers across multiple networks and devices.
  • Intelligence at the services edge - Implementing policy enforcement and decisions at the network edge, in an access-agnostic but access-aware framework.
  • Technology shift to all-IP - Simplifying and streamlining the network, improving scalability and deployment flexibility, and enabling consistent access-aware policy enforcement and billing.
  • Embedded security - A multi-layer, multi-vendor approach to security is critical to ensure that security is endemic to the network and not just focused on point solutions.

    These key concepts also lead to a target architecture characterized by a flat all-IP based multi-access core network, referred to as System Architecture Evolution (SAE).

    Reading suggestions

    Modelling and Dimensioning of Mobile Wireless Networks: From GSM to LT Next Generation Mobile Communications Ecosystem: Technology Management QOS-Enabled Networks: Tools and Foundations 3G Evolution: HSPA and LTE for Mobile Broadband LTE: The UMTS Long Term Evolution: From Theory to Practice 4G: LTE/LTE-Advanced for Mobile Broadband Mobile Broadband: Including WiMAX and LTE 3G Evolution: HSPA and LTE for Mobile Broadband LTE Security WCDMA for UMTS: HSPA Evolution and LTE LTE and the Evolution to 4G Wireless: Design and Measurement Challenge LTE for UMTS: Evolution to LTE-Advanced Fundamentals of LTE Modelling and Dimensioning of Mobile Wireless Networks: From GSM to LT Next Generation Mobile Communications Ecosystem: Technology Management