The LTE-Advanced Deployment Handbook

The Planning Guidelines for the Fourth Generation Networks

Jyrki T. J. Penttinen

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781118484807
• eBook ISBN: 9781118678855
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Mobile & Wireless Communications
• Index: Technology & Engineering

LTE-Advanced is the new Global standard which is expected to create a foundation for the future wireless broadband services. The standard incorporates all the latest technologies recently developed in the field of wireless communications. Presented in a modular style, the book provides an introductory description for beginners as well as practical guidelines for  telecom specialists. It contains an introductory module that is suitable for the initial studies of the technology based on the 3GPPRelease 10, 11 and beyond of LTE and SAE. The latter part of the book is suitable for experienced professionals who will benefit from the practical descriptions of the physical core and radio network planning, end-to-end performance measurements, physical network construction and optimization of the system.

The focus of the book is in the functioning, planning, construction, measurements and optimization of the radio and core networks of the Release 10 and beyond of the 3GPP LTE and SAE standards. It looks at the practical description of the Advanced version of the LTE/SAE, how to de-mystify the LTE-Advanced functionality and planning, and how to carry out practical measurements of the system. In general, the book describes "how-to-do-it" for the 4G system which is compliant with the ITU-R requirements.

1
Introduction

Jyrki T. J. Penttinen

Giesecke & Devrient, USA

1.1 Overview

This chapter gives an introduction to the LTE-Advanced (LTE-A). The reasons behind the development and the effects of mobile broadband communications are discussed. Also the general characteristics of the LTE-Advanced technology, including comparison with the previous 3GPP releases, are described and the enhanced performance, functionalities and elements are presented at an advanced level. Finally, a guide to the book contents is given to aid navigation between the chapters.

1.2 The Structure of the Book

1.2.1 Focus of the Book

This book presents practical guidelines for the deployment of the LTE-Advanced system, including planning, dimensioning, roll-out and maintenance of networks. The focus is on functioning, construction, measurements and optimization of the radio and core networks of Release 10 and beyond 3GPP LTE and SAE standards. The book is thus an updated continuation of the previous book, The LTE/SAE Deployment Handbook, published by Wiley in 2011, but this text now concentrates on the advanced phase of the LTE.

This book emphasizes the practical aspects related to the developed stage of the LTE/SAE, clarifying LTE-Advanced functionality and providing advice for planning and other tasks related to system deployment. As the LTE-A is a development path for the previous 3GPP releases, also the description of the solutions and performance aspects of the prior phases are discussed, as they form the basis for the LTE-Advanced functionality.

This book discusses the development history, tracing it from the previous generations prior to Release 8, and continues from the basic Release 8 and Release 9 of LTE, including new network architecture and business models, followed by the description of technical functioning of the system with signaling, coding, modes for contents delivery, and the security aspects of core and radio system. Also, nominal and in-depth planning of the core and radio networks are discussed with field test measurement guidelines, hands-on network planning advice, and suggestions for the parameter adjustments. The book also gives recommendations for migration strategies and for the optimization of the previous systems to better support LTE-Advanced.

This book can be used in a modular way. It provides both overall descriptions for the readers who are not yet familiar with the subject as well as practical guidelines for telecom specialists. The introductory module is suitable for initial studies of the LTE and SAE technology based on the 3GPP Release 10, Release 11 and beyond. The latter part of the book is designed for experienced professionals who need practical descriptions of the physical core and radio network planning, end-to-end performance measurements, physical network construction and optimization of the system. The LTE/SAE Release 8 and Release 9 are described relatively briefly as the basic data can be found in the previously published The LTE/SAE Deployment Handbook (2011) from Wiley. Nevertheless, as the LTE-A is based on the foundations of LTE Release 8 and 9, the respective aspects are explained.

1.2.2 Module Structure

The module structure of this book is the following:

• Introduction (Chapters 1–2): General items and overall description of LTE-A.
• Detailed description (Chapters 3–7): Technical LTE-Advanced functionality.
• Deployment guidelines (Chapters 8–12): LTE-Advanced planning, optimization and measurements guidelines, LTE-Advanced deployment recommendations.

Figure 1.1 summarizes the contents of this book to aid navigation between the modules.

Figure 1.1 The contents of the LTE-A Deployment Handbook.

1.3 Mobile Telecommunications Development

1.3.1 LTE

The design of the LTE commenced in 2004 [1]. The driving force was the need to reduce the complexity of the terminals, lower the power consumption, decrease the equipment and utilization cost per bit, provide flexibility in the use of the established and future RF bands, and to facilitate the introduction of lower-cost services with a better user experience. Later, more detailed requirements were added, such as the reduction of the packet delivery latency and three to four times and two to three times improvement of the spectral efficiency compared to the Release 6 HSPA for downlink and uplink, respectively. Flexibility has also been an important criterion in the development of LTE to assure the suitability of the network deployment in various cases of coexisting previous networks such as GSM (n times 200 kHz carriers), CDMA (1.25 MHz carrier) and UMTS/HSPA (5 MHz carrier). Thus, bandwidth values of 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 MHz were specified in the LTE for both downlink and uplink [2]. These bandwidth values are applicable to both the FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) and TDD (Time Division Duplex) modes of LTE [3].

LTE was designed to support MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antennas as of Release 8, so that later phases increase the MIMO antennas. The design of the advanced antenna solutions for LTE devices is thus easier than, for example, for HSPA due to the integrated approach of LTE.

LTE has been designed to support especially low mobility environments up to 15 km/h with the highest defined performance values. The LTE also has categories for high performance with a terminal speed of 15–120 km/h, and for a functional performance with a speed of 120–350 km/h. 3GPP is also considering including support of a terminal speed up to 500 km/h. For the end user, the increased data rate is one of the clearest benefits of the LTE system. Figure 1.2 shows typical practical examples of the achievable LTE/LTE-A data rates with the given parameter values and releases [4]. The values depend on many parameters, such as the UE terminal catego...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• List of Contributors
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations
• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: LTE-Advanced Principles
• Chapter 3: LTE-Advanced Architecture
• Chapter 4: Advanced Core Network
• Chapter 5: LTE-A Radio Network
• Chapter 6: Terminals and Applications
• Chapter 7: LTE-A Functionality
• Chapter 8: Planning of the LTE-Advanced Core Network
• Chapter 9: Planning of the LTE-Advanced Radio Network
• Chapter 10: Optimization of LTE-A
• Chapter 11: Measurements
• Chapter 12: Recommendations
• Index
• End User License Agreement