Design, Deployment and Performance of 4G-LTE Networks

A Practical Approach

Ayman ElNashar, Mohamed A. El-saidny, Mahmoud Sherif

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2014
• Print ISBN: 9781118683217
• eBook ISBN: 9781118703441
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Mobile & Wireless Communications
• Index: Technology & Engineering

This book provides an insight into the key practical aspects and best practice of 4G-LTE network design, performance, and deployment

Design, Deployment and Performance of 4G-LTE Networks addresses the key practical aspects and best practice of 4G networks design, performance, and deployment. In addition, the book focuses on the end-to-end aspects of the LTE network architecture and different deployment scenarios of commercial LTE networks. It describes the air interface of LTE focusing on the access stratum protocol layers: PDCP, RLC, MAC, and Physical Layer. The air interface described in this book covers the concepts of LTE frame structure, downlink and uplink scheduling, and detailed illustrations of the data flow across the protocol layers. It describes the details of the optimization process including performance measurements and troubleshooting mechanisms in addition to demonstrating common issues and case studies based on actual field results. The book provides detailed performance analysis of key features/enhancements such as C-DRX for Smartphones battery saving, CSFB solution to support voice calls with LTE, and MIMO techniques.

The book presents analysis of LTE coverage and link budgets alongside a detailed comparative analysis with HSPA+. Practical link budget examples are provided for data and VoLTE scenarios. Furthermore, the reader is provided with a detailed explanation of capacity dimensioning of the LTE systems. The LTE capacity analysis in this book is presented in a comparative manner with reference to the HSPA+ network to benchmark the LTE network capacity. The book describes the voice options for LTE including VoIP protocol stack, IMS Single Radio Voice Call Continuity (SRVCC). In addition, key VoLTE features are presented: Semi-persistent scheduling (SPS), TTI bundling, Quality of Service (QoS), VoIP with C-DRX, Robust Header Compression (RoHC), and VoLTE Vocoders and De-Jitter buffer. The book describes several LTE and LTE-A advanced features in the evolution from Release 8 to 10 including SON, eICIC, CA, CoMP, HetNet, Enhanced MIMO, Relays, and LBS.

This book can be used as a reference for best practices in LTE networks design and deployment, performance analysis, and evolution strategy.

• Conveys the theoretical background of 4G-LTE networks
• Presents key aspects and best practice of 4G-LTE networks design and deployment
• Includes a realistic roadmap for evolution of deployed 3G/4G networks
• Addresses the practical aspects for designing and deploying commercial LTE networks.
• Analyzes LTE coverage and link budgets, including a detailed comparative analysis with HSPA+.
• References the best practices in LTE networks design and deployment, performance analysis, and evolution strategy
• Covers infrastructure-sharing scenarios for CAPEX and OPEX saving.
• Provides key practical aspects for supporting voice services over LTE,

Written for all 4G engineers/designers working in networks design for operators, network deployment engineers, R&D engineers, telecom consulting firms, measurement/performance tools firms, deployment subcontractors, senior undergraduate students and graduate students interested in understanding the practical aspects of 4G-LTE networks as part of their classes, research, or projects.

Chapter 1
LTE Network Architecture and Protocols

Ayman Elnashar and Mohamed A. El-saidny

Cellular mobile networks have been evolving for many years. The initial networks are referred to as First Generation, or 1G systems. The 1G mobile system was designed to utilize analog. It included the AMPS (advanced mobile phone system). The Second Generation, 2G mobile systems, were introduced utilizing digital multiple access technology; TDMA (time division multiple access) and CDMA (code division multiple access). The main 2G networks were GSM (global system for mobile communications) and CDMA, also known as cdmaOne or IS-95 (Interim Standard 95). The GSM system still has worldwide support and is available for deployment on several frequency bands, such as 900, 1800, 850, and 1900 MHz. CDMA systems in 2G networks use a spread spectrum technique and utilize a mixture of codes and timing to identify cells and channels. In addition to being digital, as well as improving capacity and security, the 2G systems also offer enhanced services, such as SMS (short message service) and circuit switched (CS) data. Different variations of the 2G technology evolved later to extend the support of efficient packet data services, and to increase the data rates. GPRS (general packet radio system) and EDGE (enhanced data rates for global evolution) systems have been the evolution path of GSM. The theoretical data rate of 473.6 kbps enabled the operators to offer multimedia services efficiently. Since it does not comply with all the features of a 3G system, EDGE is usually categorized as 2.75G.

3G (Third Generation) systems are defined by IMT2000 (International Mobile Telecommunications). IMT2000 defines that a 3G system should provide higher transmission rates in the range of 2 Mbps for stationary use and 348 kbps in mobile conditions. The main 3G technologies are:

• WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access)—This was developed by the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project). WCDMA is the air interface of the 3G UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system). The UMTS system has been deployed based on the existing GSM communication core network (CN) but with a totally new radio access technology (RAT) in the form of WCDMA. Its radio access is based on FDD (frequency division duplex). Current deployments are mainly at 2.1 GHz bands. Deployments at lower frequencies are also possible, such as UMTS900. UMTS supports voice and multimedia services.
• TD-CDMA (time division multiple access)—This is typically referred to as UMTS TDD (time division duplex) and is part of the UMTS specifications. The system utilizes a combination of CDMA and TDMA to enable efficient allocation of resources.
• TD-SCDMA (time division synchronous code division multiple access)—This has links to the UMTS specifications and is often identified as UMTS-TDD low chip rate. Like TD-CDMA, it is also best suited to low mobility scenarios in microcells or picocells.
• CDMA2000—This is a multi-carrier technology standard which uses CDMA. It is part of the 3GPP2 standardization body. CDMA2000 is a set of standards including CDMA2000 EV-DO (evolution-data optimized) which has various revisions. It is backward compatible with cdmaOne.
• WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access)—This is another wireless technology which satisfies IMT2000 3G requirements. The air interface is part of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.16 standard which originally defined PTP (point-to-point) and PTM (point-to-multipoint) systems. This was later enhanced to provide greater mobility. WiMAX Forum is the organization formed to promote interoperability between vendors.

4G (Fourth Generation) cellular wireless systems have been introduced as the latest version of mobile technologies. 4G is defined to meet the requirements set by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) as part of IMT Advanced.

The main drivers for the network architecture evolution in 4G systems are: all-IP (Internet protocol) -based, reduced ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Authors' Biographies
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Abbreviations and Acronyms
• Chapter 1: LTE Network Architecture and Protocols
• Chapter 2: LTE Air Interface and Procedures
• Chapter 3: Analysis and Optimization of LTE System Performance
• Chapter 4: Performance Analysis and Optimization of LTE Key Features: C-DRX, CSFB, and MIMO
• Chapter 5: Deployment Strategy of LTE Network
• Chapter 6: Coverage and Capacity Planning of 4G Networks
• Chapter 7: Voice Evolution in 4G Networks
• Chapter 8: 4G Advanced Features and Roadmap Evolutions from LTE to LTE-A
• Index
• End User License Agreement