LTE Small Cell Optimization

3GPP Evolution to Release 13

Harri Holma, Antti Toskala, Jussi Reunanen, Harri Holma, Antti Toskala, Jussi Reunanen

• Publisher: Wiley
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN: 9781118912577
• eBook ISBN: 9781118912409
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Mobile & Wireless Communications
• Index: Technology & Engineering

LTE network capabilities are enhanced with small cell deployment, with optimization and with new 3GPP features. LTE networks are getting high loaded which calls for more advanced optimization. Small cells have been discussed in the communications industry for many years, but their true deployment is happening now. New 3GPP features in Release 12 and 13 further push LTE network performance.

This timely book addresses R&D and standardization activities on LTE small cells and network optimization, focusing on 3GPP evolution to Release 13. It covers LTE small cells from specification to products and field results; Latest 3GPP evolution to Release 13; and LTE optimization and learnings from the field.

1
Introduction

Harri Holma

1. 1.1 Introduction
2. 1.2 LTE Global Deployments and Devices
3. 1.3 Mobile Data Traffic Growth
4. 1.4 LTE Technology Evolution
5. 1.5 LTE Spectrum
6. 1.6 Small Cell Deployments
7. 1.7 Network Optimization
8. 1.8 LTE Evolution Beyond Release 13
9. 1.9 Summary
10. References

1.1 Introduction

Mobile broadband technology has experienced an incredibly fast evolution during the last 10 years. The first High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) network was launched 2005 enabling the high-speed mobile broadband and the first iPhone was launched 2007 creating the massive need for the mobile broadband. The data rates have increased more than 100-fold and the data volumes by more than 1000-fold during the last 10 years. The HSDPA started with 3.6 Mbps while the latest Long-Term Evolution (LTE)-Advanced networks deliver user data rates of 300 Mbps during 2014 and 450 Mbps during 2015. But still, we have just seen the first part of the mobile broadband era – the fast evolution continues forward. Also, the number of mobile broadband subscribers is increasing rapidly with affordable new smartphones providing the internet access for the next billions of users.

This chapter shortly introduces the status of LTE networks globally, the traffic growth, LTE in Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and the spectrum aspects. The chapter also discusses the importance of the small cell deployments, the network optimization and the LTE.

1.2 LTE Global Deployments and Devices

The first commercial LTE network was opened by Teliasonera in Sweden in December 2009 marking the new era of high-speed mobile communications. The number of commercial LTE networks has already increased to 460 in more than 140 countries by end 2015. The fast growth of launches has happened during 2012–2015. It is expected that more than 500 operators in more than 150 countries will soon have commercial LTE network running. The number of launched networks is shown in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1 Commercially launched LTE networks [1]

The very first LTE devices supported 100 Mbps in the form factor of Universal Serial Bus (USB) modem. Soon LTE capability was introduced into high end and mid-priced smartphones with the bit rate up to 150 Mbps. By 2015, LTE radio is found in most smartphones excluding the very low end segment at 50-USD. The data rate capability is increased to 300 Mbps, and 450 Mbps, in the latest devices. An example drive test throughput is shown in Figure 1.2 illustrating that it is possible to get very close to 300 Mbps in the good channel conditions in the field with Category 6 devices. An example of such a device is shown in Figure 1.3. Also, the support for Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is included, which allows to use LTE network not only for data connections but also for voice connections.

Figure 1.2 Drive test data rate with Category 6 LTE device

Figure 1.3 Example Category 6 LTE device supporting 300 Mbps

1.3 Mobile Data Traffic Growth

The mobile data traffic has grown rapidly during the last few years driven by the new smartphones, large displays, higher data rates and higher number of mobile broadband subscribers. The mobile data growth for 2-year period is illustrated in Figure 1.4. These data are collected from more than 100 major operators globally. The absolute data volume in this graph is more than million terabytes, that is, exabytes, per year. The data traffic has grown by a factor of 3.6× during the 2-year period, which corresponds to 90% annual growth. The fast growth of mobile data is expected to continue. The data growth is one of the reasons why more LTE networks are required, more spectra are needed, radio optimization is necessary and why small cells will be deployed. All this data growth must happen without increase in the operator revenues. Therefore, the cost per bit must decrease and the network efficiency must increase correspondingly.

Figure 1.4 Mobile data growth during 2-year period

1.4 LTE Technology Evolution

The LTE technology has been standardized by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The LTE was introduced in 3GPP Release 8. The specifications were completed and the backwards compatibility started in March 2009. Release 8 enabled peak rate of 150 Mbps with 2×2 MIMO, low latency, flat network architecture and the support for 4-antenna base station transmission and reception. Release 8 enabled in theory also 300 Mbps with 4×4 MIMO but the practical devices so far have two antennas limiting the data rate to 150 Mbps. Release 9 was a relatively small update on top of Release 8. Release 9 was completed 1 year after Release 8 and the first deployments started during 2011. Release 9 brought enhanced Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Solution (eMBMS) also known as LTE-Broadcast, emergency call support for VoLTE, femto base station handovers and first set of Self-Organizing Network (SON) functionalities. Release 10 provided a major step in terms of data rates and capacity with Carrier Aggregation (CA), higher order MIMO up to eight antennas in downlink and four antennas in uplink. The support for Heterogeneous Network (HetNet) was included in Release 10 with the feature enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (eICIC). Release 10 was completed in June 2011 and the first commercial carrier aggregation network started in June 2013. Release 10 is also known as LTE-Advanced. Release 11 enhanced LTE-Advanced with Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) transmission and reception, with further enhanced ICIC (feICIC), advan...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Copyright
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• List of Abbreviations
• 1 Introduction
• 2 LTE and LTE Advanced in Releases 8–11
• 3 LTE-Advanced Evolution in Releases 12–13
• 4 Small Cell Enhancements in Release 12/13
• 5 Small Cell Deployment Options
• 6 Small Cell Products
• 7 Small Cell Interference Management
• 8 Small Cell Optimization
• 9 Learnings from Small Cell Deployments
• 10 LTE Unlicensed
• 11 LTE Macro Cell Evolution
• 12 LTE Key Performance Indicator Optimization
• 13 Capacity Optimization
• 14 VoLTE Optimization
• 15 Inter-layer Mobility Optimization
• 16 Smartphone Optimization
• 17 Further Outlook for LTE Evolution and 5G
• Index
• EULA