Long-Term Evolution Network in Current World - Case Study Example

Running Header: LTE Network Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Name & Code: Date of Submission: Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 History of LTE Network 3 LTE Network in Current World 4 Benefits of LTE network 5 Transition of Technology to LTE 5 Future of LTE 7 Comparison of 4G and 2/3G 8 Advantages of LTE over 2/3G 9 Conclusion 10 References 11 Appendices 12 Introduction LTE (Long Term evolution) is the name of the project of high performance air interface for communication systems of cellular mobile as illustrated by Suk & Kai, (2003). It is the last step towards 4G (4th generation) of radio technologies that are designed in order to improve the capacity and speed of mobile telephone networks. It is a 4G wireless broadband technology that is developed by an industry trade group of Third Generation Project (3GPP). In simple terms, it is a proposed next-generation, wireless, broadband network that represents a project within 3GPP (the Third Generation Partnership Project). LTE as a successor of current UMTS 3G generation of technology is based upon HSDPA, HSUPA, WCDMA, and HSPA. LTE is not a replacement of UMTS like the way UMTS was a replacement of GSM, but it is an update to the technology of UMTS that enables it provide faster rates of data for both downloading and uploading. It enhances the existing UMTS mobile phone standard in order to be able to manage future needs. History of LTE Network The strategic vision for 4G was laid out in 2002, which ITU designated as IMT-advanced. Pre-4G system technologies including mobile WIMAX and the first-release 3G LTE has been on the market from 2006 to 2009 and in most instances referred to as 4G. Initially, a Japanese company NTT DoCoMo Japan proposed LTE as the international standard in 2004. Test facilities for LTE began to be shipped from various vendors in early 2008. Ericsson first demonstrated an enabled first end-to-end mobile call of the world that was enabled by LTE in 2008 at the Mobile World Congress. At the same event, in the same event, Motorola demonstrated an LTE RAN standard compliant LTE and eNodeB chipset. The plans for LTE began in 2009 when worldwide and US carriers like MetroPCS, Verizon Wireless, and AT&T Mobility announced their plans to convert their networks to LTE. TeliaSonera first opened the first public available LTE-service for the world in Stockholm and Oslo in Scandinavia on 14 December 2009. In August 2010, Latvia’s LMT opened LTE “4G” network working in test regime. In February 2010, AT&T of US announced its plans to rollout LTE services in 2011. T-mobile and Alltel have also announced their plans to their 4G capabilities that are based on LTE (Dave, 2009). LTE Network in Current World LTE is seen as the solution to the growing number of underserved customers. It is a next generation beyond 3G. The growing rate of mobile migrations and internet applications such as video streaming, mobile TV, Voice over IP (VoIP), music downloading among others will be supported and enabled to be effective through LTE. Increased mobile data usage and emergency of other applications including MMOG (Multimedia Online Gaming), streaming contents, and Web 2.0, among others have motivated the partnership of 3rd generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to work on the LTE. In the mobile network technology tree, LTE is the latest that previously realized the UMTS/HSxPA and GSM/EDGE network technology accounting for over 85percent of all mobile users. LTE will ensure competitive edge of 3GPP over other cellular technologies as illustrated by Hendrik (2008). Benefits of LTE network 3GPP engineers referred to the technology as Long Term Evolution as it represents the next step (4G) from GSM, a 2G standard to UMTS that is a 3G technology that is based upon GSM. According to Haohong et el (2009), LTE usually gives an increased peak data rates with a potential of100Mbps downstream and 30 Mbps upstream with scalable bandwidth capacity, reduced latency to sub-5ms for small IP packets in order to boost performance, and backward compatibility with current UMTS and GSM technology. Its design provides a multi-megabit bandwidth with more efficient use of radio network and increased mobility. Future technology is likely to produce higher outputs approximately 300Mbps. Other benefits of LTE include simple 2G/3G to 4G migration with no forklift upgrade. It has a fast smooth transition to evolved packet core (EPC) in all-IP core network supporting higher throughput, mobility between 3GPPand non-3GPP radio accessed technologies, and lower latency. LTE has a core network solution optimizing backhaul. It has converged mobility and policy management such that operators chooses any access technology with necessary having a complete overhaul of existing IP core or IP core overlay. Another benefit is network intelligence towards delivering higher-bandwidth multimedia services including interacting as well as understanding main multimedia elements. LTE enables a simultaneous voide/data. It also has over-the-air software updates with improved garage penetration. LTE also has global compatibility as another benefit. Transition of Technology to LTE LTE is a foundation of next generation networks with broadband as the new access certainty. It has high throughput efficiently delivering unicast, multicast, and broadcast media. It also converge technology and networks through a single application of domain serving consumers on various devices and networks. In mobile communications, changes have been evolutionary with deployment of LTE being one of the changes. LTE will be a transition from 3G to 4G within a period of some years just like the case of transition from 2G to 3G. It is a natural evolution of 3GPP GSM, WCDMA, and 3GPP2 CDMA networks. The result is a new version 8 of UMTS standard comprising modifications and new extensions of the UMTS system. The release can be used in any IP network including WiMAX, WiFi, as well as other networks according to Savo, (2004). Figure 1 Steps of migration to wireless broadband LTE’s deployment strategy has a primary consideration of Radio Access solutions. This is as LTE impacts on the mobile operators much valued asset, spectrum. Migration from 2G/3G to LTE will be a way of minimizing the costs while maximizing subscriber usage. This will demand for main solutions that can take into consideration the requirements for 2G/3G while simultaneously being utilized for introductions of 4G. It is important to note that, for the mobile operators to realize full potential of LTE there is need for them to deploy core solutions that can meet the generated demands due to increased mobile multimedia services as well as increasing subscriber base such as significant throughput, thousands of cal per second, and increased requirements of network capacity. There is need for a simplified network topology as a way of ensuring there is effective delivery of improved LTE performance. This is through simplifying and flattening of network by reducing elements involved in processing and transportation of data. Future of LTE In future, LTE is expected to completely flood the technology market sweeping away 2/3G networks completely. LTE will become the most preferred wireless broadband technology among the users. However, research and development efforts will continue towards creation of LTE base stations in order to meet the required demand. LTE has a potential of bringing pervasive computing to the world audience with a wire-like experience for users of mobile in every place. More companies are likely to use LTE in an effort for maintaining competitive advantage and efficiency. However, LTE is likely to be replaced by another technology with improved performance and effectiveness in the future just like 3G. Currently, 4G is only limited in some regions although there is likelihood of it spreading into other regions in future. Figure 2 current and future Terabytes in LTE Comparison of 4G and 2/3G In comparison to 2/3G, 2G technologies deals with voice calls while utilizing the maximum bandwidth as well as limitation including sending messages as shown in figure 3. This generation of technology does not have GPRS technologies. 2G has a semi-global facility with narrow band wireless digital network. 3G was developed in order to overcome the limitations of 2G. It has a packet switching technology that is used to send data with voice calls being interpreted by the use of Circuit Switching as illustrated by Savo (2004). 3G technology has several features including GLOBAL ROAMING, Wide Band Voice Channel, and voice clarity. Others features include communication, internet, mobile T.V, 3D gaming, Multi Media Messaging Service (MMS), Multi-Gaming among others. Fourth generation or 4G has features in 3G in addition to multi-Media newspaper and TV watching in a more clear way. One is also able to send data faster than 2/3G generations. The difference between these generations is that one replaces the other. 3G was a replacement of 2G while 4G is a total replacement of 3G technologies. Advantages of LTE over 2/3G 4G has advantages compared to 2/3G because it is a complete wireless communication. It provides a comprehensive IP solution in situation where data, voice, and streamlined multimedia is given to users on anywhere, anytime basis and a high data rates compared to 2/3G. 4G unlike 2/3G will provide 100Mbit/s and 1Gbit/s speeds in outdoors and indoors with high security and premium quality. 4G WiMax can download ten times faster compared to 3G connection topping out up to 10megabits per second. 4G WiMax network is supposed to be anywhere 4-10times faster than 3G networks. Figure 3 4G features Conclusion In conclusion, LTE drives technology towards a more performance, more capacity, and more speed in phones. It is through the 4G that we shall be able to realize dominant global standard, global roaming, performance, throughout-capacity-lower latency, and new services opportunities. Other benefits of 4G include over-the-air software updates and improved garage penetration. 4G is expected to provide more Terabytes compared to current 3G hence meeting the high demands of customers in the current world of technology. References Dave, W 2009, IP for 4G, John Wiley & Sons, West Susex. Haohong, W et el 2009, 4G Wireless video Communications, John Wiley & Sons, New York. Hendrik, B 2008, Towards 4G Technologies services with initiative, John Wiley & Sons, West Sussex. Savo, G 2004, Advanced wireless communications: 4G technologies, Wiley, New York. Suk, Y & Kai, H 2003, Challenges in the migration to 4g mobile systems, Communications Magazine, vol. 41, no. 5, pp. 54-90. Appendices Figure 1 Steps of migration to wireless broadband Figure 2 current and future Terabytes in LTE Figure 3 4G features Read More