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TECNOLOGA DE RADIO 4G LTE
CAPTULO II: ARQUITECTURA DEL SISTEMA LTE
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SAE (System Architecture Evolution) 3GPP

Unlike preceding networks, the EPC has no circuit-switched element. It has been designed to
support both real- and non-real-time packet-based services, hence is IP from end to end.

Across the whole of the SAE, the architecture is said to have been flattened that is, fewer nodes
are defined in the standards, which as was noted above means fewer hops. In practice, however,
operators may find that this 3GPP vision of a simplified architecture may be difficult to achieve at
least initially.

Whereas in UMTS the Node B was supported by an RNC (Radio Network Controller), in LTE there
is just one RAN element: the eNB (evolved Node B). All the functionality that belonged to the RNC
has been brought into the eNB itself, which means it has a multitude of tasks to perform.

Evolved Packet Core
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Source: TS23.401,TS23.402,TS36.300
EPC: Evolved Packet Core, also referred as SAE by 3GPP
eUTRAN: Radio Access Network, also referred as LTE
http://www.3gpp.org/
Evolved Packet Core
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MME: Mobility Management Entity
Pure signalling entity inside the EPC:
Signalling coordination for EPS bearer setup/release
Subscriber attach/detach
Tracking area updates
Roaming Control
Trigger and distribution of paging messages to UE
Radio security control
Authentication,
integrity protection

Serving Gateway
Manages the user data in the EPC
Receives packet data from the eNodeB and sends packet data to it
HSS
eNB
MME
Serving
Gateway
S1-U
S1-MME
S11
S6a
Evolved Packet Core
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The EPC comprises four key elements:
SGW (Signalling Gateway)
PDN-GW (Packet Data Network Gateway)
MME (Mobility Management Entity)
HSS (Home Subscriber Server)

Other network elements may be required for specific service provision, and may vary depending on
operator implementation, but these elements are integral to any EPC configuration.

The desirability of separating signalling from data has been carried through into LTE, such that the user plane and
control plane are separated, enabling operators to adapt and dimension their networks more easily. This split is
reflected in the network architecture. The SGW and PDN-GW, which are logically connected together, are
responsible for user plane functionality, transporting data between the UEs and external networks. The SGW is
the entry and exit point between the EPC and the RAN; the PDN-GW is the entry and exit point between the EPC
and other PDNs (Packet Data Networks) and is responsible for IP address allocation to the UE.

The MME performs control-plane functions such as signalling and user mobility and is the termination point for
the NAS (Non-Access Stratum).
Evolved Packet Core
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Packet Data Network Gateway
Connection between EPC and a number of external data networks (comparable to GGSN in
2G/3G networks)
IP Address Allocation for UE
Packet Routing/Forwarding between
Serving GW and external Data Network
Packet screening (firewall functionality)

Policy and Charging Rule Function
Quality of Service (QoS) negotiation with the external PDN
Charging Policy: How packets should be accounted

HSS: Home Subscriber Server
Permanent and central subscriber database
Stores mobility and service data for every subscriber Contains AuC (authentication center)
functionality

MME
Serving
Gateway
S5/S8
PDN
Gateway
PDN
SGi
PCRF
S7 Rx+
S11
HSS
S6a
Evolved Packet Core
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The HSS is modelled on the HLR and AuC in 2G/3G networks, and is effectively a database that contains user-
related and subscriber-related information. It also has some mobility management functions.

This network composition, and the functional split between the user and control planes, is illustrated in the
simplified figure below. These elements will all be considered in greater detail later in the module.
Evolved Packet Core
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LTE-Uu interface
Air interface of LTE
Based on OFDMA in DL and SC-FDMA in UL
FDD and TDD duplex methods
Scalable bandwidth 1.4MHz to currently 20 MHz
X2 interface
Inter eNB interface
X2AP: special signalling protocol
Functionalities:
In inter- eNB HO to facilitate handover and
provide data forwarding.
In RRM to provide e.g. load information to
neighbouring eNBs to facilitate interference
management
Logical interface: It does not need direct site-
to-site connection
LTE Radio Interface, protocols and the X2 Interface
Evolved Packet Core
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Evolved Packet Core

Handover over X2 - Principle
X2 Handover - Capacity
3050ms radio link interruption during HO
X2 latency should be less or equal than radio link
interruption time for optimum performance
provisioning of extra capacity may only be justified for
sites where high HO performance is required
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S1-MME & S1-U Interfaces and Protocols

S1-MME interface
Control interface between eNB and MME
S1AP:S1 Application Protocol
MME and UE will exchange non-access
stratum signaling via eNB through this
interface (i.e. authentication, tracking area
updates)

S1 interface is divided into two parts:
Evolved Packet Core
S1-U interface
User plane interface between eNB and serving
gateway
Pure user data interface (U=User plane)
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IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem)
The IMS is an all-IP architectural framework for delivering a range of multimedia services over IP networks. These
include services, such as speech, that traditionally transit CS networks.

The first iteration of IMS appeared in Release 5 of the 3GPP specifications, when it was represented as a possible
means of evolving core networks from circuit switching to packet switching, enabling the development of Internet-style
packet-based services to subscribers over UMTS networks. The IMS specifications were further developed in
Releases 6 and 7. At Release 8, 3GPP integrated IMS into the LTE/SAE specifications, as a solution for offering
voice and content-rich multimedia services over the IP network.

The signalling protocol chosen for controlling real-time multimedia sessions via IMS in LTE networks is SIP (Session
Initiation Protocol), defined by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). Voice data is tunnelled through the IP core
network inside IP packets. The advantage of such an architecture is that all services are handled through a common
control architecture, by means of SIP sessions.

The implementation of an IMS is extremely dependent on sufficient IP QoS mechanisms. It is also possible for
operators to deploy an IMS in parallel with retained MSC functionality. Indeed, it seems highly likely that, given the
considerable investment operators have made in their existing networks, operators legacy networks will stay in place
for some time to come.
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IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem)
The figure below shows the differences in service delivery over IMS when a UE is in LTE coverage and when it
falls back to UTRAN or GERAN (GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network) coverage.
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