Advantages / disadvantages of LTE TDD and LTE FDD

for cellular communications

There are a number of the advantages and disadvantages of TDD and FDD that are of
particular interest to mobile or cellular telecommunications operators. These are naturally
reflected into LTE.

Parameter LTE-TDD LTE-FDD

Does not require paired Requires paired spectrum with
Paired spectrum as both transmit and sufficient frequency separation
spectrum receive occur on the same to allow simultaneous
channel transmission and reception
Lower cost as no diplexer is
needed to isolate the
transmitter and receiver. As
Diplexer is needed and cost is
Hardware cost cost of the UEs is of major
higher.
importance because of the
vast numbers that are
produced, this is a key aspect.
Channel propagation is the
Channel characteristics different
Channel same in both directions which
in both directions as a result of
reciprocity enables transmit and receive
the use of different frequencies
to use on set of parameters
UL / DL capacity determined by
frequency allocation set out by
the regulatory authorities. It is
It is possible to dynamically therefore not possible to make
UL / DL change the UL and DL dynamic changes to match
asymmetry capacity ratio to match capacity. Regulatory changes
demand would normally be required and
capacity is normally allocated so
that it is the same in either
direction.
Guard period required to
ensure uplink and downlink
Guard band required to provide
transmissions do not clash.
sufficient isolation between
Guard period / Large guard period will limit
uplink and downlink. Large
guard band capacity. Larger guard period
guard band does not impact
normally required if distances
capacity.
are increased to accommodate
larger propagation times.
Discontinuous transmission is
required to allow both uplink
Discontinuous and downlink transmissions. Continuous transmission is
transmission This can degrade the required.
performance of the RF power
amplifier in the transmitter.
Cross slot Base stations need to be Not applicable
 Parameter LTE-TDD LTE-FDD
synchronised with respect to
the uplink and downlink
transmission times. If
neighbouring base stations
interference use different uplink and
downlink assignments and
share the same channel, then
interference may occur
between cells.

LTE TDD / TD-LTE and TD-SCDMA

Apart from the technical reasons and advantages for using LTE TDD / TD-LTE, there are
market drivers as well. With TD-SCDMA now well established in China, there needs to be a
3.9G and later a 4G successor to the technology. With unpaired spectrum allocated for TD-
SCDMA as well as UMTS TDD, it is natural to see many operators wanting an upgrade path
for their technologies to benefit from the vastly increased speeds and improved facilities of
LTE. Accordingly there is a considerable interest in the development of LTE TDD, which is
also known in China as TD-LTE.

With the considerable interest from the supporters of TD-SCDMA, a number of features to
make the mode of operation of TD-LTE more of an upgrade path for TD-SCDMA have been
incorporated. One example of this is the subframe structure that has been adopted within LTE
TDD / TD-LTE.

Summary
While both LTE TDD (TD-LTE) and LTE FDD will be widely used, it is anticipated that LTE
FDD will be the more widespread, although LTE TDD has a number of significant
advantages, especially in terms of higher spectrum efficiency that can be used by many
operators. It is also anticipated that phones will be able to operate using either the LTE FDD
or LTE-TDD (TD-LTE) modes. In this way the LTE UEs or user equipments will be dual
standard phones, and able to operate in countries regardless of the flavour of LTE that is used
- the main problem will then be the frequency bands that the phone can cover.