Huawei LTE for Rail

Technical White Paper

Issue 01
Date 8/8/2014

HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.

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 Contents

Contents .................................................................................................................................................................... i
Change History ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
1 Why Railways Need LTE .................................................................................................................................. 3
1.1 GSM-R EOL is near........................................................................................................................................ 3
1.2 LTE is a powerful, suitable successor .................................................................................................. 4
1.2.1 Unified evolution of wireless technologies .................................................................................. 4
1.2.3 LTE has already been widely deployed......................................................................................... 4
1.3 LTE railway benefits ......................................................................................................................... 6
1.3.1 Supports existing GSM-R services ................................................................................................. 6
1.3.2 Improved end-to-end performance and reliability.......................................................... 7
1.3.3 LTE prevents interference .................................................................................................... 7
1.3.4 Strong security defense......................................................................................................... 8
2 Critical Steps from GSM-R to LTE ...................................................................................................................... 11
2.1 Services — the heart of a migration strategy .................................................................................... 11
2.1.1 Refarm existing GSM-R spectrum for LTE use .............................................................. 12
2.1.2 New spectrum for LTE use ................................................................................................. 13
3 Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................................. 14
Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................................... 17
 Huawei LTE for Rail Technical White Paper

Change History

Date Version Description Author

2014-06-24 V1.0 First edition Wenhua

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 Huawei LTE for Rail Technical White Paper

1 Why Railways Need LTE

1.1 GSM-R EOL is near

Data-based communications are becoming faster — so fast, that carriers are

investing more in new technologies to improve their data throughput, to upgrade

wireless networks, and to apply more spectrum frequencies. A victim of these

continual upgrades is GSM, especially 2G GSM: investments in this technology

are shrinking and the 2G GSM spectrum has been re-purposed for 3G/4G.

What’s more, customers of aging 2G systems have been informed that 2G

voice quality will worsen, data transfer speeds will slow and, as a result, they

are being urged to switch to a 3G or 4G handset. Some carriers already have

set timetables for EOL of all GSM services. As a result, GSM will become a

risky investment for all industries, including railways: there will be less demand

for GSM chipsets, base stations, and handsets.

Luckily for railways, they have been paying close attention to the evolution of

new wireless techniques. In 2010, the International Union of Railways published

“The Future Railways Mobile Telecommunications Systems Study.” In 2013, the

European Railway Agency published a wireless system roadmap that gives a

clear direction for railways that have equipped their lines with thousands of

kilometers of GSM-R networks.

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1.2 LTE is a powerful, suitable successor

1.2.1 Unified evolution of wireless technologies

Wireless technology is evolving to broadband and higher spectrum efficiency.

At one point, competition was stiff between WiMAX and LTE over which technology would

“win” the wireless broadband competition, but questions about WiMAX’s evolution path

and its low commercial use has put LTE in the lead. What’s more, LTE belongs to the

3GPP family, which ensures smooth migration to future technologies such as LTE-A,

LTE-B and 5G.

1.2.3 LTE has already been widely deployed

LTE is a mature technology that is widely deployed for commercial use(please refer to

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTE_(telecommunication) to see the commercial deployment

of LTE), which has reduced LTE equipment and handset costs. That is good news for

railways.

In fact, LTE is being used for railways right now. In China, for example, the Shuohuang

railway line is a 594 km-long coal freight line with 34 stations and 33 sections. Huawei has

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deployed a TDD 1.8G LTE network that provides services such as group call over LTE,

synchronization of multiple locomotives, data transmission, and video surveillance on

moving trains. To ensure reliability, the network uses a double radio layer and redundant

control nodes. The use of LTE has helped increase Shuohuang’s coal-hauling capacity

from 200 million tons to 350 million tons.

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1.3 LTE railway benefits

1.3.1 Supports existing GSM-R services

GSM-R LTE for Rail

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European Train Circuit Switched Data Packet Switched Data

Control System
(ETCS)
PTP Call Circuit Switched Voice SIP-based Voice Call
Call
PTT Call VGCS/VBS eMBMS-based LTE Group
Communication
Emergency Call VGCS eMBMS-based LTE Group
Communication
Priority eMLPP QCI, ARP
Functional SCP SCP
Addressing
Location- SCP SCP
Dependent
Addressing
Access Matrix SCP SCP

1.3.2 Improved end-to-end performance and reliability

Existing GSM-R services are expected to improve their performance while migrating to

the flat, all-IP LTE infrastructure, especially services related to E2E delay.

Another benefit from the LTE architecture is the reduction of NEs, which has, as a result,

reduced the number of potential failures. Other features, like the MME pool, further

improve network reliability.

1.3.3 LTE prevents interference

LTE uses OFDM sub-carrier scheduling to detect frequency interference. This is a leading

reference signal design that quickly and accurately detects interference by tracing channel

changes on time and frequency domains. In addition, the simultaneous response of

multiple LTE terminals helps speed the response to interference.

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 Huawei LTE for Rail Technical White Paper

To avoid interference, LTE provides a complete mechanism for coding, re-transmission,

and IRC. This microsecond-level scheduling mechanism ensures that the LTE network

schedules resources in a timely and dynamic manner. When detecting interference, or

cross-talk, the sub-carrier with the highest C/I ratio will be allocated. LTE also provides

AMC, which will dynamically adjust the modulation and coding method according to the

RSRP and SINR, which further increase LTE’s interference prevention capability.

To control interference inside the network, LTE provides a complete power control

mechanism. Moreover, algorithms such as ICIC and CoMP further improve LTE’s

capability to control interference. Depending on the measures employed, LTE can still

provide some bandwidth to provide services with QoS guarantees when encountering

interference.

1.3.4 Strong security defense

Security is an important feature of LTE networks. Measures are taken on User Identity

Confidentiality, Entity Authentication, User Equipment (UE) Authentication, Confidentiality

and Integrity for Signaling and User Data, Non-Access Stratum (NAS) Security, etc.

 User Identity Confidentiality

MME allocates a globally unique temporary identity to user equipment, which the

EPS uses to avoid frequent exchange of the UE’s permanent IMSI over the radio

access link.

 Entity Authentication

An EPS Authentication and Key Agreement (AKA) procedure is used to provide

mutual authentication between the user and the network, and agreement on the NAS

Key Access Security Management Entity (KASME). KASME forms the basis for

generating Access Stratum (AS) and NAS ciphering and integrity keys. The keys are

used for radio resource control in the access stratum, and for user plane and NAS

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signaling protection.

 UE Authentication

UE authentication is initiated by the serving MME through EPS NAS procedures. An

EMM authentication request is sent to the user equipment with authentication

parameters (RAND, AUTN) and the NAS Key Set Identifier (known as eKSI or

KSIASME).

The user equipment responds to the MME with an authentication response, including

a response upon successful processing of the authentication challenge data. The

MME then must validate RES; the intermediate KASME is determined after

successful completion of the current EPS AKA, as agreed upon by the UE and MME.

 Confidentiality and Integrity for signaling and user data

As we have seen, to ensure confidentiality and integrity protection for signaling and

user data in the EPS, two levels of security associations exist: the AS and NAS.

AS security

Carried out for RRC and user plane data and belongs to the scope of user equipment

(such as handsets) and eNodeB.

The PDCP layer on the user equipment and eNodeB side is responsible for ciphering

and integrity protection.

RRC messages are integrity-protected and ciphered but U-Plane data is only

ciphered.

NAS security

Carried out for NAS messages and within the scope of UE and MME. In this case,

NAS message communication between UE and MME are integrity protected and

ciphered with an extra NAS security header.

Ciphering mechanisms can be used to provide signaling and user data confidentiality

between the UE and the EPS, while integrity and replay mechanisms can be used to

provide signaling and user data integrity. The related algorithms are:
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Integrity

• “0000” EIA0 Null Integrity Protection algorithm

• “0001”128-EIA1 SNOW 3G

• “0010” 128-EIA2 AES

Ciphering

• “0000” EEA0 Null ciphering algorithm

• “0001” 128-EEA1 SNOW 3G-based algorithm

• “0010” 128-EEA2 AES-based algorithm

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2 Critical Steps from GSM-R to LTE

2.1 Services — the heart of a migration strategy

Railway services carried by wireless networks are at the heart of the migration strategy of

GSM-R to LTE. Railway wireless services can be classified into two categories: critical

and common. Critical services refer to those in direct connection with train movement, for

example, train-to-ground voice calls. Common services refer to those with no relation to

train movement, for example, train arrival announcements on displays in the train station.

Since critical services play a far more important role than common services, the service

migration strategy may look like this:

Step 1:

LTE usually is first introduced into railways by common, or even assistant services. This
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 Huawei LTE for Rail Technical White Paper

step relieves the stress on GSM-R of more and more data-based services. With the high

spectrum efficiency of LTE, new services can be added to existing common services. This

will benefit railway personnel, who can gain experience with LTE networking, O&M, etc.,

and be ready for its further application.

Step 2:

After step 1, railway managers and personnel will have grown confident in the ability of

LTE to carry critical services. However, migrating critical services should be done

gradually, in order to ensure consistency and reliability. GSM-R will serve as the backup

system.

Step 3:

At this stage, LTE will have proved to be a trustworthy system. Meanwhile, GSM-R

maintainability will become worse as the EOL of GSM technology gets closer, and the

poor spectrum efficiency of GSM-R will become less acceptable. Step 3 is the obvious

time to decommission and dispose of the GSM-R system.

2.1.1 Refarm existing GSM-R spectrum for LTE use

For a railway that already has a 7M spectrum for GSM-R networking, a “refarming”

strategy is recommended during the evolution to LTE.

Step 1. LTE for common services, GSM-R for critical services

First, refarm the 3M frequency for LTE FDD to fulfill the service requirement in Step1 of

the service migration process described in 2.1. This spectrum allocation is suggested for

the following reasons:

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 Huawei LTE for Rail Technical White Paper

1. 3M is a standardized LTE bandwidth defined in 3GPP, and can provide a

throughput of 12.4 Mbit/s (downlink), 3.4 Mbit/s (uplink) under normal conditions*,

which are enough for transporting common railway services.

2. Railways have abundant experience with the 4M spectrum in GSM-R operations.

*The data rates above assume: eNodeB 2T2R, LTE terminal 1T2R, cell radius 2.5 km,

tower height 45m.

Step 2. LTE for all services, GSM-R for backup

To fulfill the service requirement in Step 2 of the service migration process described in

2.1, 2 Mbit/s additional spectrum will be allocated for LTE to provide critical services, while

GSM-R will use 2 Mbit/s of the spectrum to act as the backup network to provide basic

critical services during an emergency.

Step 3. LTE for Rail

For the final decommissioning and disposal of the GSM-R system, LTE will get an

additional 1.4 Mbit/s for its network.

2.1.2 New spectrum for LTE use

For railways limited by the GSM-R 4M spectrum for networking, it is recommended to

apply for additional LTE spectrum.

Step 1. LTE for common services, GSM-R for critical services

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Step 2. LTE for all services, GSM-R for backup

The newly applied spectrum is dedicated for LTE use to fulfill the service requirement in

Steps1 and 2 of the service migration process described in 2.1. The original 4 Mbit/s is

always allocated for GSM-R use.

Step 3. LTE for Rail

For the final decommissioning and disposal of the GSM-R system, LTE will get an

additional 3 Mbit/s for its network.

3 Infrastructure
Step 1. LTE for common services, GSM-R for critical services

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 Huawei LTE for Rail Technical White Paper

Huawei’s core network has integrated the function of the GSM-R circuit switched and

packet switched cores with the function of the LTE packet switched core and VoLTE. Only

a license is needed to enable the evolved packet core function.

Huawei’s BTS3900 is an SDR base station. Only one existing RF module needs to be

configured from GSM to LTE mode when the spectrum refarming strategy is applied. By

adding LTE BBU boards into an existing BBU that simultaneously provides a base station

to support GSM-R, the LTE network will be ready. To avoid redesigning a GSM-R network,

a dedicated antenna should be deployed for LTE.

LTE requires IP transmission between the EPC and the base station. The IP transmission

function in Huawei’s MSTP equipment can be activated without any hardware changes. At

this point, LTE services can be provided over LTE terminals such as handsets.

Step 2. LTE for all services, GSM-R for backup

In this step, LTE needs to provide critical services. Huawei’s core network and BTS3900

need to be updated to support VoLTE, and the ETCS RBC needs to be updated to

support the IP interface. Meanwhile, EDOR needs to support the LTE air interface. In this

way, ETCS can be transmitted over LTE. In addition, cab radios and handsets need to

support VoLTE to coordinate with the core network for voice services.

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Step 3. LTE for Rail

In conclusion, when the decommissioning and disposal of GSM-R systems finally occurs,

all GSM-R functions/equipment/terminals will canceled, together with TDM transmission.

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Abbreviations

AMC Adaptive Modulation and Coding

ARP Allocation and Retention Priority

AS Access Stratum

BBU Baseband Unit

C/I Carrier/Interference

CoMP Coordinated Multi-Point

CPE Customer Premises Equipment

CS Circuit Switched

EDOR European Data Only Radio

EOL End Of Life

EPC Evolved Packet Core

EPS Evolved Packet System

ETCS European Train Control System

FDD Frequency-Division Duplexing

GSM-R GSM for Railway

ICIC Inter-Cell Interference Coordination

IRC Interference Rejection Combining

LCD Liquid Crystal Display

LTE Long-Term Evolution

MME Mobility Management Entity

MSTP Multi-Service Transfer Platform

NAS Non-Access Stratum

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OFDM Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing

PS Packet Switched

PTP Point-to-Point

PTT Push-To-Talk

QCI QoS Class Identifier

QoS Quality of Service

RBC Radio Block Center

RF Radio Frequency

RSRP Reference Signal Received Power

SCP Service Control Point

SDR Software-Defined Radio

SINR Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio

TDD Time-Division Duplexing

TDM Time-Division Multiplexing

UE User Equipment

VBS Voice Broadcast Service

VGCS Voice Group Call Service

VoLTE Voice over LTE

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