By Nagma Tabassum Mca 5th Sem 06613304410

Unlicensed Mobile Access UMA Working Basic Requirements UMA Technology UMA Components Modes of Operation Protocols Participating Companies Advantages Disadvantages Conclusion

UMA Technology

specification was published in September 2004.

Unlicensed

Mobile Access (UMA) technology provides access to GSM and GPRS mobile services over wireless networks based on unlicensed spectrum technologies.
Subscribers

are enabled to roam and handover between cellular networks and wireless networks.
The

UMA model is suitable for general purpose and time sharing applications by multiple users.

A mobile subscriber with a UMA enabled handset moves into a permitted unlicensed wireless network. Once connected the handset contacts the UMA network controller over the broadband IP access network to be authenticated and authorized to access GSM voice and GPRS data services via the unlicensed wireless network. If approved, the subscribers current location information stored in the core network is updated, and from that point on all mobile voice and data traffic is routed to the handset via the Unlicensed Mobile Access Network (UMAN) rather than the cellular radio access network (RAN).

Handsets Network Call The

controllers

controller

security to protect the mobile operator voice network from Internet- based threats
Wireless

access points for their subscribers.

UNC ( UMA Network Controller) Security gateway Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) infrastructure Dual mode handset

Standard Wi-Fi access point

The UNC provides dual-mode handsets

For voice traffic, the UNC integrates directly in to an operator Mobile Switching Center (MSC) through the A interface. For data traffic, the UNC integrates directly in to an operator serving GPRS support node (SGSN) through the Gb interface.

The security gateway provides two important security roles in the UMA:

Secure authentication of mobile subscribers. Termination of secure tunnels from the handset.

The AAA infrastructure interacts with numerous elements in the UMA architecture.

Security gateway: The AAA infrastructure interacts directly with the security gateway to validate mobile credentials during IPSec tunnel establishment. HLR: The AAA infrastructure includes a MAP Gateway function for communication to the operator HLR using the SS7 transport protocol.

The dual-mode handset allows an end user to connect to either a public GSM radio network or a private Wi-Fi or Blue-tooth radio network and maintain the same service capabilities. A standard Wi-Fi access point (or hotspot) is used to provide Wi-Fi access to a dual-mode handset.

UMA technology provides alternative access to GSM and GPRS core network services via IP-based broadband connections. Typical UMA handset will have four modes of operation:

GERAN-only: uses only cellular networks. GERAN-preferred: uses cellular networks if available, otherwise the 802.11 radio. GAN-preferred: uses a 802.11 connection if an access point is in range, otherwise the cellular network. GAN-only: uses only the 802.11 connection.

In the UMA system, only two protocols have been standardized :

UMA Radio Resource protocol (Generic Access Resource Control and Generic Access Circuit Switched Resources) UMA Radio Link Control protocol (Generic Access Packet Switched Resources

Alcatel

British

Telecom Cingular Ericsson Kineto Wireless Motorola Nokia Nortel Networks O2 Research in Motion Rogers Wireless Siemens

For Consumers

Single number for home and mobile calls Calls through wireless LAN's, can deploy your own home coverage

Greatly reduced roaming charges

One provider for home internet and cell phone coverage

Deploying Wi-Fi hotspots is cheaper than deploying WAN's Reduces load on cellular networks, shifting some burden to internet infrastructure Able to shift calls onto the cheaper internet infrastructure

UMA-compatible handsets are more expensive and less common UMA-enabled phones require two active transceivers to handle seamless call-switching Despite all this, it's still not as cheap as straightforward VOIP protocols

UMA is nice technology to have however, it might take time and a lot of effort before it becomes popular. There are not a lot of companies investing into this technology.

UMA Specifications UMA Technology - Extending Mobile Services to Unlicensed Spectrum. http://www.umatechnology.org/specifications/index.htm Philips Electronics Announces Complete Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) Semiconductor Reference Design Mitsui & Co. Venture Partners. http://www.mitsuivp.com/cgibin/WebObjects/f1f2557f0f.woa/wa/read/102e f056b5c/ Alex Goldman Wi-Fi /Cellular Convergence: Evaluating UMA Wi-Fi Planet http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/news/article.php/3463271 Glenn Fleishman Unlicensed Mobile Access on Verge of Deploying WNN Wi-Fi Net News http://wifinetnews.com/archives/004825.html