1

Introduction to 3G Systems
• Objective to provide fairly high-speed wireless communications to
support multimedia, data, and video in addition to voice.
• ITU’s International Mobile Telecommunications for the year 2000
(IMT-2000) initiative defined ITU’s view of third-generation
capabilities as:
• Voice quality comparable to PSTN.
• 144 kbps available to users in vehicles over large areas.
• 384 kbps available to pedestrians over small areas.
• Support for 2.048 Mbps for office use.
• Support for packet-switched and circuit-switched services.
• Adaptive interface to Internet.
• More efficient use of available spectrum.
• Support for variety of mobile equipment.
• Flexibility to allow introduction of new services and technologies.
 2

Introduction to 3G Systems (cont.)

• Proposals for IMT-2000.

• Universal Wireless Communication 136 (UWC-136)
• from US, which extends IS-136.
• CDMA2000
• based on IS-95 (US).
• Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA)
• which tries to align with UTRA (Universal Terrestrial Radio
Access).
• UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)
• from ETSI.
• Basically, three big regions submitted proposals to the ITU:
• ETSI for Europe.
• ARIB (Association of Radio Industries and Broadcasting) and TTC
(Telecommunications Technology Council) for Japan.
• ANSI (American National Standards Institute) for the US.
 3

IMT-2000 Family
Interface
for Internetworking

IMT-2000
ANSI-41
Core Network GSM IP-Network
(IS-634)
ITU-T

Initial UMTS Flexible assignment of

(R99 w/ FDD) Core Network and Radio Access

IMT-DS IMT-TC IMT-MC IMT-SC IMT-FT

(Direct Spread) (Time Code) (Multi Carrier) (Single Carrier) (Freq. Time)
IMT-2000 UTRA TDD
Radio Access UTRA FDD (TD-CDMA); cdma2000 UWC-136 DECT
ITU-R (W-CDMA) TD-SCDMA (EDGE)
3GPP 3GPP 3GPP2 UWCC/3GPP ETSI
 4

IMT-2000 Family (cont.)

• IMT-DS: direct spread technology.

• W-CDMA, specified for UTRA-FDD.
• used by all European providers and the Japanese NTT DoCoMo for 3G.
• in Japan this is promoted as FOMA (freedom of mobile multimedia
access).
• standardization of this technology takes place in 3GPP (Third generation
partnership project).
• IMT-TC: time code technology.
• UTRA-TDD system which uses time-division CDMA (TD-CDMA).
• Chinese proposal, TD-synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA) was added.
• 3GPP fosters the development of this technology.
• IMT-MC: multi-carrier technology (cdma2000).
• standardized by 3GPP2 (Third generation partnership project 2), it was
formed shortly after 3GPP to represent the second main stream in 3G
technology.
 5

IMT-2000 Family (cont.)

• IMT-SC: single carrier technology.

• The enhancement of the US TDMA systems (UWC-136).
• integrated into the 3GPP efforts.
• This technology applies EDGE, among others, to enhance the 2G IS-136
standard.
• IMT-FT: frequency time technology.
• an enhanced version of the cordless telephone standard DECT.
• ETSI is responsible for the standardization.
 6

Universal Mobile Telecommunications

System (UMTS)
• UMTS
• UTRA (Universal Terrestrial Radio Access)
• enhancements of GSM
 EDGE: GSM up to 384 kbps.
 CAMEL (Customized Application for Mobile Enhanced Logic)
 introduces intelligent network support.
 VHE (virtual Home Environment)
 enables access to personalized data independent of location,
access network, and device.
• Initial key requirements:
 min. 144 kbps rural (goal: 384 kbps), max. speed 500 km/hr.
 min. 384 kbps suburban (goal: 512 kbps), max. speed 120
km/hr.
 up to 2 Mbps urban, max. speed 10 km/hr (walking users).
 7

UMTS (cont.)

• UMTS should
• provide several bearer services, real-time and non real time
services, circuit and packet switched transmission, and many
different data rates.

• handover should be possible between UMTS cells, but also

between UMTS and GSM or satellite networks.

• it should be compatible with GSM, ATM, IP, and ISDN-based

networks.

• provide a variable division of uplink and downlink data rates.

 8

UMTS releases
• Release 99 – currently deployed
• major aspects covered here.
• money issue for other releases.
• Release 4
• contained minor adjustments with respect to release 99.
• Release 5
• inclusion of HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access).
• Release 6
• HSPDA enhancements, HSUPA, IMS (IP Multimedia
Subsystem), beam-forming, WLAN integration, and IP transport.
• Release 7
• IP centric, VoIP, High peak data rate up to 50Mbps, reduced
latency with 20ms to 40ms of Round Trip delay.
 9

UMTS Architecture – Release 99

• UTRAN (Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network)
• comprises several Radio Network Subsystems (RNS).
• functions include radio channel ciphering and deciphering, handover
control, radio resource management, etc.

• UE (User Equipment) Uu Iu

UE UTRAN CN
• CN (Core Network)
• Inter system handover.
• Gateways to other networks.
• Location management if there is no dedicated connection between UE
and UTRAN.
 10

UMTS Domains and Interfaces

• User Equipment Domain
• assigned to a single user in order to access UMTS services.

• Infrastructure Domain
• shared among all users.
• offers UMTS services to all accepted users.

Home
Network
Domain

Zu
Cu Uu Iu Yu
Mobile Access Serving Transit
USIM
Equipment Network Network Network
Domain
Domain Domain Domain Domain

Core Network Domain

User Equipment Domain Infrastructure Domain

 11

UMTS Domains and Interfaces (cont.)

• Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)

• functions for encryption, authentication and user related data.
• located on a SIM inserted into a mobile device.
• Mobile Equipment Domain
• functions for radio transmission.
• user interface for establishing/maintaining end-to-end connections.
• Access Network Domain
• access network dependent functions (contains the RANs).
• Core Network Domain
• Serving Network Domain
 network currently responsible for communication.
• Home Network Domain
 location and access network independent functions.
• Transit network domain
 may be necessary if the serving network cannot contact directly the home
network.
 12

UTRAN Architecture
RNS

UE1 Node B Iub

Iu

RNC CN
UE2
Node B -RNC: Radio Network Controller.
-RNS: Radio Network Subsystem.
UE3
-UTRAN comprises several RNSs.
Iur -Node B can support FDD or TDD or
Node B
Iub both.
-RNC is responsible for handover
Node B
RNC decisions requiring signaling to the
UE.
Node B
- Cell offers FDD or TDD.
RNS
 13

UTRAN Functions
• Admission control
• Congestion control
• System information broadcasting
• Radio channel encryption
• Handover
• SRNS moving
• Radio network configuration
• Channel quality measurements
• Macro diversity
• Radio carrier control
• Radio resource control
• Data transmission over the radio interface
• Outer loop power control (FDD and TDD)
• Channel coding
• Access control
 14

Core Network: Architecture

VLR
BSS
BTS Abis Iu

BSC MSC GMSC

PSTN
Node
BTSB
IuCS
AuC
EIR HLR

GR
Node B
Iub

Node B
RNC SGSN GGSN
Gn Gi
Node B IuPS CN
RNS
 15

Core Network (cont.)

• The Core Network (CN) and thus the Interface Iu, too, are
separated into two logical domains:
• Circuit Switched Domain (CSD)
• circuit switched service including signaling.
• resource reservation at connection setup.
• GSM components (MSC, GMSC, VLR).
• IuCS interface.

• Packet Switched Domain (PSD)

• GPRS components (SGSN, GGSN).
• IuPS interface.

• Release 99 uses the GSM/GPRS network and adds a new radio

access.
 16

Handover Types in UMTS/GSM

• Intra-node B, intra-RNC
• UE1 moves from one antenna of node B1 to another antenna. This type of
• handover is called softer handover.
• In this case, node B1 performs combining and splitting of the data streams.
 17

Handover Types in UMTS/GSM (cont.)

• Inter-node B, intra-RNC
• UE2 moves from node B1 to node B2.
• In this case, RNC1 supports the soft handover by combining and splitting
data.
 18

Handover Types in UMTS/GSM (cont.)

• Inter-RNC
• When UE3 moves from node B2 to node B3 two different types of handover
can take place.
• The internal inter-RNC handover is not visible for the CN.
• As soon as a relocation of the interface Iu takes place (relocation of the
controlling RNC), the handover is called an external inter-RNC handover.
 19

Handover Types in UMTS/GSM (cont.)

• Inter-MSC
• It could be also the case that MSC2 takes over and performs a hard handover
of the connection.
 20

Handover Types in UMTS/GSM (cont.)

• Inter-system
• UE4 moves from a 3G UMTS network into a 2G GSM net work. This hard
handover is important for real life usability of the system due to the limited
3G coverage in the beginning as coverage of 3G networks will be poor.
 21

Key features of future mobile and

wireless networks
• Improved radio technology and antennas.
• smart antennas, beam forming, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO).
• space division multiplex to increase capacity, benefit from multipath.
• software defined radios (SDR).
• use of different air interfaces, download new modulation/coding/...
• requires a lot of processing power.
• dynamic spectrum allocation.
• spectrum on demand results in higher overall capacity.

• Core network convergence.

• IP-based, quality of service, mobile IP.
• Ad-hoc technologies.
• spontaneous communication, power saving, redundancy.
• Simple and open service platform.
• intelligence at the edge, not in the network (as with IN).
• more service providers, not network operators only.
 22

References
• K. Pahlavan and P. Krishnamurthy, Principles of Wireless
Networks, Prentice Hall, 2002.

• J. Schiller, Mobile Communications, 2nd ed., Addison Wesley, 2003.

• H. Holma and A. Toskala, WCDMA for UMTS – Radio Access for

Third Generation Mobile Communications, 3rd ed., Wiley, 2004.

• D. P. Agrawal and Q. Zeng, Introduction to Wireless and Mobile

Systems, 2nd ed., Thomson, 2006.
 23

Introduction
• IEEE802.11: the first WLAN standard.
• operates in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) frequency band.
• The standard supports both infrastructure WLANs connecting
through an AP and ad hoc operation allowing peer-to-peer
communication between terminals.

IEEE802.11 Infrastructure Mode. IEEE802.11 Ad Hoc Mode.

 24

ISM Frequency Bands

• Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) spread spectrum modulation.
• 902-928 MHz.
• 2.4-2.4835 GHz.
• 5.725-5.850 GHz.
• under 1 watt transmitter output power.
• more bandwidth with higher frequencies, which support higher data
rates.
Spectrum 902–928 MHz 2.4–2.4835 GHz 5.725–5.850 GHz

Available bandwidth 26 MHz 83.5 MHz 125 MHz

Availability US/Canada Worldwide US/Canada

Cost Low Medium High

Transmission range 100% 95% 80%

Usage High Medium Low

Table. The 3 ISM bands

 25

History and Developments

• 1987: standardization activity started as a part of the IEEE802.4L
standard.
• 1990: the 802.4L WLAN group was renamed as IEEE802.11.
• an independent 802 standard.
• 1997: the first IEEE802.11 WLAN standard approved.
• specified two net bit rates of 1 and 2 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band.
• 1999: two high rate standards were formulated.
• IEEE802.11a: 6 to 54 Mbps in the 5 GHz band.
• IEEE802.11b: 5.5 and 11 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band.
• 2003: 802.11g standard was developed.
• extended range with 22 to 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band.
• 2009: 802.11n standard was approved and published.
• extended range with net bit rate up to 600 Mbps at 2.4 and 5 GHz.
 26

History and Developments (cont.)

• 802.11a: 5 GHz, 54 Mbps. Legend

• 802.11b: Enhancements to 802.11 to Ratified
support 2.4 GHz, 11 Mbps. Draft
• 802.11d: New countries. 18 Months and Beyond
• 802.11e: Enhancements: QoS, including packet bursting.
• 802.11f: Inter-Access Point Protocol (IAPP).
• 802.11g: 2.4 GHz, 54 Mbps (backwards compatible with 802.11b).
• 802.11h: 5 GHz spectrum, Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) and
Transmit Power Control (TPC) for European compatibility.
• 802.11i: Enhanced security.
• 802.11j: Extensions for Japan.
• 802.11k: Measurement improvements.
• 802.11m: Maintenance improvements.
• 802.11n: High throughput improvements.
• 802.11p: Wireless access for vehicular environment.
• 802.11r: Public WLAN fast roaming.
• 802.11s: Mesh networking.
 27

802.11 Architecture Overview

(Infrastructure Mode)
- Station (STA)
802.11 LAN • terminal with access
802.x LAN mechanisms to the wireless
medium and radio contact to the
BSS1 access point.
STA1
- Basic Service Set (BSS)
• group of stations using the same
Portal radio frequency.
AP
- Access Point (AP)
• station integrated into the
Distribution System wireless LAN and the
distribution system.
ESS - Portal
AP
• bridge to other (wired)
BSS2 networks.
- Distribution System
• interconnection network to form
one logical network (EES:
Extended Service Set) based
STA2 STA3 on several BSS.
802.11 LAN
 28

802.11 Architecture Overview

(Ad Hoc Mode)
- direct communication within a
802.11 LAN limited range.

STA1 - Station (STA)

STA3 • terminal with access
IBSS1 mechanisms to the wireless
medium.

STA2
- Independent Basic Service Set
(IBSS)
• group of stations using the
IBSS2 same radio frequency.

STA5

STA4
802.11 LAN
 29

802.11 Layer Architecture

fixed
terminal
mobile terminal

infrastructure
network

access point
application application
TCP TCP
IP IP
LLC LLC LLC
802.11 MAC 802.11 MAC 802.3 MAC 802.3 MAC
802.11 PHY 802.11 PHY 802.3 PHY 802.3 PHY
 30

Physical Layer in 802.11

• Three options:
• Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS).
• Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS).
• Diffused Infra Red (DFIR) – not widely used.

• Note: same MAC layer but all 802.11, 802.11a and 802.11b all
are incompatible at the physical layer.
 31

MAC Layer in 802.11

• The overall MAC layer is divided into
• MAC sub-layer .
• MAC management sub-layer.
• MAC sub-layer is responsible for
• packet formatting.
• access and control mechanisms.
• contention mode: for access to the channel by multiple
contending devices.
• contention-free mode: utilizes the RTS (ready–to-send) and
CTS (clear-to-send) contention schemes.
• MAC management sub-layer is responsible for
• roaming support in the extended service set (ESS), power
management and security.
 32

IEEE802.11a
• The 802.11a standard was released in October 1999.
• It operates in the 5 GHz ISM band and provides a net bit rate of 54
Mbps.
• More realistic net achievable speed is 20 Mbps approx.
• The speed is reduced to 48, 36, 34, 18, 12, 9 then 6 Mbps if required.
• It uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).
• The sub-carrier modulated using BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM or 64-QAM.
• 802.11a has 12 non-overlapping channels.
• 8 dedicated to indoor .
• 4 to point to point.
• 802.11a has not seen wide adoption because of concerns about
range.
• Max. indoor range: 15 meters.
• Max. outdoor range: 30 meters.
 33

IEEE802.11b
• The 802.11b standard was also released in October 1999.
• runs in the 2.4 GHz spectrum and uses carrier sense multiple access
with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) as its media access method.
• It has a maximum throughput of 11 Mbps.
• in practice the maximum throughput is about 5.5 Mbps.
• It uses complementary code keying (CCK) modulation scheme
based on DSSS.
• 802.11b has a range of about 50 meters with the low-gain omni-
directional antennas typically used in 802.11b devices.
• with high-gain external antennas, the protocol can also be used in
fixed point-to-point arrangements, typically at ranges up to 8
kilometers.
• although some report success at ranges up to 80-120 km where
line of sight can be established.
 34

IEEE802.11g
• The 802.11g standard was released in June 2003.
• works in the 2.4 GHz band (like 802.11b) but operates at 54 Mbps
raw, or about 24.7 Mbps net, throughput like 802.11a.
• A new feature called Super G is now integrated in certain access
points. These can boost network speeds up to 108 Mbps by using
channel bonding.
• It uses complementary code keying (CCK) modulation scheme with
OFDM.
• Optional CCK-OFDM and PBCC (Packet Binary Convolutional
Code).
• It is fully backwards compatible with b and uses the same
frequencies.
• In older equipment, however, the presence of an 802.11b
participant significantly reduces the speed of an 802.11g network.
 35

IEEE802.11n
• The 802.11n is a recent amendment which improves upon the
previous 802.11 standards by adding multiple-input multiple-output
(MIMO) and many other new features.
• IEEE approved the amendment and it was published in October
2009.
• works in the 2.4 and/or 5 GHz band.
• It has a maximum throughput of 600 Mbps.
• in practice the maximum throughput is about 50-144 Mbps.
• 802.11n is becoming very popular among the wireless LAN users
due to its salient features to exploit the multipath.
• Max. indoor range: 70 meters.
• Max. outdoor range: 250 meters.
 36

IEEE802.11 Handoff Management