Introduction
The recent increase of mobile data usage and emergence of new applications such as MMOG (Mul-
timedia Online Gaming), mobile TV, Web 2.0, streaming contents have motivated the 3rd Generation
Partnership Project (3GPP) to work on the Long-Term Evolution (LTE). LTE is the latest standard in
the mobile network technology tree that previously realized the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSxPA net-
work technologies that now account for over 85% of all mobile subscribers. LTE will ensure 3GPP’s
competitive edge over other cellular technologies.
LTE, whose radio access is called Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), is
expected to substantially improve end-user throughputs, sector capacity and reduce user plane
latency, bringing significantly improved user experience with full mobility. With the emergence of
Internet Protocol (IP) as the protocol of choice for carrying all types of traffic, LTE is scheduled to
provide support for IP-based traffic with end-to-end Quality of service (QoS). Voice traffic will be
supported mainly as Voice over IP (VoIP) enabling better integration with other multimedia services.
Initial deployments of LTE are expected by 2010 and commercial availability on a larger scale 1-2
years later.
Unlike HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), which was accommodated within the Release 99 UMTS
architecture, 3GPP is specifying a new Packet Core, the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network archi-
tecture to support the E-UTRAN through a reduction in the number of network elements, simpler
functionality, improved redundancy but most importantly allowing for connections and hand-over to
other fixed line and wireless access technologies, giving the service providers the ability to deliver
a seamless mobility experience
LTE has been set aggressive performance requirements that rely on physical layer technologies,
such as, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output
(MIMO) systems, Smart Antennas to achieve these targets. The main objectives of LTE are to mini-
mize the system and User Equipment (UE) complexities, allow flexible spectrum deployment in
existing or new frequency spectrum and to enable co-existence with other 3GPP Radio Access
Technologies (RATs).
LTE is backed by most 3GPP and 3GPP2 service providers who along with the other interested par-
ties aim to complete and agree the EUTRAN Standards by Q4-2007 and the EPC by Q1-2008.
2 TECHNICAL WHITE PAPER: Long Term Evolution (LTE): A Technical Overview
