- The uppermost evolution track shown in Figure is that developed in the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which is currently the dominant standards development group for mobile radio systems and is described in more detail below.
- Within the 3GPP evolution track, three multiple access technologies are evident: the ‘Second Generation’ GSM/GPRS/EDGE family1 was based on Time- and Frequency- Division Multiple Access (TDMA/FDMA);
- The ‘Third Generation’ UMTS family marked the entry of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) into the 3GPP evolution track, becoming known as Wideband CDMA (owing to its 5 MHz carrier bandwidth) or simply WCDMA; finally LTE has adopted Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM), which is the access technology dominating the latest evolutions of all mobile radio standards.
- In continuing the technology progression from the GSM and UMTS technology families within 3GPP, the LTE system can be seen as completing the trend of expansion of service provision beyond voice calls towards a multiservice air interface. This was already a key aim of UMTS and GPRS/EDGE, but LTE was designed from the start with the goal of evolving the radio access technology under the assumption that all services would be packet-switched, rather than following the circuit-switched model of earlier systems.
- Furthermore, LTE is accompanied by an evolution of the non-radio aspects of the complete system, under the term ‘System Architecture Evolution’ (SAE) which includes the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network. Together, LTE and SAE comprise the Evolved Packet System (EPS), where both the core network and the radio access are fully packet-switched.
LTE Introduction and Background
LTE (Long-Term Evolution) is a high-speed wireless communication standard developed to meet the growing demand for mobile data and voice services. It is the evolution of the earlier 3G technologies, offering enhanced speeds, lower latency, and better efficiency. LTE is part of the 4G technology family, designed to support mobile broadband services with improved user experience in terms of speed, capacity, and reliability.
- Evolution from 3G: LTE was developed to overcome the limitations of 3G networks, such as lower data speeds and higher latency. It introduced an all-IP network architecture, enabling more efficient data transmission and better use of network resources.
- Key Features: LTE offers high data rates, improved spectral efficiency, reduced latency, and support for seamless mobility. It uses advanced technologies like MIMO, OFDMA, and adaptive modulation to deliver better performance in both downlink and uplink.
- Technology Benefits: LTE provides faster data transmission speeds, which is essential for applications like video streaming, online gaming, and real-time communication. It also supports large-scale coverage and high network capacity, making it ideal for densely populated areas.
- Network Architecture: LTE uses a simplified architecture with fewer nodes compared to previous generations. It includes two main components: the E-UTRAN (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) and the EPC (Evolved Packet Core), which work together to manage data traffic efficiently.
Overall, LTE has played a pivotal role in transforming mobile networks by providing faster speeds, lower latency, and a better experience for end-users, making it a key technology for modern mobile communications.