P027 Applied Planning For LTE

Applied Planning for LTE
P027
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Contents
1 Introduction 7
1.1 Evolution................................................................................................... 8
1.2 Objectives of LTE ..................................................................................... 9
1.3 Bit Rates................................................................................................. 12
1.4 Background ............................................................................................ 14
1.5 PHICH Duration...................................................................................... 18
1.6 PHICH Group ......................................................................................... 21
1.7 Frequency Bands ................................................................................... 25
1.8 Performance and Cell Range.................................................................. 27
1.9 Coverage................................................................................................ 30
1.10 Propagation Mechanisms ...................................................................... 33
1.11 Link Budgets ......................................................................................... 38
1.12 Macrocells ............................................................................................. 41
1.13 Microcells .............................................................................................. 45
1.14 BTS Positioning..................................................................................... 47
1.15 Repeaters.............................................................................................. 49
1.16 Picocells ................................................................................................ 50
1.17 Femto.................................................................................................... 51
1.18 Heterogeneous Network........................................................................ 52
1.19 Feeder Loss .......................................................................................... 53
1.20 Questions.............................................................................................. 59
2 Cell Selection and Frequency Priorities 63

2.1 UE States ............................................................................................... 64
2.2 Evolved Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Numbers (EARFCN)........ 65
2.3 Exercises................................................................................................ 72
2.4 Frequency Bands and Frequency Planning ............................................ 75
2.5 Initial Access Procedure ......................................................................... 77
2.6 Cell Selection.......................................................................................... 80
2.7 Closed Subscriber Group Selection ........................................................ 83
2.8 Cell Reselection on Same Frequency..................................................... 92
2.9 Cell-reselection parameters for Neighbouring INTRA-Frequency.......... 106
2.10 Cell-reselection to a Different LTE Frequency ..................................... 112
2.11 Higher Priority ..................................................................................... 115
2.12 Lower Priority ...................................................................................... 123
2.13 Questions............................................................................................ 127
2.14 WCDMA to LTE Cell Reselection ........................................................ 129
2.15 Questions............................................................................................ 151
2.16 LTE to WCDMA Cell Reselection ........................................................ 153
P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 3

Contents
3 Paging 161
3.1 Bearers................................................................................................. 162
3.2 EPS Mobility Management.................................................................... 166
3.3 EPS Connection Management (ECM)................................................... 170
3.4 Tracking Area Update (TAU) ................................................................ 174
3.5 Paging Procedure................................................................................. 188
3.6 PDCCH................................................................................................. 198
3.7 Discontinuous Reception ...................................................................... 204
3.8 Questions ............................................................................................. 210
4 Random Access 213
Page 4 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

Contents
Applied Planning for LTE
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Introduction
PO27 Applied Planning for LTE
Section 1: Introduction
Section 2: Cell Selection & Frequency Priorities
Section 3: Paging
Section 4: Random Access

Introduction
1 Introduction
Section 1: Introduction

Introduction
1.1 Evolution
Evolution
Up to 56 Mbit/s on the
downlink and 22 Mbit/s on 3G – REL 7-
Long Term Evolution (LTE) HSPA+
the uplink
REL 8-
HSUPA-UP Link(5.76 Mbps) 3G – REL 6-

300Mbps Downlink
HSUPA
75Mbps Uplink
HSDPA – 14.4 Mbps 3G – REL 5-

HSDPA
3G – Max 2 Mb/s Typical 3G –

384 kb/s REL 99
Edge -About 48 kb/s per timeslot EDGE-48kb/s
GPRS-21.4 Kb/s per Timeslot GPRS-21kb/s
GSM –HSCSD HSCSD-Uses multiple GSM channel coding

14.4kbit/s schemes to give 4.8 kb/s, 9.6 kb/s or 14.4 kb/s per
timeslot
GSM – CSD
9.6Kbps
Currently, UMTS networks worldwide are being upgraded to High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) to
increase data rate and capacity for packet data. HSPA refers to the combination of High Speed
Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).
While HSDPA was introduced as a 3GPP release 5 feature, HSUPA is an important feature of 3GPP
release 6. However, even with the introduction of HSPA, evolution of UMTS has not reached its
end. HSPA+ will bring significant enhancements in 3GPP release 7 and 8. Objective is to enhance
performance of HSPA based radio networks in terms of spectrum efficiency, peak data rate and
latency, and exploit the full potential of WCDMA based 5 MHz operation. Important features of
HSPA+ are downlink MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), Higher order modulation for uplink
and downlink, improvements of layer 2 protocols, and continuous packet connectivity.
LTE has ambitious requirements for data rate, capacity, spectrum efficiency, and latency. In order
to fulfil these requirements, LTE is based on new technical principles. LTE uses new multiple
access schemes on the air interface: OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) in
downlink and SC-FDMA (Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access) in uplink.
Furthermore, MIMO antenna schemes form an essential part of LTE. To simplify protocol
architecture, LTE brings some major changes to the existing UMTS protocol concepts. Impact on
the overall network architecture including the core network is referred to as 3GPP System
Architecture Evolution (SAE).

Introduction
1.2 Objectives of LTE
Objectives of LTE
 3GPP Technical Report 25.913 defines the key objectives of LTE as:
 Support for a flexible transmission bandwidth up to 20 MHz

 Peak downlink data rate of 100 Mbps when using 2 receive antenna at the
UE
 Peak uplink data rate of 50 Mbps when using 1 transmit antenna at the UE
 Round trip time of less than 10 ms
 Downlink spectrum efficiency improved 3 to 4 times relative to release 6
HSDPA
 Uplink spectrum efficiency improved 2 to 3 times relative to release 6
HSUPA
LTE is part of the GSM evolutionary path for mobile broadband, following EDGE, UMTS, HSPA
(HSDPA and HSUPA combined) and HSPA Evolution (HSPA+). Although HSPA and its evolution are
strongly positioned to be the dominant mobile data technology for the next decade, the 3GPP
family of standards must evolve toward the future. HSPA+ will provide the stepping-stone to LTE
for many operators.
The overall objective for LTE is to provide an extremely high performance radio-access technology
that offers full vehicular speed mobility and that can readily coexist with HSPA and earlier
networks. Because of scalable bandwidth, operators will be able to easily migrate their networks
and users from HSPA to LTE over time.

Introduction
3GPP Releases
 3GPP Release 8 • 3GPP Release 10
 Introduction of LTE – Carrier Aggregation
 Repeaters – 8x8 MIMO in the Downlink
 Home eNodeB – 4x4 MIMO in the Uplink
 Inter Cell Interference Coordination – Relays
(ICIC) – Enhanced ICIC
 SON – Self Establishment of eNodeB – Minimisation of Drive Tests (MDT)
 SON – Automatic Neighbour – Enhanced Home eNode B Mobility
Relations – MBMS Enhancements
– SON Enhancements
 3GPP Release 9
 Local Area BTS • 3GPP Release 11
 Enhanced Dual Layer Transmission – Carrier Aggregation Enhancements
 Enhanced Home eNodeB – Network based Positioning
 Positioning Support – MBMS Service Continuity
 MBMS – ICIC Enhancements
 SON – Mobility Load Balancing – CoMP
 SON – Mobility Robustness – Enhanced Downlink Control Channels
Optimisation
 SON – RACH Optimisation
 SON – Energy Saving
3GPP Release 8 – Freeze Date 2008

Release 8 introduced LTE for the first time, with a completely new radio interface and core network,
enabling substantially improved data performance compared with previous systems. Highlights included:
• up to 300Mbit/s downlink and 75Mbit/s uplink, latency down to 10ms
• implementation in bandwidths of 1.4, 3 ,5 , 10, 15 or 20MHz
• multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antennas (up to 4x4)

• Introduction of LTE femtocells in the form of the Home eNodeB (HeNB)
• self organising network (SON) features, such as optimisation of the random access channel
• evolved multimedia broadcast and multicast service (eMBMS) for the efficient delivery of the same
multimedia content to multiple destinations

Release 10 provided a substantial uplift to the capacity and throughput of the LTE system, including:
• up to 3Gbit/s downlink and 1.5Gbit/s uplink
• carrier aggregation (CA), allowing the combination of up to five separate carriers to enable bandwidths
up to 100MHz
• higher order MIMO antenna configurations up to 8×8 downlink and 4×4 uplink
• relay nodes

Release 11 will build on the platform of Release 10 with a number of refinements, including:
• enhancements to Carrier Aggregation, MIMO, relay nodes and eICIC
• introduction of new frequency bands
• coordinated multipoint transmission and reception to enable simultaneous communication with
multiple cells
• advanced receivers.

Introduction
LTE Bit Rates-Release 8
• 3GPP specifies a set of
Channel Bandwidths
Channel Bandwidth (MHz)
• Each Channel Bandwidth
Transmission Bandwidth Configuration (RB)
has a maximum number
of Resource Blocks Transmission Bandwidth (RB)
• Number of Resource
Blocks defines the number
of Subcarriers
Resource Block in the

Frequency Domain
Channel Bandwidth (MHz) 1.4 3 5 10 15 20
Transmission Bandwidth Config. (RB) 6 15 25 50 75 100
Number of Subcarriers 72 180 300 600 900 1200
Occupied Bandwidth (MHz) 1.08 2.7 4.5 9.0 13.5 18.0

Introduction
1.3 Bit Rates
LTE Bit Rates
Resource Block (RB)

12 subcarriers
• Basic unit of resource

(180 kHz)
• 12 subcarriers wide in the frequency domain

• 7 symbols long in the time domain
• Thus, 84 symbols per resource block
• Bit Rate per Resource Block depends upon

modulation scheme
7 symbols
(0.5 ms)
Bit Rates per Symbol rate = 168 ksps

Resource Block • QPSK => 2 bits per symbol => 336 kbps
• 16QAM => 4 bits per symbol => 672 kbps
TTI is 1 ms, i.e. • 64QAM => 6 bits per symbol => 1.008 Mbps
duration of 2
resource blocks
8
A physical Resource Block (RB) defines the smallest unit used by the scheduling algorithm.
Therefore, the minimal scheduled user transmission on the shared channels is one RB. A RB
consists of 12 adjacent REs on the frequency axis. Consequently, it has a bandwidth of 180 kHz,
since one RE is 15 kHz wide in normal and extended CP mode (additionally a mode with 7.5 kHz is
defined for extended CP).
From a time perspective, a RB spans one scheduling period which is defined as one sub-frame.
One sub-frame has a duration of 1 ms. A sub-frame is divided into two slots of 0.5 ms. Within a
sub-frame 14 OFDM symbols are transmitted in the case of normal CP length and 12 OFDM
symbols in the case of extended CP length, hence a RB covers an area of, respectively, 12×14 and
12×12 REs.

Introduction
LTE Bit Rates - Downlink
• Bit Rates per Resource Block  Number of Resource Blocks
Figures in Mbps Channel Bandwidth

1.4 MHz 3 MHz 5 MHz 10 MHz 15 MHz 20 MHz
QPSK 2.016 5.040 8.400 16.800 25.200 33.600
16QAM 4.032 10.080 16.800 33.600 50.400 67.200
64QAM 6.048 15.120 25.200 50.400 75.600 100.800
64QAM (2+2 MIMO) 12.096 30.240 50.400 100.800 151.200 201.600
64QAM (4+4 MIMO) 24.192 60.480 100.800 201.600 302.400 403.200
• These bit rates are applicable to the bottom of the Physical Layer, i.e.
coding rate has not been taken into account
• Also requirement to account for the overheads generated by Reference and
Synchronisation Signals + other Physical Channels

Introduction
1.4 Background
Background (MIB)
(SIB)
Logical BCCH PCCH CCCH DCCH DTCH MCCH MTCH
 Only the MIB is transmitted on the

BCCH/BCH/PBCH
 MIB always has to be read first, followed Transport BCH
by SIB1 and then remaining SIB
PCH DL-SCH MCH
UE reads Channel Bandwidth PHYS.
the MIB PBCH

PDSCH PMCH REFERENCE
PDCCH SIGNALS
UE reads Scheduling Information

the SIB 1 Value Tag
SIB2, SIB3, SIB4, SIB5,

UE reads
the SIB
SIB10, SIB11, SIB12, SIB13
SIB1 also includes a value tag which

indicates whether or not the content of the
SIB has changed
10
System Information
System information is structured by means of System Information Blocks (SIBs), each of which
contains a set of functionally-related parameters. The SIB types that have been defined include:
 Master Information Block (MIB), which includes a limited number of the most frequently
transmitted parameters which are essential for a UE’s initial access to the network. The PBCH
carries the Master Information Block (MIB), which is transmitted logically in an interval of 40 ms.
The MASTER INFORMATION BLOCK (MIB) includes a limited number of most essential and most
frequently transmitted parameters that are needed to acquire other information from the cell.
The MIB is transmitted on BCH while all other SYSTEM INFORMATION messages are transmitted
on DL-SCH.
 System Information Block Type 1 (SIB1), which contains parameters needed to determine if a
cell is suitable for cell selection, as well as information about the time domain scheduling of the
other SIBs.
 System Information Block Type 2 (SIB2), which includes common and shared channel
information.
 SIB3–SIB8, which include parameters used to control intra-frequency, inter-frequency and inter-
RAT cell reselection.

Introduction
Master Information Block (MIB)
Information being transmitted is mainly the system bandwidth in RBs. An
example of a PBCH for
5MHz bandwidth with 25 RBs
11

Introduction
Physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel
For uplink transmission and reception, the base station sends

acknowledgements to the mobiles in the form of hybrid ARQ indicators and
transmits them on the physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel
Time
This feedback
information (1 bit) is Antenna Port 0
repeated three
times
Frequency
Antenna Port 1
12
PHICH stands for ‘Physical channel HybridARQ Indicator Channel’.
In simple terms, it is a specially designed downlink only channel which carries ACK or NACK for
the PUSCH received by the network.
In the case of Uplink, PUCCH was just used for carrying ACK/NACK for each PDSCH it received.
The PHICH carries HARQ feedback information in the DL to the UEs. In other words, the ACK or
NACK of a previous UL transmission is signaled to the sending UE via the PHICH. This feedback
information (1 bit) is repeated three times.

Introduction
Physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel
The base station transmits each hybrid ARQ indicator in the downlink control
region, using a set of three resource element groups (12 resource elements)
that is known as a PHICH group. Time
Frequency
4
12 resource
elements
PHICH group 4
4
13

Introduction
1.5 PHICH Duration
Normal PHICH duration
UE is assigned a PHICH group Multiple PHICH Multiple PHICH

Each PHICH in a PHICH group
is mapped to each UE
Multiple PHICH can be mapped to a same set of resource elements and

this group of PHICH being carried by the same set of resource element is
called PHICH Group.
14

Introduction
UE is assigned a PHICH group Maximum 8 Multiple PHICH

Multiple PHICH
Each PHICH in a PHICH group
is mapped to each UE
How many PHICHs can be carried by one PHICH group? Maximum 8

PHICHs can be multiplexed into a PHICH group when we use normal CP.
Maximum 4 PHICHs can be multiplexed into a PHICH group when we use

the extended CP.
15

Introduction
Resource element mapping for
the PHICH, using a normal
PHICH duration, a normal
cyclic prefix, a 1.4MHz
bandwidth, the first antenna
port of two, a physical cell ID of
1 and two PHICH groups .
16

Introduction
1.6 PHICH Group
PHICH group
How many PHICH groups can be supported by a system bandwidth ? This can
be determined by the system bandwidth (N_RB) and a special parameter
called Ng. These N_RB and Ng value is carried by MIB.
Each PHICH in a PHICH group is mapped to each UE PHICH groups

RB 1/6 1/2 1 2
6 (1.4 Mhz) 1 1 1 2
15 (3 Mhz) 1 1 2 4
25 (5Mhz) 1 2 4 7
50 (10 Mhz) 2 4 7 13
75 (15 Mhz) 2 5 10 19
100 (20 Mhz) 3 7 13 25
17
Number of PHICH groups (for Normal CP) = Ceiling [Ng*(num-dl-RB/8)]
where Ng = {1/6, 1/2,1,2} as defined by higher layers

num-dl-RB = Number of Resource Blocks in DL
Therefore for 20 MHz (num-DL-RB = 100) if Ng = 2 then

number of PHICH groups = ceiling (2*(100/8)) = 25

Introduction
PHICH group
Number of users in each PHICH group = 8

Therefore the number of UEs that can be
supported on PHICH on 20 MHz and Normal CP
= 25*8 = 200
PHICH groups
RB 1/6 1/2 1 2
6 (1.4 Mhz) 1 1 1 2
15 (3 Mhz) 1 1 2 4
25 (5Mhz) 1 2 4 7
50 (10 Mhz) 2 4 7 13
75 (15 Mhz) 2 5 10 19
100 (20 Mhz) 3 7 13 25
18

Introduction
Operating Bands
Applicable to the UK
Spectrum auction
Existing 2G/3G
spectrum used for
3G
1800 spectrum
targetted for LTE by
EverythingEverywhere
19

Introduction
Overview
• The operator is interested in the network efficiency:
 How many customers can be served

 How much data can be provided and how many base
station sites are required.
• The end user application performance depends on:
 Peak Bit Rates

 Latency and
 Seamless mobility
20
Wireless operators are experiencing tremendous growth in demand for mobile data services. This
increased demand stems from the success of HSPA mobile broadband technology, which provides
high data rates and improved user experience for all data services. HSPA+ (3GPP Releases 7 and 8)
will further improve the performance of existing networks, and help meet the mobile-data
demand in the future.
3GPP is defining Long-Term Evolution (LTE), which allows UMTS operators to use new and wider
spectrum (up to 20 MHz), and builds on HSPA’s success—complementing HSPA networks with
higher data rates, lower latency and higher capacity, to provide an enhanced broadband
experience in high-data-demand and densely populated urban areas.
LTE incorporates many key features that enable operators to provide an enhanced broadband
experience:
• OFDMA on the DL and SC-FDMA on the UL

• Advanced antenna techniques
• Enhanced Interference Control
• Single Frequency Network multicast services
• All-IP packet-optimized network architecture

Introduction
1.7 Frequency Bands
Frequency Bands : Typical deployment areas

E-UTRA Bandwidth E-ARFCN Bandwidth E-ARFCN Duplex
Band UL (MHz) UL DL (MHz) DL Mode
Europe:
1 1920-1980 13000 – 13599 2110-2170 0 – 599 FDD
13600 – 14199 600 - 1199 FDD
– Band 7: The 2.6 GHz auctions 2 1850-1910 1930-1990
3 1710-1785 14200 – 14949 1805-1880 1200 – 1949 FDD
have been running in a few 4 1710-1755 14950 – 15399 2110-2155 1950 – 2399 FDD
countries during 2007 and 2008, 5 824-849 15400 – 15649 869-894 2400 – 2649 FDD
15650 – 15749 2650 – 2749 FDD
and continue during 2009/2010. 6 830-840 875-885
7 2500-2570 15750 – 16449 2620-2690 2750 – 3449 FDD
(UK -2013) 16450 – 16799 3450 – 3799 FDD
8 880-915 925-960
9 1749.9-1784.9 16800 – 17149 1844.9-1879.9 3800 – 4149 FDD
10 1710-1770 17150 – 17749 2110-2170 4150 – 4749 FDD
11 1427.9-1452.9 17750 – 17999 1475.9-1500.9 4750 – 4999 FDD

– Band 8:is currently used mostly
12 698-716 18000 – 18179 728-746 5000 – 5179 FDD
by GSM. The band is attractive 13 77-787 18180 – 18279 746-756 5180 – 5279 FDD
from a coverage point of view due 14 788-798 18280 – 18379 758-768 5280 – 5379 FDD
… … … … …
to the lower propagation losses. ...
33 1900-1920 26000 – 26199 1900-1920 26000 – 26199 TDD
The band can be reused for LTE or 34 2010-2025 26200 – 26349 2010-2025 26200 – 26349 TDD
for HSPA.. 35 1850-1910 26350 – 26949 1850-1910 26350 – 26949 TDD
36 1930-1990 26950 – 27549 1930-1990 26950 – 27549 TDD
37 1910-1930 27550 – 27749 1910-1930 27550 – 27749 TDD
38 2570-2620 27750 – 28249 2570-2620 27750 – 28249 TDD

39 1880-1920 28250 – 28649 1880-1920 28250 – 28649 TDD
40 2300-2400 28650 – 29649 2300-2400 28650 – 29649 TDD
21

Introduction
Frequency Bands : Typical deployment areas
E-UTRA Bandwidth E-ARFCN Bandwidth E-ARFCN Duplex
Band UL (MHz) UL DL (MHz) DL Mode
1 1920-1980 13000 – 13599 2110-2170 0 – 599 FDD
2 1850-1910 13600 – 14199 1930-1990 600 - 1199 FDD

Band 3: is also used by GSM, but in 14200 – 14949 1200 – 1949 FDD
3 1710-1785 1805-1880
many cases Band 3 is not as 4 1710-1755 14950 – 15399 2110-2155 1950 – 2399 FDD
heavily used by GSM as Band 8. 5 824-849 15400 – 15649 869-894 2400 – 2649 FDD
15650 – 15749 2650 – 2749 FDD
That makes refarming for LTE 6 830-840 875-885
7 2500-2570 15750 – 16449 2620-2690 2750 – 3449 FDD
simpler. 8 880-915 16450 – 16799 925-960 3450 – 3799 FDD
9 1749.9-1784.9 16800 – 17149 1844.9-1879.9 3800 – 4149 FDD

1710-1770 17150 – 17749 2110-2170 4150 – 4749 FDD
Digital dividend: 10
11 1427.9-1452.9 17750 – 17999 1475.9-1500.9 4750 – 4999 FDD
USA: Bands 4, 12, 13, 14 and 17. 698-716 18000 – 18179 728-746 5000 – 5179 FDD
12
Bands 2 and 5 can be used for LTE 13 777-787 18180 – 18279 746-756 5180 – 5279 FDD
re-farming. 14 788-798 18280 – 18379 758-768 5280 – 5379 FDD
... … … … … …
Japan : Bands 1, 9, 11 and 18. 1900-1920 26000 – 26199 1900-1920 26000 – 26199 TDD
33
34 2010-2025 26200 – 26349 2010-2025 26200 – 26349 TDD
LTE deployments globally will use 35 1850-1910 26350 – 26949 1850-1910 26350 – 26949 TDD
1930-1990 26950 – 27549 1930-1990 26950 – 27549 TDD
several different frequency bands 36
37 1910-1930 27550 – 27749 1910-1930 27550 – 27749 TDD
from the 38 2570-2620 27750 – 28249 2570-2620 27750 – 28249 TDD
start. 39 1880-1920 28250 – 28649 1880-1920 28250 – 28649 TDD
40 2300-2400 28650 – 29649 2300-2400 28650 – 29649 TDD
22
LTE Refarming to GSM Spectrum
 LTE could be deployed in the existing GSM spectrum like 900 MHz or 1800 MHz.
 The flexible LTE bandwidth makes refarming easier than with WCDMA because
LTE can start with 1.4 MHz or 3.0 MHz bandwidths and then grow later when the
GSM traffic has decreased.

Introduction
1.8 Performance and Cell Range
LTE Objective and Performance Requirements
Peak Data Rates (20MHz Spectrum 4X4), DL: 300

Mbps, UL: 75 Mbps
• Reduced Latency with quick response time, <100 ms

Control plane , <5ms User plane
• Coverage (Cell sizes), 5 - 100km???
23

Introduction
Cell Range Limitation
The earth’s curvature limits the maximum cell range to approximately 40 km with
an 80 m high base station antenna assuming that the terminal is at ground level.
The maximum cell range can be calculated with the Equation below.
To achieve 100 km cell range, the required antenna height is 580 m
earth radius=R = 8650 km
24

Introduction
Cell Range
 Cell range gets shorter at higher frequency and with TDD
 Cell range for LTE varies in DL from 3.6 km ( LTE900 FDD) to 1.6 km ( LTE
2500 FDD)
Suburban indoor Downlink: 1 Mbps
Uplink: 64 kbps
Uplink
WiMAX 3400 TDD
Downlink
WiMAX 2500 TDD Assumptions:

• Suburban area
• 50 m BTS antenna
LTE2500 FDD • 15 dB indoor loss
• 95% location probability
• Correction factor -5 dB
LTE2100 • 1.5 m terminal antenna height
LTE900
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 3.50 4.00

km
25

Introduction
1.9 Coverage
What Affects Coverage?
A propagation model describes the

average signal propagation, and it,
converts the maximum allowed
propagation loss to the maximum cell
range.
It depends on:
• Path loss
• Height of base station Antenna
• Environment : urban, rural, dense urban,
suburban, open, forest, sea…
• Height of mobile station Antenna
• Frequency
• Atmospheric conditions
• Indoor/outdoor
26
The coverage can be boosted by using a lower frequency since a low frequency propagates
better than a higher frequency.
The benefit of the lower frequency depends on the environment and on its use.

Introduction
Part of the benefit of the lower frequency

is lost since the antenna gains tend to
get smaller at a lower frequency band.
To maintain the antenna gain at lower

frequency would require a physically
larger antenna which is not always
feasible at base station sites and in
small terminals.
27
Part of the benefit of the lower frequency is lost since the antenna gains tend to get smaller at a
lower frequency band. To maintain the antenna gain at lower frequency would require a
physically larger antenna which is not always feasible at base station sites and in small terminals.
The greatest benefit from low frequencies can be obtained when the base station site can use
large antennas 2.5 m high, and where the external antenna can be used in the terminal. This is
fixed wireless deployment.

Introduction
28

Introduction
1.10 Propagation Mechanisms
Propagation Mechanisms
 Free-space propagation D
 Signal strength decreases exponentially with
distance
 Reflection
 Specular reflection
specular reflection
 Diffuse reflection
diffuse reflection
29

Introduction
Free space path loss formula at 1800Mhz:
 free space path loss formula:
 Lo = 32.5 + 20 log(d) + 20 log(fMhz) dBm
What is the free space What is the free space What is the free space
path loss at: path loss at: path loss at:
1800Mhz at 1Km 1800Mhz at 10Km 1800Mhz at 100Km
20 log (1) + 20 log (10) + 20log1800 20 log (100) +

20logx1800 20log10x1800
=20 +65
=0 +65 =40 +65
=32.5+85dB
=32.5 + 65 dB =32.5+105dB
=117.5
=97.5 =137
20dB different
30

Introduction
Free space path loss formula
20 log (1) + 20 log (10) + 20log1800 20 log (100) +

20logx1800 =20 +65 20log10x1800
=0 +65 =32.5+85dB =40 +65
=32.5 + 65 dB =117.5 =32.5+105dB
=97.5 =137
Power
20dB
20dB
1800Mhz
1km 10km 100km

Distance
31

Introduction
Free space path loss formula at 900Mhz
 Free space path loss formula:
 Lo = 32.5 + 20 log10(d) + 20 log10(fMhz) dBm
20 log (1) + 20log x 20 log (10) + 20log x 20 log (100) +

900 900 20log10x900
=0 + 59 =20 +59 =40 +59
=32.5 + 59dB =32.5+79dB =32.5+99dB
=91.5dB =111.5dB =131.5
20dB different
32

Introduction
20 log (1) + 20 log (10) + 20log1800 20 log (100) +

20logx1800 20log10x1800
=20 +65
=0 +65 =40 +65
=32.5 + 85dB
=32.5 + 65 dB =32.5 + 105dB
=117.5dB
=97.5 =137dB
20 log (1) + 20log x 20 log (10) + 20log x 20 log (100) +

900 900 20log10x900
=0 + 59 =20 +59 =40 +59
=32.5 + 59dB =32.5 + 79dB =32.5 + 99dB
=91.5dB =111.5dB =131.5dB
33

Introduction
1.11 Link Budgets
Parameters Unit Significance Parameters Unit Significance

Lu dB Path loss in Urban Areas f MHz Frequency of Transmission
hB m Height of base station Antenna CH dB Antenna height correction factor
hM m Height of mobile station Antenna d km Distance between Base station and MS
Lu (dB) = Path loss
34
The link budget calculations estimate the maximum allowed signal attenuation (the path loss)
between the mobile and the base station antenna.
The maximum path loss allows the maximum cell range to be estimated with a suitable
propagation model, such as Okumura–Hata. The cell range gives the number of base station sites
required to cover the target geographical area.

Introduction
Link Budgets Comparison - Uplink
Both HSPA and LTE

systems have 5 MHz system
bandwidth, 2Tx × 2Rx MIMO
antenna system, and equal
antenna and RF
characteristics for fair
comparison.
MIMO only in Downlink at

the moment.
35

Introduction
Link Budgets Comparison – Downlink
While HSPA+ and LTE have

similar performance in terms of
coverage, the same is not true
for system-level capacity under
network interference, where LTE
has advantage over HSPA+
due to more advanced radio
features, such as:
•multiuser-MIMO, 4X4
• frequency-domain scheduling
•inter-cell interference
coordination.
36

Introduction
1.12 Macrocells
Macro
The largest cell types that cover areas in kilometres. These eNBs can serve
thousands of users simultaneously
• Known as ‘wide area’ BTS within 3GPP specifications

• Does not have an upper limit for its transmit power capability - their transmitting
power levels are very high (5–40 W)
• Above roof-top antenna deployment high installation costs (cabinet, feeders, large
antennas, 30–50 m towers
• Relatively large cell areas
37
SAE:
System Architecture Evolution (old naming)
SAEGW:
Serving Gateway +PDN Gateway

Introduction
Power Setting -Without MIMO
Antenna 1
12 sub-carriers
Without MIMO
R0 R0
R0 R0
1 ms
R0 R0
R0 R0
38

Introduction
Power setting - 2+2 MIMO
Antenna 1 Antenna 2
2+2 MIMO
39

Introduction
Power setting - 4+4MIMO
Antenna 1 Antenna 2 Antenna 3 Antenna 4

4+4 MIMO
40

Introduction
1.13 Microcells
Micro
• Does not have its own classification within the 3GPP specifications
• Can be deployed using a ‘wide area’ BTS with reduced transmit power
• Below roof-top antenna deployment
• Relatively small cell areas
• Improve coverage in dense urban areas
41

Introduction
Microcell Positioning
 Important considerations when placing microcells:

 location in street - effect of reflections in nearby streets
 distance above street and below roof top
 type of antenna - omni, sectored
 antenna parameters - gain, beamwidth, polarisation
 orientation and tilt of antenna
 Examples:
 directional antennas for long road
 directional antenna down tilted for in-building coverage
 omni-directional antenna for open spaces and cross-roads
42

Introduction
1.14 BTS Positioning
BTS Positioning - Urban Sites

 High traffic capacity - smaller cells
 Propagation strongly affected by

clutter detail - height and type of
buildings
 Cell hierarchy:
 Macrocells (umbrella cells) above roof

height to cover wide areas
900 MHz
overlay
 Microcells below roof height - localised macrocell
cover for traffic hot spots
1800 MHz
microcell
underlay
43

Introduction
BTS Positioning - Water Surface Effects
 Water surfaces act almost as plane

Earth reflectors with very low path
loss
 This can result in interference
between widely spaced cells across
bays or river estuaries
 may require directional or down
tilted antennas to reduce
interference
 The extra coverage may be useful

to serve ferry routes and shipping Coverage from similar sites -
lanes extended coverage across sea
 Similar problems may occur over
very flat land
44

Introduction
1.15 Repeaters
Adding a Repeater
ASSET screens showing the effect of adding a repeater:
Coverage restricted
to a valley BTS site
Coverage needed at Repeater added

this end of valley here
Extended coverage A repeater is suitable here as the

produced by repeater traffic loading on the cell is low in
this rural area.
45

Introduction
1.16 Picocells
Picocells
• Used to provide enhanced coverage in an office like environment.
• They can serve tens of users and provide higher data rates for the
covered area.
• The 3G networks use picocells to provide the anticipated high data rates.
• They have a much smaller form factor than microcells and are even
cheaper.
• Their power levels are in the range of 20 to 30 dBm.
46

Introduction
1.17 Femto
Femto
• Known as ‘Home’ BTS within 3GPP specifications
• Upper limit for its transmit power capability depends upon the number of antenna
ports used for downlink transmission
Antenna Ports Maximum Power Evolved Packet Core

PDN
1 20 dBm Gateway Home eNode B
Gateway
2 17 dBm Serving
Gateway MME
4 14 dBm
8 11 dBm Radio Access Network -
E-UTRAN
Internet
• Uses a different network architecture

– connects to the EPC using a Femto Gateway
– connection to Femto Gateway can use a
home broadband connection
Home eNode B
• Support for Closed Subscriber Groups (CSG) (Femto)
• Hybrid mode of operation also defined
47

Introduction
1.18 Heterogeneous Network
Heterogeneous Network
• Heterogeneous network generated by range of different site types
• Different site types must be able to co-exist
PDN
Gateway Home eNode B
Gateway
Serving
Gateway MME
Evolved Packet Core
Internet
Wide Area eNode B Wide Area eNode B

(Macro) (Macro)
Repeater
Wide Area eNode B Relay
(Macro)
Local Area eNode B Wide Area eNode B

(Pico) with reduced transmit power Home eNode B
(Micro) (Femto)
Radio Access Network - E-UTRAN
48

Introduction
1.19 Feeder Loss
Losses in Feeders and Connectors

 Long feeder cables from antenna to base station equipment
can cause considerable power loss
 Typical loss in co-axial cable: 3 -10 dB per 100 m
 Loss increases with frequency:
 1800 MHz can have 4 - 10 dB greater loss than 900 MHz
49

Introduction
Feeder Loss
50
Apart from the higher loss experienced in the 2GHz band compared with the 900 and
1800MHzGSM bands, UTRAN networks impose no additional restrictions on the choice of
antenna feeder cable compared to those applicable to GSM networks.
When upgrading an existing 1800MHz antenna system (or dual 900/1800MHz band) for
simultaneous operation at 2GHz, the additional frequency dependent feeder loss is unlikely to be
significant. It is normally possible to use the existing 1800MHz feeder for both services, provided
that the additional loss associated with the dual (GSM/UTRAN) band diplexers (cross-band
couplers) is acceptable.
Using an existing 900MHz band feeder for UTRAN services may introduce unacceptable loss
except where the feeder length is relatively short. The combination of longitudinal loss in the
feeder together with insertion losses in the two dual (GSM/UTRAN) band diplexers (one at
eachend of the feeder) may become unacceptable.
Factors to take into account when considering a common antenna feeder system for a
UTRAN/GSM network are the same as for a dual band GSM 900/1800MHz network. The table in
the picture above compares attenuation of common types of antenna feeder at
900MHz,1800MHz, and 2000MHz.

Introduction
Poor Coverage due to Feeder Loss
Poor Coverage due to

feeder loss
51

Introduction
Feeder Loss
Typically feeder losses can be 2 or 3 dB, which on the transmit side means
that around 40% to 50% of the generated RF power is wasted.
Must put losses in planning tool
52

Introduction
Feeder Loss
53

Introduction
Remote Radio Heads
Infrastructure for mobile phone systems is currently undergoing a

major technological change. For many years the radio-frequency
transmit and receive electronics has been located at the base of a
tower, or in a building, and large diameter coaxial feeder cables
have been used to connect the electronics and the antennas.
Now so-called remote radio heads,

which contain the RF electronics,
are being positioned close to the
antennas, these using just short
coaxial jumpers to connect to the
antennas
The remote radio heads use optical

fibre, either single mode
or multimode
54

Introduction
1.20 Questions
Questions
1. What are the main differences between LTE Rel’8

and LTE Rel’10 ?
55

Introduction
Questions
Complete the table:
Channel BW Number of Bandwidth Efficiency Number of

(MHz) Radio Blocks Carriers
1.4
3
5
10
15
20
56

Introduction
Questions
Complete the table:
Channel BW Number of Bandwidth Efficiency Number of

(MHz) Radio Blocks Carriers
1.4 6 1.08 77%

3 15 2.7 90%
5 25 4.5 90%
10 50 9 90%
15 75 13.5 90%
20 100 18.0 90%
57

Introduction
Introduction
2 Cell Selection and
Frequency Priorities
Section 2: Cell Selection and Frequency Priorities

Cell Selection and Frequency Priorities
2.1 UE States
UE States
In contrast to 3G UMTS, where four different RRC states have been defined, LTE recognizes only
two RRC states, which means that the radio connection between the UE and network can be either active
or not active (as was known from GSM).
In the RRC_IDLE state the radio connection is inactive. The UE mobility is not under control
of the network and the UE does not need to send any measurement reports for updating, although it
performs neighbor cell measurement for cell (re)selection. However, the UE monitors the PCH to detect
incoming calls and it also monitors system information broadcast on the BCCH.
This is the most important part of the system information, typically the MIB, since in LTE the larger part of
system information is not signaled on the BCH but on the DL-SCH.
In the RRC_CONNECTED state the UE is able to send and receive data in the UL and DL direction.
It measures the DL radio quality of neighbor cells and sends RRC measurement reports according to the
measurement configuration received from the MME. However, it is the eNodeB, and the MME, that are
respectively in charge of making handover decisions and triggering handover execution when necessary.
The UE continues to monitor the PCH to detect incoming calls. In the RRC_CONNECTED mode, all system
information sent on the DL-SCH, especially SIB 1 which contains information about change of system
parameters, is readable by the UE.
When changing the RAT in the IDLE mode, this will always happen on account of reselection, which means
the UE measures the radio quality of the available radio access technologies and selects the best suitable
to log in and register to the network. This procedure also applies for UEs in the CELL_PCH and URA_PCH
states in the 3G UTRAN.

2.2 Evolved Absolute Radio Frequency Channel
Numbers (EARFCN)
Evolved Absolute Radio Frequency Channel

Numbers (EARFCN)
LTE FDD supports both full-duplex and half-duplex

transmission.
The DL as well as the UL bands are presented with their

respective channel numbers.
The channel numbers are also identified as the evolved

absolute radio frequency channel numbers (EARFCN).
The carrier frequency in the DL and UL is calculated

based on the assigned EARFCN from the eNB.

Numbers (EARFCN)
The offset value is the starting

value of the channel numbers for
the specific band
fDL = fDLLow + 0.1(NDL − NDL−offset)

4

Numbers (EARFCN)
2110.1= 2110 +0.1(1-0)

2110 = 2110 +0.1(0-0)
2110.2= 2110 +0.1(2-0 )
2110.3= 2110 +0.1(3-0)
2110.4= 2110 +0.1(4-0)
2110.5= 2110 +0.1(5-0)
2110.6= 2110 +0.1(6-0)
5

Numbers (EARFCN)
1930= 1930 +0.1(600-600)

1930.1= 1930 +0.1(601-600)
1930.2= 1930 +0.1(602-600)
1930.3= 1930 +0.1(603-600)

Numbers (EARFCN)
value of the channel numbers for the specific band
fUL = fULLow + 0.1(NUL − NUL−offset)

Numbers (EARFCN)
1710.6 = 1710 +0.1(19206-14200)

= 1710 + 0.1(5006)

Numbers (EARFCN)

2.3 Exercises
Exercise
SIB 19 WCDMA SIB19 specifies the LTE

frequencies (EARFCN) and priorities.
A maximum of 8 EARFCNs (4 FDD + 4

TDD) can be listed in SIB 19.
What is meant by EARFCN = 2100?
10

Exercise What is meant by EARFCN = 2100?
11

Exercise What is meant by EARFCN = 2100?

= 2110 + 0.1(2100 – 1950)
Frequency DL= 2125
12

2.4 Frequency Bands and Frequency Planning
LTE TDD Frequency Bands and Channel Numbers
13

Frequency Planning
Generally operators will deploy Frequency reuse of 1 or reuse of 3
Frequency Planning determines the channel bandwidth available to each Cell
Frequency reuse of 3 Frequency reuse of 1

• F1, F2, F3 = 5 MHz per cell F1 = 20 MHz per cell
14

2.5 Initial Access Procedure
Initial Access Procedure
Cell Search Read SIB’s Cell Random

Selection access
Step 1 – Primary Synchronization Signal

· CodeID =code (0,1,2)
Step 2 – Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS)-Group
· Find Physical Layer Cell ID
· Cyclic Prefix Length detection
· FDD or TDD Detection
Step 3 – Reference Signal Detection / PBCH Detection
(Receiving System Information)
Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2
15
In cellular communication systems the mobile station (MS) must be able to perform initial synchronization
and search for a base station to set up the downlink access. This process is called the initial cell search. To
accomplish the operations, two synchronization signals, the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and the
secondary synchronization signal (SSS), are periodically transmitted from the base station in the 3GPP LTE
(Long Term Evolution) system.
In order to know the cell search and selection first we have to know the physical signals and Physical
channels in downlink for cell search and selection:
Step 1 – Primary Synchronization Signal:
- Slot Timing Detection
- Physical Layer ID (0,1,2)
Step 2 – Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS):
- Radio Frame Timing detection
- Find Physical Layer Cell ID
- Cyclic Prefix Length detection
- FDD or TDD Detection
Step 3 – Reference Signal Detection / PBCH Detection (Receiving System Information):
- Down Link Signals:
- Primary Synchronization signal
- Primary Synchronization signal
- Cell Specific reference signal
- LTE Downlink Broadcast Channel:
- Physical Broadcast Channel(PBCH): MIB
Physical Cell ID = Cell Group ID * 3 + Cell ID

Downlink Channel Mappings
DATA
(SIB)
(MIB)
BCCH, CCCH and PCCH can be

Transport BCH
operated in TM mode.
PCH DL-SCH MCH
In the RRC_IDLE state, the UE
monitors a paging channel to detect
incoming calls, acquires PHYS.
system information and performs
neighbouring cell measurement and PBCH
PDCCH SIGNALS
cell (re)selection.
16
BCCH carries the broadcast information, such as the parameters necessary for system access. It
uses the Broadcast Channel (BCH) as the transport channel for the Master Information Block
(MIB) while the actual System Information Blocks (SIBs) are mapped on DL-SCH.
In the Transparent Mode (TM), the RLC only delivers and receives the PDUs on a logical channel
but does not add any headers to it and thus no track of received PDUs is kept between the
receiving and transmitting entity. The TM mode of operation is only suited for services that do
not use physical layer retransmissions or that are not sensitive to delivery order. Thus from the
logical channel only BCCH, CCCH and PCCH can be operated in TM mode.
In the RRC_IDLE state, the UE monitors a paging channel to detect incoming calls, acquires system
information and performs neighbouring cell measurement and cell (re)selection.
In the RRC_CONNECTED state, the UE transfers/receives data to/from the network. For this, the
UE monitors control channels that are associated with the shared data channel to determine if
data are scheduled for it and provides channel quality and feedback information to eNodeB. Also
in this state, the UE performs neighbouring cell measurement and measurement reporting based
on the configuration provided by eNodeB.

Background
(MIB)
 Only the MIB is transmitted on the (SIB)
BCCH/BCH/PBCH Logical BCCH PCCH CCCH DCCH DTCH MCCH MTCH
 MIB always has to be read first, followed by

SIB1 and then remaining SIB
Transport BCH
PCH DL-SCH MCH

UE reads Channel Bandwidth
the MIB
PHYS.
UE reads Scheduling Information PBCH

the SIB 1 Value Tag PDCCH SIGNALS

UE reads
the SIB
SIB10, SIB11, SIB12, SIB13
SIB1 also includes a value tag which

indicates whether or not the content of the
SIB has changed
17
System Information
System information is structured by means of System Information Blocks (SIBs), each of which
contains a set of functionally-related parameters. The SIB types that have been defined include:
 Master Information Block (MIB), which includes a limited number of the most frequently
transmitted parameters which are essential for a UE’s initial access to the network.
 System Information Block Type 1 (SIB1), which contains parameters needed to determine if a
cell is suitable for cell selection, as well as information about the time domain scheduling of the
other SIBs.
 System Information Block Type 2 (SIB2), which includes common and shared channel
information.
 SIB3–SIB8, which include parameters used to control intra-frequency, inter-frequency and inter-
RAT cell reselection.

2.6 Cell Selection
Overview
• Cell Selection is completed as:
– Initial Cell Selection

 does not require any prior knowledge of which RF channels are LTE carriers
 the UE scans all RF channels in the LTE bands according to its capabilities
to find a suitable cell
 the UE searches for the strongest cell on each carrier
 a cell is selected once it is found to be suitable
– Stored Information Cell Selection

 this procedure requires stored information of carrier frequencies and
optionally information on cell parameters
 if no suitable cell is found the Initial Cell Selection procedure is started
– Priorities between different frequencies or RAT provided to the UE by system

information or dedicated signalling are not used during cell selection
18

Cell Selection
First the UE will look for the strongest cell per
carrier.
Then for the PLMN identity by decoding the
SIB Type 1. Part of SIB 1
Afterwards it will compute the S criterion and
decide for a suitable cell or not.
Network Operator 1
Network Operator 3
Network Operator 2
19
In a real network a UE will receive several cells perhaps from different network operators. The UE
only knows after reading the SIB Type 1 if this cell belongs to its operator’s network (PLMN
Identity). First the UE will look for the strongest cell per carrier, then for the PLMN identity by
decoding the SIB Type 1 to decide if this PLMN is a suitable identity. Afterwards it will compute
the S criterion and decide for a suitable cell or not.
PLMN identity : Up to 6 PLMN identies can be specified

Tracking area code: Range from 0 to 65546
Cell Id: It contains eNB identity and has length of 28 bits
Cell barred: whether cell is barred or not
CSG indication: To indicate whether this cell is CSG cell or not. If it is CSG cell, then CSG
identity stored in the UE should match with CSG id of the cell
Other information broadcasted by SIB 1 are:

q-RxLevMin: Minimum required level in the cell
Band indicator: Cell frequency band indicator
As well as scheduling information of other system information blocks

SIB 1
SIB1 broadcasts common information to all UEs in the cell related to cell
access parameters and information related to scheduling of other SIBs.
SIB1 is broadcasted in subframe # 5 in the SFN for which SFN mod 8 = 0.

While the repeated copies are sent in subframe 1 # 5 for which SFN mod 2 =
0 . Thus the new copy of SIB1 is transmitted every 80ms as shown below
1 subframe 10 ms
20
After initial cell synchronisation and reading Master information block, UE will proceed to read
system information blocks to obtain important cell access related parameters.
SIB1 broadcasts common information to all UEs in the cell related to cell access parameters and
information related to scheduling of other SIBs. SIB1 is broadcasted in subframe # 5 in the SFN for
which SFN mod 8 = 0. While the repeated copies are sent in subframe # 5 for which SFN mod 2 =
0 . Thus the new copy of SIB1 is transmitted every 80ms as shown in the above picture.

2.7 Closed Subscriber Group Selection
Closed Subscriber Group Selection

Base station is associated
with a closed subscriber group and a home
eNB name, which it advertises in SIB 1 and
SIB 9 respectively.
USIM Part of SIB 1

contains any
closed
subscriber
groups,
CSG indication: To indicate whether this

cell is CSG cell or not. If it is CSG cell, then
CSG identity stored in the UE should
match with CSG id of the cell
Only those users included in the femtocell's access control list are allowed to use the
femtocell resources.
On the other hand, a femtocell can be also configured in Open Access mode, in
which any user is allowed access to the femtocell.
21
The term CSG (Closed Subscriber Group) is used to describe a specific group of mobiles who are
permitted access to a Femto Cell. As a CSG-ID is broadcast from the Femto Cell in the SIB (System
Information Block) message, only those mobiles who are members of this group will attempt to
select the cell.
A home base station is a base station that is controlling a femtocell, which can only be selected by
registered subscribers. To support this restriction, the base station is associated with a closed
subscriber group and a home eNB name, which it advertises in SIB 1 and SIB 9 respectively.
Each USIM lists any closed subscriber groups that the subscriber is allowed to use , together with
the identities of the corresponding networks.
If the USIM contains any closed subscriber groups, then the mobile has to run an
additional procedure, known as CSG selection. The procedure has two modes of operation,
automatic and manual.
 In automatic mode, the mobile sends the list of allowed closed subscriber groups to
the cell selection procedure, which selects either a non-CSG cell, or a cell whose
CSG is in the list.
 Manual mode cells that it can find in the selected network. It presents this list to the
user, indicates the corresponding home eNB names and indicates whether each
CSG is in the list of allowed CSGs. The user selects a preferred closed subscriber
group and the mobile selects a cell belonging to that CSG. is more restrictive. Here,
the mobile identifies the CSG.

CSG entries on the USIM consist of:
• PLMN Identifier
USIM
contains any • CSG Identifier
closed • Home eNodeB Name
subscriber • CSG Type
groups,
HeNBs as defined in Release 8 have multiple Access Control mechanisms:

• Closed access (residential deployment):
Access is only allowed for the subscribed user.
• Open access (enterprise deployment):

All users are allowed access to the HeNB and receive the offered services.
Mobility of Closed Access HeNBs only supports outbound handover from a

HeNB to a macro cell, but not inbound mobility from the macro cell to the
HeNB.
22
LTE HeNB Introduction (Release 8)
Femto-cells or Home Node Bs have been a hot topic for quite some time since they offer benefits
such as the provision of:
 Significant offload of traffic from regular base stations
 Full coverage and high speed transmission at home
 Better link quality, lower transmit power, higher performance
 A single mobile device serving all purposes for the customer
 Improved customer relations for the operator
Operator controlled CSG lists
CSG IDs were already introduced in Release 8 to make the UEs aware of the CSG cells and to
prevent the UEs from trying to access every CSG cell wasting their battery life. CSG related
parameters are stored on the SIM card (USIM) of the UE.
Release 9 introduces an additional operator controlled CSG list on the UE. The operator CSG list is
provided to the UE based on procedures for a Release 9 USIM as defined in TS 31.102.

Access Mode
Closed access mode: H(e)NB provides services only to its associated CSG
members.
Hybrid access mode: H(e)NB provides services to its associated CSG

members and to non-CSG members.
Open access mode: H(e)NB operates as a normal NodeB or eNodeB.
Hybrid access is a new access concept introduced with Release 9 in addition

to Closed Access and Open Access.
Basically the cell provides open access to all users but still acts like a CSG
cell.
Subscribed users can be prioritized compared to unsubscribed users and can
be charged differently.
23
Hybrid Cell Concept
Hybrid access is a new access concept introduced with Release 9 in addition to Closed Access and
Open Access. Basically the cell provides open access to all users but still acts like a CSG cell.
Subscribed users can be prioritized compared to unsubscribed users and can be charged
differently.
According to the specification a hybrid cell is defined as a cell that has the CSG indicator set to
false and yet broadcasts a CGI (Closed Subscriber Group ID).

SIB9: Home eNB name
SIB9: Home eNB name

contains a home eNB name (HeNB Name)
HeNB provides services to Closed Subscriber Groups. The HeNB name helps
the user to select the correct CSG Identity when performing a manual selection.
Mobile sends the list of allowed closed subscriber groups to the cell selection
procedure, which selects either a non-CSG cell, or a cell whose
CSG is in the list.
24

25
The E-UTRAN network elements include:
The Home eNodeB (HeNB) is a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) which includes the E-UTRAN
eNodeB offering E-UTRAN coverage as well as new functions to support HeNB authentication,
HeNB registration and configuration through OAM. Further details can be found in TS 36.300.
The Home eNodeB Gateway (HeNB-GW) is an optional gateway through which the Home eNodeB
accesses the core network.
The Home eNodeB Gateway may also be used only for the S1-MME interface. In this case, the S1-
U interface is directly between the Home eNodeB and the S-GW.
The UE contains a list of allowed CSG identities (Allowed CSG List). It is possible to store the
Allowed CSG List in the USIM. When available, the list on the USIM shall be used. It is possible for
both the operator and the UE to modify the Allowed CSG List.

SIB1
 UE reads SIB1 before reading any of the other SIB
 Cell can belong to multiple PLMN and a common Tracking Area
PLMN Identity List • Cell can be barred to prevent initial
Tracking Area Code access from Idle mode
• Intra-Frequency cell reselection can be
Cell Identity
allowed/not allowed when cell is barred
Cell Barred Flag • Closed Subscriber Group flag can be
Intra-Freq Cell Reselection included for Femto
CSG Indication & Identity • Qrxlevmin used for cell selection in 3GPP
release 8
Qrxlevmin & QrxlevminOffset
• Qrxlevmin and Qqualmin used for cell
Pmax selection from 3GPP release 9
Frequency Band Indicator • Operating band defined because RF
Scheduling Information List carrier does not uniquely identify band
• Scheduling information for other SIB
TDD Configuration
• Value tag used to indicate change in SIB
System Information Window Length content
System Information Value Tag
Qqualmin & QqualminOffset
26
SIB 1 - The cell access related parameters are listed below:
PLMN identity : Upto 6 PLMN identies can be specified.

Tracking area code: Range from 0 to 65546.
Cell Id: It contains eNB identity and has length of 28 bits.
Cell barred: whether cell is barred or not.
Intra Frequency cell reselection info: To select other cells when the target cell is barred.
CSG indication: To indicate whether this cell is CSG cell or not. If it is CSG cell, then CSG identity
stored in the UE should match with CSG id of the cell.
Other information broadcasted by SIB 1 are:

q-RxLevMin: Minimum required level in the cell.
Band indicator: Cell frequency band indicator.
Scheduling information of other system information blocks.
systemInfoValueTag indicates if a change has occurred in the SI messages. UEs may use
systemInfoValueTag, e.g. upon return from out of coverage, to verify if the previously stored SI
messages are still valid.
Additionally, the UE considers stored system information to be invalid after 3 hours from the
moment it was successfully confirmed as valid, unless specified otherwise.
Common for all SIBs other than MIB, SIB1, SIB10, SIB11 and SIB12.

SIB’s use for cell reselection
SIB 3 contains parameters for the cell reselection procedure.
SIB 4 contains neighbour cell information for intra-frequency cell reselection.
SIB 5 contains information for interfrequency cell reselection.
SIB 6 contains information for inter-RAT cell reselection to the UTRAN.
SIB 7 contains information for inter-RAT cell reselection to the GERAN.
SIB 8 contains information for inter-RAT cell reselection to CDMA2000.
SIB 9 is used to broadcast the home eNB name (HNB name).
27

Cell Reselection on the Same LTE Frequency
Intra-frequency cells are LTE neighbour cells on the

same frequency as the serving cell, but with a different
PCI.
28

Overview
• Cell Selection is completed as:
– Initial Cell Selection

 does not require any prior knowledge of which RF channels are LTE carriers
 the UE scans all RF channels in the LTE bands according to its capabilities
to find a suitable cell
 the UE searches for the strongest cell on each carrier
– Stored Information Cell Selection

 this procedure requires stored information of carrier frequencies and
optionally information on cell parameters
 if no suitable cell is found the Initial Cell Selection procedure is started
– Priorities between different frequencies or RAT provided to the UE by system

information or dedicated signalling are not used during cell selection
29

2.8 Cell Reselection on Same Frequency
Cell Reselection on the Same LTE Frequency
We start the cell reselection

procedure by assuming that
the network is only using a
single LTE carrier frequency.
If this is the case, then the

mobile wakes up once every
discontinuous reception cycle,
in the same subframes that it
is already monitoring for
paging messages.
PDCCH scheduling PDSCH paging
command message including
addressed to RNTI S-TMSI
In RRC_IDLE state, discontinuous reception is defined using a DRX cycle ,

which lies between 32 and 256 frames (0.32 and 2.56 seconds). (SIB 2)
30

Reference signal received
power (RSRP)
In those subframes, the mobile measures the reference signal received
power (RSRP) from the serving cell.
If the RSRP is high enough, then the mobile can continue camping on that
cell and does not have to measure any neighbouring cells at all.
The reporting range of RSRP is deﬁned

from−140 to− 44dBm
31

UE Measurements
The UE will send RRC measurement reports that include RSRP .The appropriate
bin mapping is given below.
This technique minimizes the number of measurements that the mobile

performs and the time for which it is awake, so maximizes its battery life.
mobile wakes up once every discontinuous reception cycle
RULE TUMB
If RSRP>−75dBm, excellent QoS
−75 and−95dBm a slight

degradation throughput will
decline by 30–50%
The main purpose of RSRP is to Below −95 dBm the QoS become
determine the best cell on the DL unacceptable
radio interface
32
There is certainly a correlation also between RSRP and the user plane QoS. As a rule of thumb for
a cell in the outdoor environment, the RSRP measurement results can be categorized in three
ranges.
If RSRP > −75 dBm, excellent QoS can be expected as long as not too many subscribers struggle
for the available bandwidth of the cell. In the range between −75 and −95 dBm a slight
degradation of the QoS can be expected, for example, throughput will decline by 30–50% if RSRP
goes down from −75 to −95 dBm. Below −95 dBm the QoS become unacceptable and throughput
tends to decline down to zero at approximately оϭϬϴƚŽоϭϬϬĚŵ͘ h ŶĚĞƌƐƵĐŚƌĂĚŝŽĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ͕
call drops must be expected as the worst case.

RSRQ
RSRQ = n x RSRP/RSSI
RSRQ = 10 log 25 + (-102.77 –(- 82 .71)

=13.97 + (-20.06)
=-6.09
33

Network is only using a single LTE carrier frequency
All cells
LTE have
F1 same
priority
No need to measure
neighbour cells if
same priority
Need to
set this
point F1
LTE
F1
LTE
need to measure
neighbour cells
34

Network is only using a single LTE carrier
frequency
In those subframes, the mobile measures the reference signal received
power (RSRP) from the serving cell. If the RSRP is high enough, then the
mobile can continue camping on that cell and does not have to measure any
neighbouring cells at all.
This technique minimizes the number of measurements that the mobile

performs and the time for which it is awake, so maximizes its battery life.
This situation continues until the RSRP falls below the following threshold:
Srxlev ≤ SIntraSearchP Sintrasearch
No need to
Sservingcell > Sintrasearch need to measure
measure neighbour cells if
same priority
-68 dBm 35
A suitable cell is a cell that satisfies several criteria. The most important is the cell selection
criterion:
Srxlev >0
During initial network selection, the mobile calculates Srxlev as follows:
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas − Qrxlevmin − Pcompensation

S-Criteria (3GPP Release 8)
• Cell selection with the release 8 version of the specifications is based upon only
RSRP
• Cell selection S-criteria is satisfied when:
Srxlev > 0
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas – (Qrxlevmin + Qrxlevminoffset) - Pcompensation
Measurement Minimum signal Only included when completing a

from UE strength requirement periodic search for a higher priority
from SIB1 PLMN while camped on a VPLMN
(actual value = (actual value = signalled value  2)
signalled value  2)
Pcompensation = MAX(P EMAX – PPOWERCLASS, 0) Pcompensation reduces

the value of Srxlev
Optional limit included in SIB1

36
In this equation, Qrxlevmeas is the cell’s reference signal received power (RSRP), which is the
average power per resource element that the mobile is receiving on the cell specific reference
signals.
Qrxlevmin is a minimum value for the RSRP, which the base station advertises in SIB 1. These
quantities ensure that a mobile will only select the cell if it can hear the base station’s
transmissions on the downlink. The final parameter, Pcompensation, is calculated as follows:
Pcompensation = max (PEMAX − PPowerClass, 0)
Here, PEMAX is an upper limit on the transmit power that a mobile is allowed to use,which the
base station advertises as part of SIB 1. PPowerClass is the mobile’s intrinsic maximum power. By
combining these quantities, Pcompensation reduces the value of Srxlev if the mobile cannot
reach the power limit that the base station is assuming. It therefore ensures that a mobile will
only select the cell if the base station can hear it on the uplink.

S-Criteria (3GPP Release 9, onwards)
• Cell selection with the release 9 version of the specifications is based upon both
RSRP and RSRQ
• Cell selection S-criteria is satisfied when:
Srxlev > 0 AND Squal > 0
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas – (Qrxlevmin + Qrxlevminoffset) - Pcompensation
Squal = Qqualmeas – (Qqualmin + Qqualminoffset)
(actual value = signalled value)
Pcompensation = MAX(P EMAX – PPOWERCLASS, 0)
Optional limit included in SIB1

37
The cell selection procedure is enhanced in release 9 of the 3GPP specifications, so that a suitable
cell also has to satisfy the following criterion:
Squal >0
Where:
Squal = Qqualmeas − Qqualmin
In this equation, Qqualmeas is the reference signal received quality (RSRQ), which is the signal to
interference plus noise ratio of the cell specific reference signals. Qqualmin is a minimum value
for the RSRQ, which the base station advertises in SIB 1 as before.
This condition prevents a mobile from selecting a cell on a carrier frequency that is subject to
high levels of interference.

System Information Block 1
• Parameters regarding cell selection
are broadcast in SIB1
• Qqualminoffset is optional, and is
excluded in this case so the UE
assumes a value of 0 dB
• PEMAX is optional, and is excluded in
this case so the UE assumes a value
equal to PPOWERCLASS so
Pcompensation = 0 dB
• SIB1 also includes a flag to indicate

whether or not the cell is barred
actual value = signalled value  2

= -130 dBm
38

Cell Reselection Measurements (3GPP Release 8)
Intra-Frequency
• Parameters are provided by the serving cell
• If,
Sservingcell > Sintrasearch
the UE may choose not to perform intra-frequency measurements

• If the condition above is not satisfied, or if Sintrasearch is not broadcast then the
UE completes intra-frequency measurements
• Where Sservingcell is the Srxlev value of the serving cell
In this equation, SIntraSearch is a threshold that the serving

cell advertises as part of SIB 3.
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas – Qrxlevmin
39

Example-SIB 3 Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas – (Qrxlevmin)
In this equation, SIntraSearch is a

threshold that the serving cell advertises as
part of SIB 3.
Sservingcell > Sintrasearch

Sintrasearch
Sintrasearch No need to
measure
neighbour
cells
actual value = signalled value  2 = 62 dB
UE measures when Qrxlevmeas <

-68 dBm
Qrxlevmin + 62, i.e. -130 + 62 = -68 dBm
Qrxlevmin + Sintrasearch
(-65 x2) + (31x2)
40
To limit the need to carry out reselection measurements it has been defined that if SServingCell is
high enough, the UE does not need to make any intra-frequency, inter-frequency or inter-system
measurements.

Carriers with the same priority
Now consider carriers with the same priority as the current one. The mobile
starts measuring these if the following condition is satisfied:
Srxlev ≤ SNonIntraSearch

SNonIntraSearch is a threshold that the
base station advertises in SIB 3, while
Srxlev depends on the serving cell’s
RSRP as before.
SNonIntraSearch
Sintrasearch
No need to
measure
intrasearch neighbour cells if
same priority
-128 dBm -68 dBm 41

System Information Block 3
• Carriers with the same priority

• Parameters used to trigger cell
reselection measurements are
broadcast in SIB3
SNonIntraSearch
Sintrasearch
No need to
measure
neighbour cells if
same priority

-128 dBm -68 dBm Qrxlevmin + 62, i.e. -130 + 62 = -68 dBm
Qrxlevmin + 2, i.e. -130 + 2 = -128 dBm
42

LTE Neighbour List
Unlike in earlier systems, the mobile can find neighbouring LTE cells by itself:
The base station does not have to advertise an LTE neighbour list as part of its
system information.
This brings three benefits.
1.The network operator can configure the radio access network more easily in
LTE than before.
2. There is no risk of a mobile missing nearby cells due to errors in the neighbour
list.
3. It is easier for an operator to introduce home base stations, which the user can
install in locations that are unknown to the surrounding macrocell network.
However, the base station can still identify individual neighbouring cells in SIB 4
using their physical cell identities
43
In 2G and 3G systems neighbour lists have been populated using cell planning tools by means of
coverage predictions before the installation of a base station. Prediction errors, due to
imperfections in map and building data, have forced the operators to resort to drive/walk tests to
completely exhaust the coverage region and identify all handover regions. This has proven to be
costly and new methods for automatically deriving neighbour lists are required.
Furthermore, the LTE specification includes closed subscriber group (CSG) cells, also sometimes
denoted Home eNodeBs, which a consumermay purchase and install in her/his home. This means
that traditional drive/walk test becomes even more difficult.

2.9 Cell-reselection parameters for Neighbouring
INTRA-Frequency
SIB4: Cell-reselection parameters for

Neighbouring INTRA-Frequency
Contains neighbouring cell related information relevant
only for intra-frequency cell re-selection
includes cells with specific re-selection parameters as well
as blacklisted cells
All the contents of SIB4 are optional because UE's
can automatically detect and complete neighbour
INTRA_frequency cells
SIB 4 PCI=50
intra-frequency neighbour list

PCI=40
44
SIB4 Cell-reselection parameters for Neighbouring INTRA-Frequency contains neighbouring cell

related information relevant only for intra-frequency cell re-selection.
It includes cells with specific re-selection parameters as well as blacklisted cells.
All the contents of SIB4 are optional because UEs can automatically detect and complete
neighbour INTRA_frequency cells

Contents of System Information Block Type 4
intraFreqNeighCellList specifies the offset between the

two cells. Value -24 - +24dB
physCellId
q-OffsetCell
List of blacklisted intra-
frequency neighbouring cells.
intraFreqBlackCellList These type of cells are not
considered for cell re-
physCellId Range selection
Cellcsg_PhysCellId Set of physical cell identities

physCellId Range reserved for CSG cells on the
frequency on which this field was
received.
45

Ranking-INTRA-Frequency
After finding and measuring the neighbouring cells, the mobile computes the
following ranking scores:
Rs = Qmeas, s + Qhyst
Rn = Qmeas, n − Qoffset, s, n
Here, Rs and Rn are the ranking scores of the serving cell and one of its
neighbours.
Qhyst is a hysteresis parameter that the base station advertises in SIB 3, which
discourages the mobile from bouncing back and forth between cells as the signal
levels fluctuate
Qoffset, s, n is an optional cell-specific offset, which the serving cell can advertise
in SIB 4 to encourage or discourage the mobile to or from individual neighbours.
SIB 4- Qhyst
SIB 4
intra-frequency neighbour list

Qoffset
46

Cell Ranking
Rs = Qmeas,s + Qhysts (for the serving Rn > Rs =>“cell reselection“

cell)
Qmeas,n
Rn
RSRP (dBM)
Qmeas,s
Qhysts
Rs
Qoffsets,n
Treselection
the time interval value Treselection,
whose value ranges between 0 and
31 seconds
47
Cell ranking is used to find the best cell for UE camping for intra-frequency reselection or
onreselection to equal priority E-UTRAN frequency. The ranking is based on the criterion Rs for
the serving cell and Rn for neighboring cells:
Rs = Qmeas + Qhyst
Rn = Qmeas + Qoffset
Where Qmeas is the RSRP measurement quantity, Qhyst is the power domain hysteresis to avoid
ping-pong and Qoffset is an offset value to control different frequency specific characteristics (e.g.
propagation properties of different carrier frequencies) or cell specific characteristics. In the time
domain, Treselection is used to limit overly frequent reselections. The reselection occurs to the
best ranked neighbor cell if it is better ranked than the serving cell for a longer time than
Treselection.

Summary
New cell must be better ranked than the serving cell for a time of
Treselection,EUTRA, which is advertised in SIB 3 and has a value of 0 to 7
seconds.
Qhyst is a hysteresis
parameter that the
base station advertises
in SIB 3, which
discourages the mobile
from bouncing back
and forth between cells
as the signal levels
fluctuate
The mobile uses the same procedure if any of the neighbouring cells belongs to a
closed subscriber group, except that the mobile must also belong to the group in
order to camp on a CSG cell.
48

Summary
• Intra-Frequency and Equal Priority Inter-Frequency

• 3GPP Release 8, onwards
• The UE shall perform ranking of all cells that fulfil the cell selection S criterion
• The cells shall be ranked according to the R criteria, deriving Qmeas,s and
Qmeas,n and calculating the R values using averaged RSRP results
Rs > Qmeas,s + Qhyst

Rn > Qmeas,n - Qoffset
• If a cell is ranked as the best cell the UE shall perform cell reselection to that cell
• The UE shall reselect the new cell, only if the following conditions are met
– the new cell is better ranked than the serving cell during a time interval
TreselectionRAT
– > 1 second has elapsed since the UE camped on the current serving cell
49

2.10 Cell-reselection to a Different LTE Frequency
Cell Reselection to a Different LTE Frequency
Set
LTE priority
F2 0-7
Always need to
measure neighbour
cells if higher
priority
F3
LTE
F1 SIB 3
LTE
SIB 5
50

SIB 3
It also specifies a priority for the

serving frequency as part of SIB 3
priority from 0 to 7, where 7 is the

highest priority.
serving frequency
Priority 1
SIB 3
SIB 5
serving cell advertises the other

carriers as part of SIB 5.
SIB 5 contains information for
interfrequency cell reselection.
51

SIB 5
If the network is using more than one LTE carrier frequency, then the
serving cell advertises the other carriers as part of SIB 5.
SIB 5 includes neighbour cell list, carrier frequency, cell reselection

priority, threshold used by the UE when reselecting a higher/lower priority
frequency than the current serving frequency etc. It also contains a list of
blacklisted inter-frequency neighbouring cells.
The serving cell does, however, associate each carrier frequency with a
priority from 0 to 7, where 7 is the highest priority.
cellReselectionPriority defines the Abolute priority of the frequency layer
The network can use these priorities to encourage or discourage the mobile to
or from individual carriers, a feature that is particularly useful in layered
networks, as microcells are usually on a different carrier frequency from
macrocells and usually require a higher priority.
52

2.11 Higher Priority
Higher Priority
SIB5 includes neighbour
priority for the serving
cell list, carrier
frequency as part of SIB 3
frequency, cell
reselection priority
Priority 7
Measure
New cell’s RSRP
SIB 3 Priority 1 frequency 2
SIB 5
serving frequency 1
Priority 1
53

Higher Priority
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas – (Qrxlevmin)

What is the Srxlev?
Priority 7
Measure
New cell’s RSRP
Qrxlevmeas
SIB 5
serving frequency 1
Priority 1
54

Example of Srxlev
= -50 –(-130)
= +80
Minimum signal strength

(actual value = signalled value
 2)
55

Higher Priority
If another carrier is involved, then the processes of measurement triggering and
cell reselection depend on whether its priority is higher than that of the current
carrier, or the same, or lower.
Let us consider carriers with a higher priority than the current one.
The mobile always measures cells on higher priority frequencies, no matter how
strong the signal from the serving cell.
Serving frequency 1 Priority 7
Priority 1
SIB 5
Serving cell advertises the other carriers as part of SIB 5.

Defines the Absolute priority of the frequency layer.

interfrequency cell reselection. 56

Higher Priority
• It makes the measurements separately from the discontinuous reception cycle,

as the mobile cannot look for paging messages on one carrier and measure cells
on another at the same time.
• However, the mobile only has to measure one carrier frequency every minute,
so the load on the mobile is small.
frequency 2
serving frequency 1 Priority 7

Priority 1
SIB 3 Priority 1
SIB 5
Serving cell advertises the other carriers as part of SIB 5.

Defines the Absolute priority of the frequency layer.

interfrequency cell reselection. 57

threshX_High
The mobile moves to a new cell on a higher priority carrier provide:

The mobile must have been camped on the serving cell for at least one second
New cell’s RSRP must meet the following condition, for a
time of at least Treselection,EUTRA:
The Srxlev of the candidate cell is greater then threshX_High

Value 0 to 31 dB.
Priority 1
frequency 2
Srxlev of the candidate
SIB 5
serving cell
58

SIB 5- threshX-High
Threshold (in dB) used by UE
for cell re-selection to a SIB 5
HIGHER priority.
The Srxlev of the candidate cell

is greater then threshX_High
Value 0 to 31 dB.
Actual value= Signalled value

*2
The Srxlev of the candiate cell

Srxlev = = -50 –(-130)
= +80
59

Higher Priority
Higher Priority target layer
Cell reselection is completed if:
The new cell’s RSRP must meet the following condition, for a
time of at least Treselection,EUTRA:
Srxlev,(new cell’s) >Threshx, HighP.
What is the Srxlev?
Priority 7
serving frequency 1
Priority 1 Measure
New cell’s RSRP
Qrxlevmeas
SIB 5

60

2.12 Lower Priority
Lower Priority
Lower Priority target layer
Cell-reselection parameters for INTER-Frequency
threshX-High re-selection to a HIGHER priority

The Srxlev of the candidate cell is greater then threshX_High
threshX-Low Threshold (in dB) used by UE for cell re-selection to a LOWER

priority
RSRP of serving cell is less than the value
of ThreshServingLow signalled within SIB3
frequency 2
Priority 5
SIB 3 Priority 1
SIB 5
Sservingcell
61

SIB 5: Cell-reselection parameters for INTER-Frequency
q-RxLevMin minimum RSRP value of the inter-frequency cell.

Value -70 to -22 dBm.
Actual value: signalled value *2
p-Max maximum allowed UL transmit power of the cell
t-ReselectionEUTR defines the time to trigger for cell reselection. Value 0 to 7 sec
t-ReselectionEUTRA-SF scaling factors for Medium and High mobility
threshX-High Threshold (in dB) used by UE for cell re-selection to a HIGHER
priority.
# The Srxlev of the candidate cell is greater then threshX_High
# Value 0 to 31 dB. Actual value = Signalled value * 2
threshX-Low # Threshold (in dB) used by UE for cell re-selection to a
LOWER priority
# Cell re-selection is allowed only when Srxlev of the candidate
cell is greater then threshX_Low and RSRP of serving cell is
less than the value of ThreshServingLow singalled within SIB3
# Value 0 to 31 dB. Actual value = Signalled value * 2
62

• Cell reselection is completed if the following onditions are satisifed:

– there are no cells satisfying cell reselection to higher or equal
priority layers
Sservingcell < Threshserving,low
Snonservingcell,x > Threshx,low
Priority 4
serving frequency 1
Priority 5

SIB 5
Sservingcell
63

Summary so far
SIB 3 contains parameters for the cell reselection procedure.
SIB 4 contains neighbour cell information for intra-frequency cell reselection.
SIB 5 contains information for interfrequency cell reselection.
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas – (Qrxlevmin) Srxlev > 0 AND Squal > 0
64

2.13 Questions
Question
What SIB is shown?
The Srxlev has to be greater

than what to do cell
reselection?
If you are Qrxlevmeas (-60),

what is the Srxlev?
65

Question
What SIB is shown?
Where is the q-Hyst parameter

used?
If you are Qrxlevmeas (-60),

what is the Srxlev?
When do we search for Intra

Frequencies?

Qrxlevmin + 2, i.e. -130 + 2 = -128 dBm
actual value = signalled value  2 =
2 dB
66

2.14 WCDMA to LTE Cell Reselection
RRC_IDLE
There are three cell lists that the

cell (re-)selection
test set can send in SIB11:
intra-frequency cell info list,
inter-frequency cell info list and
UMTS. F2
inter-RAT (GSM) cell list
SIB 19
F3
LTE
F1 SIB6
UMTS.
SIB 11 UMTS.
68
In the early stages of rolling out the technology, LTE will only be available in large cities and in isolated
hotspots. In other areas, network operators will continue to use older technologies such as GSM, UMTS
and cdma2000. Similarly, most LTE mobiles will actually be multiple mode devices that also support some
or all of those technologies. To handle this situation, LTE has been designed so that it can inter-operate
with other mobile communication systems, particularly by handing mobiles over if they move outside the
coverage area of LTE.
RRC_IDLE:
The UE:
 Monitors a Paging channel
 Information change, and for ETWS capable UEs
 Performs neighbouring cell measurements and cell (re-)selection
 Acquires system information
SIB 11 (UMTS)
There are three cell lists that the test set can send in SIB11: intra-frequency cell info list, inter-frequency
cell info list and inter-RAT (GSM) cell list.
Intra-frequency cells are WCDMA neighbor cells on the same frequency as the serving cell, but with a
different primary scrambling code.
Inter-frequency cells are W-CDMA neighbor cells on a different frequency than the serving cell, and
possibly with a different primary scrambling code.
The inter-RAT cell list sent in SIB 11 can include up to 8 GSM cells, indexed from 0 to 7.

Network Architecture
F2
UMTS.
SIB6
F3
SIB 6 contains Priority UMTS. LTE
UMTS.
69
The SystemInformationBlockType6 (SIB6) contains information relevant only for inter-RAT cell re-
selection i.e. information about UTRA frequencies and UTRA neighbouring cells relevant for cell
re-selection. It includes cell re-selection parameters which are common for an UTRA frequency.

WCDMA: priority based cell reselection
The UE shall always perform measurements on layers with higher priority
than the serving WCDMA cell.
WCDMA SIB19 specifies the LTE frequencies (EARFCN) and priorities
A maximum of 8 EARFCNs (4 FDD + 4 TDD) can be listed in SIB 19

.
Priority 7
LTE
Priority 1
UMTS.
SIB 19
serving cell
70

WCDMA: priority based cell reselection
serving cell
Priority 7
Priority 1 LTE
UMTS.
SIB 19
serving cell
71
WCDMA to LTE cell reselection is based on 3GPP Rel-8.
WCDMA to LTE cell reselection uses priority based levels. The operator assigns priority levels for
each LTE frequency layer as well as for the WCDMA cells. The priority value 0 indicates lowest
priority and 7 indicates highest priority. It is not allowed to have the same priority for WCDMA
and LTE, it must be set differently for different RAT.
If the UE detects a neighbouring LTE cell with higher priority than the serving WCDMA cell it will
attempt an IRAT cell reselection to the LTE cell. This will be done even if the measured signal
strength is lower for the LTE cell compared to the WCDMA cell. The signal strength for the target
LTE cell must however be above a minimum signal strength threshold. System information SIB19
specifies the LTE frequencies and the parameters used for absolute priority based cell reselection.
Downlink EARFCN (E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number) is used as a

representation of the LTE frequency layer. A maximum of 8 EARFCNs (4 E-UTRA FDD + 4 E-UTRA
TDD) can be listed in SIB19. For each EARFCN it is possible to configure a set of maximum 16
blacklisted cells that the UE shall not consider for cell reselection.
Defining blacklisted cells may speed up the cell reselection procedure in border areas if different
operators use the same LTE frequencies. Cell reselection from WCDMA to LTE is supported by LTE
capable UEs in WCDMA Idle mode and in state URA_PCH.

Number (EARFCN)

value of the channel numbers for
the specific band

72

Number (EARFCN)
2110.1= 2110 +0.1(1-0)

2110 = 2110 +0.1(0-0)
2110.2= 2110 +0.1(2-0 )
2110.3= 2110 +0.1(3-0)
2110.4= 2110 +0.1(4-0 )
2110.5= 2110 +0.1(5-0)
2110.6= 2110 +0.1(6-0)
73

Number (EARFCN)
1930= 1930 +0.1(600-600)

1930.1= 1930 +0.1(601-600)
1930.2= 1930 +0.1(602-600)
1930.3= 1930 +0.1(603-600)
74

E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel
Number (EARFCN)
SIB 19
EARFCN

= 2110 + 0.1(2100 – 1950)
Frequency DL= 2125

75
Channel number (3GPP TS 36.104 V8.0.0)
The carrier frequency in the uplink and downlink is designated by the E-UTRA Absolute Radio
Frequency Channel Number (EARFCN). The carrier frequency in MHz for the downlink is given by
the following equation, where FDL_low and NOffs-DL are given above for bands 1-4 and NDL is
the downlink EARFCN.
FDL = FDL_low + 0.1(NDL – NOffs-DL)
The carrier frequency in MHz for the uplink is given by the following equation where FUL_low and
NOffs-UL are given in table 5.4.3-1 and NUL is the uplink EARFCN.
FUL = FUL_low + 0.1(NUL – NOffs-UL)

WCDMA –Srxlev & Squal
UE measures two physical properties called for WCDMA

signal. One is CPICH RSCP and CPICH EcNo. RSCP
determines Srxlev and EcNo determines Squal.
UMTS.
Srxlev = Qrxlevemeas - qRxLevMin.
Qrxlevemeas is RSCP level measured by
UE and qRxLevMin is the value specified
in SIB.
CPICH 33Dbm
43Dbm
Squal = Qqualmeas - qQualMin.
Qqualmeas is EcNo level measured by UE
and qQualMin is the value specified in SIB
The detection measurement of LTE frequencies should be done at least

once every 60s for higher priority LTE frequencies.
76
The purpose of cell reselection is to continuously re-select the most suitable cell in the network when UE
is not operating on a dedicated channel. There are three types of cell reselection:
1. Intra frequency cell reselection : occurs between cells on the same radio frequency.
2. Inter frequency cell reselection : occurs between cells on different radio frequenies with no
interruption of its connectivity with current cell.
3. Inter-RAT cell reselection : happens between cells on different radio access technologies.
The S-criteria (Suitable Criteria) and R-criteria (Ranking Criteria) are calculated for each measured cells. All
suitable cells are ranked based on R criteria. If highest ranked cell is a cell other than current serving cell
for Treselection second and UE has camped on current serving cell for at leas one second then that cell is
chosen for cell reselection.
S-Criteria
It determines whether a cell is suitable. Cell must meet the following criteria to be suitable.
Srxlev > 0 and Squal > 0
Where, Srxlev = Qrxlevmin - Pcompensation
Squal = Qqualmeas - Qqualmin
Refer: 3GPP TS 25.331
R-Criteria
It determine the ranking of the serving cell and other suitable neighbour cell. The highest ranked cell is
chosen for cell reselection. The definition of R criteria for serving cell is given as:
Rs = Qmeas,s + Qhyst
Qmeas,s = measured quality of serving cell
Qhyst,s = hysteresis applied to serving cell
Qmeas,s = measured CPICH RSCP and CPICH Ec/I0
UE chooses the highest ranking cell to camp on if the cell ranks higher than the current serving cell for
Treselection seconds and UE has camped on current serving cell for at least one second. The parameter
Treselection is defined by UTRAN in SIB-3 or SIB-4.

WCDMA –Srxlev (Example)
Srxlev = Qrxlevemeas - qRxLevMin. Qrxlevemeas is RSCP level

measured by UE and qRxLevMin.
Qrxlevemeas = -50
qRxLevMin. = -80
Srxlev= -50 –(-80)
Srxlev = +30
UMTS.
SIB
serving cell
77

Cell reselection to a higher priority layer
Cell reselection to a higher priority

layer is performed by the UE if Srxlev
of the cell is greater than threshHigh
for a duration of Treselection seconds
For LTE, Srxlev is defined as
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - qRxLevMin

Qrxlevmeas is the RSRP level of the
LTE cell (in dB) measured by the UE.
Parameter qRxLevMin indicates the
minimum required RSRP level for
camping. LTE
UMTS.
SIB 19
Measures Srxlev of LTE
serving cell
78
The UE shall always perform measurements on layers with higher priority than the serving
WCDMA cell. Cell reselection to a higher priority layer is performed by the UE if Srxlev of the cell
is greater than threshHigh for a duration of Treselection seconds.

Lower Priority Layers
For lower priority layers the need to perform measurements is controlled by

the parameters sPrioritySearch1 and sPrioritySearch2 in relation to Srxlev and
Squal as specified below:
If Srxlev > sPrioritySearch1 and Squal > sPrioritySearch2 the UE may

choose not to measure on lower priority LTE frequencies
If Srxlev <= sPrioritySearch1 and/or Squal <= sPrioritySearch2 the UE

is required to perform measurements on lower priority LTE frequencies
Priority 3
LTE
Priority 5
UMTS.
SIB 19-
sPrioritySearch1 and
sPrioritySearch2
serving cell Measures Srxlev of LTE
79
For lower priority layers the need to perform measurements is controlled by the parameters
sPrioritySearch1 and sPrioritySearch2 in relation to Srxlev and Squal as specified below:
If Srxlev > sPrioritySearch1 and Squal > sPrioritySearch2 the UE may choose not to measure on
lower priority LTE frequencies.
If Srxlev <= sPrioritySearch1 and/or Squal <= sPrioritySearch2 the UE is required to perform
measurements on lower priority LTE frequencies.

Lower priority layers - perform measurements
If Srxlev > sPrioritySearch1 and Squal >
sPrioritySearch2 the UE may choose not
to measure on lower priority LTE
frequencies
If Srxlev <= sPrioritySearch1 and/or

Squal <= sPrioritySearch2 the UE is
required to perform measurements on
lower priority LTE frequencies
Priority 3
perform measurements LTE
UMTS.
SIB 19-
sPrioritySearch2

Priority 5
80

Lower priority layers- Cell reselection
If Srxlev <= sPrioritySearch1 and/or Squal <= sPrioritySearch2 the UE is

required to perform measurements on lower priority LTE frequencies
Cell reselection to a lower priority layer is performed by the UE if:
Srxlev of the serving cell < threshServingLow or Squal of the serving

cell < 0
Srxlev of the neighbour cell > threshLow .

Priority 3
Cell reselection LTE
UMTS.
SIB 19-
sPrioritySearch2

Priority 5
81
Cell reselection to a lower priority layer is performed by the UE if the following criteria are
fulfilled for a duration of Treselection seconds:
Srxlev of the serving cell < threshServingLow or Squal of the serving cell < 0
Srxlev of the neighbour cell > threshLow
For LTE, Srxlev is defined as Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - qRxLevMin
Qrxlevmeas is the RSRP level of the LTE cell (in dB) measured by the UE
Parameter qRxLevMin indicates the minimum required RSRP level for camping

Cell reselection to a lower priority layer
Cell reselection to a lower priority layer is

performed by the UE if:
Srxlev of the serving cell <
threshServingLow or Squal of the serving
cell < 0
Srxlev of the neighbour cell > threshLow.
Priority 3
LTE
UMTS.
SIB 19-
sPrioritySearch2
neighbour cell
serving cell
Priority 5
82

Summary- Higher Priority
The UE shall always perform measurements on layers with higher priority

than the serving WCDMA cell.
Cell reselection to a higher priority layer is performed by the UE if Srxlev of

the cell is greater than threshHigh for a duration of Treselection seconds.
This is Freq Must measure LTE

& Srxlev of
threshHigh neighbour cell
of neighbour
UMTS.
SIB 19 Priority 7
neighbour cell
serving cell
Priority 1
83

SIB19
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): EARFCN This setting

specifies the Downlink EARFCN of the neighbouring E-
UTRA cell(s).
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): Measurement Bandwidth

This setting determines the measurement bandwidth for the
corresponding SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8). The
measurement bandwidth indicates the number of resource
blocks over which the UE could measure.
The default value for this setting is 50, specifying a channel

bandwidth of 10MHz.
84
To enable cell reselection from UMTS to LTE, the UTRAN must send a neighboring LTE cell list and
reselection parameters to the UE. Based on the information, the UE can perform neighbouring
cell measurement and reselection. In the UTRAN, the LTE frequencies and their absolute priorities
are indicated in SIB19. Thus, to support cell reselection from UMTS to LTE, the RNC must support
SIB19.
If the UE receives system information block type 19 (SIB19) broadcast by the UMTS network, it
selects a PLMN based on the RAT priorities of PLMNs included in SIB19. Otherwise, it keeps the
initial PLMN selection. In the UMTS network, SIB19 includes the absolute priority of the serving
cell and the absolute priority of each LTE frequency. When an LTE frequency has a higher the
absolute priority than the serving cell, the UE reselects an LTE cell at this frequency if other
conditions for LTE cell reselection are also met. When the absolute priority of each LTE frequency
is lower than that of the serving cell, the UE reselects another UMTS cell if other conditions for
UMTS cell reselection are also met. In the LTE network, SIB3 includes the absolute priority of the
serving cell, SIB5 includes the absolute priority of each LTE frequency, and SIB6 includes the
absolute priority of each UMTS frequency. Based on these priorities, a UE can determine to select
or reselect a UMTS cell or an LTE cell.
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): Measurement Bandwidth This setting determines the
measurement bandwidth for the corresponding SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8). The measurement
bandwidth indicates the number of resource blocks over which the UE could measure.

SIB19
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): Priority This setting

determines the reselection priority for the corresponding
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8).
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): QrxlevminEUTRA This

setting determines the QrxlevminEUTRA, which allows
specification of the minimum required Rx level in the cell(s)
associated with the corresponding SIB19 E-UTRA
EARFCN (1 to 8).
85
If the broadcasting of SIB19 is disabled or each LTE frequency has a lower absolute priority than
the serving cell, the UE reselects another UMTS cell according to the H criteria or R criteria.
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): EARFCN This setting specifies the Downlink EARFCN of the
neighbouring E-UTRA cell(s) for the corresponding SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8).
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): Priority This setting determines the reselection priority for the
corresponding SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8).

SIB19
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): Threshx,high.

This setting determines the Thresh x,high value for the
Thresh x,high , as defined in 3GPP TS 36.304
Srxlev > Threshx,highP

Threshold (in dB) used by UE for cell re-
selection to a HIGHER priority
86
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): Threshx,high This setting determines the Threshx,high value for
the corresponding SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8). Threshx,high , as defined in 3GPP TS 36.304
v8.8.0, specifies the threshold used by the UE when reselecting towards the higher priority
frequency X than current serving frequency.

SIB19
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): Threshx,low This
setting determines the Thresh x,low value for the
Thresh x,low , as defined in 3GPP TS 36.304

selection to a LOWER priority
87
SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8): Threshx,low This setting determines the Threshx,low value for
the corresponding SIB19 E-UTRA EARFCN (1 to 8). Threshx,low , as defined in 3GPP TS 36.304
v8.8.0, specifies the threshold used in reselection towards frequency X priority from a higher
priority frequency.

SIB19
EARFCN This setting specifies the
Downlink EARFCN of the neighbouring E-
UMTS serving cell UTRA cell(s).
Measurement Bandwidth
Priority from 0 to 7, where 7 is the highest

priority
Qrxlevmin EUTRA minimum required Rx

level

selection to a HIGHER priority

selection to a LOWER priority
88

SIB19
UMTS serving cell
Using the eutraDetection parameter in

SIB19, you can make UE to detect and
display the presence of lower priority LTE
frequencies while it is in WCDMA cell
89

2.15 Questions
Question
When are these

parameters used?
90

Question
UMTS serving cell - priority
0-7
If Srxlev > sPrioritySearch1 the UE may

choose not to measure on lower priority
LTE frequencies
If Srxlev <= sPrioritySearch1 UE is
required to perform measurements on
Squal > sPrioritySearch2 the UE may

Cell reselection to a lower priority
choose not to measure on lower priority
layer is performed by the UE if:
LTE frequencies
Srxlev of the serving cell <
threshServingLow or Squal of Squal <= sPrioritySearch2 the UE is
the serving cell < 0 required to perform measurements on
91

2.16 LTE to WCDMA Cell Reselection
Priorities
UE does not change cells randomly:
First : Absolute Priority

Second : Radio Link Quality
Third Level : Cell Accessibility
UE always have to measure frequencies and RAT with higher priority.
LTE cell reselection uses priority based levels. (These priorities can be specified
in LTE SIB4,5,6,7 and RRC Connection Release).
Priority 0 indicate the lowest priority and 7 indicate the highest priority.
The priority cannot be same for WCDMA and LTE, meaning that it must be set
differently for different RAT.
93

How to detect and reselect to WCDMA cell while in
LTE ?
Measurement Criteria (From High Priority LTE Cell to Lower Priority WCDMA
Cell): When LTE cell has higher priority than WCDMA, it would stay in LTE
cell but it performs measurement for the low priority WCDMA if UE is under
the following condition :
Srxlev of the serving cell < sNonIntraSearch (SIB3),

Priority 1
UMTS.
Priority 7
LTE
SIB 3
neighbour cell
serving cell
94

Measuring frequencies and RAT with lower priority
UE has to measure frequencies and RAT with lower priority in the following
way:
UE has to perform intra-frequency measurement only when SrxLev of the

serving cell <= SintraSearch
UE has to perform lower or equal priority inter-frequency/InterRAT

measurement only when SrxLev of the serving cell <= SnonintraSearch
SNonIntraSearch
Sintrasearch
inter-
intra-frequency No need to
frequency/InterR measurement measure
AT measurement
neighbour cells if
same priority
-128 dBm -68 dBm 95

How to detect and reselect to WCDMA cell while in
LTE ?
Srxlev of the serving cell < sNonIntraSearch (SIB3),
If we express this using dB/dBm, Srxlev of the serving cell < (2 x

sNonIntraSearch (SIB3))
Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - qRxLevMin (SIB3)
Priority 7
LTE
SIB 3
serving cell
96
Srxlev of the serving cell < sNonIntraSearch (SIB3).
If we express this using dB/dBm, Srxlev of the serving cell < (2 x sNonIntraSearch (SIB3)),
where Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas - qRxLevMin (SIB3).
If we express using dB/dBm, Srxlev = Qrxlevmeas [dBm] - (2 x qRxLevMin (SIB3)) [dBm],

where Qrxlevemeas = measured RSRP level, qRxLevMin = minimum RSRP level for camping.

UMTS FDD Carrier List UTRA ARFCN
LTE to UMTS Priority
threshX-High
threshX-Low
Qrxlevmin
SIB6: Cell-reselection pMax
parameters INTER RAT qQualmin
Frequency threshX-HighQ
threshX-LowQ
Treselection UMTS.
Treselection Speed Scaling Factors
LTE
SIB 6
serving cell
97

SIB6: Cell-reselection parameters INTER RAT
Frequency
Contains information relevant only for inter-RAT cell re-selection (information

about UTRA frequencies and UTRA neighbouring cells relevant for cell re-
selection. includes cell re-selection parameters common for a frequency.
carrierFreqListUTRA_FDD/TDD Information specified for up to 16 instances of RF

carriers for FDD or TDD
cellReselectionPriority defines the absolute priority of the UMTS. Value 0-7,
0 is the lowest priority
threshX_High # Threshold (in dB) used by UE for cell re-selection
to a HIGHER priority UMTS frequency
# The Srxlev of the candiate cell is greater then
threshX_High
# Value 0 to 31 dB. Actual value= Signaled value * 2
98
LTE to WCDMA cell reselection is based on 3GPP Rel-8.
LTE to WCDMA cell reselection uses priority based thresholds the same way as in WCDMA to LTE
cell reselection. The operator assigns priority levels for each LTE frequency layer as well as for the
WCDMA cells. The priority must be set differently for different RAT.
If the UE in LTE detects a neighboring WCDMA cell with higher priority than the serving LTE cell it
will attempt an IRAT cell reselection to the WCDMA cell.The signal strength for the target WCDMA
cell must however be above a minimum signal strength threshold. LTE system information SIB6
specifies the WCDMA frequencies and the parameters used for absolute priority based cell
reselection. Downlink ARFCN is used as a representation of the WCDMA frequency carriers.

SIB 6
99

3 Paging
Section 3: Paging

Paging
3.1 Bearers
Bearers
LTE-Uu S1-U S5
Serving P-
PDN
Gateway Gateway
End to End Bearer
EPS Bearer External Bearer
Radio Bearer S1 - Bearer S5 - Bearer
E-RAB
Bearer is just a virtual concept. It defines how the UE data is treated when it travels across the network.
Network might treat some data in a special way and treat others normally. Some flow of data might be
provided guaranteed bit rate while other may face low transfer. In short, bearer is a set of network
parameters that defines data specific treatment. For example, Person A will always get at least 256 Kbps
download speed on his LTE phone while for Person B there is no guaranteed bit rate and he may therefore
occasionally experience poor download speeds.
When LTE UE attaches to the network for the first time, it will be assigned a default bearer which remains
as long as UE is attached. Default bearer is best effort service. Each default bearer comes with an IP
address. UE can have additional default bearers as well. Each default bearer will have a separate IP
address. QCI 5 to 9 (Non- GBR) can be assigned to default bearer.
Dedicated Bearers
In simple terms, dedicated bearers provide tunnels to one or more specific traffic types (VoIP, video, etc.).
Dedicated bearer operates as an additional bearer on top of default bearer. It does not require separate IP
address due to the fact that only additional default bearer needs an IP address and therefore dedicated
bearer is always linked to one of the default bearers established previously. Dedicated bearer can be GBR
or non-GBR (whereas default bearer can only be non-GBR). For services like VoLTE, there is a need for
better user experience and this can be improved by using dedicated bearers. Dedicated bearer uses Traffic
flow templates (TFT) to give special treatment to specific services.

Paging
Bearers
LTE-Uu S1-U S5
Serving P-
PDN PDN
Gateway Gateway
Default Bearer
Dedicated Bearer
Default EPS Bearer :
Does not allocate any
Be established during Attach Process
additional IP address to UE
Allocate IP address to UE
Is linked to a specified
Does not have specific QoS (only Nominal QoS is applied ).
default EPS bearer
Dedicated Bearer
Dedicated Bearer
Normally be established during the call setup after idle mode.
Have a specific (usually guaranteed) QoS
Default bearers are created on a per PDN

Default Bearer basis.
Each default bearer comes with an IP

Dedicated Bearer address
EPS is effectively a connection-oriented transmission network and, as such, it requires the establishment
of a “virtual” connection between two endpoints before any traffic can be sent between them. In EPS
terminology, this virtual connection is called an “EPS Bearer”; a term that emphasizes the fact that the
virtual connection provides a “bearer service”, i.e. a transport service with specific QoS attributes. As a
concept, the EPS Bearer corresponds to the “PDP Context” used in GPRS.
An EPS virtual connection or “EPS bearer” is characterized by:
 The two endpoints (e.g. UE and PDN-GW).
 A QoS Class Index (QCI) that describes the type of service that makes use of the virtual connection
(e.g. conversational voice, streaming video, signaling, best effort, etc). Inside each EPS node, the QCI
points to more detailed pre-configured QoS attributes (e.g. maximum delay, residual error rate, etc).
These QoS attributes characterize the type of transport service provided by the virtual connection.
 Optionally, a flow specification that describes the guaranteed and maximum bitrate (GBR, MBR) of the
aggregate traffic flow that goes through the virtual connection.
 A filter specification that describes the traffic flows (in terms of IP addresses, protocols, port numbers,
etc) for which the transport service is provided between the two endpoints.
 Default EPS Bearer:
o Established during Attach Process
o Allocates IP address to UE
o Does not have specifc QoS (only Nominal QoS is applied)
o Similar to Primary PDP Context in UMTS
 Dedicated EPS Bearer:
o Established during the call setup after idle mode (but can also be established during the attach)
o Does not allocate any additional IP address to UE
o Linked to a specified default EPS bearer
o Has a specific (usually guaranteed) QoS
o Similar to Secondary PDP Context in UMTS

Paging
Bearers
LTE-Uu S1-U S5
Serving P-
PDN
Gateway Gateway
Default Bearer
Dedicated Bearer
A packet with higher

priority can be
expected to be
scheduled before a
packet with lower
priority.

Paging
ACTIVATE DEDICATED EPS BEARER CONTEXT
REQUEST message
The MME shall initiate the dedicated bearer context activation procedure by sending
an ACTIVATE DEDICATED EPS BEARER CONTEXT REQUEST message.
Default Bearer
Serving P- PDN
Gateway Gateway
Dedicated Bearer
Dedicated EPS bearers are

activated and deactivated
depending on the service used
but the default bearer remains
established throughout the
lifetime of the PDN connection.
Activate Dedicated EPS Bearer Context Request
The purpose of the dedicated EPS bearer context activation procedure is to establish an EPS
bearer context with a specific QoS and TFT between the UE and the EPC.
A PDN connection consists of one Default EPS bearer and, depending on the service for which the
connection is used, a number of dedicated EPS bearers.
A default EPS bearer is established during the Attach or Standalone PDN Connectivity procedure.
Any additional EPS bearer that is established for the same PDN connection is referred to as a
dedicated EPS bearer. Dedicated EPS bearers are activated and deactivated depending on the
service used but the default bearer remains established throughout the lifetime of the PDN
connection. The network decides if dedicated bearers need to be setup or not and what QoS
settings should be applied for the dedicated bearers.
The dedicated EPS bearer can be either guaranteed bit rate (GBR) or non-GBR.
The dedicated EPS bearer context activation procedure is initiated by the NW, but may be
requested by the UE by means of the UE requested bearer resource allocation/modification
procedure.

Paging
3.2 EPS Mobility Management
EPS Mobility Management (EMM) and Connection

Management (ECM) states
The EPS Mobility Management (EMM) states describe the Mobility

Management states that result from the mobility management procedures
e.g. Attach and Tracking Area Update procedures.
There are two EMM states described in Specs:

EMM-DEREGISTERED
EMM-REGISTERED
EMM-DEREGISTERED
In the EMM DEREGISTERED state, the EMM context in MME holds no valid
location or routing information for the UE. The UE is not reachable by a MME,
as the UE location is not known.
EMM-REGISTERED
The UE enters the EMM-REGISTERED state by a successful registration with
an Attach procedure to either E-UTRAN or GERAN/UTRAN. The MME enters
the EMM-REGISTERED state by a successful Tracking Area Update procedure.
6
There are two states:

 Registered
 DeRegistered
Registered :
UE can enter into this state by:
o Attach
o I-RAT[Inter RAT ] TAU
In this state UE at least has 1 active PDN connection and EPS security context.
The UE location is known in the MME to at least an accuracy of the tracking area list allocated
to that UE.
DeRegistered :
UE can enter into this state by:
o Attach Reject
o TAU Reject
o On Detach
o On successful I-Rat Handover
In this case Routing info is not available to MME and UE is not reachable.

Paging
EPS Mobility Management (EMM) and Connection
Management (ECM) states
EMM-REGISTERED
The UE enters the EMM-REGISTERED
state by a successful registration with an
Attach procedure to either E-UTRAN or
GERAN/UTRAN. The MME enters the
EMM-REGISTERED state by a successful
Context Tracking Area Update procedure.
IMSI, MEI, MSISDN,
EPS bearers context,
SGW address and The transport bearer is identified by the
GTP-U TEID and the IP address (source MME
TEID's (Tunnel TEID, destination TEID, source IP address,
destination IP address).
Endpoint ID) etc.
MME Serving
Gateway
GTP-U is, in effect, a relatively simple IP based tunneling protocol which permits many tunnels
between each set of end points. When used in the UMTS, each subscriber will have one or more
tunnel, one for each PDP context that they have active, as well as possibly having separate
tunnels for specific connections with different quality of service requirements.
The separate tunnels are identified by a TEID (Tunnel Endpoint Identifier) in the GTP-U messages.
EMM-DEREGISTERED
In the EMM DEREGISTERED state, the EMM context in MME holds no valid location or routing
information for the UE. The UE is not reachable by a MME, as the UE location is not known.
EMM-REGISTERED
The UE enters the EMM-REGISTERED state by a successful registration with an Attach procedure
to either E-UTRAN or GERAN/UTRAN. The MME enters the EMM-REGISTERED state by a
successful Tracking Area Update procedure for a UE selecting an E-UTRAN cell from
GERAN/UTRAN or by an Attach procedure via E-UTRAN.

Paging
Tunnel Management
MME
The create session
Create Session Request
S5
S11
request message
should be sent on the
Serving PDN GW S11 interface by the
Gateway MME to the S-GW,
Create Session Request and on the S5/S8
interface by the S-GW
TEID's (Tunnel Endpoint ID) to the PDN GW.
IP address
TEID's (Tunnel Endpoint ID) In the create session
IP address
request message the
IMSI is included as a
Default Bearer
mandatory information
Serving
Gateway element.
Dedicated Bearer
GTP-U - GTP User Data Tunneling

All variants of GTP have certain features in common. The structure of the messages is the same,
with a GTP header following the UDP/TCP header.
The GTP-U protocol carries out a mapping between the S1 and S5/S8 bearers and the fixed
network’s transport protocols, by associating each bearer with a bi-directional GTPU tunnel. In
turn, each tunnel is associated with two tunnel endpoint identifiers (TEIDs), one for the uplink and
one for the downlink. These identifiers are set up using GTP-C signalling messages, and are stored
by the network elements at both ends of the tunnel.
TEID flag
If this bit is set to 1 then the TEID field will be present between the message length and the
sequence number. All messages except Echo and Echo reply require TEID to be present.
Tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID)A 32-bit(4-octet) field is used to multiplex different connections
in the same GTP tunnel.

Paging
Tunnel Management
In turn, each packet filter contains

information such as the IP addresses of
Video the source and destination devices, and VIDEO
the UDP or TCP port numbers of the SERVER
source and destination applications.
Default Bearer
Internet
Packet
Dedicat Dedicated filters
TEID 5 TEID 10
Bearer
ed
Bearer
P–
Dedicat
TEID 23 Dedicat Packet
ed Serving TEID
ed
20 Gateway
Bearer filters
Gateway Bearer
Email
Client Email
SERVER
Looks up mobile’s serving gateway

and adds an IP header that contains
the serving gateway’s IP address. 9
The GTP-U protocol carries out a mapping between the S1 and S5/S8 bearers and the fixed
network’s transport protocols, by associating each bearer with a bi-directional GTP-U tunnel. In
turn, each tunnel is associated with two tunnel endpoint identifiers (TEIDs), one for the uplink and
one for the downlink. These identifiers are set up using GTP-C signalling messages, and are stored
by the network elements at both ends of the tunnel.
The PDN gateway now has to assign each incoming packet to the correct EPS bearer. To help it
achieve this, each EPS bearer is associated with a traffic flow template (TFT). This comprises a set
of packet filters, one for each of the packet flows that make up the bearer.
In turn, each packet filter contains information such as the IP addresses of the source and
destination devices, and the UDP or TCP port numbers of the source and destination applications.
By inspecting every incoming packet and comparing it with all the packet filters that have been
installed, the PDN gateway can assign every packet to the correct bearer.
The PDN gateway now looks up the corresponding GTP-U tunnel and adds a GTP-U header that
contains the downlink TEID.
It also looks up the mobile’s serving gateway and adds an IP header that contains the serving
gateway’s IP address. It can then forward the packet to the serving gateway.
When the packet arrives, the serving gateway opens the GTP-U header and reads its TEID. It uses
this information to identify the corresponding EPS bearer, and to look up the destination base
station and the next TEID . It then forwards the packet to the base station in the manner
described above and the base station transmits the packet to the mobile. A similar process
happens in reverse on the uplink.

Paging
3.3 EPS Connection Management (ECM)
EPS Connection Management (ECM)

ECM-IDLE
A UE is in ECM-IDLE state when NO NAS signalling connection between UE
and network exists. In ECM-IDLE state, a UE performs cell
selection/reselection according to TS 36.304
ECM-IDLE
LTE-Uu S1-U
There is no S1_MME and no
Serving S1_U connection for the UE in
Gateway the ECM-IDLE state
S1_MME
End to End MME
Bearer
NO NAS signalling connection
10
ECM Idle:
A UE is in ECM-IDLE state when no NAS signalling connection between UE and network exists.
In ECM-IDLE state, a UE performs cell selection/reselection according to TS 36.304 [34] and PLMN
selection according to TS 23.122 [10].
There is no S1_MME and no S1_U connection for the UE in the ECM-IDLE state.
The signalling connection is made up of two parts: an RRC connection and an S1_MME
connection.
The UE shall enter the ECM-IDLE state when its signalling connection to the MME has been
released or broken.
The S1 release procedure changes the state at both UE and MME from ECM-CONNECTED to ECM-
IDLE.

Paging
ECM-IDLE
LTE-Uu S1-U S5
Serving P-
PDN
Gateway Gateway
S5 - Bearer External Bearer

End to End Bearer
In this state, it would be inappropriate to keep all the bearers in place, because
the network would have to re-route them whenever the mobile moved from one
cell to another, even though they would not be carrying any information.
The network tears down a mobile’s S1 bearers and radio bearers whenever the
mobile enters ECM-IDLE
In the EMM-REGISTERED and ECM-

IDLE state
11

Paging
ECM-IDLE EMM-REGISTERED
LTE-Uu S1-U S5
Serving P-
PDN
Gateway Gateway

End to End Bearer
In the EMM-REGISTERED and ECM-IDLE state , the UE shall
Do a periodic TAU to notify EPC that UE is available.
Do a TAU when the current TA is not in the list of TAs received when UE was
registered.
When RRC connection was release with 'LOAD Balancing TAU required'
cause, send Service request when it wants to send uplink user data or upon
receiving paging.
. 12
In the EMM-REGISTERED and ECM-IDLE state, the UE shall:
 Perform a periodic TAU to notify EPC that UE is available.

 Perform a TAU when the current TA is not in the list of TAs received when UE was registered.
 When RRC connection was release with 'LOAD Balancing TAU required' cause.
 Send Service request when it wants to send uplink user data or upon receiving paging.
 Perform a TAU when change of the UE's Core Network Capability information.
Initial NAS messages that initiate a transition from ECM-IDLE to ECM-CONNECTED state are:
Attach Request, Tracking Area Update Request, Service Request or Detach Request.

Paging
UE in the EMM-REGISTERED and ECM-IDLE state
ECM-IDLE In ECM-IDLE state, a UE

LTE-Uu S1-U performs cell
Serving
selection/reselection according
Gateway to TS 36.304 [34] and PLMN
selection according to TS
S1_MME MME 23.122 [10].
Perform a tracking area

update.
EMM-REGISTERED
The UE location is known Perform the periodic tracking
in the MME. area.
13

Paging
3.4 Tracking Area Update (TAU)
TAU Update
To initiate a TAU, the UE should have an RRC connection.
First step is to camp on to nearest eNB by performing cell re-selection process.
After RRC connection is established, UE may send TAU to network.
Tracking Area Identity = MCC (Mobile

Country Code), MNC (Mobile Network
Code) and TAC (Tracking Area Code).
Tracking Area Tracking Area
s6a Home
NAS: Tracking Area
MME HSS
update
14
UE does need not be in a connected state all the time. So what happens when a UE is in idle
mode and is moving from one place to other? When UE is in idle mode, MME will have the UE's
last know location. So if some data arrives to UE, while it is in idle mode, MME will initiate paging
process to find UE.
Now if UE has moved from the last know location how will the MME know the UE's new location?
This is where TAU becomes extremely important. In this case it is the responsibility of UE to
inform about its location to network.
Operators can allocate different TA lists to different UEs. This can avoid signaling peaks in some
conditions: for instance, the UEs of passengers of a train may not perform tracking area updates
simultaneously.

Paging
LTE Functional Nodes - Management Entity (MME)
Tracking Area Update Request

S-TMSI/IMSI,/ GUTI MME
Tracking Area Update Accept
S1-MME
(Control Plane)
Tracking Area Update Complete NAS Protocols
S1-AP
SCTP
IP
L1/L2
eNB
S1-U
(User Plane)
User PDUs
GTP-U
Serving
UDP Gateway
IP
L1/L2
15
Tracking area
The tracking area is the LTE counterpart of the location area and routing area. A tracking area is a
set of cells. Tracking areas can be grouped into lists of tracking areas (TA lists), which can be
configured on the User Equipment (UE). Tracking area updates are performed periodically or
when the UE moves to a tracking area that is not included in its TA list.
On the network side, the involved element is the Mobility Management Entity (MME). MME
configures TA lists using NAS messages like Attach Accept, TAU Accept or GUTI Reallocation
Command.
Location area
A "location area" is a set of base stations that are grouped together to optimise signalling.
Typically, tens or even hundreds of base stations share a single Base Station Controller (BSC) in
GSM, or a Radio Network Controller (RNC) in UMTS.
Routing area
The routing area is the PS domain equivalent of the location area. A "routing area" is normally a
subdivision of a "location area”. Routing areas are used by mobiles which are GPRS-attached.

Paging
Periodic TAU
Periodic TAU: Upon the expiry of timer T3412, periodic TAU procedure is
initiated to periodically notify the availability of the UE to the network.
ECM-IDLE state Value of timer T3412

ATTACH ACCEPT
TRACKING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT
message.
The timer T3412 starts with its initial value, when the UE goes from EMM-
CONNECTED to EMM-IDLE mode. The timer T3412 is stopped when the UE
enters EMM-CONNECTED mode or EMM-DEREGISTERED state.
16
Periodic TAU
Periodic tracking area updating is used to periodically notify the availability of the UE to the
network. The procedure is controlled in the UE by the periodic tracking area update timer (timer
T3412). The value of timer T3412 is sent by the network to the UE in the ATTACH ACCEPT message
and can be sent in the TRACKING AREA UPDATE ACCEPT message. The UE shall apply this value in
all tracking areas of the list of tracking areas assigned to the UE, until a new value is received.

Paging
Load re-balancing TAU required
A Tracking Area Update takes place if:
- UE detects it has entered a new Tracking Area that is not in the list of
TAIs that the UE registered with the network;
- the periodic Tracking Area update timer has expired;
- the RRC connection was released with release cause "load re-balancing
TAU required“.
Out of service
RRC connection was released.

MME MME
load re-balancing TAU required"
TAU Request
UE Core Network Capability, MME MME
old GUTI,
last visited TAI,,
EPS bearer status ,
, Pool of MME
17
This is the case when a MME is overloaded or out of service, it can simply move the calls to other
MME in a given pool. MME-1 has been overloaded and cannot handle any more calls.
If MME-1 wants to free up some resources, than it release the S1 connections of UE towards eNB
asking UE to perform a “load balancing TAU”.
This is conveyed to UE by eNB in a RRC message. When UE gets this message it shall send a
Tracking area update message which is routed to MME-2 by eNB. This way MME-1 can easily
move calls to other MME-2.

Paging
MME identification
A MME in the network is identified by MME

code and Group id MME MME
Code Code
MME MME
Code Code
MME Group
MME MME
Code Code
MME MME
Code Code
MME Group
18
Globally Unique MME Identifier (GUMMEI)
The format and size of the GUTI is:
GUTI = GUMMEI + M-TMSI
Where:
GUMMEI = MCC + MNC + MME Identifier
MME Identifier = MME Group ID + MME Code
MCC and MNC shall have the same field size as in earlier 3GPP systems
M-TMSI shall be of 32 bits length
MME Group ID shall be of 16 bits length
MME Code shall be of 8 bits length

Paging
Globally Unique Temporary ID
In LTE the GUTI is allocated to the UE by the MME and has two components.
hese are the GUMMEI (Globally Unique MME ID) and the M-TMSI (MME-
TMSI).
While the GUMMEI identifies the MME, the M-TMSI identifies the UE within
the MME.
MME
GUTI
The Globally Unique MME Identifier

(GUMMEI) is constructed from the MCC,
MNC and MME Identifier (MMEI).
Within the MME, the mobile is identified by

the M-TMSI.
19
In LTE, the P-TMSI is now called the Globally Unique Temporary ID or Global cell ID. Some of the
digits in the GUTI identify the Mobility Management Entity the mobile was last registered with
and they are referred to as the Globally Unique MME Identifier, or the GUMMEI.
In GPRS and UMTS the mobile's temporary id was the (P-TMSI) Packet Temporary Mobile Identity.
This id is changed on a frequent basis and used instead of the IMSI.

Paging
TRACKING AREA UPDATE REQUEST message
(Periodic TA updating)
Not a complete message
20
GUTI : Globally unique Temporary UE Identifier
GUTI is an ID which uniquely identifies a UE in EPS without revealing the users permanent ID.
GUTI is allocated by a MME which can be used to uniquely identify the MME which allocated the
GUTI.
Uniquely identify the UE within the MME that allocated the GUTI.
GUTI = GUMMEI + M-TMSI

Paging
TRACKING AREA UPDATE
MME Group
MME
Code
Tracking Area OLD Context
Response
IMSI, MEI,
context request to old MME
MSISDN, EPS
bearers context,
NAS: Tracking
Area update
MME SGW address
Code NEW and TEID's etc.
OLD-
GUTI
Tracking Area
21
When contacting the network, the mobile sends the GUTI to the base station which then uses the
parameter to identify the MME to which it will send the request to re-establish the
communication session.
Context Request
The new MME receives the TAU request from eNB. New MME uses GUTI received from UE to
derive old MME and sends a context request to old MME. A context request includes old GUTI,
complete TAU request, P-TMSI, MME address etc. Basically this message is sent by new MME to
old MME to inquire about UE's authenticity, the bearers created if any etc.
Context Response
The old MME receives context request message and validates the UE. Upon successful
verification of UE old MME responds with context response. Context response include IMSI, MEI,
MSISDN, EPS bearers context, SGW address and TEID's etc. This response gives out all the UE
contexts setup in old MME to new MME. The new MME receives this message and happily store
the UE context in it and sends context ACK to old MME. Context ack is sent with "SGW Change
indication" to indicate the old MME that SGW is going to change.

Paging
In the IE EPS update type the first 3 bits (LSBs) shall be used to indicate
update type (ex:- ‘TA updating’ or ‘combined TA/LA updating’ or ‘combined
TA/LA updating (including P-TMSI) with IMSI attach’ or ‘periodic updating’).
MME
HSS
Could include Old P-TMSI signature SGs
The Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) is the

identity that is most commonly sent between the mobile and MS
C/VLR
the network. TMSI is randomly assigned by the VLR to every
mobile in the area, the moment it is switched on. The number
is local to a location area, and so it has to be updated each
time the mobile moves to a new geographical area.
22
A GSM or UMTS network, like all cellular networks, is a radio network of individual cells, known as base
stations. Each base station covers a small geographical area which is part of a uniquely identified location
area. By integrating the coverage of each of these base stations, a cellular network provides a radio
coverage over a much wider area. A group of base stations is named a location area, or a routing area.
The location update procedure allows a mobile device to inform the cellular network, whenever it moves
from one location area to the next. Mobiles are responsible for detecting location area codes. When a
mobile finds that the location area code is different from its last update, it performs another update by
sending to the network, a location update request, together with its previous location, and its Temporary
Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI).
There are several reasons why a mobile may provide updated location information to the network.
Whenever a mobile is switched on or off, the network may require it to perform an IMSI attach or IMSI
detach location update procedure. Also, each mobile is required to regularly report its location at a set
time interval using a periodic location update procedure. Whenever a mobile moves from one location
area to the next while not on a call, a random location update is required. This is also required of a
stationary mobile that reselects coverage from a cell in a different location area, because of signal fade.
Thus a subscriber has reliable access to the network and may be reached with a call, while enjoying the
freedom of mobility within the whole coverage area.
When a subscriber is paged in an attempt to deliver a call or SMS and the subscriber does not reply to that
page then the subscriber is marked as absent in both the Mobile Switching Center / Visitor Location
Register (MSC/VLR) and the Home Location Register (HLR/HSS).
Update Location: Upon successful reception of create session response, the new MME sends a location
update message to HSS to indicate that UE has changed its location. HSS identifies the UE old location in
its database and sends a cancel location to old MME. Old MME acknowledges the cancel location with an
Ack.

Paging
GUTI:
GUTI is an identifier for the UE allocated by MME so that IMSI is not
required to be transmitted over radio interface (where it is
susceptible to interception). Structure of GUTI is designed such that
it is possible to identify the node (MME) that allocated it.
GUTI = MCC + MNC + MME ID + M-TMSI

MME
PTMSI:
P-TMSI (Packet domain TMSI) is an
identifier for the UE allocated by SGSN. P- HSS
TMSI contains NRI (Network resource
identifier) which is used to identify the node
that allocated it. In 3G, LAC (present as
part of RAI) is used to identify the SGSN
pool and NRI is used to identify a node SGSN
VLR
within the pool.
23
A unique International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) shall be allocated to each mobile
subscriber in every (GSM, UMTS, and EPS) system. In order to support the subscriber identity
confidentiality service the VLRs, SGSNs and MMEs may allocate Temporary Mobile Subscriber
Identities (TIMSI) to visiting mobile subscribers. The VLR, SGSN, and MME must be capable of
correlating an allocated TIMSI with the IMSI of the Mobile Station (MS) to which it is allocated.
A UE may be allocated three TMSIs, one for services provided through the MSC, one for services
provided through the SGSN (P-TIMSI for short) and one for the services provided via the MME
(M-TIMSI which is part of GUTI).

Paging
M-TMSI IMSI
MME
Paging
A UE may be
allocated three P-TMSI IMSI HSS
TMSIs
SGSN/
VLR
Paging
TMSI IMSI
MSC/
VLR
Paging
24
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)

 Mobile Country Code (MCC) consisting of three digits. The MSS identifies uniquely the country
of domicile of mobile subscriber.
 Mobile Network Code (MNC) consisting of two or three digits.
 Mobile Subscriber Identification Number (MSIN) identifying the mobile subscriber within a
PLMN.
Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI)

Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI) has only local significance (in VLR/SGSN/MME and
area controlled by VLR/SGSN/MME). The TMSI is used instead of IMSI to protect subscriber from
being identified and also make life more difficult to radio interface eavesdroppers.
The TMSI consists of 4 octets. It can be coded using a hexadecimal representation. The network
shall not allocate a TMSI with all 32 bits equal to 1, because TMSI must be stored in the SIM, and
SIM uses 4 octets with all bits equal to 1 to indicate that no valid TMSI is available.
TMSI is being held by VLR and is not passed to HLR. The TMSI is used mostly in Paging situations.

Paging
Call Flow
25

Paging
ECM-IDLE
enodeB MME
Request paging
ECM-IDLE
paging
If the MME wishes to contact an idle mobile, then it can do so by sending an

S1-AP Paging message to all the base stations in the mobile’s tracking area(s).
Paging procedure: Initiated by the network and used to request the
establishment of a NAS signalling connection or to prompt the UE to re-attach if
necessary as a result of a network failure
Service Request
Paging procedure: Initiated by the network

ECM-CONNECTED and used to request the establishment of a
NAS signalling connection or to prompt the
UE to re-attach if necessary as a result of a
26
network failure.
Some limited communication is still possible. If the MME wishes to contact an idle mobile, then it
can do so by sending an S1-AP Paging message to all the base stations in the mobile’s tracking
area(s). The base stations react by transmitting an RRC Paging message. If the mobile wishes to
contact the network or reply to a paging message, then it sends the MME an EMM message
called a Service Request and the MME reacts by moving the mobile into ECM-CONNECTED.
In UMTS, there are two types of Paging. Paging Type 1 used for Idle mode and Paging Type 2 for
Connected mode. No such Paging types are there, only one type of Paging exists in LTE.
In LTE, It uses the same mechanisms used for ‘normal ’ DL data transmission on the DL-SCH and
UE monitors the L1/L2 control signaling for downlink scheduling assignments. Even eNB can
indicate UE for change of system information in connected mode through PCH. RRC Paging
message is used to notify UE about the change of system information.

Paging
ECM-CONNECTED
SGW S5/8
s1
If UE is in connected mode and moving from one place to

other then handovers take place.
ALL BEARERS EXIST
27
If UE is in connected mode and moving from one place to other then handovers take place. Note
that handovers are transparent to UE except that UE now camps on to a new eNB. Also handovers
are network initiated. This means a handover can happen when the UE is known to the network,
i.e when UE is in connected state. Also after the handover if UE finds that it is present in new
tracking area then it can initiate a tracking area update.

Paging
3.5 Paging Procedure
Paging procedure
Wakes up every Paging occasion

and searches for P-RNTI within the enodeB SGW PGW
PDCCH transmission MME
INCOMING
DATA
Request
ECM-IDLE
paging
paging DL Data Notification 1
2
SERVICE REQUEST OR
EXTENDED SERVICE REQUEST
If PAGING is for PS domain then UE NAS layer triggers SERVICE REQUEST

otherwise, if the PAGING is for CSFB then UE triggers Extended SERVICE
REQUEST
OR
When UE finds it's identity in the message it triggers the Random Access
Procedure. followed by establishing the RRC Connection.
28
S-GW
1. DL data arrives for the UE.
2. Creates DL Data Notification message and forwards to MME.
MME
When UE is in ECM-Idle state, the UE location is known to MME on a per TA basis. Therefore, MME has to
page all eNB's within a group of TA.
Paging is for PS data.
UE is addressed by S-TMSI.
List of TAI: informs the eNB to broadcast the Paging messages in the mentioned TAIs.
Sends DL Data Notification ACK message to S-GW.
eNodeB
Receives S1AP: Paging and constructs RRC: Paging message
RRC: Paging message may contain multiple PAGING RECORDS to page multiple UE's
UE
Wakes up every Paging occasion and searches for P-RNTI within the PDCCH transmission.
If UE finds the P-RNTI then it proceeds to decode the PDSCH information which is present in PDCCH.
UE decodes RRC:Paging from the PDSCH Resource Block within which the PAGING message is sent.
If UE doesn't find it's own UE identity then it returns to monitor the Paging Occasion.
When UE finds it's identity in the message it triggers the Random Access Procedure, followed by
establishing the RRC Connection.
If PAGING is for PS domain then UE NAS layer triggers SERVICE REQUEST otherwise, if the PAGING is for
CSFB then UE triggers Extended SERVICE REQUEST.

Paging
Paging with s-TMSI
29

Paging
Paging with IMSI
30

Paging
Paging for System Info Modification
The PAGING message may be used to inform UEs in RRC_IDLE

and RRC_CONNECTED about a system information change.
31

Paging
Paging for ETWS
ETWS is a kind of public warning system

(PWS) to notify all the UEs in a specific
area of emergency situation like
Earthquake or Tsunami.
Cell Broadcast
Centre
Cell Broadcast
Entity
32

Paging
ETWS Notification
In WCDMA, we used a special channel called CTCH (Common Traffic
Channel) for this purpose, but in LTE we use a couple of SIB messages to
periodically broadcast the warning information to all the UEs in a certain area.
In LTE, there are three main components getting involved in sending ETWS
as follows.
• Paging : ETWS Notification.

• SIB 10 : Secondary Notification
• SIB 11 : Primary Notification
For example: In Connected

mode ，when MME tells eNB
that there has ETWS, eNB
must change system
information ASAP and send
Paging to all the UEs, and UE
need to re-read SIB1 to get
SIB10 and SIB11
33

Paging
ETWS Notification
We can use both method (Paging and Value tag) to tell UE SIBs change. So,
when there has a paging for SIB change, the SIB1's value tag must be
changed. Network does not know UE will use which method to monitor SIBs.
SIB 1
34

Paging
Paging Paging
PDCCH PBCH
R0 R0
R0
PDSCH R0 PDSCH
Transport BCH
PCH DL-SCH MCH

R0 R0
R0 R0
PHYS.
PBCH
PDCCH SIGNALS
PDCCH scheduling PDSCH paging
command message including
addressed to RNTI S-TMSI
S-TMSI
35
Paging Overview Key Aspects of Paging Process The UEs used Discontinuous Receive (DRx) in idle
mode in order to reduce battery life. DRX is configured via parameters sent in SIB2 UEs monitor
the PDCCH channel at regular intervals (set by the DRx parameters) in order to check for the
presence of a paging message. If the PDCCH indicates that a paging message is transmitted in the
subframe then the UE needs to demodulate the paging channel (PCH) to see if the paging
message is directed to it. Paging messages are sent to all eNode Bs in a Tracking Area.

Paging
Paging Paging
In UMTS, there are two types of

Paging. Paging Type 1 used for Idle
mode and Paging Type 2 for
Connected mode. Transport BCH
PCH DL-SCH MCH

No such Paging types are there,
only one type of Paging exists in
LTE.
PHYS.
PBCH
PDCCH SIGNALS
S-TMSI
36
UEs use DRX when in idle mode in order to wake at regular intervals to check for paging
messages. The MME can send the paging message to one or many TAs. The MME sends the
PAGING message to each eNode B with cells belonging to the tracking area(s) in which the UE is
registered. Each eNode B can contain cells belonging to different tracking areas, whereas each cell
can only belong to one TA. The paging response back to the MME is initiated on NAS layer and is
sent by the eNB based on NAS-level routing information.

Paging
Idle Mode
During the idle mode, UE gets into and stay in sleeping mode defined in DRX
cycle (Discontinuous Receive Cycle). (This DRX is cycle is defined in SIB2).
UE periodically wake up and monitor PDCCH in order to check for the presence
of a paging message(UE looks for any information encrypted by P-RNTI).
If the PDCCH indicates that a paging message is transmitted in the subframe,

then UE needs to demodulate the PCH to see if the paging message is directed
to it.
paging message
presence of a
paging message
PDCCH PBCH
R0 R0
R0 PDSCH R0 PDSCH
R0 R0
R0 R0 37

Paging
3.6 PDCCH
PDCCH
 Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH)
 Transmitted within the control section of each subframe
 Used to transfer Downlink Control Information (DCI)
 DCI is used to signal:
 Uplink and downlink Resource Allocations
 Power control commands
 4 PDCCH formats defined by 3GPP
 Format is selected according to size of DCI and the RF channel
conditions
 Always uses QPSK
PDCCH PBCH
R0 R0
PDCCH
communicates R0
PDSCH R0 PDSCH
“who” the data is for
R0 R0
R0 R0
38
In the downlink of LTE there are only a handful of channels. For all practical purposes we can
narrow the number of channels in the downlink down to five channels. Three of the channels are
supporting channels that provide broadcast information, acks & nacks, or information on the size
of the control channel. That leaves us with two key channels. They are the PDCCH and the
Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH).
The PDSCH is the channel that carries all user data and all signaling messages. PDCCH
communicates “who” the data is for, “what” data is sent, and “how” the data is sent over the air
in the PDSCH

Paging
PDCCH
RNTI types:
SI- RNTI: Used for transmission of system information messages.

RA-RNTI: Used for PRACH responses.
P-RNTI: Used for the paging messages
C-RNTI: Used for the transmission to a specific UE after RACH.
T-CRNTI: Mainly used during RACH
Downlink control
PDCCH PBCH
information
R0 R0 A DCI transports
PDCCH downlink or uplink
communicates R0
PDSCH R0 PDSCH scheduling
“who” the data information, or
is for R0 R0 uplink power
control commands
R0 R0 for one RNTI.
39
RNTI stands for Radio Network Temporary Identifier. In LTE, this RNTI is used to identify one
specific radio channel from other radio channel and one user from another user.
 P-RNTI: Paging RNTI

 SI-RNTI: System Information RNTI
 RA-RNTI: Random Access RNTI
 C-RNTI: Cell RNTI
 TC-RNTI: Temporary C-RNTI
 M-RNTI: MBMS RNTI
 SPS-C-RNTI: Semi persistence Scheduling C-RNTI
 TPC-PUCCH-RNTI: Transmit Power Control-Physical Uplink Control Channel-RNTI
 TPC-PUSCH-RNTI: Transmit Power Control-Physical Uplink Shared Channel-RNTI

Paging
PDCCH
SI-RNTI
The SI-RNTI is send on the PDCCH. It signals to all mobiles in a cell where the
broadcast System Information Blocks (SIBs) are found on the Physical Downlink
Shared Channel (PDSCH).
RA-RNTI
The RA-RNTI is assigned by the eNB to a particular UE after this UE has sent a
random access preamble on the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH).
P-RNTI
P-RNTI is the paging RNTI. It does not refer to a particular UE, but to a group of
UEs.
PDCCH PBCH
R0 R0
PDCCH
communicates R0
R0
PDSCH PDSCH
“who” the data
is for R0 R0
R0 R0
40
The IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) and IMEI (International Mobile Equipment
Identity) are permanent identifiers assigned to the USIM card. They are permanently associated
with the subscriber and stored in a permanent provider database like the HSS (Home Subscriber
Server). Similar to 2G and 3G technologies, for reasons of security, efficiency and practicality, the
LTE network minimizes the exchange of these two identifiers with the UE.
During the Initial Attach procedure between the UE and the LTE Network the eNodeB (Evolved
Node B) assigns the UE a C-RNTI (Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier) to identify the UE
during exchange of all information over the air. The C-RNTI is assigned during the setup of the
RRC Connection (Idle Mode to Connected Mode transition) between a UE and an eNodeB and is
valid only for that RRC Connection.
Once the UE leaves the coverage area of an eNodeB the RRC Connection must be moved (Inter-
eNodeB Handover) and the "new" eNodeB will assign a "new" C-RNTI to the UE.
RNTIs are always used to identify information dedicated to a particular subscriber on the radio
interface, especially if common or shared channels are used for data transmission.

Paging
PDCCH: Transmitted within the control
section of each subframe.
41
PDCCH - Physical downlink Control Channel
This channel carries the control information about the data being transmitted on the current
subframe and the information about the resources which UE need to use for the uplink data.
That means it is mandatory for the UE to decode it successfully if it wants to send some data or
receive something.
In general the eNodeB needs to send a lot of parameters to the UE for its operation, but there
may be some cases where some information is not required for a particular UE.
Example: Some UE does not support MIMO ( Multiple Input Multiple Output ), so for that UE
there is no need to send the MIMO related parameters because they will increase the signalling
overhead.

Paging
PDCCH
The base station uses its downlink control information to send downlink
scheduling commands, uplink scheduling grants and uplink power control
commands to the mobile.
DCI format 0 contains scheduling grants for the mobile’s uplink transmissions.
The scheduling commands for downlink transmissions are more complicated,

and are handled in Release 8 by DCI formats 1 to 1D and 2 to 2A.
DCI format 1 schedules data that the base station will transmit using one
antenna, open loop diversity or beamforming, for mobiles that already have
been configured into one of the downlink transmission modes 1, 2 or 7.
Different formats required -For Example:- Some UE does not support

MIMO ( Multiple Input Multiple Output ), so for that UE there is no need to
send the MIMO related parameters because they will increase the signalling
overhead.
42
DCI Message Formats
Depending on the purpose of DCI message, different DCI formats are defined. The DCI formats
are:
 Format 0 for transmission of uplink shared channel (UL-SCH) allocation.
 Format 1 for transmission of DL-SCH allocation for Single Input Multiple Output (SIMO)
operation.
 Format 1A for compact transmission of DL-SCH allocation for SIMO operation or allocating a
dedicated preample signature to a UE for random access.
 Format 1B for transmission control information of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO)
rank 1 based compact resource assignment.
 Format 1C for very compact transmission of PDSCH assignment.
 Format 1D same as format1B with additional information of power offset.
 Format 2 and Format2A for transmission of DL-SCH allocation for closed and open loop
MIMO operation, respectively.
 Format 3 and format3A for transmission of TPC command for an uplink channel.
In one subframe multiple UEs can be scheduled therefore multiple DCI messages can be sent
using multiple PDCCHs.

Paging
Transmission of Scheduling Messages on the
PDCCH
After selecting the DCI format we know the number of bits needs to send on
PDCCH after applying the code rate.
43

Paging
3.7 Discontinuous Reception
Discontinuous Reception
When a mobile is in a state of discontinuous reception (DRX), the base station

only sends it downlink control information on the PDCCH in certain subframes.
PDCCH PBC
The Physical Downlink Control Channel
R0
H
R0 (PDCCH) serves a variety of purposes.
Primarily, it is used to convey the
R0
PDSC R0 PDSC
scheduling decisions to individual UEs,
H H i.e. scheduling assignments for uplink
R0 R0
and downlink.
R0 R0
44
In UMTS the Paging Indicator channel (PICH) is used to monitor predefined time instants and
indicate to the UE that some paging related information is transmitted.
However, in the LTE environment, there is no such PICH. Instead, Discontinuous Reception (DRX)
mechanism is used to allow the UE to maximize the sleep-time and only briefly wake up to
monitor the L1/L2 control signaling.

Paging
Paging information for the UE is being carried on the PDSCH in the resource
blocks indicated by the PDCCH.
Between those subframes, the mobile can stop monitoring the PDCCH and
can enter a low-power state known as sleep mode, so as to maximize its
battery life.
PDCCH
R0 R0
R0 R0
R0 R0
R0 R0
Two slots make one subframe, which is 1ms long
45
One of the important activities performed by UE during RRC Idle mode is listening to paging
message. The UE should listen to the paging message to know about incoming calls, system
information change, and ETWS (Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Service) notification for ETWS
capable UEs. In LTE, the UE needs to monitor PDCCH continuously (every 1ms) for P-RNTI to listen
to paging message and this drains UE battery power heavily. Instead, if the UE is allowed to
monitor P-RNTI in PDCCH, only at predetermined period say every 60ms or 100ms, it will reduce
UE’s power consumption. The process of monitoring PDCCH discontinuously for P-RNTI to listen
to paging message during RRC idle state is known as Discontinuous Reception (DRX) in RRC_Idle.
UEs in idle mode monitor the PDCCH channel for P-RNTI used for paging to receive paging
message from eNB. The UE needs to monitor the PDCCH only at certain UE specific paging
occasion, i.e. only at specific subframe in specific radio frame. At other times the UE may opt for
sleep mode to save battery power.

Paging
DRX cycle: Indicates the

number of radio frames in
the paging cycle. Larger
the value of this parameter,
lesser the UE battery
power consumption.
DRX cycle length (32 to 256 frames)
0ne frame The parameter nB is used to

=10mS
derive the number of subframes
used for paging within each radio
10 subframes
frame.
46

Paging
RRC_IDLE state-Discontinuous Reception
In RRC_IDLE state, discontinuous

reception is defined using a DRX cycle ,
which lies between 32 and 256 frames
(0.32 and 2.56 seconds).
The base station specifies a default DRX

cycle length in SIB 2, but the mobile can
request a different cycle length during an
attach request or a tracking area update.
The parameter nB is used to derive the

number of subframes used for paging
within each radio frame.
Valid values of nB are 4T, 2T, T, 1/2T, 1/4T,
1/8T, 1/16T, 1/32T.
47
Discontinuous ReceiveParameters in SIB2.
Two parameters are transmitted in SIB2 which allow UEs to calculate the DRx period and
determine when to wake up to monitor for paging messages.
PCCH Configuration- Part of SIB2 defaultPagingCycle.
Default paging cycle, referred to as ‘T’. T indicates the number of radio frames in the paging cycle.
Valid values are 32, 64, 128, 256 radio frames.
The time between paging messages for each UE can be calculated (= T x 10 msec).
The UE specific DRX parameter, if allocated and having shorter DRX than T, shall override T. UE
specific DRX is FFS.
The parameter nB is used to derive the number of subframes used for paging within each radio
frame.
Valid values of nB are 4T, 2T, T, 1/2T, 1/4T, 1/8T, 1/16T, 1/32T

Paging
Operation of Discontinuous Reception and Paging
in RRC_IDLE
In RRC_IDLE state, discontinuous

DRX cycle length (32 to 256 frames) reception is defined using a DRX cycle ,
which lies between 32 and 256 frames
(0.32 and 2.56 seconds).
0ne frame
=10mS
The parameter nB is used to derive the
number of subframes used for paging
10 subframes within each radio frame.
One Sub frame PDSCH paging

UE Has a paging
message
message including
PDCCH
S-TMSI
PDCCH
scheduling
command
addressed to
RNTI
48

Paging
SERVICE REQUEST message
The SERVICE REQUEST message is sent by the UE to the network to
request the establishment of a NAS signalling connection and of the radio and
S1 bearers.
ECM-IDLE
LTE-Uu S1-U S5
Serving P-
PDN
Gateway Gateway
paging
SERVICE REQUEST
End to End Bearer
The UE shall send the SERVICE REQUEST message when:

a) The UE in EMM-IDLE mode receives a paging request with CN domain indicator set to
"PS" from the network.
b) The UE, in EMM-IDLE mode, has pending user data to be sent.
c) The UE, in EMM-IDLE mode, has uplink signalling pending.
49
The SERVICE REQUEST message is sent by the UE to the network to request the establishment of a
NAS signalling connection and of the radio and S1 bearers.

Paging
3.8 Questions
Questions
What is EPS Bearer?
What is Default Bearer?
What is Dedicated Bearer?
There are two EMM states described in the Specifications. What do they mean?
• EMM-DEREGISTERED
• EMM-REGISTERED
50

Paging
Questions
What is meant by EPS Connection Management (ECM) IDLE?
What is meant by EPS Connection Management (ECM) Connected?
What is the value Tag and where is it transmitted?
What is the Extended Service Request message?
51

Paging
Questions
What is the function of PDCCH?
In RRC_IDLE state, discontinuous reception is defined using a DRX cycle,

which lies between what?
What information is carried in SIB2?
What is an S-TMSI?
How many different types of paging message are there?
52

Paging
4 Random Access
Section 4: Random Access (basic overview)

Random Access
Random Access Procedure

Selection access
The UE must know how much early it should transmit in UL to

compensate the trip delay, so that the transmission arrives at the
slot boundary at the eNB.
Synchronization procedure makes use of two specially designed physical signals which are
broadcast in each cell:
The Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and the Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS).
The detection of these two signals not only enables time and frequency synchronization, but also
provides the UE with the physical layer identity of the cell and the cyclic prefix length, and informs
the UE whether the cell uses Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) or Time Division Duplex (TDD).
In the case of the initial synchronization, in addition to the detection of synchronization signals,
the UE proceeds to decode the Physical Broadcast CHannel (PBCH), from which critical system
information is obtained. In the case of new cell identification, the UE does not need to decode the
PBCH; it simply makes quality-level measurements based on the reference signals transmitted
from the newly-detected cell and reports these to the serving cell.
From the PCI the UE has information about the parameters used for downlink reference signals
and thus the UE can decode the PBCH.

Random Access
Initial Access Procedure

Selection access
Step 1: Primary Synchronization Signal

· CodeID =code (0,1,2)
Step 2: Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS)-Group
· Find Physical Layer Cell ID
· Cyclic Prefix Length detection
· FDD or TDD Detection
Step 3: Reference Signal Detection / PBCH Detection
(Receiving System Information)
Physical layer Cell Identity = (3 × Group(0 to 167)) + Code 0-2

7
In cellular communication systems the mobile station (MS) must be able to perform initial
synchronization and search for a base station to set up the downlink access. This process is called
the initial cell search. To accomplish the operations, two synchronization signals, the primary
synchronization signal (PSS) and the secondary synchronization signal (SSS), are periodically
transmitted from the base station in the 3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) system.
In order to know the cell search and selection first we have to know the physical signals and
Physical channels in downlink for cell search and selection.
Step 1 – Primary Synchronization Signal
 Slot Timing Detection
 Physical Layer ID (0,1,2)
Step 2 – Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS)
 Radio Frame Timing detection
 Find Physical Layer Cell ID
 Cyclic Prefix Length detection
 FDD or TDD Detection
Step 3 – Reference Signal Detection / PBCH Detection (Receiving System Information)
 Down Link Signals:
 Primary Synchronization signal
 Primary Synchronization signal
 Cell Specific reference signal
 LTE Downlink Broadcast Channel:
 Physical Broadcast Channel(PBCH): MIB
Physical Cell ID = Cell Group ID * 3 + Cell ID

Random Access
Timing Advance
In both schemes, the primary role of RACH is for initial network access.
LTE RACH is used to achieving uplink time synchronization for UEs.
The UE must know how much earlier it should transmit in UL.

Logical CCCH DCCH DTCH
Downlink Radio Frame

Timing at the UE
Transport RACH
Uplink Radio Frame
UL-SCH
uplink time synchronization
PHYS.
Downlink Radio Frame
Timing at the eNode B PRACH
PUSCH PUCCH REFERENCE
SIGNALS
Uplink Radio Frame
8
TA is known as the timing advance and is used for the following reason. Even travelling at the
speed of light, a mobile’s transmissions take time (typically a few microseconds) to reach the base
station. However, the signals from different mobiles have to reach the base station at roughly the
same time, with a spread less than the cyclic prefix duration, to prevent any risk of inter-symbol
interference between them. To enforce this requirement, distant mobiles have to start
transmitting slightly earlier than they otherwise would.
LTE uplink transmission scheme allows for uplink intra-cell orthogonality, implying that uplink
transmissions received from different mobile terminals do not cause interference to each other at
the receiver. A fundamental requirement for this uplink orthogonality to hold is that the signals
transmitted from different mobile terminals within the same subframe but within different
frequency resources arrive approximately time aligned at the base station.
The random access channel (RACH) is a special channel through which the mobile can contact the
network without any prior scheduling. Random access transmissions are composed by the
mobile’s MAC protocol and travel as far as the MAC protocol in the base station, but are
completely invisible to higher layers.
The base station also reserves certain resource blocks for random access transmissions on the
PRACH. The PRACH has a bandwidth of six resource blocks and a duration from one to three
subframes, while its locations in the resource grid are configured by the base station.

Random Access
LTE RACH
The LTE RACH is used to achieve uplink time synchronization for a UE

which either has not yet acquired, or has lost, its uplink synchronization.
Relevant scenarios in which the RACH is used are therefore:
1. A transition from RRC_IDLE state to RRC_CONNECTED, for

example for initial access or tracking area updates.
2. A UE in RRC_CONNECTED state, handing over from its current

serving cell to a target cell-Handover.
3. Recovering from radio link failure.
The resolution of a timing advance command is 0.52 μs

One timing advance =300m×0.52=156m
In the random access procedure, the mobile acquires three pieces of information: an initial value
for the uplink timing advance, an initial set of parameters for the transmission of uplink data on
the physical uplink shared channel and a quantity known as the cell radio network temporary
identifier (C-RNTI) that the base station will use to identify it.
If the mobile wishes to transmit on the PUSCH but does not have the resources to do so, then it
usually sends a scheduling request on the physical uplink control channel. If it does not have the
resources to do that, then it initiates the random access procedure. This can happen in a few
different situations, primarily during the establishment of an RRC connection, during a handover,
or if the mobile has lost timing synchronization with the base station.

Random Access
V = 300,000,000 meters
Preamble Format per second
OR
300,000 km per second

Each PRACH Preamble format includes:
• Cyclic Prefix (The Cyclic Prefix/ Guard Period accounts for both
delay spread and round trip time)
• Sequence
• Guard Period
• There are 5 PRACH preamble formats
Normal cells
Large cells
Weak signals
Large cells and weak signals
TDD cells
10
In the frequency domain, a PRACH transmission has a bandwidth of six resource blocks. In the
time domain, the transmission is usually one subframe long, but it can be longer or shorter.
PRACH transmission comprises a cyclic prefix, a preamble sequence and a guard period. In turn,
the preamble sequence contains one or two PRACH symbols, which are usually 800 μs long.
The mobile transmits the PRACH without any timing advance, but the guard period prevents it
from colliding at the base station with the symbols that follow.
To account for this uncertainty and to avoid interference with subsequent subframes not used for
random access, a guard time is used, that is the length of the actual preamble is shorter than 1
ms. With the LTE preamble length of approximately 0.9 ms, there is 0.1 ms guard time allowing
for cell sizes up to 15 km.
This guard period allows for timing uncertainty due to the UE to eNodeB distance the size of the
guard period determines the cell radius, as any propagation delay exceeding the guard time
would cause the random access preamble to overlap the following subframe at the eNodeB
receiver. The use of an OFDM transmission with cyclic prefix allows for an efficient frequency
domain based receiver in the eNodeB to perform PRACH detection.

Random Access
PDCCH
The length of the PDCCH can vary between one and three OFDM
symbols depending on the load to be transmitted on the PDCCH.
The number of used OFDM symbols is indicated in the PCFICH.
Paging Paging
message message
DCI Format present
TTI TTI There are a number of DCI

formats are defined and used for
PD PD scheduling and UL Transmit
CCH CCH
Power Control
(TPC) commands.
Random Access Preamble
Random Access Response
Format 1C is only used to schedule system information messages, paging

messages and random access responses.
11
The base station uses its downlink control information to send downlink scheduling commands, uplink
scheduling grants and uplink power control commands to the mobile.
DCI format 0 contains scheduling grants for the mobile’s uplink transmissions. The scheduling commands
for downlink transmissions are more complicated, and are handled in Release 8 by DCI formats 1 to 1D
and 2 to 2A.
DCI format 1 schedules data that the base station will transmit using one antenna, open loop diversity or
beamforming, for mobiles that already have been configured into one of the downlink transmission
modes 1, 2 or 7. When using this format, the base station can allocate the downlink resource blocks in a
flexible way, by means of two resource allocation schemes known as type 0 and type 1.
Format 1A is similar, but the base station uses a compact form of resource allocation known as type 2.
Format 1A can also be used in any downlink transmission mode. If the mobile has previously been
configured into one of transmission modes 3 to 7, then it receives the data by falling back to single
antenna reception if the base station has one antenna port, or open loop transmit diversity otherwise.
Skipping a line, format 1C uses a very compact format that only specifies the resource allocation and the
amount of data that the base station will send. In the ensuing data transmission, the modulation scheme
is fixed at QPSK and hybrid ARQ is not used.
Format 1C is only used to schedule system information messages, paging messages and random access
responses, for which this very compact format is appropriate.
Formats 1B, 1D, 2 and 2A are respectively used for closed loop transmit diversity, the Release 8
implementation of multiple user MIMO, and closed and open loop spatial multiplexing.
They include extra fields to signal information such as the precoding matrix that the base station will apply
to the PDSCH and the number of layers that the base station will transmit. Unlike the others, DCI formats
3 and 3A do not schedule any transmissions: instead, they control the power that the mobile transmits on
the uplink by means of embedded power control commands.

Random Access
Random Access
Based on the uplink measurements, the network determines the required timing
correction for each terminal.
If the mobile terminal does not transmit anything in the uplink for a longer period
(Timer expires).
Timing-re-alignment phase using random access, as described in the next.
Synchronize to
downlink timing
(from cell search)
Adjust uplink Random Access Response

timing Timing Advance
RRC Connection Request
12
The procedure begins when the mobile transmits a random access preamble on the physical
random access channel (PRACH). This initiates an exchange of messages between the mobile and
the base station that has two main variants, non contention based and contention based. As a
result of the procedure, the mobile receives three quantities:
Resources for an uplink transmission on the PUSCH, an initial value for the uplink timing advance
and, a C-RNTI.
Based on the uplink measurements, the network determines the required timing correction for
each terminal. If the timing of a specific terminal needs correction, the network issues a timing-
advance command for this specific mobile terminal, instructing it to retard or advance its timing
relative to the current uplink timing.
Typically, timing-advance commands to a mobile terminal are transmitted relatively infrequent.

If the mobile terminal does not transmit anything in the uplink for a longer period, no uplink
transmission should be carried out. In that case, uplink time alignment may be lost and restart of
data transmission must then be preceded by an explicit timing-re-alignment phase using random
access, to restore the uplink time alignment.

Random Access
Random Access
RRC Connection Request
Synchronize to
downlink timing
(from cell
search)
Logical CCCH DCCH DTCH
SIB- 64 sequences
Transport RACH
1 Random Access Preamble
UL-SCH
Adjust
uplink Random Access Response
timing
Timing Advance/ C-RNTI PHYS.
PRACH
RRC Connection Request PUSCH PUCCH REFERENCE
SIGNALS
13
The random access preamble part of the random access procedure is mapped at the physical
layer onto the PRACH.
A fundamental requirement for any cellular system is the possibility for the terminal to request a
connection setup. This is commonly known as random access and serves two main purposes in
LTE:
 Uplink synchronization (Timing Advance)
 Establishment of a unique terminal identity, the C-RNTI
The first step consists of transmission of a random-access preamble, allowing the eNodeB to
estimate the transmission timing of the terminal. Uplink synchronization is necessary as the
terminal otherwise cannot transmit any uplink data.
Preamble sequences are partitioned into groups of 64 sequences each. As part of the system
configuration, each cell is allocated one such group.
When a UE transmit a PRACH Preamble, it transmits with a specific pattern and this specific
pattern is called a "Signature". In each LTE cell, total 64 preamble signatures are available and UE
select randomly one of these signatures.
When performing a random-access attempt, the terminal selects one sequence at random from
the set of sequences allocated to the cell the terminal is trying to access. As long as no other
terminal is performing a random-access attempt using the same sequence at the same time
instant, no collisions will occur and the attempt will, with a high likelihood, be detected by the
network.

Random Access
Random Access Procedure
Random access
preamble signature is
Different 64 sequences randomly chosen by the
UE
64 sequences 64 sequences 64 sequences
SIB 2-Prach SIB 2-Prach SIB 2-Prach

Configuration Index Configuration Index Configuration Index
RE-USE DISTANCE
Same 64 sequences
14
Preamble Signatures
Unlike in WCDMA, a fixed number (64) of preamble signatures is available in each LTE cell, and
the operation of the two types of RACH procedure depends on a partitioning of these signatures
between those for contention-based access and those reserved for allocation to specific UEs on a
contention-free basis.
Fixed number (64) of preamble signatures is available in each LTE cell

To avoid two or more UEs trying to access the RACH channel, the LTE design provides up to 64
different RACH configurations which the UEs in a cell can use. The configuration ID to be used to
transmit the RACH Preamble is determined by the higher layer. The algorithm which computes
the configuration index to be used in upcoming RACH transmission should be random enough to
minimise the chances of collision.

Random Access
PRACH Preamble Sequences
Contention-UEs may access the same resource and hence the possibility of collision
between them.
Contention free: The eNodeB assigns distinct preamble to each UE.
The UE selects one of the 64 − Ncf available PRACH contention-based signatures,

where Ncf is the number of signatures reserved by the eNodeB for contention-free
RACH.
The set of contention-based signatures is further subdivided into two subgroups.
64 PRACH Preamble Sequences
Group A Group B
Different layer 3
Contention Based Non-Contention Based
messages
different sizes
messageSizeGroupA numberOfRA-Preambles
15
The LTE random access procedure comes in two forms, allowing access to be either:
Contention-based (implying an inherent risk of collision)

or
Contention-free
A UE initiates a contention-based random access procedure

In this procedure, a random access preamble signature is randomly chosen by the UE, with the
result that it is possible for more than one UE simultaneously to transmit thesame signature,
leading to a need for a subsequent contention resolution process.
The UE selects one of the 64 − Ncf available PRACH contention-based signatures, where Ncf is the
number of signatures reserved by the eNodeB for contention-free RACH. The set of contention-
based signatures is further subdivided into two subgroups. The broadcast system information
indicates which signatures are in each of the two subgroups. The UE selects a signature from the
subgroup corresponding to the size of transmission resource needed.
Contention-free
For the use-cases (handover) the eNodeB has the option of preventing contention occurring by
allocating a dedicated signature to a UE, resulting in contention-free access. This is faster than
contention-based access – a factor which is particularly important for the case of handover,
which is time-critical.

Random Access

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Applied Planning for LTE

2 Cell Selection and Frequency Priorities 63

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 3

4 Random Access 213

Page 4 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 5

Section 2: Cell Selection & Frequency Priorities

Section 4: Random Access

Page 6 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 7

HSUPA-UP Link(5.76 Mbps) 3G – REL 6-

HSDPA – 14.4 Mbps 3G – REL 5-

3G – Max 2 Mb/s Typical 3G –

Edge -About 48 kb/s per timeslot EDGE-48kb/s

GPRS-21.4 Kb/s per Timeslot GPRS-21kb/s

GSM –HSCSD HSCSD-Uses multiple GSM channel coding

Page 8 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

 Support for a flexible transmission bandwidth up to 20 MHz

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 9

3GPP Release 8 – Freeze Date 2008

3GPP Release 9 – Freeze Date 2009

3GPP Release 10 – Freeze Date 2011

3GPP Release 11 – Freeze Date 2013

Page 10 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

Resource Block in the

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 11

LTE Bit Rates

Resource Block (RB)

• Basic unit of resource

• 12 subcarriers wide in the frequency domain

• Bit Rate per Resource Block depends upon

Bit Rates per Symbol rate = 168 ksps

Page 12 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

Figures in Mbps Channel Bandwidth

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 13

Logical BCCH PCCH CCCH DCCH DTCH MCCH MTCH

 Only the MIB is transmitted on the

UE reads Channel Bandwidth PHYS.

the MIB PBCH

UE reads Scheduling Information

SIB2, SIB3, SIB4, SIB5,

SIB1 also includes a value tag which

Page 14 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 15

For uplink transmission and reception, the base station sends

PHICH stands for ‘Physical channel HybridARQ Indicator Channel’.

Page 16 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 17

Normal PHICH duration

UE is assigned a PHICH group Multiple PHICH Multiple PHICH

Multiple PHICH can be mapped to a same set of resource elements and

Page 18 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

UE is assigned a PHICH group Maximum 8 Multiple PHICH

How many PHICHs can be carried by one PHICH group? Maximum 8

Maximum 4 PHICHs can be multiplexed into a PHICH group when we use

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 19

Page 20 P027 Applied Planning for LTE

Each PHICH in a PHICH group is mapped to each UE PHICH groups

100 (20 Mhz) 3 7 13 25

Number of PHICH groups (for Normal CP) = Ceiling [Ng*(num-dl-RB/8)]

where Ng = {1/6, 1/2,1,2} as defined by higher layers

Therefore for 20 MHz (num-DL-RB = 100) if Ng = 2 then

P027 Applied Planning for LTE Page 21