4G & LTE Training

Pre-learning is provided to prime those attending the instructor led phase. Each lesson is based on an interactive online format and should take about 30 minutes to complete. The pre-learning lessons are:

• Test of Understanding - Try the online check to see how much you know.
• Introduction to LTE.
• LTE Network Architecture.
• OFDM Principles (LTE).
• IP Convergence.

LTE is the primer for the 3GPP’s vision of a 4G mobile network solution. This builds on the aims of IMT Advanced and will provide service providers with the ability to accommodate the growth in mobile broadband traffic over the coming years. The course provides an end-to-end examination of LTE from the UE across the air interface and E-UTRAN to the EPC. As well as the architecture, protocols and procedures in the bearer network; services are also examined as well as how LTE will interwork with legacy 3GPP and non 3GPP access networks.

Divided into 10 sections, the topics covered will include:

Section 1: Network Evolution (1 hour)

• Why LTE and when? Evolution time line, HSDPA, HSUPA and HSPA+.
• The aims of IMT Advanced, LTE study group and SAE study group.
• LTE aims, performance, development timelines, R7 study phase, R8 work phase, LTE testing and GCF certification.
• E-UTRAN overview, LTE Uu interface, eNB and IP transport.
• SAE framework, the EPC, MME, S-GW and PDN Gateway.

Section 2: LTE Network Architecture (1.5 hours)

• The LTE Architecture Reference Model - integrating LTE with services including voice, mobile web and multimedia.
• The LTE bearer network, LTE bearer network functions, UE performance, power and spectrum capabilities.
• eNB functions, RRM, packet scheduling, data compression, security and routing, connection using the X2 interface.
• EPC, MME, NAS signalling, Idle Mode, gateway selection, inter MME mobility and authentication.
• S-GW, mobility, data buffering, routing and lawful interception.
• PDN Gateway, policy enforcement, packet filtering, screening and accounting.
• EPC interface architecture and functions, including S1-MME, S1-U, S1 Flex and S5 etc.

Section 3: The LTE Air Interface (Physical Layer) (1.5 hours)

• LTE Spectrum, IMT2000 bands, 4G candidate bands.
• Multiplexing, duplexing and modulation, uplink - SC-FDMA, downlink - OFDMA, FDD and TDD modes, QPSK, 16QAM and 64QAM modulation.
• LTE Downlink - OFDMA, FFT, subcarriers and reference signals, cyclic prefix, scrambling.
• LTE Uplink - SC-FDMA Process.
• LTE Radio Frames, slots and subframes, FDD and TDD subframe allocation, physical resource blocks, virtual resource blocks, LTE channel resources, LTE downlink physical channel formats, LTE uplink physical channel formats.

Section 4: The E-UTRAN Interfaces and Protocols (1 hour)

• The E-UTRAN architecture, LTE stratums and E-UTRAN interface model.
• RNL and TNL formats and function.
• The Radio Protocols, RRC, RRC States, PDCP, RLC and MAC.
• LTE logical and transport channels, mapping logical channels into transport channels, the S1 interface and the X2 interface.

Section 5: QoS and Session Management (1.5 hours)

• QoS in packet switched networks, packet classifiers and packet schedulers, QoS in LTE
• Policy, bearers and bearer managers, end to end bearer service, EPS bearer service, Service Data Flow, EPS Radio and Access Bearer.
• The default bearer, dedicated bearers, GBR and NGBR services, UE AMBR  and APN AMBR concepts.
• Bearer identities and TFT, QCI, the 9 QCI labels and allocation and retention priority.
• L3 packet classification, packet classification (DiffServ) - IPV4 and IPv6. Ethernet tagging using 802.1 p/Q priority and MPLS.

Section 6: Initial Procedures (1.5 hours)

• LTE initial procedures, power on, cell search, location of downlink synchronization signals, Primary Synchronization Signal and Secondary Synchronization Signal, Broadcast Information and scheduling.
• PLMN Selection and initial cell selection algorithms, Cell Reselection algorithms.
• Initial network access, location of PRACH, PRACH frame formats, contention based random access, establishment of the radio control plane bearer.
• LTE identities, GUTI, S-TMSI and C-RNTI, MMEI, GUMMEI, S-GW ID and PDN GW ID.
• Initial Attach, authentication, creating the Default Bearer, Policy and Charging Rules, uplink and downlink data flows.

Section 7: LTE and IP Security (1 hour)

• Security threats, the UE threats, identity capture, broadcast system information, bootstrap information, the E-UTRAN threats, control plane management messages, user plane traffic.
• Countermeasures, confidentiality, integrity and authentication.
• LTE security architecture, LTE authentication, algorithms and key generation, UEA2 encryption and UIA2 integrity algorithms.
• Security interworking, EAP AKA and 3GPP AKA process, future AAA architecture and the role of Diameter.

Section 8: Connecting Using LTE (1 hour)

• Services over LTE, voice and data service architecture.
• Mobile web, end to end signalling, use of WAP and HTTP.
• Voice services, SIP, RTP, interworking with GSM, UMTS and the PSTN.
• Video Streaming.

Section 9: LTE Mobility (1 hour)

• Mobility within the E-UTRAN, LTE Idle Mode, LTE Active Mode.
• Mobility architecture, cell planning and optimization, frequency radio planning, frequency deployment options, Tracking Area and identities.
• Mobility procedures, entry into Idle Mode, information required for cell access and camping on a cell, cell reselection.
• Network access, Tracking Area Update, UE Triggered Service Request, Paging.
• Mobility in the LTE active state, handover measurements, measurement gap assistance, timing, the handover process.
• EPC mobility (Relocation), the concepts of Mobile IP, Mobile IP in LTE, Proxy Mobile IP operation.

Section 10: LTE Interworking (1 hour)

• Interworking considerations, network discovery and selection, network identities, IP Address allocation, authentication, security and QoS continuity.
• 3GPP interworking, E-UTRAN to UTRAN/GERAN RAU procedure, E-UTRAN to UTRAN / GERAN handover procedure.
• Non 3GPP interworking, trusted and un-trusted non 3GPP IP access networks, network based and host based mobility for non 3GPP networks, handover from 3GPP access to trusted non 3GPP access, handover from 3GPP access to un-trusted non 3GPP access using PMIP.
• Roaming.