LTE System Engineering
With LTE now the cornerstone of global 4G services, this course provides an end to end view of a typical LTE deployment. As such, the architecture required for LTE, including the air interface and all of the key interfaces and protocols, is examined. The course then takes a “day in the life” approach to the LTE handset, detailing all of the typical activity an LTE handset undertakes as it interacts with the network; procedures such as Initial Attach, Bearer Establishment, Mobility and 5G Interworking are all considered. In conclusion, the course focuses on voice services, with emphasis on both CSFB and VoLTE.
Module 1 - Defining LTE
Topic areas covered include:
- LTE Roadmap and Drivers:
- 3GPP Roadmap.
- LTE Advanced and LTE Advanced Pro.
- LTE Releases and Versions.
- 4G Mobile Data:
- Growth of Mobile Data.
- LTE Drivers.
- 4G Fixed Wireless Access.
- Private LTE Networks.
- LTE Market Update.
Module 2 - LTE Architecture
Topic areas covered include:
- The LTE System:
- Evolved Packet System.
- Mobile Equipment.
- Subscriber Identity Module.
- SIM and Device Identities.
- LTE RAN:
- 4G Radio Access.
- Evolved Node B.
- eNB Protocol Stacks.
- Evolved Packet Core Network:
- Evolved Packet Core.
- Control and User Plane Separation.
- Evolved Packet Core Protocols.
- Evolving RAN Architectures:
- 5G Non Standalone.
- NSA Reference Point and Protocols.
- 4G in the NG-RAN.
- ng-eNB Protocols.
Module 3 - LTE Air Interface
Topic areas covered include:
- LTE Radio Spectrum:
- LTE Radio Bands.
- LTE Carrier.
- FDD vs TDD.
- LTE Channel Number.
- Spectrum Refarming.
- Multiple Access:
- Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access.
- Subcarriers and Reference Signals.
- LTE Frame Structure.
- Multiple Access.
- Enhancing LTE Performance:
- Modulation and Coding.
- MIMO Technology.
- Carrier Aggregation.
- Shared Spectrum Options.
Module 4 - LTE Initial Procedures
Topic areas covered include:
- LTE Identities:
- Device and User Identities.
- E-UTRAN Identities.
- EPC Identities.
- Tracking Areas:
- Tracking Areas Identity.
- MME Pool, S-GW Service and Tracking Areas.
- Signalling in LTE:
- Stratums.
- EPS Mobility Management.
- EPS Session Management:
- Default EPS Bearers.
- Radio Resource Control.
- Initial Attach:
- PLMN and Network Selection.
- Cell Selection.
- Attach Procedure.
- Combined Attach.
- Attaching without PDN:
- 4G Attach without PDN Connectivity.
- Activity: Signalling analysis of an Initial Attach using Mpirical’s NetX.
Module 5 - LTE Security
Topic areas covered include:
- Security in 4G Networks:
- Authentication and Key Agreement.
- Security in 4G Networks.
- 4G Authentication and Key Agreement.
- 4G Security Procedures:
- 4G Mutual Authentication.
- 4G NAS Key Distribution.
- 4G RRC Key Distribution.
- 4G Encryption and Integrity Protection:
- 4G Algorithms.
- 4G Encryption.
- 4G Integrity Protection.
- Securing the E-UTRAN:
- Transport Security.
- IPSec Management.
Module 6 - Defining EPS Bearers
Topic areas covered include:
- 4G Sessions:
- PDN Connection.
- IP Address Allocation.
- 4G Quality of Service:
- Default and Dedicated EPS Bearers.
- EPS Bearer QoS Attributes Overview.
- QoS Characteristics – Part 1:
- QoS Class Identifier.
- Allocation and Retention Priority.
- QoS Characteristics – Part 2:
- Aggregate Maximum Bit Rates.
- Traffic Flow Templates.
- GTP Tunnels and Tunnel Endpoint Identifiers.
- 4G PDN Connectivity Establishment:
- End-to-End Tunnels.
- 4G Attach and Default EPS Bearer Establishment.
- LTE Tunnel Creation.
- Dedicated EPS Bearer Establishment:
- 4G Dedicated EPS Bearer Establishment Procedure.
- End to End Tunnels.
- Activity: Signalling analysis of EPS bearer related procedures using Mpirical’s NetX.
Module 7 - Utilizing EPS Bearers
Topic areas covered include:
- EPS Bearers in Idle State:
- Idle and Connected States.
- EPS Bearers in ECM Idle.
- S1 Release.
- 4G Uplink Data Transfer:
- Uplink Data Transfer when Idle.
- Uplink Data Transfer when Connected.
- 4G Downlink Data Transfer:
- Downlink Data Transfer when Idle.
- Downlink Data Transfer when Connected.
- Cellular IoT Enhancements:
- Non IP Data Delivery.
- Control Plane Cellular IoT EPS Optimization.
- Uplink and Downlink Data Transfer via SCEF.
- Activity: Signalling analysis of EPS bearer utilization related procedures using Mpirical’s NetX.
Module 8 - LTE Mobility
Topic areas covered include:
- Mobility in 4G:
- LTE Mobility.
- Mobility with the EPC.
- Idle Mode Mobility:
- Cell Reselection.
- Tracking Area Update:
- Tracking Areas.
- 4G Tracking Area Update.
- 4G Handovers:
- X2 Handover.
- S1 Handover.
- LTE Roaming:
- Home Routed and Local Breakout.
- GRX and IPX.
- Activity: Signalling analysis of mobility related procedures using Mpirical’s NetX.
Module 9 - 3GPP and Non-3GPP Interworking
Topic areas covered include:
- Interworking with 2G / 3G Networks:
- Inter RAT Mobility.
- 4G / 3G / 2G Interworking Architecture.
- 4G to 3G Packet Switched Handover.
- 4G to 2G Packet Switched Handover.
- 4G and 5G Non Standalone:
- 5G Non Standalone Architecture.
- Splitting Bearers.
- Option 3x.
- NSA Considerations.
- 5G NSA Secondary Node Procedures:
- Secondary Node Addition.
- Change of Secondary Node.
- Release of Secondary Node.
- Interworking with Non-3GPP Networks:
- Non-3GPP Network Architecture.
- ePDG Selection.
- Non-3GPP Initial Attach
Module 10 - LTE and Voice Services
Topic areas covered include:
- Introducing Circuit Switched Fallback:
- LTE Voice Options.
- CSFB Network Requirements.
- CSFB Options.
- CSFB Procedures:
- CSFB Initial Procedures.
- CSFB Mobile Originated Call Setup.
- CSFB Mobile Terminated Call Setup.
- CSFB and Text Messaging.
- Introducing VoLTE:
- VoLTE Key Components.
- IMS Architecture.
- IMS Identities.
- VoLTE Initial Procedures:
- VoLTE Support.
- VoLTE Registration.
- Post Registration.
- VoLTE Call Procedures:
- VoLTE Media – Codecs.
- SIP Signalling Exchange.
- Establishing Dedicated EPS Bearers.
- End to End Call Example.
- Single Radio – Voice Call Continuity.
- Wi-Fi Calling.
- Activity: Signalling analysis of CSFB and VoLTE procedures.