3GPP Long Term Evolution – Radio Technology

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Wireless broadband Internet access providing IP based services to mobile users is growing rapidly worldwide. State-of-the-art systems cannot support this increasing demand for higher bit rates at reduced cost and do generally not meet future requirements. 3GPP Long Term Evolution is the new UMTS standard making use of latest technologies such as OFDMA based access, frequency based scheduling, MIMO and higher order modulation. With LTE substantial gains regarding capacity, peak data rates, user and control plane latency and deployment cost can be expected, while minimizing terminal complexity. The scalable OFDM technology allows a flexible spectrum allocation in existing and new frequency bands. LTE is the natural evolution of GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA network technologies making 3GPP standards competitive over other cellular standards in the next decade. The standardisation of LTE is completed and the commercial first networks are already deployed. LTE will also be the basis for a new 4G standard called LTE Advanced that is in the process of standardisation right now.

COURSE CONTENT
This course provides a detailed understanding of the physical layer fundamentals laying the ground for a deep understanding of the 36-series 3GPP specification. The course introduces principles of the OFDM/SC-FDMA multiple access as well as MIMO antenna transmit and receive techniques. After explanation of the physical layer numerology, frame structure and processing chain, the most basic lower layer procedures as adaptive coding and modulation, Hybrid ARQ, power control, uplink synchronization etc are explained.
Furthermore, an overview about the complete Physical Data and Control Channels structure is presented including the tight interactions with the Layer 2 protocol. Eventually the instructor, himself attending 3GPP standardization, will provide an outlook on the future 4G standard LTE Advanced. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The course is meant for engineers that already work on LTE and want to get an overall system understanding as well as for those who have technical background in 2G/3G wireless communication and are interested in future technologies such as Long Term Evolution. The course will be beneficial for system engineers, for research and development engineers as well as participants with an interest in the technical details of LTE.

Monday
After an overview of state-of-the-art 3G technologies and market, the drivers and requirements for Long Term Evolution are derived. An introduction to the downlink and uplink Physical Layer will be given, namely OFDMA and SC-FDMA (DFT-FDMA). After a short recap of MIMO techniques we will get acquainted with the details of the LTE numerology and physical layers specification.

• Market and Technology Drivers
• Current and Upcoming 3G Cellular Technologies (UMTS/WCDMA, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA+, Wimax, CDMA2000)
• Requirements For Future Systems and LTE Business Proposition
• 3GPP Standardisation and LTE Deployment Schedule
• OFDMA Downlink and SC-FDMA Uplink Transmission
• LTE Resource Allocation and Scheduling Algorithms
• Fundamentals of MIMO Antenna Technologies
• Physical Layer Numerology

Tuesday
Subsequently the specifics of the LTE physical layer procedures are introduced, particularly different means of link adaptation. After having taken a look at LTE performance figures, interference coordination concepts are presented, before the different downlink physical layer signals and channels will be introduced.

• Physical Layer Processing Chain
• Link Adaptation, Adaptive Coding and Modulation, HARQ and UL Power Control and Related Signalling
• OFDMA Interference Analysis and Interference Coordination Techniques
• Downlink Physical Signals and Channels (SCH, PBCH, PDSCH, PMCH)
• Downlink Synchronisation and Cell Search
• Downlink Control Channel (PCFICH, PHICH, PDCCH)
• Uplink Physical Signals and Channels (PRACH, PUSCH)
• Uplink Channel Sounding and Channel Quality Reporting (CQI)

Wednesday
After presentation of the uplink physical layer signals and channels basic procedures such as synchronization, cell search or random access are explained and eventually an outlook on the future 4G standard LTE Advanced is presented with novel concepts such as relays or cooperative scheduling.

• Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and Uplink Scheduling Requests (SR)
• Contention Based and Non Contention Based Random Access
• Uplink Synchronization and Timing Advance
• Terminal Capabilities and User Plane Performance Analysis
• Background on 4G and LTE Advanced, its Requirements and Standardization
• LTE Advanced Spectrum Aspects and Carrier Aggregation
• Enhanced MIMO and Relaying for LTE Advanced

See also Course #42, conveniently scheduled after course #41.
For participants attending both courses a special 5-day price of EUR 2995 (EUR 2725*) is applicable.


Said about the course from previous participants:
"The lecture style was perfect, handouts has very high quality, very skilled and experienced lecturer."
" Good overview over all aspects of LTE: architecture, technologies used, channels, layers."
" Diversity of discussions issues were very good, as well as the organization of the course and the time frame."