Overview of LTE-A Technology

Sravanthi Kanchi1, Shubhrika Sandilya2, Deesha Bhosale3, Adwait Pitkar4, Mayur Gondhalekar5
Vidyalankar Institute of Technology , Wadala, Mumbai.
1
[email protected]
2
[email protected]
3
[email protected]
4
[email protected]

5
Assistant Professor, Vidyalankar Institute of Technology,
Wadala, Mumbai, India
5
[email protected]

Abstract—Along with the rapid development in cellular II. LTE Advanced Features
technology, there has also been a significant increase in its user
demands. Ever since LTE technology has been established in A. LTE carrier aggregation enhancements
2009, the work on its enhancements and requirements had
begun and these have been fulfilled successfully by LTE-
Carrier aggregation (CA) is one of the main features of LTE-
Advanced. The 3GPP Release 10 or LTE-A has proven to be
one of the fastest developing mobile technologies in the world. A as it meets the peak data rate requirements of 1GBps and
Further improvements of LTE-A is still on the go and its future 500Mbps in the uplink as well as downlink. It supports both
releases have enhanced features of MIMO, Carrier Frequency division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division
Aggregation, co-ordinated multipoint transmission (CoMP), Duplex (TDD). CA is designed to support backward
high data rates and speed in order to provide the best user compatibility i.e. LTE devices of release 8 and 9 must be
experience as well as proving to be a complete 4G network. In able to support devices of release 10,[4]. In CA, data is
this paper, an overview on the features of LTE-A and its transmitted through multiple LTE carriers called Component
requirements fulfilled in release 11 and 12 for LTE-A is Carriers (CC) in contiguous or non-contiguous manner. CA
described.
enables extension of bandwidth and aims in achieving
Keywords: LTE, 4G, LTE-A, Wireless Communication spectral efficiency. A maximum bandwidth of 100MHz can
be achieved by aggregating 5 carriers each of 20MHz as
I. INTRODUCTION shown below:
The increasing demand for mobile broadband services with
high data rate, speed and quality of service has been the
motivation for the 3GPP to develop LTE technology. The
release 8 of LTE allows a bandwidth of 20MHz with a peak
data rate of 300 Mb/s on the downlink and 75 Mb/s on the
uplink whereas release 9 introduced features of multimedia
broadcast services, location based services, and other
enhancements like dual layer beamforming, commercial
mobile alerts from release 8.However, the advanced version Fig. 1. Carrier aggregation
of LTE meets the requirements imposed by IMT
The component carrier can have a bandwidth of 1.4, 3, 5, 10,
(International Mobile Telecommunication) to Fourth
15 or 20 MHz and a maximum of five component carriers
Generation. With a peak data rate of 1 Gbps with operating
can be aggregated,[20]. Hence the maximum bandwidth is
bandwidth up to 100 MHz for the downlink, it provides low
100 MHz
latency as compared to LTE,[20]. Its efficient interference
management and reduced operational costs make LTE-A In CA, broadband transmission is enabled through the
popular among operators. Its overall capacity, network communication of multiple CCs exceeding 20MHz of
management, quality of service management are the bandwidth.
attributes that make LTE-A to give the best performance. Its
There are two types of CAs:
further releases 11 and 12 provide further enhancements in
its MIMO, carrier aggregation, and spectrum efficiency to a) Contiguous inter-band carrier aggregation
boost speed and solve data traffic issues which will be b) Contiguous intra-band carrier aggregation and Non-
further discussed,[19]. We have also given an overview on contiguous intra-band carrier aggregation
the technological improvements done in release 11 and 12.
In contiguous inter-band CA, the frequency arrangement is PHICH: This channel includes the same aspects of
such that communication between CCs is achieved by a transmission as present in release 8. This channel is used in
contiguous band greater than 20MHz. In non-contiguous the CC only when scheduling information is to be
intra-band carrier aggregation, the communication is
transmitted on the uplink.
achieved by the use of two different carrier frequency bands.
The use of two frequency bands helps in achieving higher
B. MIMO, Multiple Input Multiple Output – or spatial
throughput and improves stability of carriers with different
multiplexing
propagation environments. In non-contiguous intra-band CA,
communication is achieved by using multiple carriers in the
Due to increasing mobile traffic over the years, the
same frequency band .This type of CA is observed among
requirement of advanced MIMO channel transmission and
multiple operators where network is shared among them. The
higher peak efficiency than LTE has been gaining wide
CA usage scenarios include aggregation of multiple
importance. MIMO is used to increase the overall bitrate
contiguous CCs within the same band, aggregation of
through transmission of two (or more) different data streams
multiple non-contiguous CCs within the same band and
on two (or more) different antennas - using the same
aggregation of multiple non-contiguous CCs located in
resources in both frequency and time, separated only through
different bands. Using a proper architecture is a must to
use of different reference signals - to be received by two or
implement any one of the usage scenarios,[17].
more antennas,[7]. LTE advanced supports the configuration
of 8 antennas in the downlink and 4 antennas in the uplink.
Multiple antenna techniques play an important role in
Physical Layer: In the downlink of the physical layer, LTE- increasing spectral efficiency, average cell throughput and
A has the same OFDMA based radio accessed system as in cell edge performance.
release.8,[20],[21] .When bandwidth is extended using CA,
the synchronization signal carries out cell search which is C. Layered OFDMA
transmitted on the center frequency of each cell where each
cell has an arranged center frequency of 100 kHz raster. The technique used for radio transmission and reception
Physical Broadband channel (PBCH) is also multiplexed in is OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access.
the same way. Thus, PBCH and SS can be used in all CCs. OFDMA dynamically maps traffic based on their
Adaptive modulation and coding (AMC) and Hybrid instantaneous throughput. It has its own layered control
Automatic Repeat Request(HARQ) is performed separately signalling structure, layered environment for both down-link
on each CC , in units of CCs known as transport block and and up-link and layered transmission bandwidth. The support
these blocks are further combined together to form a single of layered environment helps in achieving high data rate
CC. (high throughput) or widest coverage according to respective
This is performed on the Physical Downlink Shared Channel radio environments such as macro, micro, indoor, and
(PDSCH). These transport blocks can be reused as hotspot cells,[4]. It involves key radio access technologies
mentioned according to specifications in release 8. In the such as fast inter cell radio management, multi-antenna
transmission and widest coverage area to achieve high level
uplink, the signals are generated by the SC-FDMA system.
capacity and cell-edge spectrum efficiency.
There are three new control downlink control channels: the
Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH), the D. Coordinated multi point transmission and
Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and the reception(COMP)
Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel (PHICH),[17].
Coordinated multipoint transmission and reception
PCFICH: in this channel, each CC will have its own involves transmission/reception of signals to/from user
equipments (UEs) located at multiple cell sites. CoMP is
information on the size of the control region.
applied in the downlink by performing a coordinated
transmission from the base station. Whereas interference in
PDCCH: This channel performs resource allocation in two the uplink can be reduced by means of a coordinated
ways. The first way is done resource manager where it reception in eNBs. It provides enhanced reception
allocates resources to PDSCH and PUSCH in the same performance thus increases received power improving end
CC,[17]. user service quality.
The other way of resource allocation is done by Carrier COMP technology prevents base station interference and
abrupt call disconnections in coverage boundary area. It has
Indicator Field (CIF). Using CIF resources from one single
increased throughput and has decreased interference on cell
CC can be allocated into multiple CCs. This allows high edge, thus turn all interference signals on cell borders into
scheduling flexibility and reduces interference among CCs. useful signal that improve the system,[6],[7]. Currently
COMP schemes are evaluated under various scenarios with
remote radio head (RRH) which ensures high capacity and Layers in Relay Nodes:
low latency backhaul.
Layer Advantages and Relay Node List
Disadvantages

E. Relay technology
For efficient planning of heterogeneous network, 3GPP ADVANTAGES: Base Station Æ Downlink RF
1. Simple and in signal ÆPower amplificationÆ
LTE advanced concept of relay nodes. The relay node expansive. Downlink transmitted RF signal-
establish wireless connection with radio access network via Layer 1 2. Minimal impact on ÆMobile station
a donor cell. The relay nodes are low power base station that relay standard specifications.
provide enhanced coverage in targeted areas in low costs
DISADVANTAGES
without the need for a wired backhaul connection,[8] .In Noise is amplified with
addition wireless relays can increase throughput, provide the signal
group mobility and capacity at cell edges.
Layer 3 relays have been standardized by 3GPP release with
LTE-A in which they have a unique physical cell ID to ADVANTAGES Base Station Æ Demodulation -
ensure UE knows it is connected to a relay node and treats Layer 2 Elimination of noise. ÆEncoding/modulation--
relay ÆPower amplification-ÆMobile
relay node as base station layer. The principle of operation DISADVANTAGES station.
involves demodulating and decoding the incoming signal Process delay due to
and re-modulating and re-encoding the signal before modulation /demodulation
amplified version is transmitted.
ADVANTAGES Base Station -Æuser data
1. Elimination of noise regeneration ÆDemodulation -
2. Small impact of Æuser data transmission
Layer 3 standard specification. processingÆEncoding/modulatio
relay n--ÆPower amplification-
DISADVANTAGES ÆMobile station.
Layer 3 process delay
(user data regeneration
processing)

Fig 2. Relay technology

TABLE I
LAYERS IN RELAY NODES

F. Heterogeneous networks
Fig. 3. Heterogeneous Networks
Using a mix of macro, pico, femto and relay base-
In a homogeneous network, each mobile terminal is served
stations, heterogeneous networks enable flexible and low-
by the base stations with the strongest signal strength, while
cost deployments and provide a uniform broadband the unwanted signals received from other base stations are
experience to users anywhere in the network,[6]. usually treated as interference. In such systems, smarter
Heterogeneous networks, utilizing a diverse set of base
resource coordination among base stations, better server
stations, can be deployed to improve spectral efficiency per
selection strategies and more advanced techniques for
unit area,[6]. The low-power base stations can be deployed
efficient interference management can provide substantial
to eliminate coverage holes in the macro-only system and
gains in throughput and user experience as compared to a
improve capacity in hot spots,[7].
conventional approach of deploying cellular network
infrastructure.

III. Enhancements In LTE-A

A. Release 11

Enhanced PDCCH: Release 11 has introduced a new

downlink control channel (EPDCCH) Enhanced Physical
Downlink Channel. It is an important feature as it supports
CoMP, downlink MIMO as well as beamforming and
frequency domain (ICIC),[2]. It operates on a new carrier
type. One of its major goal is to achieve an improved spatial
reuse of control channel resources. It coexists on the same
carrier type as that of release 8 and release 10 devices.
Enhanced PDCCH has a similar design as to the PDSCH in
release 8. It uses resources same as that of PDSCH.
Fig. 5.Group #0 EREG group
EPDCCH uses two types of transmission i.e. localized
transmission and distributed transmission. If an EREG group
is located in a single RB pair, the transmission is localized.
It allows frequency –selective scheduling, using favourable
sub-bands based on radio channel feedback gained by the
device. If the feedback obtained is not proper, then
EPDCCH uses distributed transmission mode for
transmission.

1) CA enhancement in release 11: In release 11, the CA

feature has been further enhanced using multiple timing
advances. A TAG (Timing Advance Group) was introduced
in order to implement multiple timing advances in CA,[2].
Fig. 4. EPDCCH The TAG containing a PCell is called Primary Timing
Advance Group whereas the TAG containing SCell is called
An RRC signal will decide which sub-frames have to
as Secondary Timing Advance Group. As CA is limited to
monitor EPDCCH when indicated to the device. The signal
maximum of only two downlink carriers from RF (3GPP
can also decide UE to monitor Resource Block or RB pairs.
RAN4) perspective, only two TAGs are allowed. Just as the
Resource Block pairs carry the EPDCCH. These RB pairs
initial timing advance procedure in release 8,[4], the initial
could be of size 2, 4 or 8. Each RB pair consists of a number
uplink UL timing alignment is obtained with sTAG using
of Enhanced Control Channel Elements (ECCE). Each
eNB random access procedure in release 11. With RACH
ECCE consists of 4 or 8 resource element groups or EREG.
resources an SCell can be configured with an sTAG. Further,
EPDCCH uses one or more ECCE for its transmission.
eNodeB initiates the RACH transmission on the secondary
EREG is further organized into EREG groups. Group #0
cells by the PDCCH order sent on the primary cell. Then, the
represents the EREG group formed with indices 0, 4, 8 and
SCell response is sent to a PCell using RA-RNTI as in
12. There are 13 such groups in all.
release 8. The downlink frame of the SCell is tracked by the
UE. It adjusts the UL timing which follows the timing
commands of eNB. A modification has been done in the
MAC command control element in order to bring timing
advances commands into implementation successfully,[2].
The control element consists of a new 2 bit TAG id and a 6
bit timing advance command field.
Thus, multiple timing advances in CA ensure that
transmissions are faster and they impact the physical layer
further.
 with varying requirements and characteristics .Future
wireless systems must be able to offer mobile broadband
services at multi Gbps data rates to users locally. To satisfy
all these, the LTE radio access technology (RAT) has made
the following enhancements:
1. Enhancement in multi-antenna transmissions and
advanced receivers in order to mitigate inter-cell and
intra-cell interference thus improving the system’s
performance.
2. Improved network efficiency by eliminating
Fig. 6.UE Assistance Information unnecessary transmission activity thereby reducing
2) CoMP enhancement in release 11: There has been an interference and leading to improved data rates in
enhancement in release 11 in the downlink and the uplink of heterogeneous deployments.
CoMP,[2]. In the downlink, Joint Transmission is carried 3. By integrating WIFI with LTE at local area level
out which allows data transmission simultaneously from provides overall improved mobile broadband
multiple points to single or multiple UE. In Joint performance and better overall radio resource
transmission, data transmission takes place between multiple
management. Thus, allowing operators to give better
points within each sub-frame. Because of JT, the data at the
UE is available at multiple points. The aim of downlink user experience for its users as well as boosting the
CoMP, is to improve signal quality at the receiver as well as capacity to handle data traffic.
the average throughput. Beam-forming or Co-ordinated 4. USE OF NEW USE-CASES:
scheduling is performed for a single transmission point. The 1) Machine type Communication (MTC): 3GPP has
main aim of Beam-forming is to reduce interference between made enhancements in this area with the aim to
cells thereby increasing the system’s performance. Joint
reduce energy consumption of MTC and reduce
reception is performed on the uplink of CoMP,[2]. UE
transmits the PUSCH which is jointly received at multiple costs,[19]. This is done by introducing low cost
points. In beam-forming the PUSCH can be obtained at one MTC devices due to which there would be extended
point only .Release 11 introduces the concept of Virtual Cell coverage options in challenging locations for MTC
Identities (VCID). It helps in avoiding high interference in services and by handling large number of devices
scenarios where a macro cell provides coverage and several per cell.
small cells are used for capacity. This type of situation 2) Discovery and Communication: LTE uses D2D (Device
occurs when macro cell and small cells have the same
to Device) communication. It involves proximity
identity. Due to VCID, transmission point and reception
point do not appear the same anymore. Therefore, they are detection in which a device carries out a search in its
used in the uplink of CoMP. surroundings and detects the presence of another device.
And further performs the step of examining the
possibility of D2D communication.

IV. Conclusion

LTE-Advanced standardization in the 3GPP specification

Release 10 was designed to meet 4G requirements as IMT.
After that, there have been many enhancements and there has
been a significant technological progress in improving the
requirements of LTE-A as specified in its releases 11 and 12.
Along with the enhancements in the general features of LTE
release 10, release 11 has functionalities to reduce inter cell
interference and efficiently supports heterogeneous network
Fig. 7. CoMP enhancement scenario topologies. Release 12 further enhances release 11 by
improving the efficiency of the network and has helped in
B. Release 12 overcoming the minor limitations in data traffic in its
previous releases. Due to this, LTE-A has been able to give
As the number of connecting devices are increasing, there the best user experience. The network has proven to support
will be huge load on the network. Also the access for data and handle multiple devices at a single time. It has been
will be increasing due to which there will be a massive capable to address 1000x in mobile data.
traffic data volume. There would be a need for applications
LTE advanced is the next milestone in the evolution of LTE. [13] LTE Advanced: The 4G Mobile Broadband Technology, International
It has its main goal for providing high data rate, flexibility in Journal Of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887)Volume 13– No.5,
spectrum, efficient signal strength and quality network January 2011 pp.2-4
Available on-
management. It is one of the fastest upcoming technologies
http://www.ijcta.com/documents/volumes/vol2issue4/ijcta2011020448.pdf
which will change the future of wireless communication.
[14] Stefan Schwarz, Josep Colom Ikuno, Michal Imko, Martin Taranetz,
Qi Wang, And Markus Rupp: Pushing the Limits of LTE: A Survey on
REFERENCES
Research Enhancing the Standard ,IEEE May 2013
[1] 4G Mobile Broadband Evolution: 3GPP Release 10 and Be-yond Available on- http://www.ieeeexplore.com
HSPA+, SAE/LTE and LTE-advanced, 4G Americas,
[15] Relay technology in LTE Advanced:technical journal Vol 12 No.2
January 2012, pp. 80-95. Available on:
http://www.4gamericas.org/documents/4G%20Americas_3GPP_Rel- Available on
10_Beyond_2.1.11%20.pdf http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/binary/pdf/corporate/technology/rd/te
[2] Rohde & Schwarz; LTE Advanced 3GPP (REl. 11) Technology chnical_journal/bn/vol12_2/vol12_2_029en.pdf
pp.16-20 [16] Christopher Cox, “An Introduction to LTE”, LTE,LTE-Advanced,
Available on http://www.rohde-schwarz.com/en/applications/lte- SAE, 4G mobile communications, 1st ed, John Wiley and Sons Ltd. ch
advanced-3gpp-rel.11-technology-introduction-application-note_56280- 18 , ch 19 , ch 20.
42753.htmly Introduction White Paper.pdf [17] Guillaume de la Roche, Andres Alayon Glazunov, Ben Allen, “ LTE-
[3] Hyung G Myung; Technical Overview of 3GPP LTE Advanced and Next Generation Wireless Networks Channel Modeling
,May2008,pg.37 and Propagation “,John Wiley and Sons Ltd. 2013 ,ch 1, ch 2 ,ch 15.
Available on: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/159510677/Technical-
Overview-of-3GPP-LTEDocStoc [18] Novel Mobile Radio(Nomor) Research: 3GPP LTE-A Standardization
[4] Edward Kasem, Jan Prokopec: The evolution of LTE to LTE- in in Release 12 And Beyond , January 2013, pg.1-2
Advanced and the corresponding changes in the uplink reference Available on
http://www.nomor.de/uploads/fd/24/fd24709a64bc490a083a8eba6d3
signals Volume. 3, No. 2, June 2012,pp. 1-5
cc2cb/NoMoR_LTE-A_Rel12_and_Beyond_2013-01.pdf
Available on: http://www.elektrorevue.cz/en/download/the-evolution- [19] Erricson White Paper : LTE- Release 12 – Taking Another Step
of-lte-to-lte-advanced-and-the-corresponding-changes-in-the-uplink- Toward The Networked Society, January 2013,pg. 1-12
reference-signals.pdf Available on
[5] 4G Mobile Broadband Evolution- Rel 10 Rel 11 Beyond October 2012 http://www.ericsson.com/res/docs/whitepapers/wp-lte-release-12.pdf
pp.57-61
Available on; [20] Nobuhiko Miki, Mikio Iwamura, Yoshihisa Kisimara,Umesh Anil,
Hiroyuki Ishi ,Technology Reports : Special articles on LTE-
http://www.4gamericas.org/documents/4G%20Mobile%20Broadband%20 Advanced Technology-On Going Evolution of LTE toward IMT-
Evolution-Rel/2010/Rel/2011/Beyond October/202012/20PPT.pdf Advanced – CA Available on
[6] Motorola long term evolution LTE a technical overview: technical http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/english/binary/pdf/corporate/technology/
white paper 2007,pp.3 rd/technical_journal/bn/vol12_2/vol12_2_010en.pdf
Available on: [21] Klaus Ingeman Pederson, Luis Guilherme Uzeda, Hung Nguyen,
http://www.motorolasolutions.com/web/Business/Solutions/Industry/Soluti Yuanye Wang, Frank Frederiksen, Claudio Rosa, Carrier
Aggregation for LTE-Advanced : Functionality And Performance
ons/Service/Providers/WirelessOperators/LTE/_Document/Static/Files/683
Aspects , pg.1-7,
4_MotDoc_New.pdf Available on http://vbn.aau.dk/files/57467303/CA_paper_V17.pdf
[7] Tata Consultancy Services LTE-Advanced: Future of Mobile
Broadband Sep 2009 pp.5-9
Available on
http://www.tcs.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/WhitePapers/EIS_Whitepap
er_LTE_Advanced_Future_of_Mobile_broadband_09_2009.pdf
[8] LTE-Advanced Next-Generation Wireless Broadband Technology:
IEEE Wireless Communications June 2010
Available on: http://ltewatch.blogspot.com/2012/11/ltewatch-
technical-papers-on-lte.html
[9] Jeanette Wannstrom: LTE-Advanced for 3GPP,May 2012 pp:1-4
Available on: http://www.3gpp.org/Keywords-Acronyms.pdf
[10] Ian F. Akyildiz , David M. Gutierrez-Estevez, Elias Chavarria Reyes:
The evolution to 4G cellular systems: LTE-Advanced , Physical
Communication 3,pp.4,10,21
Available on: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/physical-
communication
[11] Eiko Seidel:Nomor Researh GmbH Progress on LTE Advanced - the
new 4G standard July 2008 pp.2-5 Available on-
http://www.nomor.de/
[12] Nokia Siemens Networks LTE-Advanced white paper: The advanced
LTE toolbox for more efficient delivery of better user experience
,pp.5-15
Available on- http://nsn.com/system/files/document/lte-
advanced_technical_whitepaper_22032011_v03_low-res.pdf