3GPP LTE (Long Term Evolution) Project was launched to improve the UMTS mobile phone standard to cope with future technology evolutions. Goals include improving spectral efficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of new spectrum and reframed spectrum opportunities, and better integration with other open standards.

With LTE, 3GPP has taken out traditional circuit switched elements (MSC) from core network and packet core elements are evolved to provide enhanced data services with better user experience. This course provides a good understanding of LTE/SAE architecture, interfaces, elements (e.g. MME, S-GW, P-GW) and their functional details. A basic understanding of 3GPP technologies like UMTS, LTE would be beneficial for anyone attending this course.

Course Objectives
After completing this course, the audience will be able to:

• Understand LTE Evolution & Architecture
• Define LTE EPC Interfaces & Nodes (e.g MME)
• Describe LTE EPC Interface protocols & functions
• Explain signaling procedures

Who should attend?
This is advance level course and suitable for telecom professionals & students who have good understanding of LTE.

Prerequisite
LTE Primer

Course Contents
LTE Overview

• Evolution & Need of LTE
• High Level Requirements
• Evolved System Architecture
• LTE Nodes & Functional Architecture
• Understanding LTE Interfaces

Evolved UTRAN

• EUTRAN Architecture
• eNode B Functions & Overview
• Radio Interface User/Control Plane
• Air Interface Protocol Overview
• eNB-eNB (X2)  Interface

Evolved Packet Core

• EPC Nodes & Functions
• Mobility Management Entity (MME)
• Serving Gateway (S-GW)
• PDN Gateway (P-GW)
• Policy Control and Charging Rules Function (PCRF)
• EPC-EUTRAN Interface & Protocols
• NAS Protocol for EPS
• NAS Procedures
• EPC Control Planes
• EPC User Planes

SAE Identities & Procedures

• SAE Identities (e.g EPS Bearer, GUTI, TAI)
• LTE Initial Access
• Random Access Procedure
• Initial Context Setup procedure
• Attach procedure
• Detach Procedure
• Service Request
• Dedicated Bearer activation
• S1/X2 Based Handover

Security

• Integrity and Encryption
• AAA Procedures.
• Key Hierarchy.
• EPS AKA

SAE QoS, Policy and Charging

• Policy and Charging Control Architecture
• QoS  & QoS Mapping
• QoS Profiles
• Charging

SAE Interworking Architecture & Signaling

• Interworking with GSM/GPRS
• Interworking with UMTS
• Voice over LTE