3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE)
3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) refers to a standard for wireless broadband communication, developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). This standard represents a major advancement in the evolution of mobile telecommunications, providing a pathway from earlier 3G services to enhanced 4G services, and eventually to 5G.
Development of LTE by 3GPP
The 3GPP is an umbrella organization that encompasses several telecommunications standards bodies, which collectively develop protocols for mobile telecommunication systems. The LTE standard was specified in its Release 8 document and is considered to be a "true" 4G technology, also referred to as LTE+. This standard is designed to improve upon previous mobile network technologies by increasing the capacity and speed of wireless data networks using new digital signal processing techniques and modulations.
LTE Advanced
LTE Advanced (often referred to as LTE+, LTE-A, or 4G+) is an enhancement of the original LTE standard. Developed as part of the 3GPP Release 10, LTE Advanced offers higher data rates, improved performance, and enhanced network capacity compared to its predecessor. It achieves these advancements through technologies such as carrier aggregation, which allows multiple frequency bands to be used simultaneously, significantly increasing bandwidth and data throughput.
LTE Advanced is compliant with the IMT-Advanced requirements set by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), aiming to provide users with a seamless and high-speed mobile broadband experience.
System Architecture Evolution
The architectural framework supporting LTE is known as System Architecture Evolution (SAE). SAE represents a significant evolution of the core network architecture from the earlier GPRS core, supporting a wide range of IP-based services. It includes the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), which facilitates efficient packet-switched traffic management, essential for the delivery of multimedia services over the LTE network.
LTE in Unlicensed Spectrum
In addition to its operation in licensed spectrum bands, LTE technology has been adapted to work in unlicensed spectrum, a variant known as LTE-U or LTE Unlicensed. Developed by the LTE-U Forum, this adaptation enables the use of LTE in environments where spectrum might otherwise be limited, allowing for quicker deployment and more flexible use of network resources.
LTE for IoT
With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), LTE has been modified to support machine-to-machine communication. Standards such as LTE-M (Enhanced Machine Type Communication) and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) have been established to cater to the unique requirements of IoT devices, including low power consumption and extended range.