01 WCDMA & HSPA Fundamentals PDF

WCDMA RF optimization: WCDMA & HSPA Fundamentals
Chapter 1
WCDMA & HSPA Fundamentals
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Contents
1. WCDMA ............................................................................................................................................... 6
1.1. UMTS Air interface technologies ................................................................................................. 6
1.1.1. Duplex methods .................................................................................................................. 6
1.2. UMTS Frequency ........................................................................................................................... 8
1.3. Access method ........................................................................................................................... 9
1.4. WCMA Bandwidth ........................................................................................................................ 11
1.5. WCDMA Codes and bit rates ..................................................................................................... 11
1.5.1. Channelization code ........................................................................................................ 12
1.5.2. Scrambling codes ............................................................................................................. 13
1.5.3. Scrambling Codes & Channelization Codes Summary .............................................. 14
1.5.4. WCDMA bit Rates ............................................................................................................ 16
1.6. WCDMA vs GSM ...................................................................................................................... 18
2. HSDPA ............................................................................................................................................... 20
2.1. HSDPA Principles .................................................................................................................... 21
2.2. Shared-channel transmission ................................................................................................. 25
2.3. HSDPA Protocols Stack .......................................................................................................... 26
2.4. HSDPA Physical Channels ..................................................................................................... 28
2.4.1. Transport Channels.......................................................................................................... 29
2.4.1.1. High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH)............................................... 29
2.4.2. Physical Channels ............................................................................................................ 33
2.4.2.1. High Speed Physical Downlink Shared Channel (HS-PDSCH) ............................ 33
2.4.2.2. High Speed Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH) .................................................. 34
2.4.2.3. High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH) .......................... 36
2.4.2.4. Associated DCH (DL & UL) ........................................................................................ 38
2.4.2.5. Fractional DPCH: F-DPCH (DL) ................................................................................ 39
2.4.3. HSDPA Channel Timing .................................................................................................. 40
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2.5. HSDPA Terminal Capability.................................................................................................... 41

2.6. HSDPA Link Adaptation .......................................................................................................... 43
2.7. HSDPA H-ARQ ......................................................................................................................... 45
2.7.1. The ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request)......................................................................... 45
2.7.2. The H-ARQ stands for (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) ..................................... 45
2.8. HSDPA Packet Scheduling..................................................................................................... 48
2.8.1. Round Robin scheduling ................................................................................................. 49
2.8.2. Proportional fair scheduling ............................................................................................ 50
2.9. Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC) .............................................................................. 52
2.10. Short Time Transmission Time (TTI)................................................................................. 56
2.11. HSDPA Mobility .................................................................................................................... 57
2.11.1. Intra-Node B HSDPA Handover ................................................................................. 57
2.11.2. Inter-Node B HSDPA handover ................................................................................. 58
2.11.3. HS-DSCH to DCH hard handover ............................................................................. 59
2.12. HSDPA Power Allocation methods.................................................................................... 60
2.13. HSDPA Channel Code Allocation ...................................................................................... 62
3. HSUPA ............................................................................................................................................... 64
3.1. HSUPA Network Modifications ............................................................................................... 66
3.3. Option for Shorter TTI .............................................................................................................. 69
3.3.1. Selection of 2 ms TTI ....................................................................................................... 69
3.4. HSUPA Protocols Stack .......................................................................................................... 70
3.5. HUSPA Fast UL Retransmission (H-ARQ) .......................................................................... 71
3.6. HUSPA Fast UL Scheduling ................................................................................................... 72
3.7. HSUPA UE Category ............................................................................................................... 73
3.8. HSUPA Transport and Physical Channels ........................................................................... 74
3.8.1. Transport Channels ............................................................................................................. 75
3.8.2. Physical Channels ............................................................................................................ 76
3.8.2.1. Uplink HSUPA channels.............................................................................................. 76
3.8.2.2. Downlink HSUPA channels ........................................................................................ 78
3.9. Multi-Code Transmission ........................................................................................................ 82
3.10. HSUPA Mobility Management ............................................................................................ 83
3.11. Power Control ....................................................................................................................... 86
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4. HSPA+ (Evolved High Speed Packet Access) ................................................................................ 88

3.1. HSDPA Improvements................................................................................................................. 89
3.1.1. 64 QAM Modulation .............................................................................................................. 89
3.1.2. MIMO....................................................................................................................................... 91
3.1.3. MIMO & 64 QAM ................................................................................................................... 94
3.1.4. Dual Cell ................................................................................................................................. 95
3.1.5. DC-HSDPA with MIMO ........................................................................................................ 96
3.1.6. Flexible RLC........................................................................................................................... 98
3.1.7. Dual Band ............................................................................................................................. 100
3.2. HSUPA Improvements ........................................................................................................... 101
3.2.1. 16 QAM Modulation ............................................................................................................ 101
3.2.1. Flexible RLC in UL .............................................................................................................. 102
4. Interworking-WLAN ........................................................................................................................ 104
4.1. I-WLAN Architecture .............................................................................................................. 104
5. Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 105
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Introduction
The third generation (3G) UMTS mobile communications standard is used for flexible
transmission of data and speech over the same Radio Frequency channel. The RF
interface uses WCDMA technology. Over the years, this mobile communications standard
has been enhanced to fulfill the increased user expectations regarding speech quality,
data rates and battery power management. The packet-switched technologies HSDPA
and HSUPA have been implemented to achieve high data transmission rates in uplink
and downlink. Several extensions (HSPA+) have been specified e.g. to optimize network
load.
This chapter gives an overview of the new enhanced 3G standard giving higher bitrates
in downlink and uplink. The course covers the WCDMA technology Release 3, Release
5 service called High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) as well as the Release
6 service called High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).
The course describes both the technology as well as performance of the two
technologies. The course also describes the enhancements made in Release 7 service
called High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) evolution.
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1. WCDMA
1.1. UMTS Air interface technologies
1.1.1. Duplex methods
The duplex define the way how two communicating entities will communicate with each
other’s. We define here three ways:
 Simplex: This is one way communication method used for broadcasting (TV,
Radio).
 Half-duplex: This is a two ways communication method; the two communicating

entities cannot transmit and receive simultaneously.
 Full-duplex: This method is the same as half duplex except that the two entities
can communicate simultaneously.
We define two means to achieve full or half duplex method:
 FDD: Frequency Division Duplex: The frequency band is split into two sub-band
one for the uplink and the other for the downlink. Then the receiver and the
transmitter use two carriers at the same time.
 Advantages: Using this method we can avoid collision between uplink and
downlink.
 Drawbacks: Frequency resources are wasted.
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Figure 1: FDD
 TDD: Time Division Duplex: The two communicating entities use the same
frequency band, but it doesn’t communicate simultaneously. It uses two different
time period, one period for the uplink and the other one for the downlink.
 Advantages: The frequency resources are not wasted.
 Drawbacks: Collision may occur during communication.
Figure 2: TDD
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1.2. UMTS Frequency
UMTS Frequency The IMT-2000 has allocated the band from 806 MHz - 960 MHz, 1710
MHz - 2025 MHz, 2110 MHz – 2200 MHz and finally 2500Mhz – 2690 MHz for a worldwide
mobile communication implementation. The frequency band which is used for UMTS use
is summarized in the following graph:
Figure 3: UMTS Frequency
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1.3. Access method
The goal of a network operator is to achieve a higher capacity with fewer resources. In
order to do this different access methods are used following is defining these methods:
 FDMA: Frequency division multiple access: The used frequency band is

divided into different carriers as shown below. The same number of carrier is used
for both uplink and downlink. Each carrier is indexed with UARFCN (UTRA
absolute radio frequency carrier number). The advantage of this technique is that
the bandwidth is used more efficiently. It means that one operator can reuse its set
of frequency according to a certain pattern called cluster.
Figure 4: FDMA
 TDMA: Time division multiple access: This is a time domain multiplexing

technique. The principle is simple one carrier is divided into different timer period
called timeslot.
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Figure 5: TDMA
 CDMA: Code division multiple access: This is a technique which is using code
division in the air interface. Let’s assume that there is a crowd of people speaking
together, so if everyone will speak loudly nobody can listen to his talker. The
principle introduced by CDMA is as simple as that: each one will speak with low
level and with his own language so everybody can have a coherent discussion
without disturbing his neighbor. So in CDMA system the subscribers share the
same frequency and the same time but they got different codes.
Figure 6: CDMA
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The capacity of the cell is not anymore function of number of timeslots in the air interface
but it’s expressed in function of power allowed within one cell, or to be more specific this
capacity is expressed with allowed signal to interference ratio within one cell. Then when
more subscribers access the cell then they will add more interference level to the cell till
the interference level reach a planned level or threshold.
1.4. WCMA Bandwidth
The air interface is the interface located between the UE and the base station and in the
standard it is referred as Uu interface. The transmission in the air interface is based on
CDMA technology and it’s called W-CDMA (Wideband CDMA) because it’s using 3 times
the bandwidth which is used by the CDMA and then for the WCDMA we allocate 3.84
MHz effective band. Adding the guard band the total bandwidth will reach 5 MHz.
Different variants bandwidths are specified by the standard 5 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz,
the mostly used by operators is 5 Mhz.
Figure 7: WCDMA Bandwidth
1.5. WCDMA Codes and bit rates
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Previously we talked about spreading codes, spreading is done using a channelization

codes and scrambling codes:
1.5.1. Channelization code
Channelization codes are used:
 Uplink Direction: to separate physical data and control data from same terminal.
 Downlink Direction: to separate connection to different terminals in a same cell.
For a good separation these code are orthogonal and then we use OVSF codes
(orthogonal variable spreading factor codes) these codes are also called Walsh codes. It
uses a different spreading factor according to bandwidth requirement increasing then the
data rate of the signal. One important limitation of OVSF-WCDMA is that the system must
maintain the orthogonality among the assigned codes.
The maintenance of the orthogonality among the assigned OVSF codes causes the code
blocking problem due to their tree structure. When users are using a higher data rate then
they will use a shorter code this will lead to a blocking to the remaining tree branch and
then limiting the access to the other users.
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Figure 8: Channelization Code Tree
1.5.2. Scrambling codes
Scrambling codes has a different use from the channelization code, they are used to
distinguish in the UL between different users and downlink between different Node B.
One scrambling code then is allocated by cell or by user. The scrambling codes have a
lower orthogonality than the channelization codes. These codes are organized into 512
code sets. We define then 512 primary scrambling codes and in a lower hierarchical level
we define from 1 to 15 secondary scrambling codes achieving then a total number of 8096
codes. The scrambling code is identified by first identifying its code set to significantly
reduce the degree of code uncertainly.
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Figure 9: Scrambling Code
1.5.3. Scrambling Codes & Channelization Codes Summary
The figure below describes how the scrambling code downlink transmission.
Figure 10: Scrambling Code downlink Transmission
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The figure below describes how the scrambling code uplink transmission.
Figure 11: Scrambling Code uplink Transmission
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Table 1: Channelization & Scrambling Code comparison
1.5.4. WCDMA bit Rates
In UMTS, in each slot the maximum number of bits transmitted is 2560. The correct term
to use is chips rather than bits.
SF =Chip rate / Symbol rate
 The chip rate is fixe and equal to 3.84 Mcps.

 QPSK modulation for both directions. QPSK has 2 bits per symbol.
 UMTS use the for downlink direction the Spreading factor is from 4 to 512, and for
uplink direction is from 4 to 256.
 UE uses only one code  Number of codes =1.
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Bit rate = Symbol rate * Modulation
Bit rate= [Chip rate / SF]*[Modulation* Number of codes]
Figure 12: Scrambling & channelization code
The table below shows an example of WCDMA throughput according to spreading

factor used.
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1.6. WCDMA vs GSM
The following figure shows the main difference between the GSM and WCDMA.
The following figure illustrates the main difference between the GSM and the WCDMA
planning and frequency re-use.
In WCDMA the frequency re-use is equal to one. Whereas, in GSM technology we use
the motive notion. And the frequency re-use is more than or equal to seven.
Table 2: WCDMA Throughput
Figure 13: WCDMA & GSM frequency re-use
The table below shows the main difference between the GSM and WCDMA technology.
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Figure 14
Table 3: Difference between GSM & WCDMA
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2. HSDPA
In 3GPP Release 5, the UMTS evolution continues. The shift to an all IP environment will
be realized: all traffic coming from UTRAN is supposed to be IP-based. By changing
GERAN, the BSC will be able to generate IP-based application packets. All interfaces will
be IP- rather than ATM-based. The databases known from GSM/GPRS will be centralized
in a Home Subscriber Server (HSS).
The majority of traffic will be packet-oriented including some traditionally circuit-switched

services, such as speech, will become packet switched (VoIP).
To offer uniform methods of IP application transport, release 5 will contain an IP

Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), which efficiently supports multiple media components.
E.g. video, audio, shared whiteboards, etc.
The Release 5 introduced the High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)
technology for the first time. 3G HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access is an
upgrade to the original 3G UMTS cellular system that provides a much greater download
speeds for data.
3G UMTS HSDPA significantly upgrades the download speeds available, bring mobile
broadband to the standards expected by users. With more users than ever using cellular
technology for emails, Internet connectivity and many other applications, HSDPA
provides the performance that is necessary to make this viable for the majority of users.
HSDPA provides data rates of up to 14 Mbps in downlink direction through the new High
Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH), but uplink data rate is not improved by
HSDPA features.
In this section the HSDPA features will be described in details.
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2.1. HSDPA Principles
The 3G HSDPA upgrade includes several changes that are built onto the basic 3GPP
UMTS standard. While some are common to the companion HSUPA technologies added
to the uplink, others are specific to HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access,
because the requirements for the each direction differ.
 HSDPA Motivation:
 Enhanced spectrum efficiency
 Higher peak rates >> 2 Mbps
 Higher cell throughput
 Reduced delay for ACK transmission.
 The High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology based on:
 Node B decisions.
 Multi-code operation.
 Fast Link Adaptation
 Adaptive Modulation & Coding AMC
 High order Modulation.
 High Coding Rate order.
 Fast Packet Scheduling
 Fast H-ARQ
 Fast  2 ms TTI
 Downwards Compatibility with R99 (shared or dedicated carrier)
All these techniques used in HSDPA technology will be discussed with more details in the
next sections in this chapter.
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 HSDPA Network Modifications
In 3GPP HSDPA standard, no new network entities added to an existing UMTS,

however hardware and/or software upgrade may be required for each entity. The
changes are made in the RNC, Node B, and UE. Also interface changes are made on
the Iub interface between Node B and RNC and on the Uu interface between UE and
Node B.
Both Node B and UE require software and hardware changes to support HSDPA
functionalities and the new channels.
Also RNC requires software upgrades to support the new signaling messages used to
configure and manage the new channels introduced in HSDPA.
 Uu Interface: To support high-speed operation, the Uu interface requires new

signaling messages exchanged over existing signaling channels and new
transport and physical channels.
 Iub Interface: For sending high-speed user data from the RNC to the Node B,
the Iub interface requires a new frame protocol.
The HSDPA introduced some modification in the network entities functionalities:
 In the RNC level: Some RNC Functionalities are shifted to Node B such as
acknowledge retransmission (The Node B becomes more intelligence).
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Figure 15: HSDPA R5 RNC functions
 In the Node B level: New Node B functionalities such as:
 Acknowledged transmission: Fast H-ARQ which leads a:

 Faster retransmission and reduced the delays.
 Less Iub retransmission traffic.
 Higher spectrum efficiency.
 Fast Packet Scheduling.
 Fast and efficient resource allocation.
 Fast Link Adaptation:

 Adaptive Modulation and Coding.
 Compensation of fast fading (without fast Power Control).
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 Higher peak rates & spectrum efficiency.
Figure 16: HSDPA R5 Node B functions
 General impacts of the architecture

 There will be impacts on the buffer capabilities:
 For data in the Node B a new buffer is needed to store data of

different users.
 The mobile has to store erroneous PDU for Soft Combining.
 Requirements on buffer could be different due to the new amount
of transmitted data.
 Algorithms have to be adapted:
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 Admission and Congestion Control for example need new way to

estimate the load and accept new users.
 Closed loop power control does not apply to HS.
 New algorithms that manage the new functionalities have to be
introduced (buffer, scheduling).
 Mobility algorithm in particular is conditioned since the fast link

adaptation does not allow the Soft Handover anymore.
Figure 17: HSDPA Network functionalities Modifications
2.2. Shared-channel transmission
By shared channel transmission is meant that a set of radio resources are dynamically
shared among multiple of users. The sharing is done in the time domain (time
multiplexing) and in the code domain (code multiplexing).
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2.3. HSDPA Protocols Stack
In a Release 99 network, the NAS layer protocols are terminated at the SGSN. In the
other hand, RRC, RLC, and MAC protocols are terminated at the RNC. Only the Physical
Layer protocol is terminated at the Node B.
The Release 5 specifications define a new sublayer of MAC called MAC-hs, which
implements the MAC protocols and procedures for HSDPA. This sublayer operates at the
Node B and the UE.
UTRAN MAC-hs is responsible for fast scheduling of the HS-PDSCHs.
 Tasks of MAC-hs within the Node B:

 Flow control.
 Packet scheduling.
 H-ARQ.
 Transport format selection.
 Tasks of MAC-hs within the UE:

 H-ARQ (Sending ACK/ NACK after decoding a block).
 Disassembly of transport blocks.
 Re-ordering data blocks before submitting to upper layers, if
retransmissions caused data to be received out of order.
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Figure 18: WCDMA R99 & HSDPA R5 protocol Stack

 UTRAN MAC Architecture
The UTRAN MAC protocol consists of three entities:
 MAC-hs: Locates in the UE and Node B, it responsible for the high

speed HSDPA channels, flow control, scheduling, priority handling
and HARQ. When the UE switches in HSDPA mode, MAC-hs maps
user data and signaling from DCCH and DTCH onto the HS-DSCH
transport channels. In R5, the MAC-hs is the only MAC entity that
resides in the Node B.
 MAC c/sh: Locates in UE and in the RNC, It responsible for

common and shared logical channels (PCCH, BCCH, CCCH,
CTCH) and transport channels (PCH, BCH, RACH, FACH). When
a UE operates in Cell_FACH state, MAC-c/sh maps user data and
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signaling from its DCCH and DTCH onto the common FACH and
RACH transport channels.
 MAC-d: Locates in the UE and RNC, it responsible for mapping
data from dedicated logical channels (DCCH and DTCH) onto
dedicated transport channels (DCH).
Figure 19: MAC Architecture
2.4. HSDPA Physical Channels
HSDPA introduces three new downlink channels and one new Uplink channel (1transport
and 3 physical channels), these channels are used in addition to the existing 3G UMTS
channels. The following figure illustrates the HSDPA physical channels.
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Figure 20: HSDPA Channels
2.4.1. Transport Channels
2.4.1.1. High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH)
The HS-DSCH has specific characteristics in many ways compared with existing
Release’99 channels. The Transmission Time Interval (TTI) or interleaving period has
been defined to be 2 ms (3 slots) to achieve short round-trip delay for the operation
between the terminal and Node B for retransmissions. The HS-DSCH 2-ms TTI is short
compared to the 10-, 20-, 40- or 80-ms TTI sizes supported in Release’99. Adding higher
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order modulation scheme, 16 QAM, as well as lower encoding redundancy has increased
the instantaneous peak data rate. In the code domain perspective, the SF is fixed; it is
always 16, and multi-code transmission as well as code multiplexing of different users
can take place.
The maximum number of codes that can be allocated is 15, but depending
on the terminal (UE) capability, individual terminals may receive a maximum of 5, 10
or 15 codes. A simple scenario is illustrated in Figure below, where two users are using
the same HS-DSCH. Both users check the information from the HS-SCCHs to determine
which HS-DSCH channelization code as well as other parameters necessary for correct
detection.
Figure 21: Code multiplexing example with two active users
 HS-DSCH Modulation
As stated earlier, 16 QAM modulation was introduced in addition to Release’99

Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation. Even during the feasibility study
phase, 8 PSK and 64 QAM were considered, but eventually these schemes were
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discarded for performance and complexity reasons. 16 QAM, with the constellation
example shown in Figure below, doubles the peak data rate compared to QPSK and
allows up to 10-Mbps peak data rate with 15 codes of SF 16. However, the use of higher-
order modulation is not without cost in the mobile radio environment. With Release’99
channels, only a phase estimate is necessary for the demodulation process. Even when
16 QAM is used, amplitude estimation is required to separate the constellation points.
Further, more accurate phase information is needed since constellation points have
smaller differences in phase domain compared to QPSK. The HS-DSCH capable terminal
needs to obtain an estimate of the relative amplitude ratio of the DSCH power level
compared to the pilot power level and this requires that Node B should not adjust the HS-
DSCH power between slots if 16 QAM is used in the frame. Otherwise, the performance
is degraded as the validity of an amplitude estimate obtained from Common Pilot Channel
(CPICH) and estimated power difference between CPICH and HS-DSCH would no longer
be valid.
Figure 22: QPSK and 16 QAM constellations
 HS-DSCH Channel Coding
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The HS-DSCH channel coding has some simplifications when compared to Release’99.
As there is only one transport channel active on the HS-DSCH, the blocks related to
the channel multiplexing for the same users can be left out. Further, the interleaving
only spans over a single 2-ms period and there is no separate intra-frame or inter-frame
interleaving. Finally, turbo coding is the only coding scheme used. However, by varying
the transport block size, the modulation scheme and the number of multi-codes and turbo
code rates other than 1/3 become available. In this manner, the effective code rate can
vary from 1/4 to 3/4. By varying the code rate, the number of bits per code can be
increased at the expense of reduced coding gain. The major difference is the addition of
the hybrid ARQ (HARQ) functionality as shown in Figure below. When using QPSK, the
Release’99 channel interleaves is used and when using 16 QAM, two parallel (identical)
channel interleaves are applied. As discussed earlier, the HSDPA-capable Node B has
the responsibility to select the transport format to be used along with the modulation and
number of codes on the basis of the information available at the Node B scheduler.
Figure 23: HS-DSCH channel coding chain
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2.4.2. Physical Channels
2.4.2.1. High Speed Physical Downlink Shared Channel

(HS-PDSCH)
The HS-PDSCH is a downlink physical channel shared by several UEs. It supports QPSK
or 16 QAM modulation and multi-code transmission. It is allocated to a user at 2 ms
intervals. This channel carries UE data, it uses Spreading Factor = 16.
HS-PDSCH Channel main characteristics:
 Transfer of actual HSDPA data.

 5 - 15 code channels.
 QPSK or 16QAM modulation.
 Divided into 2 ms TTIs.
 Fixed SF16.
 Specifies whether number of codes channels reserved for HSDPA is fixed or
dynamically adjustable ( HSDPA Planning Process)
 Minimum 5 code channels (HSDPA Planning Process).
 Maximum 15 codes channels (HSDPA Planning Process).
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Figure 24: HS-PDSCH Channels
2.4.2.2. High Speed Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH)
This HSDPA channel is also a downlink physical channel used to carry downlink control
information related to HS-DSH transmission. The UE monitors this channel continuously
to determine when to read its data from the HS-DSCH. So the HS-SCCH used to informs
the UE how to decode the next HS-PDSCH frame, it carries control information like UE
identity (H-RNTI), Channelization Code Set, Modulation Scheme, TBS and H-ARQ
process information, the modulation scheme used on the assigned physical channel.
Moreover, the Hs-SCCH channel provides timing and coding information thus allowing
the UE to listen to the HS-DSCH at the correct time and using the correct codes to
allow successful decoding of UE data.
The HS-SCCH operates on a 2ms Transmission Time Interval (TTI), with a fixed SF=128
and transmitted 2 slots in advance to HS-PDSCHs. When code multiplexing is used then
more than one HS-SCCH are required.
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Figure 25: HS-SCCH SF possible allocation
 HSDPA Code Multiplexing
In each 2 ms interval corresponding to one HS-DSCH TTI, one HS-SCCH carries

physical-layer signaling to a single UE. As there should be a possibility for HS-DSCH
transmission to multiple users in parallel (code multiplex), multiplex HS-SCCH may be
needed in a cell.
 Multi-code transmission, (multiple codes in same TTI).

 Assign available codes to multiple UEs in same TTI.
 Max number of simultaneous UEs served in same TTI, is equal to number of HS-
SCCH in the cell.
 There are 4 HS-SCCH channel allocated to a cell so only 4 UE could be served
per TTI.
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Note:
 UE can monitor up to 4 HS-SCCH. (UE need to find its allocated code, modulation
information and other control information from its corresponding HS-SCCH).
 If one UE has to be served per TTI then only one HS-SCCH transmission is
required.
The following figure shows an example of code multiplexing with four active users.
Figure 26: Code multiplexing example with four active users
2.4.2.3. High Speed Dedicated Physical Control Channel

(HS-DPCCH)
The HS-DPCCH is an uplink physical channel that carries feedback from the UE to assist
the Node B scheduling algorithm. The feedback includes a Channel Quality Indicator
(CQI) and a Positive or Negative Acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) of a previous HS-
DSCH. The HS-DPCCH use Spreading Factor=256.
The HS-DPCCH is divided into two parts as shown in Figure below and carries the
following information:
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 ACK/NACK transmission, to reflect the results of the CRC check after the packet
decoding and combining.
 Downlink Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) to indicate which estimated transport

block size, modulation type and number of parallel codes could be received
correctly (with reasonable BLER) in the downlink direction.
Figure 27: HS-DPCCH structure
In 3GPP standardization, there was a lively discussion on this aspect, as it is not a trivial
issue to define a feedback method that takes into account different receiver
implementations and so forth and simultaneously, is easy to convert to suitable scheduler
information in the Node B side. In any case, the feedback information consists of 5 bits
that carry quality-related information. One signaling state is reserved to the state ‘do not
bother to transmit’ and other states represent what is the transmission that the terminal
can receive at the current time. Hence, these states range in quality from single-code
QPSK transmission up to 15 codes 16 QAM transmission (including various coding rates).
Obviously, the terminal capability restrictions need to be taken into account in addition to
the feedback signaling, and thus, the terminals that do not support certain number of
codes’ part of the Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) feedback table shall signal the value
for power-reduction factor related to the most demanding combination supported from the
CQI table. The CQI table consists of roughly evenly spaced reference transport block
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size, number of codes and modulation combination that also define the resulting coding
rate.
The following table represents the mapping between the CQI value and the Adaptive
Modulation and Coding.
Table 4: 3GPP R5 CQI Table
2.4.2.4. Associated DCH (DL & UL)
One Associated DCH pair is set up for every HSDPA user in connected state.
 It is used for control signaling (RRC and NAS) in UL and DL.

 It is a new Radio Bearer corresponding to a 3.4 kbps SRB in the DL
(Sf 256).
 In the uplink A-DCH is also used as the channel for data transmission,
where the rate can be either 384 kbps or 64 kbps.
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 The uplink data rate 384 kbps is selected as first priority and 64 kbps is
used as a fall back rate if the path loss is judged to be too large or 384 kbps
radio bearer setup fails for any reason (e.g. lack of radio or hardware
resources).
 The uplink A-DCH channel also contains the High-Speed Dedicated
Physical Control Channel (HS-DPCCH), the new physical channel that
carries the L1 related signaling in UL.
Figure 28: Associated DCH (UL/DL)
2.4.2.5. Fractional DPCH: F-DPCH (DL)
The Fractional DPCH (F-DPCH):
 Introduced for the first time in 3GPP Release 6 and enhanced in Release 7.
 Replaces the DL DPCCH.
 Includes Transmit Power Control (TPC) bits but excludes TFCI & Pilot bits & SRB:
 TFCI bits - no longer required as there is no DPDCH.
 Pilot bits - no longer required as TPC bits are used for SIR
measurements.
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 SRB mapped to E-DCH & HS-DSCH

 Increases efficiency by allowing up to 10 UE to share the same DL SF256
channelization code.
 Time multiplexed one after another.
Figure 29: F-DPCH Channel structure
2.4.3. HSDPA Channel Timing
HSDPA channel timing is based on a time interval of 3 slots or TTI=2 ms. The figure below
illustrates a single HSDPA channel assignment. Consecutive assignments to a single UE
allow the theoretical maximum HSDPA data rate to be achieved.
1) The UE measures the downlink channel quality and sends a CQI reports on the
HS-DPCCH. An ACK or NACK from a previously received block may also be
include in this transmission.
2) When the Node B decides to send data to the UE. It will send information on the
HS-SCCH to assign the physical channel and give the UE information about how
the data was decoded.
3) During the next 2 ms HS-DSCH transmission time, one or more HS-PDSCH carry
the UE’s data.
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4) After the UE decodes the data. It sends an ACK or NACK on the HS-DPCCH, the
UE must send ACK or NACK 5 ms after the end of the HS-DSCH transmission. A
CQI report may be also included in this transmission.
Figure 30: HS-SCCH and HS-DSCH timing relationship
2.5. HSDPA Terminal Capability
The HSDPA feature is optional for terminals in Release 5 with a total of more than 10
different categories of terminals (from physical layer point of view) with resulting maximum
data rates ranging between 1.2 to 14.4 Mbps. The HSDPA capability is otherwise
independent from Release 99 based capabilities, but if HS-DSCH has been configured
for the terminal, then DCH capability in the downlink is limited to the value given by the
terminal.
The terminal capability classes are shown in Table below. All HSDPA terminal capability
categories defined in the first phase need to support 16-QAM, but it has been also
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suggested to include additional capability categories for next version of that would use
only QPSK modulation. The differences between classes lie in the maximum number of
parallel codes that must be supported and whether the reception in every 2-ms TTI is
required. The highest HSDPA class supports 14.4 Mbps. Besides the values indicated in
Table below, there is the soft buffer capability with two principles used for determining the
value for soft buffer capability. The specifications indicate the absolute values, which
should be understood in the way that a higher value means support for incremental
redundancy at maximum data rate, while lower value permits only soft combining at full
rate. While determining when incremental redundancy can be applied also, one needs to
observe the memory partitioning per ARQ process defined by the SRNC.
There is a maximum of eight ARQ processes per terminal. Category number 10 is

intended to allow the theoretical maximum data rate of 14.4 Mbps, permitting basically
the data rate that is achievable with rate 1/3 turbo coding and significant puncturing
resulting in the code rate close to 1. For category 9, the maximum turbo-encoding block
size (from Release 99) has been taken into account when calculating the values, and thus
resulting in the 10.2 Mbps peak user data rate value with four turbo-encoding blocks. It
should be noted that for HSDPA operation, the terminal will not report individual values
but only the category.
From Layer 2 and Layer 3 point of view, the important terminal capability parameter to
note is the RLC reordering buffer size that basically determines the window length of the
packets that can be ‘in the pipeline’ to ensure in-sequence delivery of data to higher
layers in the terminal.
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Table 5: HSDPA User Equipment Capability
2.6. HSDPA Link Adaptation
As opposed to R99 Radio Bears, where the transmission power is varied to achieve a
constant transmission rate, HS-DSCH is transmitted with constant power with in the TTI.
The resulting transmission rate depends on the instantaneous channel conditions. The
transmission rate is controlled by adaptive channel coding, where good channel
conditions require less coding and modulation and enables high order modulation to be
used. The link adaptation is done on a 2 ms TTI basis.
The following figure shows the HSDPA Link Adaptation steps:
1) Generation of CQI measured :

 UE monitors EC/Io (CPICH Ec/No).
 UE reads HS-PDSCH transmission power (L3/RRC signaling).
2) UE reports CQI measured
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3) CQI Correction in Node B: The Node B corrects reported CQI measured to CQI
compensated based on:
 Actual HS-PDSCH transmission power.
 Number of ACK & NACK.
4) Link Adaptation decision: Node B decides about TB size for next sub-frame:
 Modulation.
 Coding rate.
 Number of codes.
Figure 31: CQI Reporting & Link Adaptation
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2.7. HSDPA H-ARQ
2.7.1. The ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request)
The ARQ technique is implemented in the RLC layer. It uses CRC to check if the packet
received is correct or not. If the packet is received correctly, then the ARQ mechanism at
the receiver side send ACK to the transmitter, but when the packet is received incorrectly
receiver simply discards it and send NACK to the transmitter (Asks for a retransmission
the same package).When the transmitter receives, NACK massage retransmits the same
packet again.
Figure 32: ARQ technique
2.7.2. The H-ARQ stands for (Hybrid Automatic Repeat

Request)
The H-ARQ is implemented in MAC-hs layer instead of the RLC layer. Unlike ARQ,
with the HARQ technique when the packets are received incorrectly are not
discarded anymore, it will be stored in the buffer and will be combined with the next
retransmission. There are several HARQ techniques are available such as Chase
Combining (CC) HARQ, Incremental redundancy (IR) HARQ type II and IR
HARQ type III.
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Figure 33: H-ARQ technique
 Chase Combining (CC):
This type of HARQ, same information and parity bits are retransmitted each time. This
technique is also called as repetition coding as same coded information is transmitted all
the time.
Moreover at receiver previous packets are stored in a buffer, so that retransmitted packets
are summed up with previously received erroneous packets before they are passed to
decoder. The technique used at receiver to sum the packets is the simple MRC (maximum
Ratio Combining) technique.
Figure 34: H-ARQ Chase Combining
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 Incremental Redundancy (IR):
Unlike the H-ARQ chase combining type, in the H-ARQ Incremental redundancy type,
several different set of code bits are generated for the same information bits used in a
packet. Under different channel conditions these different sets are transmitted.
This scheme shows the IR H-ARQ principle, where some additional redundant
information bits are transmitted in each re-transmission and receiver needs to decode on
each re-transmission.
Figure 35: H-ARQ Incremental Redundancy
 H-ARQ Objective:
 Ensures reliable data transfer between UE and Node B.
 Short Round Trip Time between UE and network
 HSDPA connection re-transmission can originate from:

 MAC-hs layer between UE and Node B (HARQ).
 RLC layer between UE and RNC.
 TCP layer between UE and application server
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The following figure shows the difference between the R99 and HSDPA retransmission
procedure.
Figure 36: R99 & HSDPA Retransmission
Note: Link Adaptation based on:

 CQI reported by the UE.
 ACK/NACK
2.8. HSDPA Packet Scheduling
Scheduling is the function that determines which UE to transmit to at a given time instant.
The goal of the HSDPA scheduler is to maximize the spectrum efficiency of the cell while
maintaining the QoS requirements for different data services. The packet scheduling for
HSDPA is located in the medium access layer, MAC-hs. The MAC-hs is located in the
Node-B, which means that the packet scheduling decisions are almost instantaneously
executed. In addition to this, the TTI length has been shortened to 2ms.
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It is a fast scheduler which can make decisions on per TTI (2 ms) basis. Although the
implementation of the scheduler depends on the vendor, there are three fundamental
types of algorithms typically used: Round Robin, Maximum C/I and Proportional fair.
In general, the HSDPA scheduler typically assigns transmission turns to different users
based on any (or all) of the following criterion:
 Channel condition, communicated by the UE through the CQI report.

 QoS parameters, such as the traffic class, traffic handling priority (THP), allocation
and retention priority (ARP), scheduling priority indicator (SPI) etc.
 UE traffic control specifics, such as the time data has been in the buffer or the
amount of data in the buffer.
 Available system resources, such as transmit power, codes and Iub bandwidth.
The scheduler decides how to serve each and every one of the users of the sector by
assigning the following resources:
1) Scheduling turns: in every TTI (2 ms) the scheduler decides which user can
transmit and which cannot.
2) Number of codes: if several users are transmitting on the same TTI the scheduler
will decide how many parallel codes are assigned to each of them.
3) Power per code: if HSDPA codes are assigned to different users, the scheduler
may decide to assign a different power to each user, based on the available
HSDPA power and the specific user requirements.
2.8.1. Round Robin scheduling
The Round Robin (RR) packet scheduler algorithm is the simplest one. It distributes the
scheduling transmission turns equally among all active HSDPA users, regardless of the
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radio channel condition and the QoS requirements of the application running on the
mobile devices. Figure shows an example of how RR works in a system without code
multiplexing.
It can be observed that users in poor radio conditions (such as User 4, far from the cell in
the diagram) receive the exact same number of turns as users in perfect radio conditions
(such as User 3 close to the cell). As a result of this, the overall spectrum efficiency using
the RR algorithm is not maximized.
The fairness in time sharing of the system resource creates unfairness to those UEs which
are under good radio conditions and starving for throughput.
Figure 37: Round Robin (RR) Scheduler
2.8.2. Proportional fair scheduling
This algorithm utilizes information about the fading peaks to prioritize users with good
radio conditions. It also takes delay into account promoting users that have not been given
any data for a long time. In this way both user fairness and cell throughput is taken into
account. To benefit from the Proportional Fair scheduling, there must be at least 5 – 10
users in the cell.
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Figure 38: Proportional Fair PF Scheduler
2.8.3. Maximum C/I
The Maximum C/I algorithm, on the other hand, aims to optimize the overall spectrum
efficiency of the system by allocating the radio resource to the UEs with the best channel
conditions. Naturally, the instantaneous channel condition of each user can vary
independently, and the fast scheduling capability of HSDPA provides the opportunity for
the system to transmit on channels with the best radio condition at any time. For most
types of radio environments, such as macro cells, the correlation among different radio
channels is low, and the HSDPA scheduler can take advantage of the channel diversity,
therefore increasing the overall system capacity.
A system running this algorithm has the best overall cell throughput compared to the other
methods; however, it creates unfairness to UEs under poor radio conditions, especially
those at the cell edge, which may potentially get zero or very low throughput. One can
see that maximal overall throughput for the cell does not translate into equal user
experiences.
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Figure 39: Maximum C/I Scheduler
2.9. Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC)
In Wireless communication systems, the quality of a signal received by a UE depends on

number of factors such as the distance between the transmitter and the receiver (Path
loss), shadowing (Obstacles), fading (fast and slow fading) and noise. To improve system
capacity, coverage reliability and peak data rate there many mechanisms defined by
3GPP.
Traditional WCDMA systems (Release 99), have used fast power control as the preferred
method for link adaptation. However, in HSDPA R5 Adaptive Modulation and Coding
(AMC) have been used instead of the fast power control. The Adaptive Modulation and
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Coding provides an alternative link adaptation method that promises to raise the overall
system capacity.
 HSDPA Modulation:
HSDPA support two types of modulation, the first one is the QPSK and the second one
in the 16 QAM.
QPSK is a modulation with superior interference tolerance capability. QPSK modulation

used when the UE radio channel condition is poor. With 15 codes and QPSK modulation
the throughput is up to 7.2 Mbps.
The 16 QAM modulation is used when the UE radio channel condition is good (better
signal quality). With 16 QAM modulation and 15 codes up to 14.4 Mbps data rate can be
achieved.
Figure 40: HDSPA Modulation
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 Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC):
Adaptive Modulation and Coding provides a flexible method to match the modulation and
coding scheme to the average channel conditions for each user.
With AMC the modulation and coding schema is changed to match the radio channel
conditions or the current received signal quality. However, the power transmitted by each
UE is still constant over a frame interval.
In HSDPA (System with AMC), typically the users close to the Node B (good radio channel
condition) are assigned higher order modulation with higher code rates (for example: 16
QAM with R=3/4), but the modulation order and/or code rate will decrease (For example:
QPSK with R=1/4) as the distance from Node B increases (Poor radio channel condition).
Figure 41: Adaptive Modulation and Coding
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The implementation of Adaptive Modulation and Coding requires several challenges. First
of all, AMC is very sensitive to delay and measurement error. The scheduler must be
aware of the radio channel quality, to select the appropriate modulation and Coding.
Delay in reporting radio channel measurements will reduce the reliability of the channel
quality estimate. Also channel estimate errors, will cause the scheduler to select the
wrong data rate and either transmit at too low a power which cause raising the block error
rate or too high a power, wasting system capacity.
The figure below represents the difference in link adaptation for UMTS R99 and HSDPA.
Figure 42: Radio Link Adaptation
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The following table represents the mapping between Adaptive Modulation Coding and the
Throughput.
Table 6: Mapping between AMC and Data throughput
2.10.Short Time Transmission Time (TTI)
The Transmission Time Interval (TTI) is 2 ms for HS-DSCH. The TTI for HSDPA is short
when compared to R99, where it is between 10 – 40 ms. This reduces the average round
trip delay compared to R99. It is necessary for the other HS-DSCH features fast link
adaptation and fast radio channel dependent scheduling. The short delays are also
beneficial for TCP when downloading many relatively small objects (such as web pages),
since TCP round trip time is reduced.
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Short TTI introduces lots of advantages such as decrease the buffer size, reduce delays
between retransmissions, less probability of an error and better utilization of the radio
resources by reacting faster to the channel conditions.
Figure 43: Short TTI (TTI=2ms)
2.11.HSDPA Mobility
The HSDPA supports only hard handover. By design, the HSDPA channels can’t support
the soft handover because the MAC-hs of each Node B operates independently and the
transport channel frames are constructed by the MAC-hs sublayer operating in the
Node B.
There are three handover types supported by the HSDPA. These handover are: Intra
Node B handover, Inter Node B handover and HS-DSCH to Dedicated Channel handover.
2.11.1. Intra-Node B HSDPA Handover
During the Intra-Node B HSDPA handover all transmission from the serving cell is
stopped. Then the packet scheduler in the target cell is allowed to manage the
transmission to the UE. In this case, there are two options possible: The first option, Reset
the MAC-hs, which means the MAC-hs buffer is rest and retransmission of the data is
executed by the RLC layer.
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The second option is MAC-hs preservation, in this case no data loss, as the original cell
buffer is moved to the target cell.
Figure 44: HSDPA Intra-Node B handover
2.11.2. Inter-Node B HSDPA handover
During the Inter-Node B HSDPA handover as the cell change, the MAC-hs buffer for the
user in the serving cell is reset and all data is deleted. In this case, the higher layer are
used to recover the data lost during the buffer reset in the original cell.
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Figure 45: HSDPA Inter-Node B handover
2.11.3. HS-DSCH to DCH hard handover
This handover type is required when the UE moves from HSDPA enabled cell to a new
cell doesn’t support the HSDPA. In this case, the transmission continues using the DPCH
channel (R99 channel) and the original cell buffer is reset like in the inter-Node B HSDPA
hard handover.
Figure 46: HSDPA HS-DSCH to DCH hard handover
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2.12.HSDPA Power Allocation methods
The power budget for a cell consists of the power needed for common UMTS channels,
as the CPICH power for UMTS transmissions, and power for the HSDPA transmission
(transmit power of the HS-PDSCH, HS-SCCH and HS-DPCCH).
In principle, there are two different possibilities for allocating the power of HSDPA in the
base station DL power budget: Dynamic Configuration or Static Configuration power
allocation.
 Dynamic HSDPA power allocation:
Because HSDPA operates in conjunction with Release 99, both schemes must allocate
sufficient power from the total available cell power for mandatory common channels
(CPICH, PCCPCH, SCCPCH, PICH and AICH) and for Release 99 dedicated channels
(DCH). The remainder of the total available power after all necessary power has been
allocated to the R99 channels, will be allocated to the HSDPA channels (HS-PDSCH, HS-
SCCH).
In this case, power can be dynamically allocated between R99 subscribers and HSDPA
subscribers. R99 CS traffic has real-time requirements, has the priority and can occupy
HSDPA power if necessary.
Note: HSDPA available power = cell power * (1- power margin) - the power of
R99 traffic channels and of common channels
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The figure below shows the dynamic HSDPA power resource allocation.
Figure 47: Dynamic HSDPA power
 Static HSDPA power allocation:
As in the dynamic HSDPA power allocation, in the static HSDPA power allocation a
sufficient power from the total available cell power will be allocated for mandatory
common channels (CPICH, PCCPCH, SCCPCH, PICH and AICH). Also, a fixed portion
of total power is reserved for the HSDPA channels (HS-PDSCH and HS-SCCH), with the
remainder available for any of the Release 99 power–controlled DCHs.
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HSDPA power is allocated and fixed. In this case, the power of R99 and HSDPA is
independent and can’t be occupied between.
The figure below shows the dynamic HSDPA power resource allocation.
Figure 48: Static HSDPA power
2.13.HSDPA Channel Code Allocation
In principle, there are two different possibilities for HSDPA Channel Code Allocation in
the Radio Network Controller: Dynamic Configuration or Static Configuration.
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 HSDPA Dynamic Channel Code allocation
When configuring the channel of the HSDPA cells, besides the common channels similar
to R99, code resources shall be allocated to HS-SCCH (static configuration) and HS-
PDSCH if statically allocating the code resources. SF of HS-SCCH is set to 128, and that
of HS-PDSCH is set to 16. In this case R99 subscribers can’t use the code resources of
HSDPA.
If code resources are dynamically allocated, will define initial HS-DSCH, the minimum
HS-DSCH and the maximum HS-DSCH. Code resources occupied by HSDPA
subscriber’s is not the maximum and the minimum, if more R99 CS subscribers want to
get accessed, HSDPA code resources can be occupied.
Figure 49: HSDPA Dynamic code allocation
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 HSDPA Static Channel Code allocation
If the RNC-controlled static code allocation is used, the number of reserved HS-PDSCH codes is
specified by the parameter HSDPAchannelCodeNumber on the RNC side. Based on the
number, the RNC reserves codes for the HS-PDSCH. The DPCH, HS-SCCH, and common
channels use the other codes. The parameter HSDPAchannelCodeNumber can be set on the
basis of the traffic characteristics of the cell.
If there are more HSDPA users and the traffic is high, the parameter value can be increased. If
there are more DCH users and the HSDPA traffic is low, the parameter value can be decreased.
A maximum of 15 codes can be allocated to the HS-PDSCH.
The following figure shows the HSDPA static code allocation.
Figure 50: HSDPA Static code allocation
3. HSUPA
The 3GPP radio specification R6, introduces the High Speed Uplink Packet Access
(HSUPA). The HSUPA technology, works on Radio Access Network, without any impact
to Core Network. It is expected to enhance the throughput in UL direction to reach 5.76
Mbps with QPSK modulation and 11 Mbps with 16 QAM modulation.
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Similarly to HSDPA, the HSUPA introduces new physical and transport channels such as
Enhance-DCH (E-DCH) on which it will employ link adaptation methods similar to those
employed by HSDPA including:
 Higher order modulation: QPSK and 16 QAM might be used enabling

higher data rates under favorable radio conditions.
 Option for Shorter Transmission Time Interval (TTI=2ms) to enable faster

link adaptation or TT=10 ms.
 H-ARQ with incremental redundancy making retransmissions more

effective (between UE and the Node B).
 Higher Uplink bits rates (multi-code).
 Fast Scheduling in uplink direction (Scheduling performed by the Node

B instead of the RNC).
 Multi-code transmission.
 Node B retransmissions (H-ARQ).
 Variable spreading factor of minimum SF = 2.
 Power control.
 Soft handover
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Figure 51: Comparing HSUPA & HSDPA
3.1. HSUPA Network Modifications
Like in the 3GPP HSDPA standard, in 3GPP HSUPA standard, no new network entities
added to an existing UMTS, however hardware and/or software upgrade may be required
for each entity. The changes are made in the RNC, Node B, and UE. Also interface
changes are made on the Iub interface between Node B and RNC and on the Uu interface
between UE and Node B.
Both Node B and UE require software and hardware changes to support HSDPA
functionalities and the new channels.
Also RNC requires software upgrades to support the new signaling messages used to
configure and manage the new channels introduced in HSUPA.
 Uu Interface: To support high-speed operation, the Uu interface requires new

signaling messages exchanged over existing signaling channels and new
transport and physical channels.
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 Iub Interface: For sending high-speed user data from the RNC to the Node B, the
Iub interface requires a new frame protocol.
The HSDPA introduced some modification in the network entities functionalities:
 In the RNC level: Some RNC Functionalities are shifted to Node B such as
acknowledge retransmission (The Node B becomes more intelligence).
 In the Node B level: new Node B functionalities:

 Fast H-ARQ (Acknowledged transmission).
 Faster retransmission / reduced delays.
 Less Iub retransmission traffic.
 Higher spectrum efficiency.
 Fast Packet Scheduling.

 Fast & efficient resource allocation.
 In the UE level: new UE functionality:

 Fast Link Adaptation
 Adaptive Coding and Modulation (from Release 7).
 Higher peak rates.
 Spectrum efficiency.
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Figure 52: HSUPA Network functionalities Modifications
3.2. Comparing HSUPA & HSDPA

 Differences to HSDPA:
 Power Control PC: Fast Power Control:
 on DL centralized PC
 on UL individual PC
 On UL fast PC still necessary (same as
Release 99) (UL interference  UL scrambling
codes).
 Higher order modulation difficult for UE (Release 7).
 Soft Handover required due to coverage reasons.
 HSUPA similarity to HSDPA
 Fast H-ARQ terminated at Node B.

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 Fast UL Packet Scheduling controlled by Node B.

 Fast Link Adaptation:
 Adaptive coding (1/4 - 4/4 code rate).
 Adaptive modulation (3GPP Release 7)
3.3. Option for Shorter TTI
HSUPA supports both TTI lengths, short TTI (TTI=2ms) and normal TTI (TTI=10ms). Short
TTI, supports higher data rates, reduces the delays between retransmissions and better utilization
of the resources by reacting faster to the radio channel conditions.
However if the number of users is great, short TTI requires the transmission of very high number
of DL control signals and thus can lead to very high consumption of the Node B power especially,
for areas at the cell edge.
Figure 53: TTI Selection
3.3.1. Selection of 2 ms TTI
 The TTI selection procedure is triggered during:
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 UL channel type selection (DCH vs. E-DCH).

 An ongoing existing HSUPA connection (TTI switching).
 RAB establishment or release (TTI switching).
 The 2 ms HSUPA TTI is selected if:

 HSUPA 2 ms TTI is supported by the operator.
 UE supports 2 ms TTI.
 RAB combination supports SRB on HSUPA.
 RNC reconfigures E-DCH 2ms TTI  E-DCH 10ms TTI if 2ms TTI Coverage
criteria not fulfilled.
3.4. HSUPA Protocols Stack
Similar to HSDPA, the use of USUPA doesn’t change the RLC layer, but introduces
additional MAC sublayers known as the MAC-es and MAC-e. On the network side, the
MAC-es is located within the RNC whereas the MAC-e is located within the Node B. The
MAC-es and MAC-e are combined within the UE to from the MAC-es/e layer.
Including the MAC-e layer within the Node B increases the intelligence and
responsibilities of the Node B relative to the RNC.
 The MAC-e within the Node B is responsible for:

 Scheduling
 HARQ
 E-DCH control
 De-multiplexing
 The MAC-es/e layer within the UE is responsible for:

 HARQ
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 Transport format selection

 bit rate selection
 multiplexing and de-multiplexing
 The MAC-es/e layer within the RNC is responsible for:

 reordering queue distribution
 reordering macro diversity selection
Figure 54: HSUPA R6 protocol Stack
3.5. HUSPA Fast UL Retransmission (H-ARQ)
In the release 99 the retransmissions are made in the Radio Link Control (RLC) level so
the retransmission procedures for a packet is located in the RNC. In the uplink, a packet
must arrive to the RNC and a negative acknowledgment has to come back in order to
perform a retransmission.
With fast HARQ a retransmission can be controlled directly by the Node B reducing the
delay so the retransmissions are performed faster.
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The following figure illustrates the difference between the retransmission mechanism
used for the uplink DCH and the HARQ used in the EDCH.
Figure 55: R99 & HSUPA Retransmission
3.6. HUSPA Fast UL Scheduling
Like HSDPA, in the HSUPA technology the scheduling function is also shifted to Node B.
The scheduler considers:
 Feedback from UE (happy bit).
 UE capabilities.
 UE buffers states.
 Available resources.
 Noise measured by the BTS.
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 Iub interface status.

In HSUPA, the scheduling procedure is very similar to the Release 99 rather than the
HSDPA. The scheduling algorithm simply tries to keep the cell throughput high by
adjusting the E-DPDCH transmit powers and thus the TFC selections.
Figure 56: HSUPA UL Fast Scheduler
3.7. HSUPA UE Category
As in the HSDPA, there are several UE categories for HSUPA. The UE categories reflect
the different levels of implementation complexity. The differences between the categories
are in terms of the minimum spreading factor, the Transmission Time Interval length, the
maximum number of E-DCH codes and the maximum transport block size and the
maximum data rate capability for this UE category.
The following table shows the different UE categories for HSUPA service, with their data
rates, minimum spreading factor and some others parameters.
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Table 7: HSUPA UE Category
3.8. HSUPA Transport and Physical Channels
To offer high data rates in uplink direction, HSUPA added a new transport and physical
channels to the basic UMTS R99 channels. These HSUPA channels offer additional
signaling and data capabilities.
Despite, the HSUPA is provide an enhancement only for uplink direction, channels have
been added to both directions uplink and downlink. The reason for the downlink HSUPA
channels is to provide the needed control for the uplink data.
The following figure illustrates the HSUPA physical channels.
Page 74
Figure 57: HSUPA Channels
3.8.1. Transport Channels
 Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH):
This HSUPA uplink Transport Channel carries user data for each Transmission Time
Interval. The E-DCH can be configured simultaneously with one or more DCHs. The E-
DCH is mapped to a set of Enhanced Dedicated Physical Data Channels (E-DPDCH).
As a low latency is one of the key requirements for the high speed uplink a short TTI
(Transmission Time Interval) of 2 ms is supported in addition to one of 10 ms. the short
TTI allows for rapid adaptation of transmission parameters and it reduces the end-user
delays.
Page 75
3.8.2. Physical Channels
HSUPA technology added physical channels in both directions uplink and downlink:
3.8.2.1. Uplink HSUPA channels
A variety of new channels in uplink direction have been introduced for HSUPA to enable
the system to carry the high speed data. These new channels are:
 Enhanced Dedicated Physical Data Channel (E-DPDCH): This

HSUPA physical uplink channel carries user data. Each UE can
transmit up to four E-DPDCH channels at a SF from SF2 to SF256.
The number of E-DPDCH channels and their spreading factors are

changed according to the instantaneous data rate required.
The following figure illustrates the E-DPDCH structure.
Figure 58: E-DPDCH frame structure
Page 76
E-DPDCH slot formats, corresponding rates and number of bits are specified in table
below.
Table 8: E-DPDCH fields
 Enhanced Dedicated Physical Control Channel (E-DPCCH): This

HSUPA physical channel carries the control information required by the
Node B to decode the uplink channels including the E-DCH TFCI
(Transport Format Combination Indicator), retransmission sequence
number, etc.
The E-DPCCH fields are:

 E-TFCI (7 bit): E-DCH Transport Block Size i.e.
coding at given TTI.
 RSN: Retransmission Sequence Number RSN (2

bit): Value = 0 / 1 / 2 / 3 for initial transmission, 1st
/ 2nd / further retransmission.
 Happy bit (1 bit): indicates if UE needs more

resources or not:  = 1,  = 0.
 These 10 bits are channel coded to generate 30 bits per 2 ms sub-frame.
 2 ms TTI => the 30 bits are transmitted once during the 2 ms.
Page 77
 10 ms TTI => the 30 bits are repeated 5 times during the 10 ms
The following figure illustrates the E-DPDCH structure.
Figure 59: E-DPCCH frame structure
E-DPCCH slot formats, corresponding rates and number of bits are specified in table
below.
Table 9: E-DPCCH fields
3.8.2.2. Downlink HSUPA channels
Like in the uplink direction, a variety of new downlink channels have been introduced for HSUPA
these new channels are:
 Enhanced Absolute Grant Channel (E-AGCH): This HSUPA downlink physical

channel provides the absolute limit of the power resources, the serving grant, which the UE
may use.
Page 78
This HSUPA channel is used to transmit scheduling grants from the Node B (scheduler) to
the UE to control when and what data rate the UE should be used. Typically, the E-AGCH
channel is used for large changes in data rate.
The E-AGCH is a fixed rate (30 Kbps, SF=256) download physical channel carrying the
uplink E-DCH absolute grant.
An E-DCH absolute grant shall be transmitted over one E-AGCH sub-frame or one
E-AGCH frame.
 The transmission over one E-AGCH sub-frame if E-DCH TTI Is set to 2 ms.
 The transmission over one E-AGCH frame if E-DCH TTI Is set to 10 ms.
The sequence of 60 bits are mapped to the corresponding E-AGCH sub-frame. If the E-
DCH TTI is equal to 10 ms, the same sequence of bits is transmitted in all the E-AGCH
sub-frame of the E-AGCH radio frame. In other words, the same 2 ms sub-frame of E-
AGCH is re-transmitted four times.
The E-AGCH fields are:
 Transfers a total of 6 bits per 2 ms sub-frame

 Absolute Grant value (5 bits)
 Signals transmit power allowed for E-DPDCH relative to DPCCH
 Absolute Grant scope (1 bit)
 Transfers E-RNTI (16 bit)
The table below illustrates the possible E-RGCH command.
Page 79
Table 10: E-RGCH Command
The following figure illustrates the frame and sub-frame structure of the
E-AGCH.
Figure 60: E-AGCH frame structure
 Enhanced Relative Grant Channel (E-RGCH): This downlink physical channel is used
to move the UE serving grant up, down or remain the same. Generally, this channel is used
for relatively small changes during an ongoing data transmission. The large changes are
managed through the E-AGCH.
The E-RGCH:
 Transfers Relative Grant value.
 Can be transmitted by any active HSUPA cell.
Page 80
 Cells belonging to Serving Radio Link set may command Up, Down & Hold.
 Other cells only able to command Down & Hold.
 SF 128 used.
 E-RGCH can occupy.
 10 ms TTI and serving radio link set  occupies 8 ms
 2 ms TTI: E-RGCH is not used
 Non serving radio link set  occupies 2ms or 10 ms
 Enhanced DCH Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel (E-HICH): This HSUPA channel
downlink physical is used to provide the acknowledgement from the Node B.
The E-HICH:
 Transfers E-DCH HARQ acknowledgements (ACK/NACK).
 transmitted by all Active Set cells:
 Cell belongs to Radio Link Set, ACK NACK is transmitted
 other cells transmit only ACK. (UE continues to re-transmit
until ACK received from at least one cell (or until re-
transmission time out))
 SF 128 used
 E-HICH can occupy
 2 ms TTI and serving radio link set  occupies 2 ms
 10 ms TTI and serving radio link set  occupies 8 ms.
The following figure illustrates the E-RGCH and the E-HICH radio frame structure.
Page 81
Figure 61: E-RGCH & E-HICH frame structure
Note:
 Channelization Code is shared for specific UE by E-RGCH & E-HICH.
 40 orthogonal signatures/Code allow up to 20 UEs to be served with E-RGCH & E-HICH

information (per code).
3.9. Multi-Code Transmission
The HSUPA doesn’t support Adaptive Modulation and Coding like the HDSPA. However,
to achieve higher data rates it supports the multi-code transmission which is more efficient
in uplink direction than Adaptive modulation and coding.
During one TTI, a multiple E-DPDCH channels can be transmitted for one HSUPA user
(one E-DCH), using code multiplexing.
The multiplexed E-DPDCH's can use different Spreading Factor or the same Spreading
Factor. In order to increase the data rates, the allowed combinations for multi-code
transmission are 2xSF2 + 2xSF4.
Page 82
To support an UL peak rate of 5.8 Mbps the UE needs to send on 4 E-DCH channels in
parallel (2xSF2 + 2xSF4) with QPSK modulation. UE category 6 + 7, 8 enable
transmission of 4 codes in parallel & support 5.76 Mbps at maximum with QPSK
modulation.
Figure 62: HSUPA Multi-Code transmission
3.10. HSUPA Mobility Management
In the HSUPA the Mobility Management doesn’t include any major modifications
compared to the previous Release 99 DCH channels. The E-DCH supports soft handover
and several Node Bs can receive the uplink data.
Multiple cells can simultaneously receive UL data from the UE, thus increasing the
probability of proper data reception and to achieve better decoding performance by
combining the different streams.
The more the number of cells in the E-DCH active set is, the greater the probability of
proper UL data reception. In this case, more Node B hardware resources need to be
consumed because each cell in the active set receives and demodulates the UL data.
Page 83
Operators can adjust the number of cells in the E-DCH active set through parameter
setting.
In the HSUPA there can be up to four cells in the Active Set, while Release 99 allowed
up to six cells in the Active Set. As in the case of Release 99 channels, cells enter and
leave the active set through radio link additions, deletions and replacements.
 Scenario1 : Intra-frequency HSUPA Handover

 The UE moves from one HSUPA cell to another HSUPA cell.
 Events 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are triggered.
 Non-HSUPA cells do not exist either before or after the active set is
updated.
 The RNC updates the active set according to the reported events. If the
best cell changes, the HSUPA serving cell is updated to keep
consistent with the best cell.
Page 84
Figure 63: Intra-frequency HSUPA Handover
 Scenario 2 : Inter-frequency HSUPA Handover

 The UE moves from one HSUPA cell to another HSUPA cell.
 Event 2B is triggered.
 The HSUPA admission request is made for the target cell. After the
request is accepted, the handover is performed through the physical
channel reconfiguration message. If the request is denied, the RB
reconfiguration is implemented, and services on E-DCH are reconfigured
for DCH.
Page 85
Figure 64: Inter-frequency HSUPA Handover
3.11.Power Control
The power of the HSUPA UL channels E-DPCCH and E-DPDCH is based on the power
of the DPCCH. It has a power offset relation with that of the DPCCH. The power control
mode of the DPCCH is the same as that in R99. The DPCCH adjusts the transmission
power through fast closed loop power control so that the signal-to-interference ratio of the
DPCCH approaches the target value.
Like the DCH, the E-DCH uses outer loop power control. The DCH adjusts the target
value of the signal-to-interference ratio of the DPCCH by estimating the block error rate
of transmission blocks so as to improve the QoS.
Page 86
The E-DCH also adjusts the target value of the signal-to-interference ratio of the DPCCH
to improve the QoS. The purpose of E-DCH outer loop power control, however, is to
ensure the number of retransmissions and the retransmission block error rate (RBLER).
Real-time services use the RBLER as the target of E-DCH outer loop power control. Real-
time services are delay sensitive. After several times of retransmission at the physical
layer, the maximum permissible delay of transmission blocks has been reached. If
transmission blocks cannot be properly received yet, the QoS of real-time services is
affected. The control of the BLER is to control the proportion in which the transmission
delay exceeds the maximum permissible delay, thus ensuring the QoS of services.
BE services use the number of H-ARQs as the target of E-DCH outer loop power control.
HSUPA power control also includes the power control of the DL physical layer signaling
and indication channel, E-RGCH, E-AGCH, and E-HICH.
Page 87
Figure 65: HSUPA Power Control
4. HSPA+ (Evolved High Speed Packet Access)
The 3GPP Releases 7 and 8 have brought a number of HSPA enhancements providing
major improvements to the end user performance and to the network efficiency.
The work continues further in Release 9. The HSPA evolution work has progressed in
parallel to LTE work in 3GPP. HSPA evolution deployments in practice take place in
parallel to LTE deployments. Many of the technical solutions in HSPA evolution and LTE
are also similar.
The overview of the HSPA evolution is illustrated in this section.
Page 88
3.1. HSDPA Improvements

3.1.1. 64 QAM Modulation
Higher order modulation allows higher peak bit rate without increasing the transmission
bandwidth. Release 6 supported Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) and 16QAM
(Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) transmission in the downlink.
Release 7 introduces 64QAM transmission for the downlink. 64QAM can increase the
peak bit rate by 50% compared to 16QAM since 64QAM transmits 6 bits with single
symbol. On the other hand, the constellation points are closer to each other for the higher
order modulation and the required signal-to-noise ratio for correct reception is higher.
The difference in the required signal-to-noise ratio is approximately 6 dB between 16QAM

and QPSK and also between 64QAM and 16QAM.
Therefore, downlink 64QAM can be used only when the channel conditions are favorable.
Figure 66: 64 QAM modulation
Page 89
The table below shows the throughput according to the modulation type and the coding
rate. HSDPA peak rate reached the 21.1 Mbps using 64 QAM modulation, 15 codes and
without any channel coding.
Figure 67: Bit rate according to Modulation & Coding rate
To support the high order modulation (64 QAM) a new UE categories are introduces. UE
categories 13, 14, 17 and 18 supported this feature.
Table 11: UE categories to support 64 QAM modulation
Page 90
Downlink 64QAM can be used only when the channel conditions are favorable:
 Good channel conditions required to take benefit of 64QAM

 64QAM requires 6 dB higher SNR than 16QAM.
 Average CQI typically 20.
Figure 68: 64QAM: Channel Quality Requirements
3.1.2. MIMO
The MIMO stands for Multiple Input Multiple Output, it refer to any wireless system
multiple transmitter antennas and multiple receiver antennas. Traditionally wireless
systems try to avoid the effects of multipath transmission because the multiple paths
propagation introduced phase delays that caused distortion and interference. However
the MIMO technique exploits the multiple paths propagation in perfect ways to give the
system more resilient to interference or to enable high data throughput rates by using
Page 91
spatial multiplexing. The 3GPP Release 7 introduced the 2x2 MIMO technique for the first
time.
In release 7, with traditional single antenna and 64 QAM modulation, the highest bitrate
is equal to 21Mbps. However, with MIMO and spatial multiplexing the highest bitrate can
reach 28.8 Mbps.
MIMO technique has many benefits:
 Increases single user peak data rate.

 Increases Overall cell capacity.
 Increases average cell throughput.
 Increases cell coverage.
Figure 69: MIMO technique
MIMO 2x2 increases single user peak data rate, and enables 28 Mbps peak data rate in
HSDPA:
Page 92
 28 Mbps peak rate in combination with 16QAM

 64QAM: no simultaneous support of 64QAM and MIMO (not yet)
 Dual-Cell HSDPA: not possible to enable MIMO & DC-HSDPA in a cell in parallel
As in the previous features a new UE categories are invented to support MIMO

technology. UE categories 15, 16, 17 and 18 supported this feature.
Table 12: UE Categories
 MIMO enabled cell: S-CPICH is broadcast for DL channel estimation in UE.

– S-CPICH transmission power is controlled with existing parameter.
 UE must be able to estimate each of the 2 signals separately.

– P-CPICH is broadcast along with data stream 1.
– S-CPICH (new with RU20) is broadcast along with data stream 2.
– SF 256 spreading code must be allocated in DL to support S-CPICH
transmission.
Page 93
Figure 70: S-CPICH
3.1.3. MIMO & 64 QAM
3GPP Release 8 enables simultaneous 2x2 MIMO and 64QAM operation.
Figure 71: 64 QAM & MIMO
Page 94
2x2 MIMO with 64 QAM (64QAM transfers 6 bits per modulation symbol) was introduced
in 3GPP Release 8. Using 64QAM on top of MIMO increases the peak rate from 21 Mbps
to 42 Mbps.
TO support the 2x2 MIMO with 64 QAM simultaneously a new UE categories are
introduces. UE categories 19 and 20 supported this feature.
Table 13: UE categories
3.1.4. Dual Cell
Prior to 3GPP Release5, 6, 7 and 8, HSDPA channel bandwidths limited to 5 MHz. With
Dual-Cell HSDPA: 3GPP Rel. 8 allows 2 adjacent channels to be combined.
 Effective HSDPA channel bandwidth of 10 MHz
 3GPP Rel. 8: Dual Cell HSDPA can be combined with 64QAM but not with MIMO.
 3GPP Release 9 allows combination with both, 64QAM & MIMO.
 42 Mbps HSDPA peak rate, when the Dual-Cell HSDPA used with 64 QAM
modulation.
The figure below illustrates the main difference between the Dual-Cell approach and the
Basic Approach.
Page 95
Figure 72: Dual-Cell
3.1.5. DC-HSDPA with MIMO

3GPP Release 9 enables simultaneous 2x2 MIMO, DC-HSDPA and 64QAM operation.
Principle:
 Enables simultaneously: Dual-Cell HSDPA with MIMO and 64QAM.
 MIMO uses Single Stream or Double Stream transmission.
 DC-HSDPA uses 2 cells (same frequency band and adjacent carriers).
 64QAM  6 bits/symbol.
Benefits:
 Higher Peak Rate: up to 2 x 2 x 21 Mbps = 84 Mbps.
Page 96
 Better Coverage due to DC-HSDPA & MIMO.
 More robust transmission due to MIMO & DC HSDPA usage.
To support the high order modulation (64 QAM) with MIMO and Dual-Cell a new UE
categories are invented.
Page 97
Table 14: UE Categories
3.1.6. Flexible RLC
In R99, RLC packets had to be relatively small to avoid the retransmission of very large
packets in case of transmission errors. Another reason for the relatively small RLC packet
Page 98
size was the need to provide sufficiently small step sizes for adjusting the data rates for
Release 99 channels.
The RLC packet size in Release 99 is not only small, but it is also fixed for Acknowledged
Mode Data and there are just a limited number of block sizes in Unacknowledged Mode
Data. This limitation is due to transport channel data rate limitations in Release 99. The
RLC payload size is fixed to 40 bytes in Release 99 for Acknowledged Mode Data.
The same RLC solution is applied to HSDPA Release 5 and HSUPA Release 6 as well:
the 40-byte packets are transmitted from RNC to the base station for HSDPA. An
additional configuration option to use an 80-byte RLC packet size was introduced in
Release 5 to avoid extensive RLC protocol overhead, L2 processing and RLC
transmission window stalling. With the 2 ms TTI used with HSDPA this leads to possible
data rates being multiples of 160 kbps and 320 kbps respectively.
As the data rates are further increased in Release 7, increasing the RLC packet size even
further would significantly impact on the granularity of the data rates available for HSDPA
scheduling and the possible minimum data rates.
3GPP HSDPA and HSUPA allow the optimization of the L2 operation since L1
retransmissions are used and the probability of L2 retransmissions is very low. Also, the
Release 99 transport channel limitation does not apply to HSDPA/HSUPA since the L2
block sizes are independent of the transport formats. Therefore, it is possible to use
flexible and considerably larger RLC sizes and introduce segmentation to the Medium
Access Control (MAC) layer in the base station.
This optimization is included for downlink in Release 7 and for uplink in Release 8 and
it is called flexible RLC and MAC segmentation solution. The RLC block size in flexible
RLC solution can be as large as an Internet Protocol (IP) packet, which is typically 1500
bytes for download. There is no need for packet segmentation in RNC. By introducing the
segmentation to the MAC, the MAC can perform the segmentation of the large RLC PDU
based on physical layer requirements when needed. The flexible RLC concept in downlink
is illustrated in Figure below.
Page 99
Figure 73: Downlink Flexible RLC Concept
3.1.7. Dual Band
The 3GPP R9 introduced the Dual Band, which allow the possibility to the UE using
simultaneously two carriers in DL that are situated on two different WCDMA frequency
bands:
 Enables achieving 42 Mbps peak rate for user in DL (assuming 64QAM and 15
codes usage on both frequencies).
 Comparing to single carrier case gives possibility to increase cell throughput.
 The dual band is much similar to DC-HSDPA in function.
 Feature restricts single carrier usage in UL (DB or DC-HSUPA is not allowed).
Motivations and Benefits:
• High Throughputs: This feature enables throughputs as high as 42 Mbps.
Page 100
• Better Coverage: Dual Band allows using two different frequency bands. For
cases where high coverage is needed, lower Band of the two can be used to
enhance coverage.
• Configurations flexibility: This feature with carriers from 2 different frequency

bands allows more flexibility in spectrum assignments.
Figure 74: Dual Band
3.2. HSUPA Improvements
3.2.1. 16 QAM Modulation
Higher order modulation allows higher peak bit rate without increasing the transmission
bandwidth. Release 6 supported Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) in the uplink.
Release 7 introduces 16QAM for the uplink. 16QAM can double the bit rate compared to
QPSK by transmitting 4 bits instead of 2 bits per symbol.
Page 101
16QAM can increase the peak bit rate by 100% compared to QPSK since 16 QAM
transmits 4 bits with single symbol. On the other hand, the constellation points are closer
to each other for the higher order modulation and the required signal-to-noise ratio for
correct reception is higher.
The difference in the required signal-to-noise ratio is approximately 6 dB between

16QAM and QPSK. Therefore, uplink 16QAM can be used only when the channel
conditions are favorable.
 HSUPA peak rate reached the 11.5 Mbps using 16 QAM modulation, 4 codes
(2xSF2+ 2XSF4) and without any channel coding.
Figure 75: QPSK & 16 QAM Modulation
3.2.1. Flexible RLC in UL
The Flexible RLC is introduced for downlink in Release 7 and for uplink in Release 8.
Page 102
RLC operations (segmentation and concatenation) on RLC SDUs are performed to fit
maximum RLC PDU size. New MAC-is/i are introduced in order to handle flexible instead
of fixed size RLC PDUs:
 MAC-i is introduced in the UE and BTS.

 MAC-is is introduced in the UE and RNC.
Flexible RLC in UL: Advantages

 Relative overhead and padding depends on the number of used PDUs.
 For the typical IP packet size the relative overhead and padding is reduced from
3.72% to 0.27%, it relates to 93% of drop of control data.
Figure 76: Uplink Flexible RLC
Page 103
4. Interworking-WLAN
In release 6, the 3GPP is developed interworking solution between 3G and WLAN

networks under the Interworking-WLAN name. This solution used to realize
UMTS/WLAN integration. This 3GPP solution define the interworking architecture
between a WLAN access network and a 3GPP core network.
4.1. I-WLAN Architecture
The 3GPP release 6, proposed the interworking wireless local area network, which
provides an integration architecture between 3GPP network (core network) and WLAN.
The figure below shows the I-WLAN architecture. There are three main entities, WAG
(Wireless Access Gateway), a PDG (Packet Data Gateway) and an AAA Server.
Typically, the mobile terminal is equipped with multiple network interfaces, such as 3G
radio and Wi-Fi card.
In the WLAN coverage, the mobile terminal can connect to a WLAN access network using
a Wi-Fi interface card. Out of this coverage the mobile terminal can switch to 3G network.
 WAG is a gateway through which the data to or/and from the WLAN access
network will be routed to provide a WLAN-interface enabled terminal with 3G
packet-switched based services in a WLAN 3GPP IP access enabled system.
 PDG in the I-WLAN architecture works as a gateway to 3GPP PS based services.
Page 104
Figure 77: I-WLAN Architecture
5. Summary
 UMTS Release 99:
 3GPP is responsible for the standardisation of UMTS.
 In December 1999, the first UMTS Release, the so-called Release 99, was
frozen.
 UMTS Rel. 99 is based on the large experience of GSM/GPRS

standardisation, taking over many principles of the matured GSM/GPRS
network, protocol and service architecture.
 The UMTS Rel. 99 network consists of a slightly modified, advanced and

matured GSM/GPRS Core Network (CS & PS Domain), the UMTS
Terrestrial Radio Access Network UTRAN and the User Equipment UE.
Page 105
 UMTS Release 4: Continuing the 3GPP evolution, Release 4 enhanced UMTS

2001 via several features:
 Bearer independent CS Core Network.
 CAMEL Phase 4.
 UTRA FDD repeater function.
 Low chip rate TDD mode.
 700 MHz support for GERAN.
 Transcoder Free Operation.
 UMTS Release 5: UMTS Release 5 has been closed end of 2002, including
several Core Network and Radio Interface enhancements such as:
 High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA); peak rates up to 14 Mbps.

 IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS).
 Wideband AMR.
 Location Services enhancements.
 UMTS in 1800/1900 MHz bands.
 UMTS Release 6: UMTS Release 6 was frozen 09/2005, containing features such
as:
 FDD Enhanced Uplink (HSUPA); peak rates up to 5.76 Mbps.
 WLAN-UMTS Interworking.
 IMS Phase 2.
 Multimedia Messaging (MMS) enhancements.
 Multimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS).
 UE Receive Diversity.
 UMTS Release 7: UMTS Release 7 has been closed end of 2007, including
important UMTS/HSPA enhancements, improving the UMTS peak rates and
spectral efficiency:
Page 106
 Higher order Modulation: 64QAM for the DL (up to 21 Mbps); 16QAM for
the UL (up to 11.5 Mbps).
 2x2 MIMO (up to 28 Mbps).
 Network Architecture Improvements: Direct Tunnelling GGSN – RNC.
 Continuous Packet Connectivity CPC / VoIP.
 Enhanced UE Receiver.
 Enhanced Cell_FACH.
 Flexible RLC
 3GPP Release 8: 3GPP Release 8 was frozen 03/2009, containing further HSPA
improvements as well as the UMTS Long Term Evolution LTE and the Evolved
Packet System EPS:
 LTE (up to 150 Mbps).
 EPS.
 Dual-Cell HSDPA (up to 42 Mbps).
 Combination of 2x2 MIMO and 64QAM (up to 42 Mbps).
 3GPP Release 9
 3GPP Release 9 has been closed end of 2009, including HSPA+
enhancements and initial LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) definitions.
 Dual-Cell HSDPA, 2x2 MIMO & 64QAM (up to 84 Mbps).
 3GPP Release 10: 3GPP Release 10 is expected to be closed early 2011:

 Central focus will be on LTE-Advanced; furthermore, definition of Multi-
Carrier HSPA for UL & DL is expected.
 LTE-Advanced (up to 1 Gbps DL & 500 Mbps UL for low mobility/Indoor)
as IMT-Advanced proposal (4G).
 Multi-Carrier HSDPA (DL: up to 3 or 4 carrier delivering up to 126 resp. 168
Mbps).
 Dual-Carrier HSUPA (UL: up to 23 Mbps).
Page 107
 Release 11:
 For HSPA
 Provides eight-carrier on the downlink,
 uplink enhancements to improve latency,
 Four-branch MIMO enhancements and transmissions for HSDPA,
 64 QAM in the uplink,
 Noncontiguous HSDPA carrier aggregation.
 For LTE
 Co-ordinated Multi-Point (CoMP).
 Carrier-aggregation enhancements.
 The release includes further DL and UL MIMO enhancements for LTE.
Figure 78: 3G Evolution
Page 108

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WCDMA & HSPA Fundamentals

2.5. HSDPA Terminal Capability.................................................................................................... 41

4. HSPA+ (Evolved High Speed Packet Access) ................................................................................ 88

1.1.1. Duplex methods

 Half-duplex: This is a two ways communication method; the two communicating

We define two means to achieve full or half duplex method:

 Drawbacks: Frequency resources are wasted.

 Advantages: The frequency resources are not wasted.

 Drawbacks: Collision may occur during communication.

1.2. UMTS Frequency

Figure 3: UMTS Frequency

1.3. Access method

 FDMA: Frequency division multiple access: The used frequency band is

 TDMA: Time division multiple access: This is a time domain multiplexing

1.4. WCMA Bandwidth

Figure 7: WCDMA Bandwidth

1.5. WCDMA Codes and bit rates

Previously we talked about spreading codes, spreading is done using a channelization

1.5.1. Channelization code

Channelization codes are used:

 Downlink Direction: to separate connection to different terminals in a same cell.

Figure 8: Channelization Code Tree

1.5.2. Scrambling codes

Figure 9: Scrambling Code

1.5.3. Scrambling Codes & Channelization Codes Summary

Figure 10: Scrambling Code downlink Transmission

Figure 11: Scrambling Code uplink Transmission

Table 1: Channelization & Scrambling Code comparison

1.5.4. WCDMA bit Rates

SF =Chip rate / Symbol rate

 The chip rate is fixe and equal to 3.84 Mcps.

Bit rate = Symbol rate * Modulation

Bit rate= [Chip rate / SF]*[Modulation* Number of codes]

Figure 12: Scrambling & channelization code

The table below shows an example of WCDMA throughput according to spreading

1.6. WCDMA vs GSM

Table 2: WCDMA Throughput

Figure 13: WCDMA & GSM frequency re-use

The majority of traffic will be packet-oriented including some traditionally circuit-switched

To offer uniform methods of IP application transport, release 5 will contain an IP

In this section the HSDPA features will be described in details.

2.1. HSDPA Principles

 HSDPA Network Modifications

In 3GPP HSDPA standard, no new network entities added to an existing UMTS,

 Uu Interface: To support high-speed operation, the Uu interface requires new

The HSDPA introduced some modification in the network entities functionalities:

Figure 15: HSDPA R5 RNC functions

 In the Node B level: New Node B functionalities such as:

 Acknowledged transmission: Fast H-ARQ which leads a:

 Fast Link Adaptation:

 Higher peak rates & spectrum efficiency.

Figure 16: HSDPA R5 Node B functions

 General impacts of the architecture

 For data in the Node B a new buffer is needed to store data of

 Algorithms have to be adapted:

 Admission and Congestion Control for example need new way to

 Mobility algorithm in particular is conditioned since the fast link

Figure 17: HSDPA Network functionalities Modifications

2.2. Shared-channel transmission

2.3. HSDPA Protocols Stack

UTRAN MAC-hs is responsible for fast scheduling of the HS-PDSCHs.

 Tasks of MAC-hs within the Node B:

Bit rate= [Chip rate / SF][Modulation Number of codes]