IT-3303-3

Broadband Networks
Punjab University College of Information Technology,
University of the Punjab.

The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System

(UMTS)

Lecture - Objectives
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
(UMTS)
UMTS Services
UMTS Network Architecture
Core network
Radio access network
User equipment

UMTS
A 3G mobile communication system which provides
an enhanced range of multimedia services.
It is a realization of a new generation of broadband
multi-media mobile telecommunications technology.
UMTS
will
speed
convergence
between
telecommunications, IT (Information Technology),
media and content industries to deliver new services
and create fresh revenue generating services.

UMTS
The coverage will be provided by a combination
of cell sizes ranging from 'in building' Pico Cells
to Global Cells provided by satellite, giving
service to the remote regions of the world.
UMTS will deliver low cost, high capacity mobile
communications offering data rates as high as
2Mbps under stationary conditions with global
roaming and other advanced capabilities.

UMTS

Open interface standard

Global & Inter-Network roaming
Data rates on demand
Data rate
384 Kbps in circuit switching mode (voice)
2Mbps in packet switch mode

The first large scale real-life commercial UMTS

(W-CDMA) network in the world went live in
2001 in Japan.

UMTS Services

Both
connection
oriented
and
connectionless services are offered for
Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multipoint
communication.

UMTS coverage vs. bit rate

UMTS

Vehicle
Outdoor
s

Broadband Radio

Walk
Fixed

Indoors

GSM
0.5

2.0

155Mb/s

UMTS Network Architecture

A UMTS network consist of three interacting
domains;
Core Network (CN)
UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network
(UTRAN)
User Equipment (UE).

UMTS Network Architecture

RNC / VLR

MSC

CS-CN

SS7
HLR

RNC

3G-SGSN

Switch Network
SCP

IP

UTRAN

Web
GGSN
PS-CN

UE
Radio Network

PSTN

Core Network

E-mail
IP Network
Services Network

Core Network (CN)

The basic Core Network architecture for
UMTS is based on GSM network with
GPRS. All equipment has to be modified
for UMTS operation and services.
The main function of the core network is
to provide switching, routing and transit
for user traffic.
Core network also contains the databases
and network management functions.

Core Network

The Core Network is divided in circuit switched

and packet switched domains.
Some of the circuit switched elements are
Mobile services Switching Centre (MSC), Visitor
location register (VLR) and Gateway MSC.
Packet switched elements are Serving GPRS
Support Node (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS
Support Node (GGSN).
Some network elements, like EIR, HLR, VLR
and AUC are shared by both domains.

Core Network
The Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is defined
for UMTS core transmission. ATM Adaptation
Layer type 2 (AAL2) handles circuit switched
connection and packet connection protocol AAL5
is designed for data delivery.
The architecture of the Core Network may change
when new services and features are introduced.
Number Portability DataBase (NPDB) will be used
to enable user to change the network while
keeping their old phone number.
MSC, VLR and SGSN can merge to become a
UMTS MSC.

UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access

Network (UTRAN)
The UTRAN provides the air interface
access method for User Equipment. Base
Station is referred as Node-B and control
equipment for Node-B's is called Radio
Network Controller (RNC).

UTRA/UTRAN Architecture
RN

RN

Node B

Node B

RNC

Node B

RNC

Node B

CORE NETWORK

Radio Access
Wideband CDMA technology is selected to used
for UTRAN air interface.
UMTS WCDMA is a Direct Sequence CDMA
system where user data is multiplied with
random bits derived from WCDMA Spreading
codes.
WCDMA has two basic modes of operation:
Frequency Division Duplex (FDD)
Time Division Duplex (TDD).

Functions of Node-B
The Functions of Node-B are:
Air interface transmission/reception
Modulation/demodulation
Error handling
CDMA physical channel coding

Functions of RNC
The Functions of RNC are:
Radio resource control
Channel allocation
Power control settings
Handover control
Ciphering
Segmentation/Reassembly
Broadcast signaling

User Equipment
The UMTS Subscriber or UE (User
Equipment) is a combination of ME
(Mobile Equipment) and SIM /USIM
(Subscriber Identity Module / UMTS
Subscriber Identity Module).

User Equipment
UMTS mobile station can operate in one of three
modes
of
operation:
PS/CS mode of operation: The MS is attached to
both the PS domain and CS domain, and the MS
is capable of simultaneously operating PS services
and CS services.
PS mode of operation: The MS is attached to the
PS domain only and may only operate services of
the PS domain.
CS mode of operation: The MS is attached to the
CS domain only and may only operate services of
the CS domain.

Reference Material

www.umtsworld.com
www.mpirical.com
www.umts-forum.org