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LTE Advanced Overview: Features and Advancements

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This tutorial section provides an overview of LTE Advanced, building upon the fundamentals of LTE. We’ll touch upon key features, advancements, and how it fulfills 4G requirements.

Key Topics Covered

  • LTE Basics
  • LTE Advanced Features
  • LTE Advanced vs. LTE Comparison

Introduction to LTE Advanced

The work on LTE Advanced started within the 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) shortly after the initial LTE specifications. Release 10 of 3GPP is generally recognized as LTE Advanced, following revisions made to LTE in Release 9. A core objective of LTE Advanced is to meet the requirements set by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) for 4G technology.

LTE Advanced Features: Exceeding LTE’s Capabilities

LTE Advanced brings significant enhancements over LTE, as summarized below:

  • Peak Data Rate: DL (Downlink): 1 Gbps, UL (Uplink): 500 Mbps
  • Transmission Bandwidth: Wider than approximately 70 MHz in DL and 40 MHz in UL
  • Bandwidth Symmetry: Asymmetric bandwidth in DL and UL, a contrast to LTE’s often symmetric approach.
  • User Throughput: Aims for two times better throughput compared to LTE.
  • Average User Throughput: Designed to be three times higher than in LTE.
  • Spectrum Efficiency: A significant improvement, targeting three times the efficiency of LTE.
  • Modulation Technique: Employs hybrid OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) in the downlink and SC-FDMA (Single-Carrier Frequency-Division Multiple Access) in the uplink.
  • Spectrum Flexibility: Offers scalable bandwidth, providing greater adaptability.
  • Mobility: Retains the robust mobility capabilities of LTE.
  • Coverage: Optimized for micro-cell environments, extending the ISD (Inter-Site Distance) to approximately 1 km.

A critical design consideration is that LTE Advanced maintains backward compatibility with LTE and other established cellular standards. This allows for a smoother transition and coexistence of different technologies.

References

The following 3GPP Technical Reports (TRs) provide detailed information on LTE Advanced:

  • TR 36.912: Feasibility study for Further Advancements for E-UTRA (LTE-Advanced)
  • TR 36.913: Requirements for further advancements for Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) (LTE-Advanced)

These documents can be accessed at: https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/SpecReleaseMatrix.htm