LTE network and protocol

Summary form only given. This tutorial provides an overview of the network architecture and protocol stack functions of the LTE or the E-UTRAN (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Access Network) that is the access part of the Evolved Packet System (EPS). LTE network, core network includes Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SGW), Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN GW) where as E-UTRAN has E-UTRAN NodeB (eNB). The main requirements for the new access network are high spectral efficiency, high peak data rates, short round trip time and frequency flexibility. LTE (both radio and core network evolution) is now on the market. Release 8 was frozen in December 2008 and this has been the basis for the first wave of LTE equipment. Meanwhile, the driving force to further develop LTE towards LTE-Advanced - LTE Release10 is set to provide higher bitrates in a cost efficient way and, at the same time, completely fulfill the requirements set by ITU for IMT Advanced, also referred to as 4G.