UMTS / 3G WirelessUMTS / 3G WirelessENGR 475 – TelecommunicationsENGR 475 – Telecommunications

November 7, 2006November 7, 2006Harding UniversityHarding University

Jonathan WhiteJonathan White

OutlineOutline

What 3G MeansWhat 3G Means UMTSUMTS Technical operating ProceduresTechnical operating Procedures Evolution from GSM to UMTSEvolution from GSM to UMTS Why evolve?Why evolve? Types of equipment.Types of equipment. Problems with UMTSProblems with UMTS

3G3G

Third Generation of mobile phonesThird Generation of mobile phones– Standard that supports data transfer Standard that supports data transfer

greater than 2 Mbps.greater than 2 Mbps. IEEE 802.11 is not a 3G standardIEEE 802.11 is not a 3G standard

– Wide area cellular networks that support Wide area cellular networks that support data-intensive applications.data-intensive applications.

– Not just an improvement of 2G Not just an improvement of 2G networks.networks. Requires new equipment and new frequency Requires new equipment and new frequency

bandwidths.bandwidths.

UMTSUMTS

UMTS – Universal Mobile Telephone UMTS – Universal Mobile Telephone SystemSystem– Most popular 3G wireless standard.Most popular 3G wireless standard.– Combines the infrastructure of the GSM Combines the infrastructure of the GSM

network with superior technology of the network with superior technology of the CDMA air interface.CDMA air interface.

UMTS was originally a European UMTS was originally a European standard.standard.– Widely adopted in JapanWidely adopted in Japan

Approx. complete deployment by the end of Approx. complete deployment by the end of 2006.2006.

GPRS and EDGEGPRS and EDGE GPRS – General Packet Radio ServicesGPRS – General Packet Radio Services

– 2.5G protocol2.5G protocol– Involved only software changes to the GSM network.Involved only software changes to the GSM network.– Used under utilized TDMA channels more effectively.Used under utilized TDMA channels more effectively.– Increased data rates to a max of 170 Kbps.Increased data rates to a max of 170 Kbps.

EDGE – Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution.EDGE – Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution.– 2.75G protocol.2.75G protocol.– Required minimal hardware changesRequired minimal hardware changes– Added a new encoding scheme that allowed for more Added a new encoding scheme that allowed for more

bits to be added into each time slice.bits to be added into each time slice.– Data can now be passed optimally at 384 Kbps.Data can now be passed optimally at 384 Kbps.

Both of these use TDMA over GSMBoth of these use TDMA over GSM

3G - UMTS3G - UMTS Uses W-CDMAUses W-CDMA

– 5 MHz of bandwidth for each channel.5 MHz of bandwidth for each channel.– Several thousand users can be supported on Several thousand users can be supported on

each cell site.each cell site. Offers 11 Mbps download speeds in theory.Offers 11 Mbps download speeds in theory.

– Uplink speeds are much slowerUplink speeds are much slower Meaning, that you wouldn’t want your cell phone to Meaning, that you wouldn’t want your cell phone to

be a web server.be a web server.– Speeds for moving devices are also slower.Speeds for moving devices are also slower.– Most users are finding download throughput of Most users are finding download throughput of

about 384 Kbps.about 384 Kbps. However, this is still much faster than the 14.4 Kbps However, this is still much faster than the 14.4 Kbps

optimally that GSM offered.optimally that GSM offered.

3G - Frequencies3G - Frequencies In Europe:In Europe:

– Uses 1900 MHz band for uplinkUses 1900 MHz band for uplink– And 2100 MHz band for downloadingAnd 2100 MHz band for downloading– Heavily contested bandwidth auctions.Heavily contested bandwidth auctions.– Limited acceptance.Limited acceptance.

In Japan and South Korea:In Japan and South Korea:– Bandwidth is for the public’s good, so frequencies are Bandwidth is for the public’s good, so frequencies are

open for cellular communications.open for cellular communications.– Highly accepted.Highly accepted.

In North America:In North America:– Bands are used by other things (AMPS, GSM, satellite Bands are used by other things (AMPS, GSM, satellite

communication in the 2100 MHz band.communication in the 2100 MHz band. Must use existing frequency space.Must use existing frequency space.

– Very limited acceptance.Very limited acceptance.

Current US DeploymentCurrent US Deployment Cingular was required as part of the AT&T Cingular was required as part of the AT&T

buyout to deploy UMTS by the end of 2004.buyout to deploy UMTS by the end of 2004.– However, they are only in 17 markets in 52 cities.However, they are only in 17 markets in 52 cities.

– Markets include New York (NY), Austin (TX), Baltimore, Markets include New York (NY), Austin (TX), Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland (OR), Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Portland (OR), Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), Seattle, Tacoma and Washington, D.C. Jose (CA), Seattle, Tacoma and Washington, D.C.

– Also, they are only operating in the 850 MHz Also, they are only operating in the 850 MHz /1900 MHz band./1900 MHz band.

T-Mobile won a recent bandwidth auction in T-Mobile won a recent bandwidth auction in the 2150 MHz band, and they have begun a the 2150 MHz band, and they have begun a nationwide rollout.nationwide rollout.

Evolution from GSM/CDMA to Evolution from GSM/CDMA to UMTSUMTS

There are several nice steps from There are several nice steps from GSM to UMTS, with the wide rollout of GSM to UMTS, with the wide rollout of GPRS and EDGE.GPRS and EDGE.

However, to convert to UMTS, the However, to convert to UMTS, the network needs to be reengineered network needs to be reengineered from the ground up.from the ground up.– Actually uses the lower 3 layers of the Actually uses the lower 3 layers of the

OSI model.OSI model.

Why EvolveWhy Evolve

Killer App – Video TelephonyKiller App – Video Telephony– Never realized.Never realized.

What people do use (at least in What people do use (at least in Japan):Japan):– MP3 downloads.MP3 downloads.

Potential good applications:Potential good applications:– TV on a cellphone.TV on a cellphone.

Other ApplicationsOther Applications

Computer / PDA replacementComputer / PDA replacement– BlackberryBlackberry

Pager replacementPager replacement VideoconferencingVideoconferencing NewspaperNewspaper DiaryDiary

– MySpaceMySpace Credit Card replacement.Credit Card replacement.

– Heightened security?Heightened security?

UMTS ProblemsUMTS Problems

Web wasn’t designed for a 2 inch by 3 inch Web wasn’t designed for a 2 inch by 3 inch screen.screen.– Inputting information is much more difficult.Inputting information is much more difficult.

Voice recognition would help.Voice recognition would help.

Overweight handsets with poor battery life.Overweight handsets with poor battery life. Poor coverage in the US.Poor coverage in the US. To support full motion video on demand, To support full motion video on demand,

base stations will need to setup every .5 base stations will need to setup every .5 miles, which isn’t feasible in rural areas.miles, which isn’t feasible in rural areas.– Because it is so data intensive.Because it is so data intensive.