We have written articles to explain some 3GPP related keywords and acronyms, to give some background material on the topic.
Terms include:
The first two digits of a 3GPP TS or TR number define the spec series; for example LTE radio (E-UTRAN) is defined in the 36 Series.
On this page you can find which technology is [at least partially] aligned with which 3GPP series.
The 3GPP Report ‘Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications’ identifies specialist technical terms used;
Furthermore, you can check which Spec(s) a term or abbreviation is defined in using ETSI’s TEDDI application. Note that this only shows terms defined in 3GPP TSs and TRs which have already been transposed as ETSI publications.
Author: Frédéric Firmin, 3GPP MCC
This article gives an overview of the Non-Access Stratum (NAS) and its protocols EMM and ESM.
The Non-Access Stratum is a set of protocols in the Evolved Packet System. The NAS is used to convey non-radio signalling between the User Equipment (UE) and the Mobility Management Entity (MME) for an LTE/E-UTRAN access.
(Submission, June 2013)
In LTE-Advanced focus is on higher capacity:The driving force to further develop LTE towards LTE–Advanced - LTE Release10 was to provide higher bitrates in a cost efficient way and, at the same time, completely fulfil the requirements set by ITU for IMT Advanced, also referred to as 4G.
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. LTE specifications are very stable, with the added benefit of enhancements having been introduced in all subsequent 3GPP Releases.
The motivation for LTE
High Speed Packet data Access (HSPA) has been an upgrade to WCDMA networks (both FDD, and TDD) used to increase packet data performance. The introduction was done in steps; High Speed Down Link (DL) Packet data Access (HSDPA), was introduced in 3GPP Release 5, and Enhanced Up Link (UL), also referred to as High Speed UL Packet data Access (HSUPA), came in Release 6.
The combination of HSDPA and Enhanced UL is referred to as HSPA. HSPA evolution (also known as HSPA+ and evolved HSPA) came in Release 7 with further improvements in later releases.
Author: Frédéric Firmin, 3GPP MCC
This article looks at the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), the core network of the LTE system, giving an overview of the architecture of the core network, describing some of its key elements.
The EPC is the latest evolution of the 3GPP core network architecture.
In GSM, the architecture relies on circuit-switching (CS). This means that circuits are established between the calling and called parties throughout the telecommunication network (radio, core network of the mobile operator, fixed network). This circuit-switching mode can be seen as an evolution of the "two cans and a string". In GSM, all services are transported over circuit-switches telephony principally, but short messages (SMS) and some data is also seen.
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