Question

Discover the main infrastructure changes in the cellular networks when migrating from 3G to 4G directly.
[20 marks]
Learning Outcome
Demonstrate the new knowledge of computer networks by using appropriate methodologies in 3G and 4G data services.

Answer 1

Web browsing, email, video downloading, picture sharing , smartphone technology, greater voice and data capacity, support a wider range of applications, and increase data transmission at a lower cost are the features of the third generation. 3G network uses UMTS as its core network architecture which stands for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. 3G technology is capable of peak data rates up to 2 mbps. Technologies which supports 3G are cmda2000 1x and EV-DO, UMTS, TD-SCDMA, HSDPA and HSUPA. Basically, 3G uses packet switching for data transmission.

4G network covers the gap that 3G lacked, such as streaming large amounts of data via video services and WebRTC. 4G supports all current applications including amended mobile web access, IP telephony , gaming services, high-definition mobile TV, video conferencing, 3D television, and cloud computing with max speed of 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps. The key technologies that behind 4G are MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) and OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing).

We will discuss the network structures of 3G and 4G then we can understand the infrastructure changes those are happened during the migration of 3G to 4G network.

3G UMTS network consists of below parts.

• Mobile station: It can be voice-enabled mobile phones, tabs or computers which could be used as an end user.
• RAN (Radio Access Network) : It controls and manages the air interface for the whole network and bridges the gap between Mobile Station and Core Network.
• CN (Core Network): The core network is classified into below two parts

· Circuit Switched Domain: Through it a dedicated link or channel is provided for a particular time slot

· Packet-switched domain : It uses IP Network where IP’s are responsible for transmitting and receiving data among devices.

• IMS(IP Multimedia Subsystem) : It supplies IP multimedia services to the end uses.

Now, 4G network consists of below parts.

• User Equipment (UE): It is like the mobile station in 3G network. It can be any device capable of establishing communication such as mobile phones, tabs or computers.
• Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN): It controls radio communication between user equipment and EPC.
• Evolved Base Station : It handles low-level operations by sending the signaling messages and commands as well as it can transmit and receive radio transmission to all the LTE-enabled devices.
• Evolved Packet Core (EPC) : It deals with home subscriber server, mobility management , signaling , policy and charging Rule. It also communicates with internal and external packet data networks and IP multimedia subsystem. It consists of HSS ,MME , P-GW , PCRF blocks.