19 Sa2 Studies

19.1 Study on 3gpp System Architecture Evolution uid_32085

Resources: S2,S3

References

Document	Title/Contents
WID(s)
SP-070163	SID on 3GPP System Architecture Evolution
Impacted Specifications
-	-
New Dedicated Specifications/Reports
TR 23.882	3GPP system architecture evolution (SAE): Report on technical options and conclusions
TR 33.821	Rationale and track of security decisions in Long Term Evolution (LTE) RAN / 3GPP System Architecture Evolution (SAE)
TR 33.822	Security aspects for inter-access mobility between non 3GPP and 3GPP access network

Supporting Individual Members: Vodafone, Ericsson, Siemens, NTT DoCoMo, Nokia, LG Electronics, China Mobile, TeliaSonera, NEC, Huawei, Fujitsu, TIM, Samsung, T-Mobil, 3, ZTE.

In order to ensure competitiveness, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) of the 3GPP access technology was considered.

The ability of the 3GPP system to cope with the rapid growth in IP data traffic, the Packet-Switched technology utilized within 3G mobile networks requires further enhancement. A continued evolution and optimization of the system concept is also necessary in order to maintain a competitive edge in terms of both performance and cost. The LTE includes reduced latency, higher user data rates, improved system capacity and coverage, and reduced overall cost for the operator.

Additionally, IP based 3GPP services will be provided through various access technologies. Seamless mobility between heterogeneous access networks (e.g. I-WLAN and 3GPP access systems) is a useful feature for network evolution.

In order to achieve this, an evolution or migration of the network architecture, as well as an evolution of the radio interface were considered.

Architectural considerations covered end-to-end systems aspects, including core network and a variety of IP connectivity access networks (e.g. fixed broadband access).

TR 23.882 provides an evolution / migration framework of the 3GPP system towards higher-data-rate, lower-latency, packet-optimized, multi-RAT. The focus is on PS domain assuming that voice services are supported in this domain.

TR 23.882 addressed the following aspects:

• Architecture impacts stemming from requirements coming from 3GPP TSG RAN. The architectural developments take into account the targets for the evolution of the radio-interface:

• whether there is a need for a modified network architecture and/or different functional split between network nodes (compared to the current 3GPP architecture);

• how to provide a very low latency (including C-plane) for the overall network (including Core Network, Radio Access Network and Radio Access Technology);

• how to provide efficient support of various types of services, especially from the PS domain (e.g. Voice over IP, Presence).

• Architecture impacts stemming from SA1 Rel-7 TR 22.978 "All-IP network (AIPN) feasibility study":

• support of a variety of different access systems (existing and future) and access selection based on combinations of operator policies, user preferences and access network conditions;

• how to realize improvements in basic system performance e.g. communication delay, communication quality, connection set-up time etc.;

• how to maintain the negotiated QoS across the whole system; in particular to address include inter-domain and inter-network interworking.

• Architecture aspects of supporting mobility between heterogeneous access networks, including service continuity:

• service continuity between I-WLAN and the 3GPP PS domain;

• how to support multiple RATs and terminal mobility between different RATs;

• how to maintain and support the same capabilities of access control (authentication, authorization), privacy and charging when moving between different RATs.

Migration aspects were taken into account for the above, i.e. how to migrate from the existing architecture.

In the course of conducting this study, implementation Work Items were created to address certain aspects.

SA3 studied security aspects in TR 33.821 and TR 33.822.

Spin-off Features:

UID_320005 (SAES) 3GPP System Architecture Evolution Specification-Evolved Packet System (see clause 4)

UID_20068 (LTE) 3G Long Term Evolution - Evolved Packet System RAN part (see clause 5)

UID_50583 (GELTE) GERAN support for GERAN - 3G Long Term Evolution interworking (see clause 6)