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Article on
Tomorrow's Mobile Wireless
by
Samir Amberkar
(originally published on 6-Aug-2010)
Abstract:
In this article, author looks at current mobile wireless network architecture and makes predictions for future mobile networks. The discussion is mainly based on 3gpp technologies.
The way things have moved from GSM to GPRS to EDGE to UMTS to HSPA to LTE, tomorrow's radio access and core backbone will be much more simplified, stronger (in terms of parameters like spectral efficiency, bit rate, edge bit rate, latency in both user and transmission planes etc.), scalable, and independent of each other.
Current
Current 2G/3G wireless networks (especially GSM/UMTS ones) look like as below. You may also refer GSM and UMTS articles).
Fig 1.2.1
Mobile terminal, radio access network elements, core network elements and their interfaces are all more or less specific to wireless systems. Compared to 2G, 3G core network interfaces are based on open or widely used standards like SIGTRAN, IP/IETF etc. (refer related UMTS/Iu interfaces). Though radio access is more independent of network protocols, differentiation is made between CS and PS services.
In 3G+ (Rel 5/6), radio access is more and more packet based, and spectral efficient. But yet more is desired for edge bit rate and latency to support consistent performance and high end services (like real time interactive sessions e.g. gaming, high quality video call etc.). In 3G+ networks, 2G/3G elements are still retained, but they are modified and number of new "open" elements are added like Media GateWay etc. But this in fact has made network architecture more complex.
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