UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network Architecture

1
UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network
Architecture
Raul Bruzzone
2
UMTS Architecture

• A UMTS System comprises three main parts
• Core Network (CN)
• UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN)
• The User Equipment (UE)

CN
Iu
UTRAN
Uu
UE
UTRAN
UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network
CN
Core Network
UE
User
Equipment
3
System Domains
Home
Network
Domain

Zu
Uu
Cu
Iu

Yu
Serving
Transit
Network
Network
Domain
Domain
Access
Mobile
USIM
Core
Network
Network
Equipment
Domain
Domain
Domain
Domain
User Equipment
Infrastructure
Domain
Domain
4
Structure of the UTRA Network
Core Network
Iu
Iu
RNS
RNS
Iur
Cells
5
UMTS Radio Network Controller
Iu
RNS
RNC
Iur
Iur
Iub
Iub
Node B
Node B
Cells
6
Serving and Drift Radio Access Networks
Core Network
Iu
Iu
SRNS
DRNS
Iur
Cells
UE
7
Streamlining of the UTRAN - Core Network
Connection
8
Evolution of the GSM Network towards the UMTS
Network Starting Point (2002)
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Evolution of the GSM Network towards the UMTS
Network Introduction of a UMTS Core Network
(2005 ?)
CSE
HLR
CAP
MAP
ISUP
A
ISUP
MSC
G-MSC
N-ISDN
GSM BSS
IP
IP
G
b
GGSN
SGSN
IP networks
X.25
UMTS Segment
IWU
IWU
X.25
1Gb
1A
UMTS CN
UTRAN
I
u
10
Terrestrial Radio Access Network
ArchitectureSummary

• UMTS is composed of Core Network, Radio Access
  Network and User Equipment.
• The Radio Access Network (UTRAN) handles radio
  link connections, enabling Base Station handover.
• Handover management is done at the UTRAN
  Controller.
• The UMTS Fixed Network will evolve from the GSM
  Network model, following several phases.