5G / LTE

LTE System Architecture

Rapid development of various communication technologies, both fixed and mobile, has caused, first of all, an increased interest in accessing the Internet. The huge role of the Internet in today’s world of information exchange is undeniable. Quality communication enables people to more efficiently work, learn, communicate, and have access to streaming videos, listen to audio, and use online services with all sorts of commercial companies and government agencies.

Urban residents, in most cases, have a choice between wired and wireless Internet access. In rural areas, the situation is dramatically different. Major operators are not focused on providing telephone and Internet communications to the rural communities – they are mainly focused on large sites and highly populated areas. That’s why providing high-speed Internet access to rural communities is still a very important task.

Standard LTE enables carriers and operators to provide high-speed access for mobile phones and data terminals as well as to optimize existing networks for additional vertical market applications such as smart grid or transportation. The use of mobile broadband services is accelerating at exceptional rates with increased applications such as gaming, social networking and video for mobile devices. 4G, namely WiMAX and LTE, enables users to carry the same user experience they have at home or in the office while they are on-the-go.

Microwave components

• PTP – provides backhaul from tower site to tower site where eNodeB’s reside, and of which UEs connect to

• eNodeB’s – are the serving nodes providing access to the UEs

• UE – are the end-user equipment at their locations. Commonly referred as CPE’s

Microwave components manufacturers

• PTP – BridgeWave, Cambium Networks, Ceragon, Exalt, Proxim Wireless, RADWIN, Redline, Siklu

• eNodeB’s – Airspan, PureWave

• UE – Airspan, GreenPacket, PureWave

Network components

• At the Data Center, core routers and Layer 3 switch are used to connect and aggregate backhaul services (such as microwave and fiber optic) components together along with equipment that provides QoS and prioritization such as MPLS. These components provide the network connectivity from the MMEs to the S-Gateway and intra-network connectivity for multiple MMEs and S-Gateways.
• At each tower location, carrier-grade switches are used to connect eNodeB’s together and deliver network connectivity to them to provide access to MMEs (for mobility) and S-Gateways for connectivity to the network and authentication services.
• At the end-user location, switches, routers, and other network devices are used to bridge Local Area Network together for transport to the carrier’s network and internet via the UE.