Carrier Aggregation:
Fundamentals and
Deployments
Presented by:
Manuel Blanco
Agilent Technologies
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Agenda
LTE-Advanced
Carrier Aggregation
Design and test challenges
2
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Industry background
 263 LTE networks in more than 95 countries (+500 operators investing)
o Approximately 10% are TDD
o Less than 10% are using 20 MHz
 157.7 million LTE subscribers (112 million added in the past 12 months)
o More than half in North America (79 million)
 Over 1,200 LTE capable devices available
o 40% can operate in Band 3 and Band 7
 LTE is the fastest developing mobile technology ever
www.gsacom.com
3
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Why LTE-Advanced?
IMT-Advanced Requirements
Based on an all-IP packet switch network
Scalable channel bandwidths between 5 and 20 MHz
Interoperability with existing wireless standards
Item
Subcategory
Spectral
efficiency
(b/s/Hz)
Downlink
Data rate
(Mbps)
4
IMT-Adv
LTE
15
16.3
(4x4 MIMO)
(4x4 MIMO)
6.75
4.32
(2x4 MIMO)
(64QAM)
Downlink
1000
300
Uplink
100
75
Uplink
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
LTE-Advanced
New features
Carrier Aggregation
Enhanced MIMO
Higher data rates
(bps)
Het-Nets
Higher spectral effiency
(bps/Hz)
Higher spectral effiency
per coverage area
(bps/Hz/Km2)
5
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
LTE-Advanced
New UE Categories
UE
Category
LTE
LTE-A
6
Data Rate
DL/UL
Downlink
Uplink
(Mbps)
Max number
of layers
Max number
of layers
Support for
64QAM
1
10 / 5
1
1
No
2
50 / 25
2
1
No
3
100 / 50
2
1
No
4
150 / 50
2
1
No
5
300 / 75
4
1
Yes
6
300 / 50
2 or 4
1 or 2
No
7
300 / 100
2 or 4
1 or 2
No
8
3000 / 1500
8
4
Yes
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Agenda
LTE-Advanced
Carrier Aggregation
Design and test challenges
7
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Carrier Aggregation – Fundamentals
Carrier Aggregation is the first step of LTE Advanced
 Bandwidth extension by aggregating LTE component carriers (CC)
o Up to 5 CC can be allocated in both DL and UL – 100 MHz aggregated
o Components carriers are backwards compatible with Release 8 terminals
o Symmetric or asymmetric DL/UL CA configurations
 Motivation
o Higher peak data rates
o Facilitate efficient use of fragmented spectrum
o Enable 150 Mbps (Category 4) in typical
deployments where 20MHz contiguous spectrum
is not an option
8
10MHz
DL Carrier 1
10MHz
DL Carrier 2
Aggregated
Data Pipe
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Carrier Aggregation – Fundamentals
 PCC (Primary Component Carrier)
o Handle the RRC/NAS procedures
o Measurement reports and mobility
o UEs using the same set of CCs, can have
different PCC
o Role only changed with handover
o PUSCH is mandatory
Downlink
PCC
SCC
SCC
Uplink
 SCC (Secondary Component Carrier)
PCC
SCC
o UE handles up to 4 SCC
o Configured using RRC signaling procedures
o Can be dynamically activated/de-activated
using a MAC control element
o Activated only when in CONNECTED mode
o PUSCH is optional - asymmetric CA
9
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Carrier Aggregation – Fundamentals
Band 17 -10 MHz
MME
SCC
Band 4 - 10 MHz
PCC
UE
RRC Connection
Attach Request
Release 8
PS Attach
Authentication and NAS Security
AS Security
UE capabilities
Attach Accept + Default EPS
Data Link (single carrier)
10
73 Mbps
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Carrier Aggregation – Fundamentals
Band 17 -10 MHz
MME
SCC
Band 4 - 10 MHz
PCC
UE
RRC Connection
Attach Request
Release 8
PS Attach
Authentication and NAS Security
AS Security
UE capabilities
Attach Accept + Default EPS
Release 10
SCC Addition
& Activation
RRC Reconfiguration
+ Add SCC
Data Link (single carrier)
11
73 Mbps
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Carrier Aggregation – Fundamentals
SCC Configuration at RRC level
Screen capture of the Agilent Trace log and debug application (Trace Spy II)
Physical cell ID and
DL frequency
channel
Common configuration:
DL and UL channel BW,
uplink EARFCN,
antenna config,
physical channels config, power
control config
Dedicated configuration:
Transmission mode,
physical channels config,
cross-carrier scheduling,
CSI-RS config
12
Source: 3GPP TS 36.331
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Carrier Aggregation – Fundamentals
Band 17 -10 MHz
MME
SCC
Band 4 - 10 MHz
PCC
UE
RRC Connection
Attach Request
Release 8
PS Attach
Authentication and NAS Security
AS Security
UE capabilities
Attach Accept + Default EPS
Release 10
SCC Addition
& Activation
RRC Reconfiguration
+ Add SCC
MAC control element
Link (single carrier)
Data Link Data
(2 CC aggregated)
13
73 Mbps
147
Mbps
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Modes and Deployments
Resource block
f
Intra -band
contiguous
f
Intra-band
non-contiguous
f
Inter-band
non-contiguous
Band A
Resource block
Band A
Resource block
Band A
14
≈
Band B
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Modes and Deployments
3
CA Band Combinations
Rel.10
Release 10:
o
o
o
o
o
1
2
Inter-band
Intra-band cont
Signaling to support up to 5 CC
Scenarios limited to 2 CCs
Maximum aggregated bandwidth is 40MHz
Prioritized support intra band contiguous and inter band
Rest of scenarios were postponed to later Releases
Intra - band Contiguous CA
E-UTRA
CA
Band
E-UTRA
operating
Band
CA_40
40
CA_1
1
Uplink (UL) band
UE transmit / BS receive
Channel
FUL_low (MHz) – FUL_high
BW MHz
(MHz)
1)
2300
–
2400
[40 ]
1920
–
1980
40
Downlink (DL) band
UE receive / BS transmit
Channel
FDL_low (MHz) – FDL_high
BW MHz
(MHz)
1)
2300
–
2400
[40 ]
2110
–
2170
40
Duplex
mode
TDD
FDD
[1) For the first phase of LTE TDD CA for UE side, with eventual goal for 50MHz]
Inter - band Non -Contiguous CA
Uplink (UL) band
Downlink (DL) band
UE transmit / BS receive
Channel UE receive / BS transmit
Channel
BW MHz
FUL_low (MHz) – FUL_high
FDL_low (MHz) – FDL_high
BW MHz
(MHz)
(MHz)
1)
–
–
1
1920
1980
10
2110
2170
10
CA_1-5
1)
–
–
5
824
849
10
869
894
10
1) Only one uplink component carrier is used in any of the two frequency bands at any time.
E-UTRA
CA Band
15
E-UTRA
operating
Band
Duplex
mode
FDD
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Modes and Deployments
24
CA Band Combinations
Rel.11
3
CA Band Combinations
Rel.10
Release 11:
1
2
Inter-band
Intra-band cont
o
o
o
o
Maximum aggregated bandwidth is 40MHz
Support multiple timing advances (required for UL CA)
Core requirements for intra-band non-cont
Performance requirements for new inter-band and
intra-band combinations
Rel-11 inter-band Carrier Aggregation
Rapporteur
Carrier Aggregation of Band 3 and Band 7
TeliaSonera
AT&T
Ericsson (Verizon)
Leap Wireless
US Cellular
Huawei
AT&T
AT&T
AT&T
Vodafone
Vodafone
SK Telecom
Rogers Wireless
KDDI
KDDI
NTT DoCoMo
NTT DoCoMo
KT
Carrier Aggregation of Band 4 and Band 17
Carrier Aggregation of Band 4 and Band 13
Carrier Aggregation of Band 4 and Band 12
Carrier Aggregation of Band 5 and Band 12
Carrier Aggregation of Band 7 and Band 20
19
Inter-band
5
1
Intra-band cont Intra non-cont
Carrier Aggregation of Band 2 and Band 17
Carrier Aggregation of Band 4 and Band 5
Carrier Aggregation of Band 5 and Band 17
Carrier Aggregation of Band 3 and Band 20
Carrier Aggregation of Band 8 and Band 20
Carrier Aggregation of Band 3 and Band 5
Carrier Aggregation of Band 4 and Band 7
Carrier Aggregation of Band 11 and Band 18
Carrier Aggregation of Band 1 and Band 18
Carrier Aggregation of Band 1 and Band 19
Carrier Aggregation of Band 1 and Band 21
Carrier Aggregation of Band 3 and Band 8
16
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Modes and Deployments
24
CA Band Combinations
Rel.11
3
CA Band Combinations
Rel.10
Release 12:
1
2
Inter-band
Intra-band cont
19
Inter-band
95
CA Band Combinations
Rel.12
48
5
o
o
o
o
Core requirements uplink CA in inter-band
Performance requirements for intra-band non-contiguous
Core analysis for 3 component carriers in inter-band
Maximum aggregated bandwidth is 50MHz
1
Intra-band cont Intra non-cont
12
10
Inter-band Intra-band cont Intra non-cont
17
25
Inter 3 CC
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Agenda
LTE-Advanced
Carrier Aggregation
Design and test challenges
18
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Impact on UE design
MME
PCC
SCC
UE
Carrier Aggregation impact
NAS
- None
RRC
RRC
- Addition and removal SCC
PDCP
PDCP
RLC
RLC
NAS
MAC
MAC
PHY
PHY
- None
- Larger buffer
 Impact on higher layers:
o Enhanced user plane to support higher data rates
o Modifications and new additions on existing RRC procedures:
19

Reconfiguration message to support Addition/Release of SCC

Report of new UE categories and capabilities
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Impact on UE design
PHY, MAC and RF are the most challenging
o Multiple PHY and aggregated MAC:

One PHY layer per CC

Data aggregation happens at MAC layer

MAC must handle scheduling on multiple CC

Support of cross-carrier scheduling
o Complex transceivers design:
20

Highly challenging radio environment in terms of spur and self-blocking

Front-end needs to be designed to support multiple frequency band
combinations

MIMO + multi chain makes antenna design even more challenging
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Design and Test Challenges
Challenge #1 : When Inter-Band aggregation and MIMO spatial multiplexing is
combined, test set-ups may become quite complex.
T2010A
LTE Wireless Communications Test Set
RF RX Performance Test Scenario
• 2CC aggregation
• MIMO 4x2
• Closed loop spatial multiplexing
• RF impairments
T2010A
PCC
Channel
Emulator
+
UE
+
SCC
21
Channel
Emulator
Design and Test Challenges
Challenge #2 : Simultaneous transceiver chains lead to intermodulation
and cross-modulation within the UE.
TR 36.850 and 36.851 Inter-band carrier aggregation
Scope: To gather relevant background and studies to address Inter-band carrier
aggregation requirements (Release 11)
Class
Description
A1
Low-high band combination without harmonic relation
between bands or intermodulation problem
A2
Low-high band combination with harmonic relation between
bands
A3
Low-low or high-high band combination without
intermodulation problem (low order IM)
A4
Low-low, low-high or high-high band combination with
intermodulation problem (low order IM)
A5
Combination except for A1 – A4
22
Harmonics may cause
degradation in the performance of
the high band receiver
The use of diplexers to split and
combine RF chains are very
challenging
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Design and Test Challenges
Challenge #2 : Simultaneous transceiver chains lead to intermodulation
and cross-modulation within the UE.
Class A2 example: Band 4-17
710 MHz
Uplink
23
740 MHz
Downlink
2130 MHz
Downlink
Band 17
Band 4
PCC
SCC
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Design and Test Challenges
Challenge #2 : Simultaneous transceiver chains lead to intermodulation
and cross-modulation within the UE.
Class A2 example: Band 4-17
3rd harmonic
710 MHz
Uplink
24
740 MHz
Downlink
2130 MHz
Downlink
Band 17
Band 4
PCC
SCC
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Design and Test Challenges
Challenge #2 : Simultaneous transceiver chains lead to intermodulation
and cross-modulation within the UE.
A/D
Band A
Switch
H3 Trap
A/D
D/A
Ref. Sensitivity (dBm)
Release 8
Ref. Sensitivity (dBm)
Carrier Aggregation
Band 4
-96.3
-89.5
Band 17
-93.3
-92.8
Band 1
-96.3
-96.3
Band 5
-94.3
-94.3
D/A
Antenna
tuner
Switch
Band 17
Band B
A/D
A/D
D/A
D/A
Band 4
A/D
Band A
Band B
A/D
A/D
A/D
Source: 36.851 and 36.521-1
25
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Design and Test Challenges
Challenge #2 : Simultaneous transceiver chains lead to intermodulation
and cross-modulation within the UE.
6.8dB due to noise floor increase
caused by harmonic
A/D
Band A
Switch
H3 Trap
A/D
D/A
Ref. Sensitivity (dBm)
Release 8
Ref. Sensitivity (dBm)
Carrier Aggregation
Band 4
-96.3
-89.5
Band 17
-93.3
-92.8
Band 1
-96.3
-96.3
D/A
Antenna
tuner
Switch
Band 17
Band B
A/D
A/D
D/A
D/A
Band
5
uplink
Band 4
A/D
Band A
Band B
Note: This is an exception allowed when the
-94.3 in the lower frequency
-94.3
active
operating
band.
A/D
A/D
A/D
Source: 36.851 and 36.521-1
26
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Design and Test Challenges
Challenge #2 : Simultaneous transceiver chains lead to intermodulation
and cross-modulation within the UE.
A/D
Band A
Switch
H3 Trap
A/D
D/A
Ref. Sensitivity (dBm)
Release 8
Ref. Sensitivity (dBm)
Carrier Aggregation
Band 4
-96.3
-89.5
Band 17
-93.3
-92.8
Band 1
-96.3
Band 5
-94.3
D/A
Antenna
tuner
Switch
Band 17
Band B
A/D
A/D
D/A
D/A
Band 4
0.5 dB due to H3 trap filter
-96.3
insertion loss
-94.3
A/D
Band A
Band B
A/D
A/D
A/D
Source: 36.851 and 36.521-1
27
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Design and Test Challenges
Challenge #2 : Simultaneous transceiver chains lead to intermodulation
and cross-modulation within the UE.
Ref. Sensitivity (dBm)
Release 8
Ref. Sensitivity (dBm)
Carrier Aggregation
Band 4
-96.3
-89.5
Band 17
-92.8
-92.8
Band 1
-96.3
Band 5
-94.3
0.5 dB due to H3 trap filter
-96.3
insertion loss
-94.3
Source: 36.851 and 36.521-1
28
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
LTE T4000S Test Systems
ALL BASED ON THE SAME
HARDWARE PLATFORM
T4110S
LTE Protocol Tester
T4010S
LTE RF Tester
29
T2010A
LTE Wireless Communications Test Set
T4020S
LTE RRM Tester
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
3GPP Conformance Status
 New test cases for inter-band without UL CA and intra-band contiguous with and
without UL CA
• 63 New RF test cases
• 16 New RRM test cases
• 36 New Protocol test cases
 Ongoing! CA test cases in a new WI which covers intra-band non-contiguous
• 13 New RF test cases
• 18 New Protocol test cases
 Outlook! New CA test cases expected in Rel-12 (inter-band with 2 uplinks)
30
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
SUMMARY
 Carrier aggregation is the first step of LTE Advanced enabling:
o Higher IP data rates
o Facilitate efficient use of fragmented spectrum
 Inter-Band with 2 component carriers aggregated in the downlink is one of
the most demanded combinations today
 Carrier aggregation is a huge topic in Conformance with a lot of new test
cases defined and more in the pipeline
31
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
E7515A UXM Wireless Test Set
Make a clear call
Ensure realistic category 4 / 6 performance
• Sustained bidirectional
300 Mbps / 50 Mbps E2E IP data
• Most highly integrated solution:
multiple cells, carrier aggregation,
4x2 DL MIMO, integrated fading and
built-in application server
Achieve design confidence
LTE-Advanced
Carrier Aggregation
DL: 300Mbps
UL: 50 Mbps
CAT 6
Device
• Unique receiver test
Flexible channel allocation
and closed-loop testing
• Trusted transmitter test
X-Series measurement
science
Join “Overcome LTE-A UE Design Test Challenges with Agilent’s New UXM” webcast here
32
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
For more information…
Agilent Resources
• LTE-Advanced application and product info: www.agilent.com/find/lteadvanced
• T4000S LTE/LTE-A Conformance and DV Systems: www.agilent.com/find/t4000s
• E7515A UXM Wireless Test Set: www.agilent.com/find/E7515A
• 89600 VSA product information: www.agilent.com/find/vsa
• X-Series signal analyzer product information: www.agilent.com/find/xseries
• Signal Studio product information: www.agilent.com/find/signalstudio
LTE-Advanced Documents
• Application Note: http://cp.literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5990-6706EN.pdf
• Requirements TR 36.913: http://www.3gpp.org/DynaReport/36913.htm
• Study Technical Report TR 36.912: http://www.3gpp.org/DynaReport/36912.htm
33
© 2014 Agilent Technologies
Questions and Answers
THANK YOU!
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