4G LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC) Network

Course Overview

The LTE Service Architecture Evolution (SAE) Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network is an essential component of next generation mobile networks. This course provides a detailed analysis of the architecture, interfaces, protocols, QoS, deployment and dimensioning of EPC. The overall requirements of the LTE/SAE proposal are examined, and participants will be able to dimension for the required number of MMEs, SGWs, PGWs, HSS and PCRF for EPC.

Course Schedule

Request Group Training

Target Audience

Engineering professionals involved in the Planning, Deployment, Optimization, Operations & Maintenance of LTE Evolved Packet Core Networks.

Course Objectives

Outline the architecture and interfaces of E-EUTRAN and the EPC

Characterize the performance capabilities of LTE/SAE system

Discuss the different services offered by EPS and their impact on traffic and signaling

Outline the key protocols used for control and user traffic

Explain the procedure for EPS bearer establishment and service data flow

Explore options for implementing voice in LTE (VoLTE, CSFB, OTT)

Step through the planning methodology for EPC

Understand traffic concepts and traffic modeling for LTE

Estimate the signaling and user plane traffic

Dimension a sample LTE core network, with an estimation of the EPC nodes

Course Prerequisites

Should have an understanding of data communication and 2G/3G core networks.

Course Outline

•Introduction

3GPP releases

LTE requirements

LTE technology overview

LTE protocol stack - user plane and control plane

3GPP EPS architecture- eNodeB, MME, SGW, PGW, PCRF, HSS

EPS interfaces

Roaming architecture

Non-3GPP access

EPS Identities – GUTI, S-TMSI, M-TMSI, P-TMSI, TAI, PDP address

•Evolved Packet Core (EPC) Architecture

EPC for LTE access

LTE/3G/2G interworking with prerelease and release 8 SGSN

Optimized architecture for high-speed 3G/HSPA/LTE traffic

Combined SGSN/MME

SGSN/MME and GGSN/SGN/PGW

EPC network topologies

LTE access dimensioning

•Mobility and Bearer Management

MME pooling and pool area

MME selection and addressing

SIGTRAN in EPC

SCTP

QoS parameters

EPS bearer architecture

Policy and charging control architecture

EPS mobility management (EMM) states

EPS connection management (ECM) states

Traffic Cases : Attach/Detach, bearer activation, deactivation, handover, TAU, PDP context establishment, transitions between idle and active modes

•EPS Services

IP multimedia subsystem (IMS)

IMS protocols

Traffic cases

Voice over LTE (VoLTE)

Circuit switched fall back (CSFB)

Over the Top (OTT) Services

Single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC)

RCS, SMS over SGs interface

•Traffic Modeling

EPC network planning workflow and processes

Network planning scope

Core planning tasks

Subscriber traffic profiles

Erlang-B traffic estimates

•EPC Dimensioning

EPC dimensioning methodology

EPC key dimensioning parameters and EPC dimensioning principles

Hardware setup for a given EPC network and traffic profile

User plane traffic dimensioning

Estimate the number of nodes (MME/SGW/PGW/Combined SGW-PGW/HSS/PCRF) for EPC