The information and communications sector is experiencing a major transformation leading to a quick emerging novel industry landscape. The well-known business model of telecommunication operators is continuously being affected by the intensifying struggle between operators. These aspects do not only involve an increasing saturation within the communications market, but also contributes to a rising substitution behavior triggered by well-established Internet businesses.
In this context, the Ovum Global Telecoms Market Outlook 2013-2018 predicts for the coming five years a global increase of mobile lines of about 25% (e.g. 8.1 billion in total by 2018, the relevant growth coming primarily from emerging economies). However, the outlook for the fixed-network market does not look that promising: a 5% reduction in voice revenues for the period 2012 - 2018 is expected. Other important features that influence the economic achievement of a telecommunications provider are represented by the current regulatory provisions along with the price level the provider can realize. Obviously, this price level generally mirrors the customer behavior and the development (stage) of a particular market.
In this sense, the mobile industry has certainly the potential to set free even superior benefits and contribute to meets the EU sustainability and innovation targets defined in the EU 2020 strategy [14]. In fact, the European mobile industry is no longer restricted to the provision of basic voice and data services, but is rather taking to an active role in offering high-speed broadband access and (data) connectivity. This involves a new third wave of connectivity (e.g. beyond tablets and laptops), comprising cars and buildings and having undoubtedly the prospect of connecting almost anything and anyone (the “Connected Life” as the GSMA denotes it).
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 European Mobile Markets
2.1 Regulatory Approach
2.2 The Mobile Market in Austria
3 Mobile Core Network Evolution - LTE Evolution Roadmap
3.1 The Evolved Packet Core
3.2 From LTE to LTE-A: (Economic) motivations and constraints
3.2.1 LTE
3.2.2 LTE-Advanced
3.2.2.1 Carrier Aggregation
3.2.2.2 Relay Nodes
3.2.2.3 Advanced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) schemes
4 Looking ahead: Requirements for future mobile networks
4.1 Austria beyond 2015: Towards the future mobile network
4.2 LTE-B Key features and requirements
4.3 LTE-A to LTE-B: Potential Benefits and Applications
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Scope
This paper examines the technological and economic evolution of mobile networks, specifically focusing on the transition from LTE to LTE-Advanced and beyond in the Austrian market. It investigates how operators can adapt to changing consumer demands, financial pressures, and the necessity for higher spectral efficiency through advanced network architectures.
- Analysis of European mobile market trends and regulatory impacts.
- Technical roadmap from LTE core networks to LTE-Advanced and 5G requirements.
- Evaluation of key performance-enhancing technologies like Carrier Aggregation, Relay Nodes, and MIMO.
- Assessment of future market challenges and consolidation trends for operators.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.2.3 Advanced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) schemes
The multi-antenna technology uses for the transmission and reception various antennas and employs, in addition, uncorrelated communication channels when radio signals spread through the air. A Single-User MIMO (SU-MIMO) is characterized by multiple transmissions dedicated to particular user, otherwise the Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) applies. MU-MIMO can, in fact, provide a significant improvement of spectrum efficiency still with a single transmitter UE. Consequently, the network capacity can be increased (at relatively low cost) as shown in Fig. 14.
LTE-A can simultaneously run in MU-MIMO and SU-MIMO mode using a dynamic (user-related) MIMO transmission setting. For MIMO (schemes), a high system capacity will correlate with an optimized utilization of channels for (multiple) transmissions. In this context, the performance has various constraints such as the reference signals and algorithms for channel estimation or the number of transmitter/receiver antennas. As a result, a wide-ranging design is important in order to deliver the best system performance. Furthermore, transmission (peak) date rates result from the combined handling of available antennas on the transmitter/receiver, the bandwidth employed and the arrangement of radio parameters (resource distribution for control channels for example).
LTE Releases 8 and 9 sustain the MIMO technology with up to four transmitter/receiver antennas in the DL, whereas Release 10 expands its (MIMO) support to up to eight antennas. Moreover, Release 10 has improved the reference signal design with general reference symbols for feedback purposes in the DL and additional orthogonal reference signal configuration in the UL. Thus, a better performance is achieved once the number of antenna branches is high. For its part, the UL MIMO offers enhanced spectrum efficiency and superior peak rates.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the telecommunications landscape, highlighting the industry's shift toward high-speed data and the transition to IP-based networks.
2 European Mobile Markets: Analyzes the economic state of the European telecom industry, addressing regulatory challenges and market saturation.
3 Mobile Core Network Evolution - LTE Evolution Roadmap: Details the technical migration from circuit-switched architectures to the Evolved Packet Core and specific LTE-A enhancements.
4 Looking ahead: Requirements for future mobile networks: Explores future 5G requirements, the role of LTE-B, and application scenarios like MTC and ProSe.
5 Conclusion: Summarizes the necessity of technological evolution to ensure sustainable business models and meeting future data demands.
Keywords
LTE, LTE-Advanced, Mobile Network Evolution, Austria, Evolved Packet Core, Carrier Aggregation, Relay Nodes, MIMO, 5G, Spectrum Efficiency, Telecommunications, Machine Type Communications, HetNet, Radio Access Network, Data Traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the technological evolution of mobile networks, specifically the roadmap from LTE to LTE-Advanced and future 5G developments, within the context of the Austrian market.
What are the primary industry trends identified?
Key trends include market consolidation, the shift from flat-rate pricing to tiered models, increased reliance on mobile data, and the need for operators to diversify into new service areas like M2M and IoT.
What is the main objective of the research?
The objective is to analyze how technical enhancements can help operators manage increasing data traffic while maintaining profitability and meeting future infrastructure requirements.
Which scientific methods are analyzed?
The paper evaluates network architecture transitions, specifically comparing packet-switched vs. circuit-switched domains, and the implementation of radio technologies such as OFDMA, SC-FDMA, Carrier Aggregation, and MIMO.
What does the main body cover?
It covers the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), technical specifications of LTE and LTE-Advanced, heterogeneous networks (HetNet), and the specific requirements for future 5G networks.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is characterized by terms like LTE, LTE-Advanced, spectral efficiency, network architecture, and mobile data growth.
How does LTE-Advanced improve performance?
LTE-Advanced introduces Carrier Aggregation, advanced MIMO schemes, and Relay Nodes to significantly increase data throughput and spectral efficiency compared to initial LTE releases.
What role does the Austrian market play?
Austria serves as a specific case study to illustrate the impact of intense operator competition, multiband auctions, and the strategic deployment of hybrid fixed-mobile networks.
What is the potential of Proximity based Services (ProSe)?
ProSe enables direct device-to-device communication for commercial and public safety applications, potentially creating new business opportunities for proximity-based apps.
- Quote paper
- Omar Amoretti (Author), 2015, Mobile Network Evolution in Austria beyond 2015, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/300826
