3GPP TSG for E-UTRAN

 
In this chapter, we will concentrate on the details regarding 3GPP’s Evolved UTRAN standardization
process, E-UTRAN, also called 3GPP Long-Term Evolution (3GPP-LTE) standardization, or
sometimes called the Super-3G technology. However, before discussing the detailed aspects of the
E-UTRAN, we feel that it is appropriate to introduce the 3GPP and its activities. The 3GPP is a
collaborative agreement between the Standards Development Organizations (SDOs) and other related
bodies for the production of a complete set of globally applicable Technical Specifications and Reports
for a 3G System.
The membership for 3GPP is open to (1) all national/regional SDOs irrespective of their geographical
location, Organizational Partners (OPs), (2) all organizations that can offer market advice
and a consensus view of market requirements, Market Representation Partners (MRPs), (3) SDOs
who have the qualifications to become future OPs (Observers).
While the OPs determine the general policy and strategy of 3GPP, the running of the Project is
performed by the Project Coordination Group (PCG), under which lie four Technical Specification
Groups (TSGs), that is, (1) Services and System Aspects (SA), (2) Core Network and Terminals
(CT), (3) GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), and (4) Radio Access Network (RAN). It is noted that each of these TSGs has a number of Working Groups (WGs) populated by individuals
from companies that are members of one or more of the OPs, MRPs, or Observers. The detailed
organization of the PCG is illustrated in Figure 10.2.
It is noted that 3GPP has no legal status, but the 3GPP IPRs are jointly owned by the OPs.
It is the responsibility of the OPs to transpose the results into their own regional deliverables (e.g.
standards).
The support function of the 3GPP is the Mobile Competence Center (MCC) located in Sophia
Antipolis, France. In fact, the MCC provides support to the 3GPP, as well as to the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute’s (ETSI) Technical Committee MSG, and the ETSI Projects
SCP and RT.
In this chapter, we will focus on the technical aspects proposed in the TSG RAN (new), shown in
the second column in the PCG illustrated in Figure 10.2. The all TSG RAN meetings after the TSG
RAN meeting #26 are denoted by (new) TSG RAN meetings. The TSG RAN is responsible for the
definition of the functions, requirements, and interfaces of the UTRA network in its two modes, FDD
and TDD. More precisely: radio performance, physical layer, layer 2 and layer 3 Radio Resource (RR) specifications in the Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN); the specification
of the access network interfaces (Iu, Iub, and Iur); the definition of the Operations and Maintenance
(O&M) requirements in UTRAN and conformance testing for the Base Stations.