4G LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC) Network

Course details

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 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 Contents:

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