LTE Technology

Concept System Architecture LTE (Long Term Evolution) is recognized as a worldwide standard for high data rate wireless broadband developed by the 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project), a recognized multinational standards setting organization. While LTE was designed to meet the growing capacity needs of wireless carriers for high-speed data and voice, LTE was also adopted by public safety organizations as the de facto standard for broadband communications.  On April 21, 2011 the APCO Global Alliance   made up of APCO counterparts in the US, Canada, UK and Australia, issued a press release announcing a formal policy statement called “4G Broadband Technologies for Emergency Services” wherein it recognizes LTE as the leading 4G technology worldwide.  The policy statement acknowledges certain benefits of LTE that include all-IP architecture, greater spectral efficiency, and increased bandwidth flexibility. Public Safety organizations could potentially benefit from ongoing research and development that would lead to more efficiently structured networks. The LTE network architecture is based on 3GPP’s defined System Architecture Evolution (SAE) which includes:A simplified architectureAn all-IP Network (AIPN)Higher throughput and lower latency radio access networks (RANs)Support for mobility between LTE and LTE Advanced capable networksSupport for 3GPP legacy systems as UMTS/WCDMA and non-3GPP technologies such as WiMAX and CDMA2000Referring to Figure 1 (below), the portion of the network that will be developed and deployed in each state and territory is the Radio Access Network (RAN). CLICK HERE for acronyms to Figure 1, and for more information about the interfaces defined above! CLICK HERE to view the FirstNet LTE Overview presentation.