UMTS Signaling Abstract Wiley & Sons, 2005 ISBN 0-470-01351-6

The feature descriptions for higher releases in next chapters are based on documents not older than
2004-06 revision.

1.2.3

UMTS Release 4

3GPP Release 4 introduces some major changes and new features in the core network domains and
the GERAN (GPRS/EDGE Radio Access Network), which replaces GSM BSS. Some of the major
changes are:

o Separation of transport bearer and bearer control in the CS core network

o
o
o

o
o

Introduction of new interfaces in CS core network

ATM (AAL2) or IP can now be used as data transport bearer in the CS domain
Introduction of low chip rate (also called: narrow-band) TDD
Describes the radio access technology behind the Chinese TD-SCDMA standard while UMTS
TDD (wide-band TDD, TD-CDMA) is seen as dominating TDD technology in European and
Asian standards outside China. It is expected that interference in low chiprate TDD has less
impact on cell capacity compared to same effect in wide-band TDD. In addition low chiprate
TDD equipment shall support advanced radio transmission technologies like "smart antennas"
and beamforming, which means to point a single antenna or a set of antennas at the signal
source to reduce interference and improve communication quality.
IP-based Gb Interface
IPv6 Support (optional)

Figure 1-7 - UMTS Rel. 4 Network Architecture

The new features and Services are1:

o
o
o

o
1

Multimedia Services in the CS Domain

Handover of real time application in the PS Domain
UTRAN Transport Evolutions
o AAL2 connection QoS optimization over Iub and Iur interfaces
o Transport bearer modification procedure on Iub, Iur, and Iu
IP transport of Core Network (CN) protocols

No specific order

UMTS Signaling Abstract Wiley & Sons, 2005 ISBN 0-470-01351-6