Catapult LTE Testing -- Mobile Europe May 2008      

LTE (Long Term Evolution) Testing Systems

3GPP LTE is a project driven to enhance the UMTS mobile phone network to accommodate future requirements for higher bandwidth, low latency, and improved efficiency. The LTE project includes the developing UMTS RELEASE 8 specifications. These standards define an all-IP wireless broadband Internet network with voice and other services that enhance the end user's experience.

A major focus of LTE is to simplify the architecture of the network, as it evolves from the existing UMTS circuit and packet switching combined network, to an all-IP system. LTE is optimized for data traffic and unlike 2G GSM and 3G UMTS, it will not feature a separate, circuit switched voice network.

With years of UMTS testing experience, Catapult is well suited to LTE testing. Catapult LTE testing systems provide network equipment manufacturers and service providers with capability for various testing scenarios consistent with standards. Along with LTE, the evolution of the core network architecture is called system architecture evolution (SAE).

Stress Testing Network Elements

• Peak data rates
• User-plane throughput
• Control-plane capacity

Functional Testing

• Verify new network element (i.e. e-NodeB, MME, ePDG, etc.) and new interfaces
  (i.e. S1)
• User and control plane latency
• Mobility – handovers, security,
• Radio resource management
• Negative testing

Interworking Testing

• Co-existence and interworking with 3GPP UMTS

LTE & SAE Architecture

e-Node B = evolved Node B
e-PDG = evolved Packet Data Gateway
MME = Mobile Management Entity
PCRF = Policy Control and Charging Function
SAE = System Architecture Evolution

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