UMTS(3G) (with ref.

3GPP R99)
The first release 99 of UMTS brought in what is known as UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access
Network), a complete redefined radio access part of the network. A completely different access scheme is
used in the radio interface, a type of code division multiple access called Wideband Code Division
Multiple Access (WCDMA). QUALCOMM first pioneered the use of CDMA in cellular digital systems,
and by 1995, the IS-95 standard, based on CDMA was in used commercially. It enables multiple users to
share the same frequency, and communicate at the same time using different codes. At the receiving end,
the signals are reconstructed using the code, and the other signals look like noise to the receiver3. The
Figure 1 below shows the evolution of CDMA technology since its first commercial implementation. The
technology has undergone a lot of improvements to support high data speed, increase capacity and
throughput. This enabled data speed of up to 384Kbit/s per user for downlink and 128Kbit/s for uplink
directions.
2G 2.5G 3G 3.5G

EV – DO
IS-95(cdmaOne) CDMA2000 CDMA2000
(Evolution-Data Optimized)
A/B (1xRTT) (3xRTT)

Evolution
WCDMA(UMTS) HSPA
5MHz carrier (High Speed Packet Access)
Release 99 Release 5
Influence

Fig. 1 : Evolution of CDMA technology in cellular networks

In UMTS, the network elements are renamed as: 1. User Equipment (UE), which is the mobile device
2. Node-B, which corresponds to Base Transceiver Station (BTS) in GSM, and 3. Radio Network
Controller (RNC), also corresponding to Base Station Controller (BSC) in GSM.

UE : User Equipment

Node - B

RNC : Radio Network Controller

Fig 2 : UTRAN network elements

 The core network part of UMTS was not anything new, but rather used GSM circuit-switch
core network. However, major software enhancements were defined between the Mobile
Switching Center (MSC) and the UTRAN, as well as Home Location Register (HLR) and the
Authentication Center (AuC) to support new features. Shown in figure 3 below is the frequency
ranges allocated for third generation (3G) communications.

12 blocks of 5MHz each for

uplink : 1920 – 1980MHz

Mobile User Network

Europe, Asia and Africa

12 blocks of 5MHz each for

downlink : 2110 – 2170MHz

12 blocks of 5MHz each for

uplink : 1850 – 1910MHz
– 1755MHz

Mobile User Network

North America

12 blocks of 5MHz each for

downlink : 1930 – 1990MHz
– 2155MHz

Fig 3 : Frequency ranges allocated for UMTS uplink and downlink

The packet core part of the network was adopted from GPRS with new features such as the
use of ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) instead of Frame relay in the lower layers, in the
interface called Iu(ps) interface, thus the interface between SGSN and radio access part of the
network. So, just a software update and new interfaces cards in the MSCs and the SGSNs were
needed to get the new functionalities of the Iu(cs) and Iu(ps) interfaces.
Let’s take a look in the figure 4 below, how the architecture will look like in detail with
GSM/UMTS network from release 99. With dual-mode mobile devices, users could roam from
UMTS network into a GSM network with on-going voice call.
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
UTRAN
R99 core network

Node-B RNC
PSTN
MSC GMSC

---------
---------
Node-B
RNC IN
HLR

-------
-----
Node-B SGSN GGSN
-------------------------------------------------------- Internet
UE
GSM BSS
TRAU

SERVER
BSC
Data and Signaling
PCU
BTS --------- Signaling

Fig 4 : GSM/UMTS network architecture : R99

In conclusion, even though the order of the day is now 4G LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, and the
upcoming 5G networks, 3G UMTS is still a very important mobile network. AfricaCom and
Telecoms&Tech Academy’s white paper by Mark Newman revealed that, in the next three to five
years, the number of people using internet services via their mobile devices will triple in Africa. But,
interestingly, only one out of every five people connected will be using LTE services rather than
HSPA(WCDMA)4. That just shows how important the 3G network is still to achieving a connected world.

Reference
[1] QUALCOMM-the-evolution-of-mobile-technologies-1g-to-2g-to-3g-to-4g-lte

[2] Martin Sauter-From GSM to LTE-Advanced Pro and 5G_ An Introduction to Mobile Networks and Mobile
Broadband.

[3] Mosa Ali Abu-Rgheff-Introduction to CDMA Wireless Communications-Academic (2007)

[4] Telecoms & Tech Academy - 3g holds the key to africa’s connected future