LTE Advanced: 3GPP Solution for IMT-Advanced

2.4 LTE-Advanced Study and Specification Phases

The first part of the work in 3GPP was the study phase, which started in early 2008 with the findings on physical layer covered in [5] and overall conclusions presented in [6]. There were several areas studied as part of the study phase, including:

• Achievable capacity and cell edge performance, both for data and VoIP;
• Latency, both for control plane and user plane;
• Handover performance;
• Achievable peak spectral efficiency (and peak data rates);
• Radio Frequency (RF) aspects of supporting the considered technologies.

The results from 3GPP showed that the technology components under consideration can meet or exceed the requirements, as shown with the study phase reports in Chapter 11.

Following the study phase, the work item phase (when actual specifications are produced) was started which produced the first full set of specifications at the end of 2010. This is part of the 3GPP Release 10 specifications, which were finalized in June 2011.