SDOs and NGMN alignment (P-3GPP)

The overall objective of this project is to ensure that 3GPP deliver SAE/LTE standards which meet (or exceed) the requirements set out in the NGMN White Paper and that 3GPP deliver these standards on a timescale that permits the NGMN’s timescales for commercial availability of service to be achieved.

Bandwidth Aggregation (P-BAG)

Delivering user data rates and spectrum efficiencies promised by NGMN technologies requires bandwidths up to 20 MHz. As many operators do not have 20 MHz of contiguous spectrum, especially in bands below 2 GHz, bandwidth aggregation offers a technical solution to efficiently utilise existing spectrum. The objectives of P-BAG are:

• To determine NGMN community's requirements for bandwidth aggregation
• Conduct high level technical analysis to determine feasible bandwidth aggregation scenarios
• Develop technical requirements specification for 3GPP for prioritised bandwidth aggregation scenarios

Database Convergence (P-DC)

The objective of this project was to consolidate NGMN operator requirements, to evaluate benefits of user data centric approach, to evaluate cost reduction potential (CAPEX/OPEX), to define adaptation functions. This project has reached TG2 (Closure).

Initial Deployment Targets (P-IDT)

This project prioritised first/initial deployment targets for NGMN w.r.t.

• Frequency bands and system bandwidths to be supported by initial HW
• Multi-standard and multi band requirements for terminals and base stations
• Inter-system mobility requirements

to guide the industry (vendors and partly SDOs) on their development work. This project has reached TG2 (Closure).

Initial Terminal Device Definition (P-ITDD)

The objective of this project was to provide from an NGMN perspective the generic definition of what would comprise an initial release NGMN terminal/device considering a macro view of the marketplace needs on a global and/or regional basis balanced against the practical reality of terminal/device implementation for an initial market timeframe of 2010. This project has reached TG2 (Closure). See downloads for the deliverable of this project.

Multi-Vendor RAN (P-MVR)

The objective of this project was to avoid partly open interfaces, to cover O&M Aspect, to ensure multi-vendor interoperability of LTE System, to ensure Multi vendor aspects are covered in 3GPP standards, and to clarify the testing philosophy of LTE products. This project has reached TG2 (Closure).

Open BBU RRH Interface (P-OBRI)

The objective of this project is to develop the implementation recommendations for open internal interface of radio base stations between BaseBandUnit (BBU) and the RadioRemoteHead (RRH).
By connecting with RRH via optical fibers, operators can reduce the cost of RF cabling.

Operational Efficiency (P-OPE)

The objective of this project is to further enhance the SON & O&M area with new use cases and optimize recommendations on functional and operational aspects. The project will also perform additional work and effective inputs into the standards with regards to Multi-vendor RAN to achieve true-multi vendor RAN for commercial deployment and to study all HeNB-Macro operational use cases.

Optimized Solutions for Backhaul and Meshed Networks (P-OSB)

This project aims to define requirements and to assess innovative ALL-IP transport solutions facilitating optimum backhauling (including self-backhauling).

System Architecture Harmonisation (P-SAH)

This project defined the system architecture harmonization framework (stage 1-2) of all network elements including, e.g. converged mobility management for the TISPAN and NGMN environment:

• Harmonised PCC/QoS for TISPAN and NGMN environment
• Common IMS for TISPAN and NGMN
• Harmonized VCC/MMSC for the TISPAN and NGMN environment
• Converged mobility management for the TISPAN and NGMN environment.

This project has reached TG2 (Closure).

Support of Broadcast and Multicast (P-SBM)

This project defined NGMN operators' requirements to provide broadcast and multicast services, together with unicast services, in a cost and spectral efficient way. Scope includes radio and core networks, spectrum, and different aspects of broadcast. This project has reached TG2 (Closure) and the deliverable can be found at Download Broadcast and Multicast – Recommendations & Requirements (P-SBM)

Security (P-SEC)

The objective of this project is to assure that the end-to-end security and security as described in the NGMN White Paper "Next Generation Mobile Networks Beyond HSPA & EVDO" are targeted and clarified, to give recommendations and co-operate with organisations addressing security to address the identified gaps.

Self-Organizing Networks and Self-Optimization (P-SON)

The objective of this project was to increase the usage of self organizing functionality in LTE and define a common view on typical use cases with the target to simplify operability. These use cases were be the basis for deriving solution proposals and finally define requirements which represent a common NGMN point of view. With the help of this joint initiative suppliers shall be invited to deliver solutions to the SON requirements. This project has reached TG2 (Closure). See downloads for the deliverables of this project.

Terminal Certification (P-TCER)

This project aims to recommend on necessary improvements in the current certification process (GCF, PTCRB, CCF etc..), to give guidance to the relevant standards bodies to timely deliver test cases and test environments, to liaise with other NGMN WG’s/projects to ensure that the prioritised feature set and test case requirements are made available as a matter of urgency and to follow-up on the prioritised improvement proposals identified in the GAP Analysis.

Terminal Aspects (P-TER)

This project supported and promoted early device specifications and readiness through recommendations, inputs and complementary work where necessary and appropriate. This project has reached TG2 (Closure). See downloads for the deliverable of this project.

Gap Analysis and Standards Contributions (TF-GA)

The TWG does perform on a reqular bases a comprehensive gap analysis on the level of coverage of each individual NGMN requirement and recommendation by the relevant technical standards. Requirement specifications and significant technical contributions have been provided to standards development organisations (SDOs) such as 3GPP, 3GPP2, IEEE and the WiMAX Forum, e.g. in the areas of system architecture, functionalities, performance, service capabilities, and interoperability. These contributions were submitted either via official liaison statements from the TWG or via individual input documents in the name of various NGMN Members.

Technology Evaluation (TF-TEVAL)

In an extensive exercise, the TWG has performed a comprehensive technology evaluation of the NGMN candidate technologies

• 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE/SAE);
• 3GPP2 Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB);
• IEEE 802.16e/m (Mobile WiMAX).

Against the NGMN White Paper requirements and recommendations. This analysis covers the following four areas of evaluation criteria: Performance, Functionalities, Interworking, and Time-to-Market. The technology evaluation task was very actively supported by the NGMN Sponsors (vendors/manufacturers) who made valuable technical contributions w.r.t. radio performance results (simulations and measurements), performance optimization, as well as confidential information about their development roadmaps (for anonymous evaluation).

“Based on the results of technology evaluation, the NGMN board concluded in June 2008 that LTE/SAE is the first technology which broadly meets NGMN recommendations. The NGMN Alliance therefore approves LTE/SAE as its first compliant technology”.