UMTS: Alive and Well - 4G Americas

has defined a work item on Network Improvements for Machine-Type Communication (NIMTC). Thefollowing goals and objectives are described in the work item:The goal of this work item is to:• Provide network operators with lower operational costs when offering machine-typecommunication services• Reduce the impact and effort of handling large machine-type communication groups• Optimize network operations to minimize impact on device battery power usage• Stimulate new machine-type communication applications by enabling operators to offer servicestailored to machine-type communication requirementsThe objectives of this work item include:• Identify and specify general requirements for machine-type communications• Identify service aspects where network improvements (compared to the current H2H orientedservices) are needed to cater for the specific nature of machine-type communications• Specify machine-type communication requirements for these service aspects where networkimprovements are needed for machine-type communication• Address system architecture impacts to support machine-type communication scenarios andapplicationsA RAN study item to investigate the air interface enhancements for the benefit of M2M communicationhas also been recently approved. The study will be initiated in early 2010.7.8.7.2 FIXED MOBILE CONVERGENCE ENHANCEMENTThe Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) scenario in 3GPP is part of the Evolved Packet System defined by3GPP TS 23.402 where it is specified how a non-3GPP system can be connected to a 3GPP EPCnetwork. The interconnection of a Non-3GPP system is based on two scenarios based on whether theNon-3GPP network is considered a Trusted access network or an Untrusted access network. In 3GPPspecifications, the Non-3GPP system can be any technology not defined by 3GPP, such as WLAN,WiMAX, 3GPP2 and xDSL. However in some cases, the access characteristics are taken into account,while in other cases it is assumed that access network will support some 3GPP specific features. Asimple example is represented by APN and PCO. 3GPP assumes that if supported then the UE has thesame behavior in 3GPP access and in non-3GPP access, otherwise the UE cannot establish a PDNconnection from Non-3GPP system, so the user cannot obtain the same services form both networks.In 3GPP, there already is an overall requirement to support fixed accesses (3GPP TS 22.278).Implementation of this high level requirement is likely to uncover additional detailed requirements tosupport the technology and business models used by fixed access providers. Parallel work based on theoriginal 3GPP FMC use case as well as additional use cases for interworking with both 3GPP accessesand 3GPP core network is underway in the Broadband Forum (BBF). Other new features in 3GPP suchas H(e)NBs, Local IP access (LIPA) to residential/corporate local networks; Selected IP traffic offload(SIPTO) for H(e)NBs; IP Flow Mobility and seamless WLAN offload (IFOM); and Inter-UE Transfer (IUT)may have requirements for interworking with fixed broadband accesses as well. Nonetheless, a specific3GPP work item has been defined to provide detailed service requirements for supporting interworkingbetween the 3GPP EPS and the fixed broadband accesses as defined by BBF.www.3GAmericas.org February 2010 Page 112