UMTS: Alive and Well - 4G Americas

7 STATUS OF IMT-ADVANCED, LTE-ADVANCED, HSPA+ ENHANCEMENTSAND RELEASE 10This section focuses on two areas:1. The ongoing work on the global development of next-generation technologies (4G) beingdefined in the context of IMT-Advanced2. The developments by 3GPP to add its technology expertise into the to-be-defined familyof IMT-AdvancedThe material is structured into an overview of the ITU-R requirements for IMT-Advanced, the3GPP target requirements for its solution, LTE-Advanced and a discussion of the timelines,process, and workplans of both the ITU-R and 3GPP as they collaboratively work towardsdefining the next-generation (4G) technology of the future. Also, the last part of this sectiondiscusses HSPA+ enhancements being specified for Rel-10, which is being worked on in parallelto the LTE-Advanced work.7.1 SPECIFYING IMT-ADVANCED – THE ITU-R ROLE 113The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 114 is the internationally recognized entitychartered to produce an official definition of the next generation of wireless technologies. ItsRadiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) is establishing an agreed upon and globally accepteddefinition of 4G wireless systems that is inclusive of the current multi-dimensioned and diversestakeholder universe.The ITU115 is close to releasing a full set of documentation for this definition. It has held ongoingconsultations with the global community over many years on this topic in Working Party 8F 116under the scope of a work item known as, Question ITU-R 229-1/8 Future development of IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000. Following a year-end 2007 restructure in ITU-R, this workis being addressed under the new Study Group 5 umbrella (replacing the former Study Group 8)by Working Party 5D which is the new name for the former WP 8F.This work has addressed the future beyond 3G that is comprised of a balance among a Spectrumview, a Marketplace View, a Regulatory View and a Technology View. These are the keyelements for business success in wireless and must each be considered for successful nextgenerationtechnology development.Significant work has been completed in ITU-R, establishing the nucleus of what should beencompassed in a 4G system. In particular, ITU-R, working under a mandate to address systems113 Information in this section is adapted from 3G Americas white paper, Defining 4G Understanding the ITU Process forthe Next Generation of Wireless Technology, August 2008.114 ITU, http://www.itu.int.115 ITU materials used by permission.116 Working Party 8F held responsibility for the IMT-2000 and “Beyond IMT-2000” from its inception in the year 2000through its disbanding in 2007 when it was superseded by WP 5D. The archive records of this work on IMT may befound at http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/index.asp?category=study-groups&rlink=rwp8f&lang=en.www.3GAmericas.org February 2010 Page 76