The outcome of the 3GPP SAE (system architecture evolution) technical study
and specification work is a set of standards that specifies the evolution of the
packet core network for GSM/GPRS and WCDMA/HSPA to an all-IP architec-
ture and enables a feature-rich ‘common packet core’ for radio accesses devel-
oped within 3GPP and also by other standardization fora.
Long-TermEvolution(LTE)isarguablyoneofthemostimportantstepsinthecurrentphaseof
the development of modern mobile communications. It provides a suitable base for enhanced
services due to increased data throughput and lower latency figures, and also gives extra
impetus to the modernization of telecom architectures. The decision to leave the circuit-
switched domainoutofthescope ofLTE/SAEsystem standardization might soundradical but
itindicatesthatthetelecomworldisgoingstronglyfortheall-IPconcept----andthedeployment
of LTE/SAE is concrete evidence of this global trend.
