MANAGING

THE SIGNALING
TRAFFIC IN
PACKET CORE
METHODS TO REDUCE
THE SIGNALING LOAD
IN 3G/LTE NETWORKS
APPLICATION NOTE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abstract / 1

Executive summary / 1

Introduction / 3

Always-on smartphones / 4
The smartphone phenomenon / 4
Smartphone applications / 4
Smartphone network signaling impacts / 5
Analysis of smartphone impacts on mobile networks / 5

Always-on signaling impact on the 3G and LTE network / 7

UTRAN Radio Resource Control impact / 7
E-UTRAN Radio Resource Control enhancements / 9
Alcatel-Lucent E-UTRAN Signaling Reductions / 11

Control plane impact of LTE architecture / 11

A flat IP architecture / 11
Signaling load distribution in the EPC / 12
Advanced paging capabilities / 13
Tracking area management capabilities / 14
Tracking area list management / 15
Tracking area list generation / 15
Authentication period tuning / 16
Optimization with centralized MME pools / 16

Mobility in multi-standard 3GPP networks / 18

LTE deployment in overlay / 18
Interworking between LTE and 2G/3G networks / 19
Optimization with S4-SGSN / 21
Idle mode signaling reduction / 22
Impact of ISR on network paging load / 23
Overall ISR signaling efficiencies / 24
Combined SGSN/MME / 25

Charging impact of new business models / 26

Optimization of real-time usage control with PCRF / 26

Conclusions / 28

References / 28

Acronyms / 29
ABSTRACT
Wireless packet networks continue to experience significant growth in traffic, not only
in the bandwidth for these data services but also in the signaling and control traffic that
is needed to support this user traffic. This paper explains what the key factors are in this
signaling and control plane traffic explosion and how much they impact on the overall
signaling load in the mobile packet core with some detailed device analysis presented
by Alcatel-Lucent 9900 Wireless Network Guardian (WNG). It then discusses various
methods and network upgrades that can be deployed to mitigate this packet core signaling
and control plane load as well as some unique capabilities within the Alcatel-Lucent 9471
Wireless Mobility Manager (WMM).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As smartphones and their applications proliferate, not only is the bandwidth of user data
exploding on the mobile network but so is the signaling (control) traffic. By some estimates,
the growth rate of signaling traffic in mobile networks is increasing by 30 percent to
50 percent over the growth rate of user data traffic. Signaling messaging between the
user equipment (UE) and the mobile network occurs each time a packet stream is either
transmitted or received, regardless of the amount of actual data (bandwidth) delivered.

In the 3G/UTRAN, the control of limited radio resources by the network requires fast
transitions of mobile devices in switching from CONNECTED to IDLE state once the
data transfer is completed. These rapid connection/release events significantly affect
the signaling load on the UTRAN and the packet core (primarily on the SGSN). Radio
Resource Control can be optimized to increase network efficiency by managing some
additional intermediate states. There are three different Radio Resource Control (RRC)
connected states in the 3G/UTRA network between the Cell_DCH (Cell Dedicated
Channel) CONNECTED state and the IDLE state that are available to mobile operators.
Each of these intermediary states progressively reduces the battery power consumption
of the UE. In so doing, it also reduces the awareness of the UE location within the
network (that is, the UE/cell site/routing area relationship) and thus requires additional
signaling messages and latency in reconnecting the UE from its current state back to the
CONNECTED state to allow data transmission. Alcatel-Lucent recommends the use of
Cell_PCH state in which the UE is known by the RNC but has no resources dedicated to
the UE. Connection management in Long Term Evolution (LTE) is optimized with fewer
states than the 3G UTRAN which results in better network signaling efficiency and in
lower latency when transitioning from IDLE to CONNECTED state.

With LTE, the existing 2G/3G circuit and packet network migrate from a hierarchical
architecture to a flatter all-IP architecture and a redistribution of functions within the
RAN and packet core. These architectural changes have a significant impact on the
signaling and control plane. In the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), the average number of
messages per subscriber attached to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) is 3 to 4 times
that as compared to a 2G/3G subscriber attached to an SGSN. The main contributor to
this increased signaling load is the connection/release events between an eNodeB (eNB)
and the MME. The second highest contributor of signaling load is in paging procedures.
This is due to direct signaling connectivity in LTE between the UE, the eNB and the MME.
Handovers and Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedures are the next highest contributors
of the processing load. Although they have a higher message count, they occur at a lower

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

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rate. This analysis is valid for a small Tracking Area (TA) size and as the TA size is
increased, the paging load becomes the most significant contributor.

It is important to limit the impact of MME paging order to reduce signaling load. A first
order optimization is simply to reduce the tracking area size to a few tens of eNBs versus
the generally accepted 2G/3G practice of assigning one Routing Area per RNC (equivalent
to 100 to 200 NBs). Limiting the paging area limits the signaling load if there is a high
degree of confidence that the UE can be located on an initial attempt. In addition, the
Alcatel-Lucent 9471 WMM provides a variety of sophisticated paging algorithms that
reduce the amount of paging messages which can reduce MME capital expenditures
(CAPEX) by 20 percent.

Tracking area optimization is another area which can reduce signaling loads. Through
the use of tracking area lists, TAU messaging can be reduced. When smaller paging
areas are used, advanced tracking area capabilities are required to reduce the risk of
ping-pong signaling events between adjacent tracking areas. The 9471 WMM provides
several options for the management of tracking areas (TA) and tracking area list
generation in order to reduce the network signaling load. The ping-pong effects at TA
boundaries can be significantly decreased and even avoided if the TA list is refreshed at
each TA Update/cell update. Advanced TA list management in the WMM is estimated to
achieve as much as a 40 percent reduction in the rate of TA Updates as compared to the
legacy 2G/3G network.

Initially, LTE devices will frequently roam between LTE and 3G networks to compensate
for spotty LTE coverage. This mobility will generate additional signaling due to inter-
RAT handovers and procedures such as RAU/MME and TAU/SGSN interactions. While
upgrading a 2G/3G network to 3GPP Release 8 or later will provide other benefits, the
reductions in signaling load between an MME and pre-R8 SGSN versus an S4-SGSN is not
that significant. The main benefit of this upgrade is in the HSS signaling load thanks to
the double registration mechanisms in the EPC. Mobility Management contexts are kept
in both MME and SGSN when the UE moves between GERAN/UTRAN and E-UTRAN
even if ISR is not activated.

Idle state Signaling Reduction (ISR) is a feature in Release 8 that aims at reducing the
frequency of TAU and RAU caused by UEs reselecting between E-UTRAN and GERAN/
UTRAN. The activation of ISR can reduce the number of messages processed within
the packet core (SGSN, MME) by 50 percent due to the idle mobility of LTE subscribers
between UTRAN and Evolved Packet System (EPS). However, ISR does introduce an
extra message load in other parts of the mobile network by systematically triggering
a paging procedure in both LTE and 3G networks. This extra paging load due to LTE
subscribers might be significant on the RNC as compared to a reselection without ISR.
Hence, the signaling load benefits with ISR are not straightforward. The double registra-
tion in the HLR/HSS which does not require the activation of ISR already provides an
efficient way to control the signaling load due to inter-RAT mobility. Thus, the only true
benefit of ISR is in UE battery preservation.

One of the key advantages of a combined MME/SGSN is that signaling associated with
inter-RAT handovers and TA and RA updates can be internally processed and, as a result,
reduce the overall signaling load in the network. While there are moderate signaling
message reductions for TA and RA updates and inter-RAT handovers, there is no message

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

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reduction to the CONNECTED/IDLE signaling the major contributor to the overall
network signaling load. As a consequence, the reduction of signaling traffic with combined
MME/SGSN only becomes significant when LTE penetration rate is above 20 percent.

New business models defining tiered services and differentiated data packages will impact
charging systems and the resultant signaling load. Data services that require real-time
usage control (like prepaid services) are well defined by 3GPP and are currently supported
through Online Charging Systems (OCS) interoperating with a client in Gateway GPRS
Serving Node (GGSN) which provides periodic updates of charging records. With the
introduction of 3G/HSPA+ and LTE, data throughputs increase significantly which then
presents a challenge for mobile operators in the setting of optimal subscriber quota levels
within the online charging profile. The introduction of the Policy and Charging Rules
Function (PCRF) within the packet core optimizes the control plane messaging between
the GGSN/PGW and the OCS by allocating the optimal quota levels to the GGSN. The
result is an optimized control message load on the Gy interface between the GGSN/PGW
and the OCS.

INTRODUCTION
The current explosion of mobile data services affect mobile networks in several dimen-
sions. Not only does it require the expansion of data capacity (for example, per context/
bearer throughput, and number of sessions) but also in the signaling and control plane
which is experiencing a similar increase in traffic load. This is primarily due to three
related factors: Availability of new and more powerful mobile computing devices (for
example, smartphones, tablets); increasingly popular real-time social media applications;
and the changes in the behavior of subscribers who want information and interaction
immediately, whenever and wherever they are. These factors require more and more
signaling traffic in both access and core networks.

This paper examines the key signaling impacts in both the 3G and Long Term Evolution
(LTE) packet core networks. It provides analysis of smart devices and the variation in
signaling loads generated. The 3G Radio Resource Control (RRC) states are reviewed as
to how the varied states in this architecture contribute to the signaling load. This is con-
trasted with LTE which simplifies both the network architecture and the RRC states, but
in so doing increases the network signaling traffic in the core for the following reasons:
Dedicated control plane element in the EPC architecture
Mobility in 3GPP multi-standard radio access networks

Idle Mode Signaling (ISR) is being proposed in the standards as one method to reduce
this inter-radio access technology signaling. In addition, Alcatel-Lucent has developed
paging and tracking area enhancements that further reduce signaling.

Finally, control plane messaging is also briefly touched. Mobile operators should
pay attention to the control plane impact of new business models with tiered services
and differentiated packages have on their charging system and the message load for
these updates.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

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 ALWAYS-ON SMARTPHONES
The smartphone phenomenon
The growth rate of smartphones in wireless networks has been nothing short of phenomenal.
According to Ovum[1], Smartphone shipments will grow by 32 percent between 2009
and 2010 against the backdrop of a 6 percent rise during the same period in the total mobile
phone market. In 2009 the smartphone market accounted for 16 percent (up from 11 percent
in 2008) of the total mobile phone market. Ovum expects this to grow at a Compound
Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.7 percent between 2009 and 2015, and to account for
39 percent of the wider market in 2015, reaching volumes of 573.8 million units.

Figure 1. Smartphone penetration in developed markets: 20062013.

80%
SMARTPHONE PENETRATION OF POPULATION

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011E 2012E 2013E

Western Europe North America

Source: WCIS. Gartner Group

In the U.S., where the iPhone was first introduced, the ratio of smartphones with touch
screens as compared to total mobile handsets is even greater. In IDCs U.S. Mobile
Internet Over Handset 20102014 Forecast: A Touch Screen Smartphone-Driven Market,
July 2010, smartphones (with and without touch screens) made up over 68 percent of the
mobile handset market in 2009 with over 63 million users. By 2014, IDC estimates that
smartphones will make up over 90 percent of the U.S. mobile handset market with over
193 million users.

Smartphone applications
The sheer increase in processing power together with high-resolution screens and user-
friendly interface has enabled the smartphone to become the primary device for many
subscribers for Web access and a range of real-time applications. The data usage for LTE
enabled smartphones is projected to increase from 700 MB per month in 2010 to over
2.5 GB per month by 2015 with the dominant application being video streaming based
on the projected usage evolution from current high-end data service behavior. In current
3G/HSPA+ networks the average monthly data smartphone user averages between 330 MB
to 440 MB per month.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

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Smartphone network signaling impacts
As smartphones proliferate, not only has the bandwidth of user data exploded but also
the amount of signaling traffic generated on the network has increased significantly.
Some measurements of the amount of signaling traffic in mobile networks show an
increase by 30 percent to 50 percent over the growth of user data traffic. This increase
in signaling is illustrated in Figure 2 where signaling events (messages) between the UE
and the network are required each time a packet stream is either transmitted or received
regardless of the amount of actual data (bandwidth) delivered. Some applications require
a constant level of connectivity even though they may transmit little packet data.

Figure 2. User equipment affects on air, signaling and data plane

Idle

Idle

Idle

Idle

Idle

Idle
Active airtime

Signaling events

Packet stream

TIME

There are several reasons why smartphones generate higher network signaling loads:
Smartphones applications drive higher busy hour call attempts (BHCAs) as users
find more applications to use on their devices, and thus connect to the network more
frequently.
Proprietary Fast Dormancy: 3G smartphones often connect/disconnect (that is, more
frequent Radio Resource Control state changes) to the network after data is transmitted
to conserve battery life. These RRC state changes vary among devices with some
handset manufacturers implementing non-standard rapid disconnect signaling procedures
after the data is sent to quickly move to an idle state and conserve power. However, the
network may not be able to quickly react to these changes in state until timers expire.
Longer connection times lead to more handoffs between cells.
Longer connection times also lead to more retransmissions as users move between
cells and air interface conditions vary.
Social networking or location-based applications require keep alive or heartbeat
messaging as often as one update per minute.
Push-based applications such as e-mail frequently signal to the network to set up
and transmit as new mail is received.

Analysis of smartphone impacts on mobile networks

Alcatel-Lucent 2G/3G and LTE wireless networks are deployed throughout the world
and in some of the largest Tier 1 operator networks. Some of these networks have been
studied using sophisticated cell site and network analysis tools such as the 9900 Wireless
Network Guardian (WNG) to determine the signaling impacts of various devices on the
network. The graph in Figure 3 shows various wireless devices and the data call signaling
load generated per unit of data from a number of network operators in North America in
2Q-2011. It shows that the signaling load generated by device type can vary significantly
with some device brands generating 5 to 8 times as much signaling load as other smartphones.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

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Figure 3. Signaling events (call attempts) per MB user (data) traffic

SIGNALING PER MB

Other 11

Tablets 7

Other smartphones 18

Hotspot 2

iPhone 8

Feature phone 16

M2M 26

Data cards 5

BlackBerry 49

Android 16

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Further analysis of the same set of data over the same period shows that air time efficiency
(that is, the amount of time a UE is utilizing air resources per megabyte transmitted) can
vary significantly. Figure 4 shows that air cards are the most efficient in their air time usage
as compared to other smartphone devices.

Figure 4. Air time usage per MB transmitted

AIRTIME (SECONDS) PER MB

Other 194

Tablets 145

Other smartphones 199

Hotspot 53

iPhone 182

Feature phone 246

M2M 522

Data cards 117

BlackBerry 509

Android 173

0 100 200 300 400 500 600

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

When comparing the signaling load that smartphones and personal computers with air
cards generate, it can be seen in Figure 5 that smartphones generate over 30 percent
more messaging than do PCs with air cards. Further analysis of the breakdown in the
signaling load shows that connection management for service requests and paging are
the dominant signaling messaging events for smartphones.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

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Figure 5. Personal computer with air card versus smartphone signaling message load

500

400
MESSAGES/USER/HOUR

300

200

100

0
PC Smartphone

Paging
Active mobility Idle mobility
Attach/detach Connect/release

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

The mobile device industry and mobile operators now realize that there is a significant
and growing problem with the signaling traffic load generated by smartphones and that
steps need to be taken both in the standards and with smartphone vendors to address
these signaling impacts. In 3GPP Release 8, newly standardized Fast Dormancy features
are being implemented in devices; for example, in the Apple iOS4.2 to improve connected
to idle transitions while improving battery life.

ALWAYS-ON SIGNALING IMPACT

ON THE 3G AND LTE NETWORK
UTRAN Radio Resource Control impact
As shown in the previous section, smartphones are loading the network in a new way.
Primarily, they maintain their IP connectivity on for longer periods by sending keep-alive
messages to application servers. On the other hand, the control of radio resources by the
network remains highly dynamic, making mobile phones switching from CONNECTED to
IDLE state after the data transfer is completed.

On the network side, the transition to idle state releases resources as soon as possible
for an efficient radio resource management, optimizing the overall cell capacity. On the
UE side, this transition mainly improves the battery life time, at the expense of a slower
response time at the next network reconnection.

Some smartphone manufacturers used to optimize battery life time by forcing the terminal
to IDLE state immediately after the end of the data transfer combined with applications
that send regular keep-alive messages. This causes a significant number of IDLE to
CONNECTED transitions per smartphone, which might generate a signaling overload
in the RNCs and SGSNs.

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Technical principle
To understand how smartphones impact the signaling load on a 3G/HSPA+ network,
a brief review of the standards is necessary. The 3GPP TS25.331, defines the Radio
Resource Connection (RRC) protocol for UTRAN. Figure 6 shows each of the five differ-
ent connected states of a UE within the 3G/UTRA and the state transitions between them.

Cell_DCH (Cell Dedicated Channel) state is when the UE is fully CONNECTED to the net-
work with dedicated air interface data channels in both downlink (HSDPA) and uplink
(HSPA) to transmit and receive data. When the UE is in the Cell_DCH state it is known
by the network to be associated with a specific cell and it requires no additional signaling
messages or set-up time for connection establishment. In Cell_DCH, UE consumes the
most battery power.

Conversely, in the IDLE state the UE is essentially dormant, consuming no air interface
resource and is only known to the RA, and the UE consumes the least battery power.

Figure 6. UTRAN Radio Resource Control trade-off between battery life, connection set-up times and signaling load

SIGNALING MSG.
UTRAN RRC CONNECTED STATES
UE GEO. UE POWER FOR RECONNECT CONNECT
INFO. CONSUMPTION (RNC - SGSN) SET-UP TIME
Release RRC Establish RRC
connection CELL_DCH connection
CELL 100 X IDLE 0-0 0

CELL_FACH
OUT OF IN CELL 40 x IDLE 4-0 0.6 S
SERVICE SERVICE (to Cell_DCH)

CELL_PCH
OUT OF IN CELL < 2 x IDLE 2-0 0.3 S
SERVICE SERVICE
Fct(DRX tuning) (to Cell_FACH)
URA_PCH
OUT OF IN
URA < CELL_PCH 2-0 0.3 S
SERVICE SERVICE
Fct(Mobility) (no paging) (to Cell_FACH)
Release RRC Establish RRC
connection connection

IDLE MODE RA 1 19 - 4 2.3 S

Relative unit (to Cell_DCH)
Source: Alcatel-Lucent

There are three different RRC connected states in the 3G/UTRA network between the
Cell_DCH (Cell Dedicated Channel) CONNECTED state and the IDLE state that are
available to mobile operators.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

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Each of these intermediary RRC states from Cell_DCH to IDLE progressively reduces
the battery power consumption of the UE. In so doing it also reduces the awareness of
the UE within the network (for example, the UE/cell site/routing area relationship) and
thus requires additional signaling messages and latency in reconnecting the UE from its
current state back to the CONNECTED state to allow data transmission.

The state most frequently used is Cell_FACH (Cell Forward Access Channel) in which the
UE is known to the network RNC and shares the uplink channel with other mobile devices.
In this state the UE is known to the cell and can receive data in the downlink direction.

It requires only a few signaling messages to reconnect the RNC to the SGSN and requires
little time to return to Cell_DCH state. The advantage of Cell_FACH is that it conserves
UE battery power while minimizing latency.

The two other intermediary states, Cell_PCH (Paging Channel) and URA_PCH (UTRAN
Registration Area Paging Channel), are optional in 3G networks.

In the Cell_PCH state the UE is known by the RNC but has no resources dedicated to the
UE. The advantage of this state is that it consumes much less battery power, but on the
other hand, it increases signal messaging and slows down response time to return to full
Cell_DCH state.

URA_PCH is similar to Cell_PCH in that it achieves a similar objective of reducing battery

power consumption but also at the expense of network knowledge of the UEs location. In
this case, the UE location is only known to the last UTRAN Routing Area (URA).

The idle state requires about 28 to 30 signaling messages to return to Cell_DCH connected
state taking about 2 or 3 seconds while Cell_PCH only requires 4 and about half a second
to become fully active.

E-UTRAN Radio Resource Control enhancements

Technical principle
The 3GPP TS36.331 defines the Radio Resource Connection (RRC) protocol for LTE networks.
Figure 7 shows that in LTE there are only two RRC states a UE can be in, either RRC_IDLE
or RRC_CONNECTED. In RRC_IDLE state there is no signaling radio bearer established,
meaning that there is no RRC connection and the UE is only known to the network at the
Tracking Area (TA) level and battery life is conserved most. However, in LTE there are
fewer signaling messages and the latency in transitioning from IDLE to CONNECTED is
less than in UTRAN.

In RRC_CONNECTED state there is a signaling radio bearer (SRB) established and are
used to transmit RRC and Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling messages. Discontinuous
Reception (DRX) is a method used within the radio network to power down the UE
transceivers to conserve battery based upon low activity or no activity by the UE.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

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Figure 7. E-UTRAN Radio Resource Control trade-off between battery life, connection set-up times and signaling load

LTE
SIGNALING MSG.
ECM-CONNECTED UE GEO. UE POWER FOR RECONNECT CONNECT
INFO. CONSUMPTION (eNB - MME) SET-UP TIME

NON-DRX CELL 100 X IDLE 0-0 0

MAC RRC connection

signaling establish
Fct(DRX cycle)
400 ms (DL)
DRX CELL < 2 x IDLE 2-0
20 ms (UL)
Fct(DRX cycle)

RRC connection
release

Fct(Paging Cycle) 1 s
100 ms+PC/2 (DL)
ECM-IDLE TA LIST 1 9-5
100 ms (UL)
Fct(Paging Cycle)
Relative unit

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Thus, the key differences between 3G and LTE Radio Resource Control states are:
Fewer intermediary states between CONNECTED and IDLE for LTE
Fewer signaling messages to return to CONNECTED and IDLE
A shorter connection set-up time for LTE

Figure 8 illustrates a UE leaving the CONNECTED state when the Discontinuous

Reception (DRX) mode is activated in the cell. At the end of the data transfer an inactiv-
ity timer is first started to cope with possible DL and UL pending packets that may be
sent or received further to the last sent or received packet. At the end of this timer, the
UE enters DRX mode for short DRX cycles, then for longer DRX cycles. Once the DRX
cycles are over, the UE enters the IDLE state.

Figure 8. MAC DRX management in E-UTRAN

Inactivity timer
ON ON ON
Connected non-DRX

OFF OFF OFF

Connected DRX

Idle state

UE activity

Short DRX cycles Long DRX cycles

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

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Alcatel-Lucent E-UTRAN Signaling Reductions
The Alcatel-Lucent strategy is to rely on the inactivity timer in the first LTE releases
where the network signaling load is not a big concern until a significant LTE device
penetration rate is reached. DRX mode is being implemented to enhance the power
saving together with minimizing the network signaling load.

The fast dormancy feature was initially introduced in 3G networks. The interest for LTE
is lower since the UE reports its current data buffer to the network. This feature has not
been standardized in 3GPP yet and a new working item has now been opened in 3GPP
Release 11. Depending on the 3GPP evolution and the market interest, fast dormancy is
a feature candidate on the product roadmap to further improve UE power savings.

CONTROL PLANE IMPACT

OF LTE ARCHITECTURE

A flat IP architecture
With LTE, the existing 2G/3G circuit and packet network migrates from a hierarchical,
multi-protocol architecture to a flatter, all-IP network architecture. These changes have
a significant impact on the network signaling and control planes.

In LTE (3GPP R8), there is no longer a Base Station Controller (BSC)/RNC network
element in the architecture. These 2G/3G functions are distributed to the LTE eNodeB
and MME for signaling/control, and to the SGW for the user traffic. This architectural
change simplifies the network design and creates a flatter, more efficient network, but
in so doing significantly increases the load placed upon the packet core control plane to
support this direct connectivity between the E-UTRAN and the MME.

As a consequence of this flatter architecture, the average number of messages per

subscriber attached to MME is multiplied by a factor 3 or 4 compared to the equivalent
number per 2G/3G subscriber attached to SGSN. As shown in Figure 9, the traffic model
of LTE subscriber in MME is significantly different from the call model of 2G/3G sub-
scribers in SGSN.

Regarding MME, paging requests and handovers contribute significantly to increase

the signaling load. Moreover, MME is more exposed to always-on applications (refer
to 2) than SGSN. LTE technology ensures an always-on connectivity to all users and
is expected to attract mainly high-end data users equipped with the latest generation
of smartphones from the very beginning.

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Figure 9. MME signaling message distribution

MME SIGNALING MESSAGES/SAU/BH

1%
3%
8%
23%

Handover
Mobility in idle (TAU, RAU)
Attach/detach
Paging
13% Service request + lu release
Session management
52%

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Figure 10. SGSN signaling message distribution

SGSN SIGNALING MESSAGES/SAU/BH

1%
6%
13%
6%

Paging
Mobility in idle (RAU)
Attach/detach
SMS
39% 35%
Service request + lu release
Session management

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Note: The figures above are based on traffic model assuming an average 16 BHCA per LTE
subscriber and 1 BHCA per 2G/3G subscriber. The Tracking Area size is limited to 15 eNBs.

Signaling load distribution in the EPC

The analysis of the messaging events in Figure 10 shows that the main contributor to the
signaling load in the EPC is the service request connection/release events that primarily
affect the eNB and the MME. It should be noted that in LTE, the PGW is not informed of
the static bearer connection/release because it is the responsibility of the SGW in the role
of a mobility anchor. The second main factor of signaling load is the paging procedure.
Handovers and Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedures are the third contributor of the
processing load. Although they have a higher message count, they occur at a lower rate.

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 This analysis is valid for a small Tracking Area (15 eNBs is assumed). As the TA size is
increased, the paging load becomes the most significant contributor.

Finally, it is important to highlight that the messages exchanged over the charging
interfaces (Gy or Ga) are not taken into account in the analysis presented here.

Advanced paging capabilities

The 3GPP standards have defined a number of paging methods to reduce the signaling
load in the network. These are briefly discussed in this section.

Figure 11 clearly shows that paging and tracking area updates on the MME are significant
contributors to the network signaling load, and therefore efforts should be made to mini-
mize their occurrence. A simple optimization technique would be to reduce the tracking
area size to a few eNBs as compared to the common practice in 2G/3G networks where
operators generally assign one routing area (RA) per RNC (equivalent to 100 to 200 NBs).
However, this increases the number of TAs and potentially the signaling load due to
Tracking Area Updates. This makes optimizing signaling on the MME very challenging
unless more advance techniques are used.

Figure 11. Signaling message load distribution in LTE EPC

350

300
MESSAGES/USER/BUSY HOUR

250

200

150

100

50

0
MME SGW PGW

Handover Paging Service request + lu release

Attach/detach Session management Mobility in idle (TA, RA)

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Note: The figures above are based on a traffic model assuming an average 16 BHCA per LTE
subscriber and 1 BHCA per 2G/3G subscriber. The Tracking Area size is limited to 15 eNBs.

The Alcatel-Lucent 9471 WMM provides a variety of sophisticated paging algorithms

which reduce the amount of paging that occurs in the network. The 9471 WMM as an
MME currently supports the following paging methods:
Page only the last seen eNodeB
Page all the eNodeBs of the last seen TA
Page all the eNodeBs of the TA list (always including last seen TA)

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
13
Figure 12 shows that paging the last eNodeB first often results in UE location success
which then reduces the overall signaling load on the MME and potentially some CAPEX
reduction. When compared to legacy 2G/3G paging strategies these advanced methods
of the 9471 WMM significantly reduce the amount of paging required. For example, MME
CAPEX can be reduced by 20 percent if the probability of successful paging in last seen
eNB is around 50 percent assuming TA size equals 30 eNBs.

Figure 12. MME CAPEX reductions with improved paging

1.2

1.0

0.8
MME CAPEX

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

PROBABILITY SUCCESS PAGING IN LAST SEEN eNB

TA size = 120 TA size = 60 TA size = 30 TA size = 15

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Beyond the advanced paging methods available on the 9471 WMM MME, Alcatel-Lucent
is working within the 3GPP standards for the SGW to be able to notify the MME/S4-SGSN
with priority levels associated with a Downlink Data Notification (DDN) request (message
asking the MME/S4-SGSN to page an UE due to an incoming packet reception at the SGW).
The MME/S4-SGSN may use the QoS level (QCI-ARP value) of the bearer to decide upon
the paging strategy. As an example, if there is an urgent request for service (for example,
voice service received on QCI=5), it is imperative that the delay be minimized and
therefore paging can be started over a wide area to locate the UE. In a non-urgent case,
the goal is to optimize network load (for example, received on QCI=9) and apply a
progressive paging strategy.

Tracking area management capabilities

As previously discussed, mobile operators will look at reducing the TA size in order to
minimize the paging load in their LTE network. Reducing TA size also simplifies the
alignment between TAs and 2G or 3G Location Areas (LAs) which is prerequisite for
Circuit Switched Fallback deployment. However, implementing smaller TAs alone does
not mean that the network signaling load will be reduced. Smaller TAs may require more
signaling is due to more frequent tracking area updates (TAUs) and there is greater risk
of ping-pong signaling occurring between adjacent tracking areas as the UE moves in the
boundaries of tracking areas. The end result of smaller TAs may mean no net benefit to
either the subscriber (in improved battery life) or the operator (reduced signaling load)
unless more sophisticated methods of tracking area management are used.

The 9471 WMM provides several advanced options for the management of tracking areas
and tracking area list generation in order to reduce the network signaling load. Each of
these is covered in the following sections.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
14
Tracking area list management
The 9471 WMM provides the capability to generate tracking area lists. As shown in
Figure 13, a tracking area list is made of several to many tracking areas. The WMM
provides the UE with a TA list at either attachment or TA update. By providing a TA list
as opposed to a single TA, the UE needs only to send a TAU when it moves out of the
TA list it currently has or at the expiration of a periodic TAU timer. This reduces the
network signaling load and saves UE battery life.

By having the WMM manage TA lists as opposed to individual TAs there are a number
of signaling optimizations that can be achieved. If TA lists are set to the same size as
2G/3G Location Areas (LAs) or Routing Areas (RAs), then there is no additional paging
load expected when the UE moves from a 2G/3G coverage area to an LTE area and vice
versa. The ping-pong effects at TA boundaries can be significantly decreased and even
avoided if the TA list is refreshed at each TAU/cell update. As smartphones connect more
frequently with the network due to keep alives and instant messaging, the TA Updates
become less frequent.

All together, TA list management in the WMM is estimated to achieve as much as a

40 percent reduction in the rate of TAUs as compared to the legacy 2G/3G network.

Tracking area list generation

Static configuration of a MME tracking area list is the simplest way to generate a
TA list. It uses a basic algorithm to generate static tracking area list per UE: TA list =
TA(n) + neighbor TAs where TA(n) is the last observed tracking area and neighboring
TAs are provisioned per serving TA through the WMM operations, administration and
maintenance (OA&M) interface using the 5620 Service Aware Manager (SAM). This static
configuration of TA lists is shown in Figure 14.

Figure 13. MME tracking area list as seen by UE Figure 14. MME static tracking area list as seen by UE

TA list sent
to the UE
TA list seen
by the UE
TA(N1)

TA(N2)

TA1 TA(S)
TA2 TA(N3)

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

In addition to static TA list configuration, the 9471 WMM MME also supports the auto-
matic neighbor discovery feature which enables the dynamic configuration of TA lists
using the following algorithm: TA list = TA(n) + TA(n-1) + TA(n-2) where TA(n-1)
is the next to last seen TA and TA(n-2) is a previously observed TA when the UE is
detected by the MME to be moving in a circular pattern. Both of these TA list dynamic
configuration options are shown in Figure 15. The WMM automatically builds and
maintains the TA list, adding and removing TAs to the TA list based upon the UE move-
ments and the expiration of TA timers.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
15
Figure 15. MME tracking area list with automatic neighbor discovery

TA(n-1) TA(n-1)

TA(n) TA(n)

TA(n-2)

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Authentication period tuning

As noted previously, service requests are one of the main contributors to signaling load
in ePC. For this reason, operators should tightly control the authentication procedure
which can be triggered by the network during these service requests.

Each authentication procedure requires between two and four messages to the MME/SGSN
and potentially two more to the Home Subscriber Service (HSS). Thus, the authentication
procedure might add 10 percent extra signaling load on MME if performed systematically
during the service request procedure. The network signaling load can be reduced by
increasing the periodicity of subsequent authentications.

The authentication of the UE is invoked during the following events:

Network Attachment
TAU
UE initiated service request
Network initiated detach without power off
A table is provisioned in the MME for each procedure type to indicate the percentage
of occurrences in which the authentication frequency can be extended (for example,
10 percent for TAUs, 0 percent for UE-initiated service request, 20 percent for subsequent
attach, 20 percent for UE-initiated detach). By adjusting these authentication periods, the
network signaling load can be incrementally reduced without affecting performance.

Optimization with centralized MME pools

One of the key differences in the LTE architecture as compared to existing 3GPP GPRS
packet networks is the functional separation of the control plane from the bearer (user)
plane. This separation of functions enables independent scaling of the control and user
planes and provides flexibility in designing the ePC network architecture. For the control
plane, the MME can either be distributed regionally or deployed centrally as the latency
requirements for signaling are not as stringent as they may be for the delivery of real-
time user service.

The MME centralization reduces the number of procedures which require MME relocation.
These procedures imply more signaling traffic due to their complexity. For instance,
S1/S10-based inter-MME HO requires 12 to 14 messages versus 4 messages for X2-based.
A comparison between procedures with and without MME relocation is provided in
Figure 16.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
16
Figure 16. Network signaling event messaging due to HO and TAU

EVENT eNB MME SGW PGW PCRF HSS TOTAL

HANDOVERS
Inter-eNB HO (RRC only) 3 0 0 0 0 0 3
Network Inter-eNB HO (X2) 13 6 4 0 0 0 23
load
S1 eNB HO with MME reloc. 11 18 4 0 0 0 33
MME POOL A S1 eNB HO with SGW reloc. 13 7 12 0 0 0 33
TA UPDATES
TAU with no MME/SGW reloc. 12 6 0 0 0 0 18
Network
load TAU with SGW relocation 12 7 6 4 0 0 29
MME-1
TAU with MME relocation 24 16 4 0 4 4 52

MME-k eNB

Overlapping
pools
MME POOL B

MME-1

MME-k

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

By engineering the network with overlapping TAs and utilizing MME pooling and SGW
serving areas that favor eNodeB x2 handovers as opposed to MME or SGW relocations,
the overall network signaling load is reduced. A further engineering design simplification
uses centralized MME pools versus distributed pools.

Centralized pooling is useful when the TA size is small as it helps to control the paging
load and in that case, the mobility procedures (HO, TAU, RAU) contribute to the overall
MME load in a significant way. If the TA size is larger, then the paging load on MME will
be high and will reduce the effect of this optimization.

MOBILITY IN MULTI-STANDARD
3GPP NETWORKS
LTE deployment in overlay
Initially, dual mode LTE devices will frequently roam between LTE and 3G networks
to compensate for limited LTE coverage. This mobility will generate some additional
signaling due to procedures like RAU with MME interaction, TAU with SGSN interaction,
and inter-RAT handovers.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
17
 3GPP describes two options for the interworking between LTE and 2G/3G networks.
End users will experience the same service interruption with both options which is due
mainly to the reconfiguration of radio resources on the air interface. However, the option
based on using an updated S4-SGSN does offer some advantages for reducing the signal-
ing load which is presented in the following section.

The occurrence of mobility events between LTE and 3G networks highly depends on
the LTE coverage (that is, coverage ratio, number of coverage holes). A method to
quantify the amount of Tracking Area Updates a user could experience can be found
in Mitigating Signaling Overhead from Multi-mode Mobile Terminals[2], Section B
Analysis of overlay. Some results from this analysis are provided in Figure 17.

Figure 17. TAU rate versus LTE coverage

10

8
TAU RATE PER UE (PER HOUR)

1
0 20 40 60 80 100

NUMBER OF COVERAGE HOLES

With ISR Without ISR (=0.2) Without ISR (=0.4)

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Where:
Alpha = is the fraction of the total area of all LTE coverage holes over the total
3G/LTE coverage area without the use of ISR
X axis = the number of coverage holes over the total 3G/LTE coverage area
Y axis = the number of TAUs per UE per hour

For instance, a LTE coverage ratio of 60 percent and 40 coverage holes will correspond
to a call model with 5 TAU/UE/hour.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
18
Interworking between LTE and 2G/3G networks
The following sections compare how the inter-RAT mobility affects the signaling load
for the following three different options:
Seamless mobility based on interoperations with Gn/Gp SGSN
Seamless mobility based on interoperations with S4-SGSN
Seamless mobility based on interoperations with S4-SGSN combined with Idle Mode
Signaling Reduction

In the above use case where the existing GPRS/Universal Mobile Telecommunications
Service (UMTS) packet core is based on Gn/Gp interfaces, the inter-RAT function will
be provided primarily by the PGW/GGSN and MME as shown in Figure 18 below:

Figure 18. Interworking with Gn/Gp (pre-R8) SGSN and LTE network

2G/3G NETWORK

HLR

BTS/NB BSC/ 2G/3G GGSN

RNC SGSN

Gn Gn Gr Gn/Gp

9471 WMM HLR/HSS 5780 DSC

MME PCRF

eNB

7750 SR 7750 SR
LTE OVERLAY (SGW) PGW/GGSN

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

The 7750 SR MG PGW/GGSN appears as a 2G/3G GGSN toward the SGSN/RNC providing:
Termination of Gn/Gp interfaces toward SGSN/RNC
IP anchor for UE regardless of which access network the user initially attaches from
Support for both non-direct and direct tunnel

For 3GPP Rel-8 interworking between EPC and GPRS/UMTS packet cores, there are three
key reference points S3, S4 and S12 to provide signaling and user plane interactions
as shown in Figure 19.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
19
Figure 19. Interworking with S4 (post-R8) SGSN and LTE network

2G/3G NETWORK

Gb/lu-PS

BTS/NB BSC/ SGSN

RNC
S3 Gr/S6d

S12 S6a

9471 WMM HLR/HSS 5780 DSC

MME PCRF
S4

eNB

7750 SR 7750 SR
(SGW) (PGW)
LTE OVERLAY

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

In this scenario, the SGSN will have been upgraded to 3GPP Release 8 and supports the
required S4 and S3 interfaces. The key benefits of an R8-SGSN and a R8 packet core are
that it becomes a single, converged core to support 2G/3G and LTE.

S4-SGSN is a hybrid node combining the functions of a 2G/3G SGSN together with support-
ing the LTE evolved packet core architecture and manages the 1:1 mapping between PDP
context and EPS bearers. In so doing it supports the S4 interface between it and the Serving
Gateway (SGW) providing both the user plane traffic and Generic Tunneling Protocol (GTP)
tunneling. When using Direct Tunneling the R8-SGSN also supports the S12 control plane
interface to the SGW to establish the GTP tunnel for direct user plane traffic from the RNC
to the SGW.

SGW acts as the mobility anchor for inter-3GPP mobility by terminating the S4 and S12
interfaces, which are based on GTPv2-C protocol. PGW/GGSN is the IP anchor for UE
regardless of which access network the user initially attaches from. During handover, the
MME and SGW will interact with the SGSN through the S3 and S4 interfaces in a similar
manner to an intra E-UTRAN handover.

Optimization with S4-SGSN

S4-SGSN further reduces the signaling load in the network thanks to the following features:
Idle mode Signaling Reduction (ISR) which aims at reducing the frequency of TAU
and RAU caused by UEs reselecting between E-UTRAN and GERAN/UTRAN
Double registration in EPC (mandatory from 3GPP Rel-8):
The Mobility Management contexts are kept in both MME and SGSN when the
UE moves between GERAN/UTRAN and E-UTRAN even if ISR is not activated.
The HSS keeps MME and SGSN addresses when the UE moves between GERAN/
UTRAN and E-UTRAN even if ISR is not activated. HSS/HLR does not need to
receive an update location once the UE has been attached over an MME/S4-SGSN.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
20
 When required, the update location is optimized (no more required to send Insert
Data/Acknowledge messages).
This is not available for Gn/Gp SGSN: At a move to MME, the SGSN contexts are
deleted by HSS/HLR.

Figure 20 shows the signaling message benefits for RA and TA updates as an S4-SGSN
as compared to Gn/Gp SGSN.

Figure 20. S4-SGSN TAU/RAU messaging improvements

GGSN/ HLR/ DELTA DELTA

EVENT MME SGSN SGW PGW HSS TOTAL IN MSG IN %
WITH Gn-SGSN
MME-to-SGSN RA update 5 12 2 2 6 27 0 0
SGSN-to-MME TA update 10 5 4 2 6 27 0 0
WITH S4-SGSN (UE not known by target SGSN/MME)
Network MME-to-SGSN RA update -
load 3 10 2 0 4 19 -8 -30
without SGW change

SGSN-to-MME TA update 10 5 2 0 4 21 -6 -22

WITH S4-SGSN (UE known by target SGSN/MME)
MME-to-SGSN RA update -
without SGW change 3 8 2 0 0 13 -14 -52

SGSN-to-MME TA update 8 3 2 0 0 13 -14 -52

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Note that the signaling load reductions on MME or SGSN with S4-SGSN is not that
significant with just a small reduction in the number of messages for TA and RA updates.
The main reduction on the signaling load is expected on HSS, which is shown on the
following graph (Figure 21) for various LTE penetration ratios.

Figure 21. HLR/HSS signaling load based upon LTE uptake

HLR/HSS SIGNALING EVOLUTION

-10
SIGNALING REDUCTION (%)

-20

-30

-40

-50

-60

-70

-80

-90
1 2 3 4 5

NUMBER OF RA/TA UPDATES

LTE penetration ratio = 10%

LTE penetration ratio = 30% LTE penetration ratio = 20%
HLR/HSS LTE-ONLY LTE penetration ratio = 40%

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

The signaling reduction is significant on a new HSS/HLR LTE fully dedicated to LTE
users (curve HLR/HSS LTE).

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
21
When HSS/HLR is shared by 2G/3G and LTE networks (curve HLR/HSS 2G/3G/LTE
5 percent), it appears less significant because the optimization might be relevant for a
small subset of LTE users among a large subscriber base; for example, the reduction is
around 10 percent if the LTE coverage is good.

In summary, the use of S4-SGSN is an option to consider when LTE penetration ratio is
above 10 percent, because it can decrease the signaling load toward HSS/HLR generated
by the mobility between LTE and 3G networks.

Idle mode signaling reduction

Technical principle
Idle mode signaling reduction (ISR) is a feature in 3GPP Release 8 that aims to reduce
the signaling between the UE and then the network, as well as between E-UTRAN
and GERAN/UTRAN. This feature does this by reducing the frequency of TAU and
RAU procedures as the UE roams between LTE and 2G/3G networks that are operated
together. ISR requires additional functionality in both the UE as well as the LTE and
2G/3G network. The SGSN must be upgraded to Release 8 and the MME, HSS and the
SGW all must support this feature in order for it to be activated. In ISR mode, the UE
will be simultaneously registered on both the MME and the SGSN and will select cells in
both radio technologies. When in IDLE state, the UE can reselect between the E-UTRAN
and GERAN/UTRAN without incurring a TAU or RAU procedure as long as the UE has
not moved outside of specified registered TA list or RA. However, the benefit of ISR
comes at the expense of having to simultaneously page the UE in legacy and LTE networks
because the UE is registered in both and the network cannot determine whether the UE
is camped in a TA or RA.

As it is an ISR requirement to simultaneously connect to both legacy and LTE radio tech-
nologies, the network architecture must support a common user-plane anchor for session
and mobility management. In 3GPP R8, this common anchor is provided by the SGW.
When a packet arrives at the SGW for an idle mode UE, the S4 and the S11 reference
points are used to initiate the paging procedure in both the MME and SGSN. This means
that SGW will trigger new paging requests in UTRAN and it is this specific behavior of
SGW and its impact on UTRAN that is analyzed in the next sections.

Impact of ISR on network paging load

Alcatel-Lucent conducted an analysis of the network paging load impacts of ISR. The
following network model is used for the analysis:
RA size: 130 NBs per RA
NodeB size: 3 cells per NB
TA size: 30 eNB per TA
eNodeB size: 3 cells per eNB

One routing area per RNC is considered and the number of cells per RNC corresponds
to an average value of 390 cells. Note that this analysis does not take into account some
additional messaging which occurs when the paging process starts within an access
technology while the mobile phone has currently reselected the other one.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
22
For this analysis, the number of messages is estimated for the different network elements
based upon one network-triggered service request which initiates the paging procedure.
With ISR activated, the paging procedure is systematically triggered on both 3G and LTE
cells as explained in the previous section.

When ISR is not activated, the probability to initiate a paging procedure on either 3G
or LTE cells is assumed to be proportional to the LTE coverage.

The comparison of the paging load on the UTRAN with and without ISR is depicted in
Figure 22.

Figure 22. Paging load in UTRAN with and without ISR

PAGING LOAD IN UTRAN (RNC+NB)

1400

1200

1000
MESSAGE COUNTS

800

600

400

200

0
0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

E-UTRAN COVERAGE (%)

Without ISR ISR

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

The graph shows that the paging load in UTRAN can be significant with ISR activated.
This is because the LTE subscriber must continuously page the UTRAN to maintain
simultaneous network connectivity. Whereas, if ISR is not active, the paging procedures
are invoked only when the LTE subscriber moves into the 3G network even if the LTE
coverage is spotty. The analysis shows that the paging load due to LTE subscriber within
a 2G/3G network can be 50 percent higher with ISR activated then without for a LTE
coverage ratio of 30 percent.

Overall ISR signaling efficiencies

UTRAN paging load is not the only factor to consider in whether to implement ISR. To
make a fair assessment it is necessary to also consider that RA/TA update procedures are
reduced when ISR is activated. The number of TA/RA update procedures is a function
of the LTE coverage (coverage ratio, number of coverage holes). The more holes in LTE
coverage, the more RA/TA updates are required.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
23
Table 1 summarizes the signaling impacts on the number of RA/TA updates with and
without ISR based upon an LTE coverage ratio of 80 percent.

Table 1. ISR signaling impact analysis network model

UTRAN network coverage (%) 100 100 100 100 100
E-UTRAN network coverage (%) 80 80 80 80 80
Average number of LTE coverage holes in TA 20 40 60 80 100
Network triggered service request per LTE SEAU @ BH 2 2 2 2 2
RA/TA updates for inter-RAT without ISR 4 4.9 5.8 6.6 7.2

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

The ISR signaling efficiency is determined for each part of the network assuming a different
number of coverage holes in LTE coverage and is computed as follows: ISR gain = [Number
of messages without ISR number of message with ISR]/[Number of messages without ISR].

The ISR signaling efficiency results for different parts of the mobile networks are depicted
in Figure 23.

Figure 23. ISR signaling reduction

ISR EFFICIENCY
100

50

0
GAIN (%)

-50

-100

-150
20 40 60 80

NP = AVERAGE NUMBER OF HOLES IN THE TA

E-UTRAN (eNB) Packet core (SGSN+MME) UTRAN (RNC) Overall network UTRAN (NODE-B)

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

The graph shows that with ISR there are parts of the combined LTE and 2G/3G network
that have signaling efficiency gains (reduced signaling load) and parts of the network
that can experience signaling efficiency losses (increases in signaling load). In the packet
core (SGSN, MME) the activation of ISR can reduce by over 50 percent the number of
messages processed due to the idle mobility of LTE subscribers between UTRAN and EPS.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
24
However, ISR does introduce an extra message load in other parts of the mobile network by
triggering a systematic paging procedure in both LTE and 3G networks. This extra paging
load due to LTE subscribers could be significant on an RNC as compared to a situation
without ISR. The ISR efficiency will decrease further as the paging rate increases in the
network because of a higher LTE penetration ratio or a higher paging rate per subscriber.

In conclusion, the signaling reduction benefit with ISR is not straightforward. The double
registration in HLR/HSS which does not require the activation of ISR already provides an
efficient way to control the signaling load due to inter-RAT mobility.

Combined SGSN/MME
One of the key advantages of a combined MME/SGSN is that signaling associated with
inter-RAT handovers and TA and RA updates can be internally processed and, as a
result, reduce the overall signaling load in the network. Table 2 presents the expected
signaling load reductions of a combined MME/SGSN. While there are moderate signaling
message reductions for TA and RA updates and inter-RAT handovers, there is no message
reduction to the connected/idle signaling the major contributor to the overall network
signaling load.

Table 2. Expected signaling reductions in combined SGSN/MME

Non-combined

SUB- COMBINED DELTA DELTA

EVENT MME SGSN TOTAL MME/SGSN IN MSG IN % COMMENTS
ATTACH/DETACH
Application only if the UE was previously attached in
Attach from EUTRAN 17 4 21 19 -2 -10 S4-SGSN. Gain in identification request/response and
update location
Application only if the UE was previously attached
Attach from UTRAN 4 13 17 15 -2 -12 in MME. Gain in identification request/response and
update location
Detach from EUTRAN 8 4 12 10 -2 -17 Gain only if ISR in ON
Detach from UTRAN 4 8 12 10 -2 -17 Gain only if ISR in ON
TA/RA UPDATES
MME-to-SGSN RA update 5 15 20 13 -7 -35 Context exchanges + no update location (w/o relocation)
SGSN-to-MME TA update 10 5 15 8 -7 -47 Context exchanges + no update location (w/o relocation)
HANDOVERS
No SGW relocation assumed. Gain in Forward
EUTRAN-to-UTRAN HO 12 8 20 16 -4 -20
Relocation messages
No SGW relocation assumed. Gain in Forward
UTRAN-to-EUTRAN HO 8 12 20 16 -4 -20 Relocation messages

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
25
 An estimation of the reduction on MME/SGSN signaling load is provided as shown in
Figure 24.

Figure 24. MME/SGSN signaling reduction

COMBINED MME/SGSN SIGNALING REDUCTION

-2
SIGNALING REDUCTION (%)

-4

-6

-8

-10

-12

-14

-16

-18
1 2 3 4 5 6

NUMBER OF RA/TA UPDATES

LTE penetration ratio = 10%

LTE penetration ratio = 30% LTE penetration ratio = 20%
LTE penetration ratio = 50% LTE penetration ratio = 40%

Source: Alcatel-Lucent

It shows that the reduction of signaling traffic is only significant when the LTE penetration
ratio is above 20 percent and LTE coverage is still limited. However, this would not correspond
to a realistic deployment as both LTE penetration ratios and coverage would be expected to
exceed these levels. It should also be noted that the combined MME/SGSN can also save static
memory by optimizing the number of contexts of LTE subscribers in a common VLR.

CHARGING IMPACT OF
NEW BUSINESS MODELS
Optimization of real-time usage control with PCRF
Problem statement
In mobile networks, services that require real-time usage controls such as prepaid
services are offered based on well-defined mechanisms by 3GPP.

Prepaid services are supported through Online Charging Systems (OCS) which interoperate
with a client in the GGSN as follows:
1. During the subscriber session establishment (PDP context), the session is associated
with a predefined online charging profile that includes a specific data quota (for example,
10 MB of downstream traffic).
2. The GGSN keeps track of the subscriber volume and/or time usage in the network
during the session life time.
3. When the GGSN detects that the quota has been exhausted, the GGSN contacts the
OCS to request renewal of the quota.
4. If the subscriber still has credit available, the OCS accepts the request and the GGSN
allows the subscriber to continue using the service until the new quota is exhausted.
In the case where no credit is left, the OCS refuses to request and the GGSN blocks
subsequent subscriber traffic.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
26
 With the introduction of new radio access technologies like 3G/HSPA and LTE, subscriber
data consumption is increasing by one or two orders of magnitude. This has made the
setting of an optimal quota allotment in the online charging profile a challenge for mobile
operators which can be seen in the two examples shown in Figure 25.

Figure 25. Signalling effects due to differences in charging profiles

GPRS-OPTIMIZED QUOTA (10 MB) 3G-OPTIMIZED QUOTA (200 MB)

3G UE 3G UE
BANDWIDTH (KB/S)

BANDWIDTH (KB/S)
GPRS UE GPRS UE

Time Time

CREDIT RENEWAL REQUEST CREDIT RENEWAL REQUEST

If the quota value is adjusted to GPRS
access (~100 kb/s), a subscriber accessing
through a 3G RAN is able to quickly
consume the allocated quota by the GGSN
(for example, through a 2 Mb/s access, the
subscriber can transfer 10 MB in less than
one minute), and consequently, result in
dramatic load in the interface between
the GGSN and the OCS when the 3G RAN
coverage increases in the network.
If the quota value is adjusted to 3G access,
then subscribers using GPRS access take
several hours of continuous use before
the quota allocated by the GGSN can be
completely consumed, losing the accurate
subscriber usage tracking.

Alcatel-Lucent solution
It is possible to assign an appropriate volume quota to the PDP context, including during a
handover from one radio access technology to another, based on the following capabilities
of the mobile packet core:
The 7750 SR GGSN provides the RAT (Radio Access Type) information received
from the SGSN to the 5780 DSC (PCRF).
The GGSN generates event notifications based upon RAT update triggers.
The PCRF uses the RAT information to select the appropriate predefined PCC rule
which includes the Rating group that defines the OCS volume quota.

Thus, the PCRF enables control plane optimization between the GGSN and the OCS by
selecting the optimal quota allotment to the GGSN based upon the RAT. For example, if
the subscriber is connected to an LTE network the volume quota may be 10 GB, but when
the subscriber moves to a 3G coverage area the appropriate volume quota may be 200 MB.

Table 3. Charging profile based upon Radio Access Type

Radio Access Type OCS profile (Volume quota)

GPRS (100 kb/s) 10 MB
HSPDA (2 Mb/s) 200 MB
LTE (100 Mb/s) 10 GB

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
27
The result of using the PCRF to determine an appropriate OCS profile selection based
upon RAT type is the optimal load in the Gy interface between the GGSN and the OCS
as presented in Figure 26.

Figure 26. PCRF predefined quota

PCRF-DEFINED QUOTA

3G UE
BANDWIDTH (KB/S)

GPRS UE

Time

CREDIT RENEWAL REQUEST

CONCLUSIONS
Mobile data applications are evolving from SMS and rudimentary web browsing to
mobile broadband, IM, social media, video streaming, full web (with or without Flash)
browsing and even person-to-person multimedia. As a result, operators are faced with an
exponential rise in network signaling and control traffic that is necessary to support the
end-user devices-related information on connectivity and mobility. This leads to recurrent
network capacity expansions especially in the packet core, requiring costly hardware/
software upgrades, operational complexity and higher energy costs.

Alcatel-Lucent is strongly focused on the signaling traffic optimization in its 3G/LTE

mobile solutions. The high-performance, scalable Alcatel-Lucent 9471 Wireless Mobile
Manager (WMM) (SGSN, MME) is designed to support the significant increase in signal-
ing and control due to the changes in user behavior, new applications and the migration
to the flat mobile network architecture. It is currently deployed as an MME in Alcatel-
Lucents LTE packet core solution and is managing the signaling traffic in some of the
largest LTE subscriber networks in the world.

As was shown in the smartphone analysis, it is important for operators to periodically

collect wireless network intelligence on devices, applications and trends in mobile
networks to assist them in managing the signaling load. The Alcatel-Lucent 9900
Wireless Network Guardian (WNG) is designed to detect behaviors and identify trends
that threaten the performance of wireless data networks and the quality of experience
(QoE) of mobile subscribers. It provides visibility into subscriber experience, network
performance and problem root cause analysis. With the popularity of the Android and
its open operating system, the mobile industry will become increasingly more exposed
to security threats just like PC users. WNG detects this new class of wireless-specific
DoS attacks targeted at the signaling layer and exhausting RF channels, and the mobile
devices that are directly or surreptitiously participating in the attacks.

Managing the Signaling Traffic in Packet Core

ALCATEL-LUCENT APPLICATION NOTE
28
REFERENCES
[1] Ovum Smartphone forecast: 20092015, Mike Leach. April 2010.
[2] Mitigating Signaling Overhead from Multi-mode Mobile Terminals, Bell Labs,
Alcatel-Lucent.

ACRONYMS
BSC Base Station Controller OCS On-line Charging System
BHCA Busy Hour Call Attempt OPEX Operational Expenditures
CAPEX Capital Expenditure PC Personal Computer
DDN Downlink Data Notification PCRF Policy and Charging Rules Function
DoS Denial of Service PDP Packet Data Protocol
DRX Discontinuous Reception PGW Packet Data Network Gateway
EPS Evolved Packet System QCI QoS Class Identifier
E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN QoE Quality of Experience
GigE Gigabit Ethernet QoS Quality of Service
GGSN Gateway GPRS Serving Node RAN Radio Access Network
GPRS General Packet Radio Service RAT Radio Access Type
HLR Home Location Register RAU Routing Area Update
HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access RNC Radio Network Controller
HSPA High Speed Packet Access RRC Radio Resource Control
HSUPA High Speed Uplink Packet Access SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node
HSS Home Subscriber Services SR Service Router
IP Internet Protocol TAU Tracking Area Update
IPD IP Division (within Alcatel-Lucent) UE User Equipment
ISR Idle Mode Signaling Reduction UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunications
LTE Long Term Evolution Service

MG Mobile Gateway UTRA Universal Terrestrial Radio Access

MME Mobility Management Entity UTRAN UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network

MSC Mobile Switching Center VLR Visitor Location Register

MSO Mobile Service Operator W-CDMA Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access

OA&M Operations, Administration, WMM Wireless Mobile Manager

Maintenance WNG Wireless Network Guardian

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Copyright 2012 Alcatel-Lucent. All rights reserved. M2011111406 (January)