LTE Quality of Service | LTE QoS Class Identifier

This page describes LTE Quality of Service (QoS) basics, mentions GBR and non GBR LTE
bearers and QoS class identifier (QCI). It covers QCI-1, QCI-2, QCI-3, QCI-4, QCI-5, QCI-6,
QCI-7, QCI-8 and QCI-9.

LTE QoS allows both LTE compliant subscribers and services to be differentiated. Premium
subscribers can be priotized over basic subscribers. Real time services can be prioritized over
non realtime services.

As we know unloaded network will not create any problems to LTE subscribers as per as service
provision is concerned. The real challenge is when network gets congested. This is the time
when LTE QoS comes in place. As the network load will increase, prioritization determines
which subscribers and performing well and which are not performing.

Like other systems, LTE QoS also impacts admission control decisions. Connections with
guaranteed QoS require larger resources. These connections will be blocked in case of
insufficient resources.

Table-1 mentions QoS parameters associated with each LTE bearer type. QoS is applied between
UE and PDN gateway within LTE network.

LTE QoS GBR Non-GBR

QoS Class Identifier Supported Supported
Allocation and Retention Priority Supported Supported
Guaranteed Bit rate Supported
Maximum Bit rate Supported
APN Aggregate Maximum Bit rate Supported
UE Aggregate Maximum Bit rate Supported

Table-2 below represents relationship between QCI and associated set of QoS characteristics.
3GPP has adopted this to reduce both the signaling requirement and maximum no. of possible
parameter combinations.

LTE QCI-1 to QCI-9 Guaranteed Bit Rate

Resource Packet Delay Packet Error

LTE QCI Priority Example Services
Type Budget Loss Rate
-2
QCI-1 2 100ms 10 Conversational voice
live streaming of conversational
QCI-2 4 150ms
10-3 voice
GBR
QCI-3 3 50ms Real time gaming
Non conversational video(Buffered
QCI-4 5 300ms
streaming)
QCI-5 1 100ms 10-6 IMS signaling
Video (buffered streaming),TCP
QCI-6 6 300ms
based applications
Non-
Voice, video (live streaming) ,
QCI-7 GBR 7 100ms 10-3
interactive gaming
QCI-8 8 Video (Buffered streaming) , TCP
300ms 10-6
QCI-9 9 based applications

As mentioned LTE QCI determines which bearers are categorized as GBR and which as non
GBR. The priority associated with each QCI is applied when forwarding packets across the LTE
network. A priority of 1 corresponds to highest one.

Packet delay budget defines upper bound for packet delay between UE and PCEF with PDN
gateway. Average delay between eNodeB and PCEF of 20ms is assumed and rest of the delay
budget is available for RAN.

LTE QCI table-2 mentions packet error loss rate. It is defined as % of higher layer packets which
are lost during periods during when network is not congested.

LTE QoS References: 3GPP TS 36.300, 3GPP TS23.401,3GPP TS23.203

http://www.rfwireless-world.com/Tutorials/LTE-QoS.html