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Part-2: What happens when a user performs a voice call from an
LTE/4G network? - VoLGA & CSFB What is a Mobile Network composed of

November 25, 2016 | By Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini @ Telefônica

08/28/2017
Online viewer: HTML Netmanias Blog

Future of Voice? Ask the Right Ques ons

Comments (2) We are pleased to share with you all an interesting article contributed by Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini.
05/29/2017
  Netmanias Blog
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Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini
How to contribute your PCRF is an important En ty in LTE
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Telecom Consultant at Telefônica Brasil (Telefônica | Vivo) article to Netmanias.com ! Network
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All Articles by Leonardo Zanoni Pedrini
Netmanias Technical Documents

Dedicated Bearer setup in LTE and impact

on VoLTE Precondi on
1. VoLGA - Voice over LTE via Generic Access
03/29/2017
Netmanias Blog
The first implementation alternative that emerged was the VoLGA, tried to use what are already available,
with minimal changes required. Mone zing Wi-Fi Part 1: Saving millions
on DAS

To use the infrastructure of legacy 2G/3G networks, VoLGA introduces a new network entity, the VNC 01/26/2017
(VoLGA Network Controller), which basically functions as a 2G BSC, communicating with a GSM MSC Netmanias Blog
(Mobile Switching Center) and as one 3G RNC communicating with a UMTS MSC (Mobile Switching Policy Control over the Rx Interface Using
Center). Diameter for VoLTE

01/02/2017
Netmanias Blog

Policy and Charging Rules Func on (PCRF)

in LTE EPC Core Network Technology

12/08/2016
Netmanias Technical Documents

Part-4: What happens when a user

performs a voice call from an LTE/4G
network? - SRVCC
12/02/2016
Netmanias Blog

Part-3: What happens when a user

performs a voice call from an LTE/4G
network? - VoLTE
11/28/2016
Netmanias Blog

Part-1: What happens when a user

When we have a new call (be it originated or terminated), it is managed by the MSC of legacy network. performs a voice call from an LTE/4G
network? - Overview
VNC is who mediates the voice signal and its related messages between the MSC and the LTE network.
11/23/2016
Netmanias Blog
Although it is possible to carry out the delivery of voice and SMS services to users of LTE, the VoLGA was
unsuccessful. This is because, as we have seen, exclusive investments are needed for this purpose. At the
same time however, global efforts to VoLTE increased (eg investments in IMS), and thus this alternative
eventually failed into disuse.

View All (816)

2. CSFB - Circuit Switched Fall Back 5G (85) AI (6) AR (1) ARP (3) AT&T (1) Akamai
4.5G (1)

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On one hand operators follow seeking a complete LTE infrastructure (with full IMS) to meet multimedia (1) Authentication (5) Big Data (2) Blockchain (3)
services and also purely LTE voice, this is not a topology that is available in the short and even medium C-RAN/Fronthaul (17) CDN (4) CPRI (4) Carrier
term. Ethernet (3) China (1) China Mobile (2) Cisco (1) Cloud (5)
CoMP (6) Connected Car (4) DHCP (5) Edge Computing (1)
While that reality doesn't come, we must use the legacy network when there is the need of voice and SMS FTTH (6) GSLB (1) GiGAtopia (2) Gigabit
Ericsson (2)

delivery to LTE users. Internet (19) Google (7) Google Global Cache (3)
HLS (5) HSDPA (2) HTTP Adaptive Streaming (5)
And the most common alternative to this is the CSFB (CS Fall Back), an interim solution until we have full Handover (1) Huawei (1) IEEE 802.1 (1) IP Routing (7)
support for voice over LTE.
IPTV (21) IoST (3) IoT (55) KT (42)
At CSFB scheme, whenever there is a demand for a new voice call, the LTE user is 'backed' for a CS
Korea (19) Korea ICT Market (1) Korea ICT
legacy network, assuming that this provides an overlapping coverage. In other words, with CSFB, a voice Service (13) Korea ICT Vendor (1) LG U+ (18) LSC
call is never active in LTE, but in legacy networks. (1) LTE (78) LTE-A (16) LTE-B (1) LTE-H (2)

LTE-M (3) LTE-U (4) LoRa (7) MEC (3) MPLS (2) MPTCP (3)
At the end of the call in the legacy network, the UE can re-register the LTE network. Network
MWC 2015 (8) NB-IoT (6) Netflix (2)
Protocol (21) Network Slicing (4) New Radio (9)
It goes something like this: the UE is registered (also) in the legacy network. When it got a call, the legacy Nokia (1) OSPF (2) OTT (3) PCRF (1) Platform (2) QoS (3) RCS (4)

network tells to LTE network: 'I have a call to the UE, can you ask it to come here and make the call?' Roaming (1) SD-WAN (17) SDN/NFV (71)
SIM (1) SK Broadband (2) SK Telecom (34)
To CSFB be possible, users must be using dual mode devices, i.e. able to operate both in LTE network and
Samsung (5) Security (16) Self-Driving (1) Small Cell (2)
in the legacy network.
Spectrum Sharing (2) Switching (6) TAU (2) UHD (5) VR (2)
Video Streaming (12) VoLTE (8) VoWiFi (2) Wi-
To support CSFB, a new interface is introduced: the SGs, connecting the MME to the legacy MSC.
Fi (31) YouTube (6) blockchain (1) eICIC (1) eMBMS (1)
iBeacon (1) security (1) telecoin (1) uCPE (2)

As the CSFB is currently the most widely used option by several operators, let's see some basic scenarios
of it (CSFB).

2.1. CSFB - Registration and Location

When the CSFB UE is turned on, it registers itself in the two networks: LTE and legacy network (CS). And
to allow quick transfer to the legacy network either 2G or 3G when necessary, the LTE network needs to
know the location of the UE.

For this, the MME, which tracks the location of the UE in the LTE network, continuously provides location
information to the legacy MSC, using the new SGs interface.

The set of SGs messages then supports management of mobility, paging and SMS.

2.2. CSFB - Originated Call

We will continue, and assume that the UE is initially covered by the LTE network, and that there is an
active IP connection.

When the UE decides to originate a voice call, it sends an SRM (Service Request Message) to the MME
(more specifically the ESR - Extended Service Request).

The MME checks whether the UE is CSFB capable, and notifies the eNodeB to transfer the UE to the
legacy network.

Before performing the UE transfer, the eNodeB can ask it to make RF measures on neighboring 2G/3G
network. The eNodeB then decides the best network for the UE and performs the transfer.

Once the UE camp in 2G/3G network, it starts the call procedure as usual - the UE starts the call control
procedures in legacy network.

2.3. CSFB – Call + Data Connection in LTE

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And what happens if I have an active data connection in the IP LTE network, and decide to make a voice
call?

There are two options:

The data are also transferred to the legacy network, or

The data are temporarily suspended, until I return to the LTE network.

Although the first option seems the best, we must take into account that the transmission of IP data is also
transferred: it can operate at much lower speeds (legacy systems). In addition, it may be that the legacy
networks deny the IP session due to lack of resources or for not being able to process it.

The S3 interface is used to carry out the PS session handover for 3G (in this case, the DTM - Dual
Transfer Mode must exist, but this details escapes form our theme).

There are no 4G data handover supported to 2G - in this case, the data is suspended.

The eRABs 4G are released when the UE performs the CSFB.

An important information is that the S3 is a 'new' interface between MME and SGSN on GTPCv2. And to
support it, the SGSN needs to be updated (most carriers do not want to do this without a strong
justification).

And Gn interface is already on GTPCv1, which is the native GTP version for 3G networks. So in this case
only the MME needs to be updated, and as it is a relatively new node, it is probably easier to do. Not to
mention that the new SGSN may have native support for S3.

2.4. CSFB - Terminated Call

Finally, we have the case of a terminated call for LTE user.

The call request arrives first to the MSC where the UE was previously registered.

When the MSC receives call request, it sends paging messages to the related MME via SGs interface.

This message is forwarded to the UE, which is still connected to the LTE network.

If the user accepts the call, it sends an SRM (Service Request Message) to the MME.

The then MME notifies the eNodeB to transfer the UE for the legacy network, and the eNodeB then decide
the best network for the UE to make the call.

2.5. CSFB – What happens after the end of the CS call?

We have seen that the 4G eRABs are released when the UE performs the CSFB. But what happens when
the UE ends the CS call?

About what should follow next (if the UE should return or not to LTE as soon end the call CS), there is no
specific rule.

Anyway, the main possibilities are:

The upper layers forcing the 'reselection' to LTE so that the UE enters idle mode in legacy network.

The operator send LTE 'redirection' information in RRC connection release message of legacy 3G
network after the call is finished. This will result again in reselection to LTE.

The lower layers (AS - Access Stratum in this case URRC or GRR) reselect to LTE if the reselection
criterion is satisfied. In most cases, operators have their parameters set such that the reselection to LTE
happens if there is a good LTE coverage area overlapping the legacy network.

Khan 2016-12-21 19:07:38

It is wonderful document. Even fresher can understand easily. Thanks Makers.

yangvanny 2017-07-14 02:08:37

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thanks for your sharing to the world

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