REVIEW PAPERS

A Review of High Speed Downlink Packet Access

for UMTS Release 5
1
Jullian U. John, 2Shamini Pillay
1
UCSI Centre for Research Excellence, 2School of Engineering, UCSI
jullianumesh@ucsi.edu.my

ABSTRACT
This paper is a review of the High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) which is an air interface standard adopted in the
Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) Release 5. UMTS is one of the 3 main standards that have been selected for the
Third Generation (3G) for mobile communications. UMTS uses a network architecture that is an upgrade of the GSM networks and
thus it can be used alongside the GSM phase2+ (GPRS) network. A brief introduction to the network structure is also included.
HSDPA provides for fast data rates of 14.4Mbps, thereby making UMTS highly competitive against rival standards. This paper
discusses some of the basic features of HSDPA including the transport channel structure, new TTI period, multi-code operations,
adaptive modulation & coding schemes, and retransmission mechanisms.
Keywords: UMTS, HSDPA, 3G

1. INTRODUCTION mainly on improving voice transmission and ensuring a smooth

handover between user cells.
REVIEW PAPERS

Third generation or 3G has become what is undoubtedly a buzz-

word among technology enthusiast, cellular users, and network
operators vying for a larger subscriber base. It promises to
revolutionize cellular communication both in terms of
technology and user content. It is highly expected that data
services will be the primary demand for cellular users. Thus huge
efforts have been undertaken by the Third Generation Partnership
Project (3GPP) to improve current standards in anticipation of
user demands. Improvements are clearly evident in the later
releases of UMTS and are presented here. The evolution to 3G
and an introduction to UMTS including its network structure are
presented. We discuss the HSDPA improvements and its
working principles. Five important aspects and features of
HSDPA are presented. HSDPA is an enhancement over previous
releases especially Release 99’ and thus some form of
comparison is provided to enable the reader to fully appreciate
the improvements. Section V concludes the discussion on
HSDPA by mentioning some of the working features that have
already been finalized for Release 6.
2. EVOLUTION OF MOBILE/CELLULAR
COMMUNICATIONS
The second generation brought with it improved voice quality in
digital form and the promise of data transfers via Short
Messaging System (SMS). The Global Systems for Mobile
Communication (GSM) was the preferred standard for much of
the world including Europe, Asia and Latin America while Code
Division Multiple Access (IS-95-CDMA) by Qualcom gained
popularity in the United States, Canada and Korea. Other formats
used included the North America Digital Cellular (NADC) and
Pacific Digital Cellular (PDC) in Japan [1].
The third generation focuses on increasing the user capacity,
ensuring faster data rates and introducing advanced Internet
applications. The three main competing standards for the 3G
systems are the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System
(UMTS – an evolution of GSM), the CDMA2000 (an evolution
of IS-95-CDMA-Code Division Multiple Access) and TD-
SCDMA (Time Division-Synchronized Code Division Multiple
Access). These standards were proposed to meet the International
Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) IMT2000 requirements for
3G systems. The network architecture for UMTS is presented in
the following section.

Since its introduction in the 1970s, mobile phones have
undergone massive changes in terms of usage and technology.
Each phase of technology was denominated a ‘generation’ and
thus mobile communication is now said to be in its third
generation (3G). Mobile phones based on the cellular networks
were introduced in the 1980s using various analogue
technologies mainly the Advanced Mobile Phone Systems
(AMPS) in America, a variant of AMPS called Total Access
Communication System (TACS) in Europe, and Nordic Mobile
Telephone (NMT) in Northern Europe and Middle East [1].
These systems were considered the first generation and focused
3. UNIVERSAL MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATION
SYSTEM-UMTS
Universal Mobile Communication System (UMTS), the
successor to the GSM, is widely used as the ‘preferred standard’
for the third generation of mobile technology. It was
conceptualized in 1998, and the first version was presented in
1999 (Release 99’). Ever since, UMTS has seen various
upgrades, and is currently in Release 6. This standard has been
deployed in almost 30 countries and supported by 60 networks
throughout much of the world [2]. UMTS architecture can be
categorized to 3 sections namely the Core Network (CN), the

34 JASA |July 2006


UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) and the
User Equipment (UE) [3].
As an evolution of GSM, the CN of UMTS has been left
relatively unchanged from that of its predecessor, the 2½
generation GSM (GSM2+) with General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) architecture. However, starting from the RAN onwards
the system is completely new and changes are apparent, from the
hardware to the protocols used.
Legend:
RNC Radio Network Controller
SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node
GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
Figure 1: UMTS Network Architecture
Unlike GSM, which was based on time division multiple
accesses (TDMA), UMTS employs a relatively new access
format called Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
(WCDMA). Users are able to access the network on a code-
sharing manner thus increasing the system’s capacity to support
more users. Each frequency is spread up to 16 codes shared by
all users. Release 5 introduced HSDPA, which can theoretically
boost the data rates from the initial 2Mbps to 14.4Mbps [4] thus
giving UMTS the edge in its competition with rival standards
such as CDMA2000 and TD-SCDMA. In practice, however, the
speeds are expected to be lower, due to changing radio
conditions, but still significantly better than existing standards.
The basic features and working principles of HSDPA are
discussed in the following sections.
4. HIGH SPEED DOWNLINK PACKET ACCESS - HSDPA
HSDPA was introduced in Release 5 of UMTS updates by the
Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), a consortium of
manufacturers developing UMTS. HSDPA employs a number of
new additions and improvements to increase downlink speeds.
4.1 New Transport Channel Structures
Release 5 specifies a fixed spread factor of 16, which allows the
Node B to transmit a total of 16 shared codes over the same
frequency. A maximum of 15 codes can be reserved for data
packet transmission in order to save sufficient resources for other
shared transmission such as control signals or retransmitted data
JASA |July 2006
REVIEW PAPERS
packets [5]. Figure 2 depicts the spread spectrum of codes used
in HSDPA.
Figure 2: Code-tree for HSDPA
The High Speed Shared Channel (HS-DSCH) is in itself an
upgrade of the Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) introduced in
REVIEW PAPERS
Release 99’. This channel is shared by all the users, and can be
spread up to 15 physical equivalent channels called HS-PDSCH
(Physical-DSCH) [5]. The HS-PDSCH channels are used to
transmit the data packets in codes over the same frequency. Each
user’s equipment (UE) has access to the HS-PDSCH but will
only decode the particular code allocated to it. The High Speed
Shared Control Channel (HS-SCCH) informs a UE 2 slots(TTI)
in advance if it has been selected for transmission. The HS-
SCCH is also used to send information regarding the coding and
modulation scheme of the incoming packet, and the Hybrid-ARQ
retransmission details [5]. Figure 3 shows the downlink channels
structure.
Figure 3: Downlink Channels in HSDPA
4.2 Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC)
Previously in Release 99’, when a user experiences a rapidly
degrading channel condition, the base transmitter station
(denominated Node B in UMTS) would increase its transmission
power to avoid packet loss during transmission. This was termed
closed loop power control for Link Adaptation [5]. In HSDPA
however, the Node B simply changes its modulation and coding
35
 REVIEW PAPERS
scheme to avoid errors. In a degrading radio channel condition,
the Node B uses Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), which
has a lower bit rate but provides a higher probability of a
successful transmission due to its fair resistance to noise
interference. In favorable radio conditions, a 16-state Quadrature
Amplitude Modulation (16QAM) [4] or even 64QAM [6] is
used, both of which provide high bit rates but are susceptible to
interference.
Figure 4: Comparison of Power Control & AMC
Shorter Transmit Time Interval (TTI) & Channel Quality
REVIEW PAPERS
Indicator (CQI)
In order to successfully implement the AMC, the Node B must
be able to track any small variations in channel quality and
quickly address the issue by changing the coding and modulation
scheme. Thus a shorter TTI of 2ms is used compared to the
initial 10ms delay proposed in Release ‘99. This allows the Node
B to verify channels conditions every 2ms (or any other
intervals) using the Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) sent by each
UE and to reschedule its transmission order to suit the channels.
The CQI is an indicator sent by each UE and informs the Node
B, the highest coding and modulation scheme that the particular
UE can support under current radio conditions [7].
4.3 Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request – HARQ
HARQ is used to reduce the number of retransmissions required.
In Release 99’ when a packet is found with error, it is flushed out
and a retransmission is requested. The retransmitted packet is
rejected if it too is found to be with an error although at a
different bit location than the first. This step is repeated until an
error-free packet is received. With HARQ however, the original
packet is saved in the UE and soft-combined (overlapped) with
the retransmitted packet prior to decoding. This allows the UE to
recover any errors on both packets without a need for another
retransmission [8]. Figure 3 presents a graphical explanation of
the HARQ. In ARQ, the UE must send an acknowledgement for
all successfully received packets via the HS-Dedicated Physical
Control Channel (HS-DPCCH) in the Uplink stream. The Node
B can be programmed with an N-window value, where it will
continue to transmit up to N-number of packets while waiting for
an acknowledgement.
36
Figure 5: Comparison of (1) Rel 99’ ARQ & (2) H-ARQ
Packet Scheduler
The packet scheduler is considered a crucial feature of the
HSDPA and to a large extent determines the system’s
throughput. It is implemented at the Node B instead of the Radio
Network Controller (RNC) as in Release 99’. This allows for
faster scheduling decisions. The packet scheduler uses special
algorithms to determine the next user to be transmitted to. The
packet scheduler works closely with all the other features of
HSDPA mentioned previously to ensure a high throughput,
minimal errors, and a high quality of service (QoS) for all users.
It also decides if the resources are allocated in a time-sharing
and/or code-sharing manner.
5. CONCLUSION
In recent tests, HSDPA has shown to fulfill the 3GPP’s ambition
of a 10Mbps data rate. It cannot be denied that HSDPA has
provided UMTS with a very strong platform from which to
challenge the rival standards. And yet more enhancements are
still expected.
At the time of this article, Release 6 of UMTS has been in
existence for roughly 2 years and was concluded (frozen) at the
end of 2004 [9]. Release 6 improves the functionality of Release
5 by introducing High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) at
the uplink channels to increase the uplink speeds thus providing
users with a more symmetrical uplink & downlink access. This
improves 2-way services such as email, video-conferencing,
Voice over IP and the likes. Other new features include
integration with WLAN, Multimedia Broadcast Multicast
Service (MBMS), and Enablers for Push-to-Talk over Cellular
(PoC) [10]. PoC is an integral part of the IP Multimedia
Subsystem (IMS) [11], which undergoes an upgrade to phase 2 in
Release 6.
HSDPA coupled with the further enhancements of Release 6 is
expected to significantly improve user experience over UMTS. A
rush of new user contents is expected to flood the market,
especially multimedia-based, ‘bandwidth-hungry’ applications.
This is further expected to cause a chain-reaction that will
continue to increase demands for higher data rates. In response to
this the 3GPP has set a goal for a new release every 18 months. It
JASA |July 2006

is safe to conclude that UMTS has a bright future and technology
enthusiasts may soon be preparing for 4G.
6. REFERENCES
[1]. Wikipedia. URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1G [February
2005]
[2]. 3G/UMTS Commercial Deployment, URL:http://www.umts-
forum.org/ [February 2005]
[3]. Overview of The Universal Mobile Telecommunication
System,
URL:http://www.umtsworld.com/technology/overview.htm
[April 2005]
[4]. “HSDPA, More efficient and cost-effective
use of precious bandwidth” White Paper at 3G Americas, Lucent
Technologies, 2005
[5]. “Featured Article: High Speed Downlink Packet Access
(HSDPA) for WCDMA”
URL:http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,,53713,00.html
[6]. Nguyen H.N., Esmailzadeh R., Sasase I. “A Fast Algorithm
Considering Buffer Occupancy and Channel Condition for High
JASA |July 2006
REVIEW PAPERS
Speed Downlink Packet Access”. In 2003 International
Symposium on Wireless Personal Multimedia Communications
(WPMC2003), vol 2, pp 72-76, Yokohama, Japan, October 2003.
[7]. Gutiérrez, P.J. “Packet Scheduling And Quality of Service in
HSDPA” Ph. D Thesis. Department of Communication
Technology, Institute of Electronic Systems, Aalborg University,
Denmark, October 2003
[8]. NTT DoCoMo R&D; New Technology: HSDPA Overview
URL:http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/corporate/rd/en/tech/index.htm
l [8 March 2005]
[9]. The History of UMTS & 3G Development
URL:http://www.umtsworld.com/umts/history.htm [April 2005]
[10]. New Milestone in 3G Development - specifications for
3GPP Release 6 finalized
URL:http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/April2005/1309.htm [11 April
2005]
[11]. Nokia - Push to Talk
URL:http://www.nokia.com/nokia/0,8764,46740,00.html [April
2005]
REVIEW PAPERS
37