Evolved Packet System (EPS): The LTE and SAE Evolution of 3G UMTS

1.3 Standards and Organizations

The development and introduction of worldwide technology cannot be achieved without global standard organizations.

This section describes the structure of the main standard organizations and support bodies involved in future system definition, in an attempt to shed some light on the jungle of acronyms, terms and initiatives emerging around 3G and its evolution.

1.3.1 The Role of ITU

The ITU (International Telecommunication Union), as a worldwide telecommunication standard body, played a key role in 3G definition.

(i) ITU and the IMT-2000 Framework

The IMT-2000 framework (International Mobile Telecommunications 2000) was initially launched by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union), in order to define 3G system and evolution for heterogeneous 2G technologies (Figure 1.8). This was felt the best way to define a common basis for performance, global access and seamless mobility requirements.

The IMT-2000 framework not only aims at defining international standards for 3G, but also cares about frequency spectrum issues, technical specifications for radio and network components, as well as regulatory aspects.

As a result of the call for the submission of candidate IMT-2000 radio interfaces, up to 16 candidates as Radio Access Technologies (RAT) have been proposed by various Regional Standard Organizations. The proposals were related to the terrestrial radio interface, as well as satellite systems. In 1999, a decision was eventually made by IMT-2000 ...