Before considering the process of cellular handover, we need to first define the vernacular surrounding areas and network identification. There are three types of geographical areas in an LTE network:
- MME Pool Areas: This is defined as a region where a UE can move without changing the serving MME.
- SGW Service Areas: This is defined as an area where one or more SGW will continue to provide service for a UE.
- Tracking Areas (TA): These define sub-areas composed of small MME and SGW areas that don't overlap. They are used to track the location of a UE that is in standby mode. This is essential for handover.
Each network in a 4G-LTE network must be uniquely identifiable for these services ...
