Overview of LTE 3GPP Releases

Note the 3GPP and LTE logos are (C) ETSI and the 3GPP and usage is reserved. Reproduction here is for illustration only. Please refer to (C) holders for information and permissions.

Release 8 – LTE Introduced
Release 9
Release 10 – LTE Advanced
Release 11
Release 12
Release 13 – LTE Advanced Pro
Release 14
Release 15 – 5G NR release
Release 16
Release 17
Release 18 – 5G-Advanced

Detailed Overview of LTE 3GPP Releases

Release 8 – LTE Introduced 

Release frozen in December 2008 

LTE was introduced in 3GPP release 8, laying the foundations of the technology. Key achievements:

• Peak data rates: Up to 300 Mbps downlink and 75 Mbps uplink with 4×4 MIMO and 20 MHz bandwidth.
• High spectral efficiency
• Flexible bandwidths: 1.4 MHz, 3 MHz, 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHz and 20 MHz.
• Short round trip time: 5 ms latency for IP packets in ideal radio conditions.
• Simplified Architecture
• OFDMA in downlink and SC-FDMA in uplink
• All-IP network (SAE)
• MIMO multiple antenna scheme
• Spectrum flexibility: Operation in paired (FDD) and unpaired spectrum (TDD)

Release 9 – LTE Enhancements

Release frozen in December 2009

Built on Release 8 with these initial LTE enhancements:

• PWS (Public Warning System): Introduced Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS).
• Femto Cells
• MIMO Beam forming: Extended to multilayer beam forming.
• Self-Organising Networks (SON): Added requirements for self-optimisation.
• eMBMS: Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (MBMS) for broadcasting services over LTE. Higher layer and network layer aspects.
• LTE Positioning: Three position methods specified: Assisted GPS (A-GPS), Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA) and Enhanced Cell ID (E-CID) for accurate location tracking, especially for emergencies.

Release 10 – LTE-Advanced

Release frozen in March 2011

Met ITU IMT-Advanced requirements for higher speeds and efficiency. Key features:

• Throughput: 1 Gbps downlink, 500 Mbps uplink.
• Enhanced Uplink: Clustered SC-FDMA for frequency-selective scheduling.
• MIMO enhancements: Up to 8×8 MIMO in downlink, 4×4 in uplink.
• Relay Nodes: Extended coverage and reduced coverage gaps.
• enhanced Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (eCIC): Mitigates interference on traffic and control channels in Heterogeneous Networks (HetNet).
• Carrier Aggregation (CA): Allowed operators to utilise their fragmented spectrum spread across different or same bands, to improve end user throughput as required by IMT-Advanced.
• Support for Heterogeneous Networks
• SON Improvements: also considers self-healing procedures.

Release 11 – Enhancements to LTE-Advanced

Release frozen in September 2012

Release 11 includes enhancements to LTE Advanced features. Some important enhancements:

• Carrier Aggregation (CA) enhancements:
  • Multiple Timing Advances (TAs) for uplink CA.
  • Non-contiguous intra band CA.
  • Physical layer changes for TDD LTE support for CA.
• Coordinated multipoint transmission and reception (CoMP): Enabled data sharing across non-collocated transmitters.
• ePDCCH: Increased control channel capacity. Uses PDSCH resources for transmitting control information.
• Network-Based Positioning: Support for uplink positioning added by utilising sounding reference signals for time difference measurements taken by many eNBs.
• Minimisation of Drive Test (MDT): UE-based solutions introduced which are independent of SON.
• RAN overload control for Machine type communication: For machine type devices, network can bar some devices to send connection request to network.
• In-Device Coexistence: Mitigated interference from multi-radio transceivers (LTE, 3G, Bluetooth, WLAN) with:
  • DRX-based time-domain solutions.
  • Frequency-domain solutions.
  • UE autonomous denials.
• Battery saving: UE-requested DRX parameter adjustments for power efficiency.

Release 12 – Further Enhancements to LTE-Advanced

Release frozen in June 2014

Focused on dense deployments and new use cases:

• Small cells enhancements: Deployments in dense areas, dual connectivity for inter-site CA between macro and small cells.
• Carrier aggregation: Extended to co-located TDD and FDD carriers. Three carrier aggregations possible for total of 60 MHz spectrum aggregated.
• Machine Type Communication (MTC) optimised using new UE category.
• WiFi integration: Enabled traffic steering and network selection between LTE and WiFi.
• LTE in unlicensed spectrum

Release 13 – Meeting the Growing Throughput Demand

Release frozen in March 2016

Addressed increasing data demands and new applications:

• Carrier Aggregation: Supported CA up to 32 component carriers.
• MTC enhancements: New low-complexity UE category for reduced bandwidth and power.
• Unlicensed spectrum: Aggregated licensed primary cell with unlicensed secondary cell.
• Indoor Positioning: Improved and added new positioning methods.
• Enhanced multi-user transmission techniques.
• High-order MIMO: Supported up to 64 antenna ports.

Release 14 – Transition to 5G

Release frozen in June 2017

Bridged LTE and 5G with mission-critical and IoT focus:

• Mission-Critical services: introduced Video and Data MC services.
• Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communications introduced, in particular Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V).
• Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) improved: 2G, 3G and 4G support of MTC.
• Radio interface: enhanced coordination with WLAN and unlicensed spectrum.
• Voice over LTE (VoLTE)
• IMS
• Energy Efficiency
• Flexible Mobile Service Steering (FMSS): Improved traffic management.
• Multimedia Broadcast Supplement for Public Warning System (MBSP) and TV services over eMBMS.
• Massive Internet of Things
• Cell Broadcast Service (CBS)

Release 15 – First 5G NR Release

Release frozen in March 2019

Delivered the first complete 5G New Radio (NR) standards:

• 5G NR Phase 1.
• Massive MTC and Internet of Things (IoT).
• Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Communications Phase 2.
• Mission Critical (MC) interworking with legacy systems.
• WLAN and unlicensed spectrum use, slicing: Logical end-2-end networks.
• API exposure: Enabled 3rd party access to 5G services.
• Service Based Architecture (SBA).
• Further LTE improvements.
• Mobile Communication System for Railways (FRMCS).
• IP Multimedia core Network Subsystem (IMS).

Release 16 – 5G Enhancements

Release frozen in July 2020

Completed the IMT-2020 submission for a full 3GPP 5G system.

• Multimedia Priority Service
• Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) application layer services
• 5G satellite access
• Local Area Network support: Wireless and wireline convergence for 5G
• Terminal positioning and location
• Vertical Domains: Network automation and radio techniques.
• Non-terrestrial radio and maritime access
• PMR functionality for LTE
• Phase 2 5G enhancements
• NR-U: NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum.

Release 17 – 5G Expansion

Release frozen in March 2022

Expanded 5G capabilities for diverse applications:

• Sidelink enhancements
• Non-public networks
• Reduced capability (RedCap) NR devices
• NR operation extended to 71GHz
• Further enhancements on MIMO for NR
• Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN): Satellite-based NR and IoT.
• UE power saving enhancements for NR
• Enhancements to Integrated Access and Backhaul for NR
• RAN slicing: Improved Quality of Experience (QoE).
• RF requirements enhancement for NR FR1 and NR FR2.
• Coverage and positioning enhancements
• Support for uncrewed aerial systems
• Edge computing: 5G core support for edge applications.
• Proximity-based services in 5GS
• Multiple USIM support.
• Access traffic steering, switch and splitting (ATSSS)
• Advanced Vehicle to everything (V2X) service

Release 18 – 5G-Advanced

Release frozen in March 2024

Introduced 5G-Advanced with these features:

• Satellite access: Enhanced NTN access in 5G System (5GS).
• IoT: Low-Power High-Accuracy Positioning for industrial IoT.
• MTC: Improved satellite coverage, sidelink, proximity, location and positioning.
• Multicast and Broadcast Services (MBS)
• Network slicing: Enhanced access and support.
• Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
• Edge computing: Improved integration.
• IMS Multimedia Telephony Service
• Vehicle-Mounted Relays
• New topics:
  • Energy Efficiency (EE)
  • Smart Energy and Infrastructure
  • AI/ML: Applied to different wireless network layers.
  • eXtended, Augmented and Virtual Reality (XR, AR, VR)
  • Immersive communications

More information on LTE 3GPP releases:

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