Multicast in the Mobile Environment and 3G

April 27, 2005T-110.456 Next Generation Cellular

NetworksTommy Back

Content Introduction Multimedia Broadcast Multicast

Service Background Concept Services and applications System architecture

Standardization Conclusion

Introduction Multicasting

IPDC and MBMS Benefits

Versus unicast Versus broadcast

Interesting for mobile phone networks Efficient delivery of content to users

Adds complexity to the network

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast ServiceBackground

Noted benefits by 3GPP Release 99

Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) IP Multicast

No real benefits on bearers New concept was required

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast ServiceConcept (1/3)

MBMS standardization work Enables efficient unidirectional p-t-

m data delivery 3GPP Release 6 Two modes

Broadcast mode Multicast mode

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast ServiceConcept (2/3)

MBMS broadcast1) Service announcement2) Session start3) MBMS Notification4) Data transfer5) Session stop

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast ServiceConcept (3/3)

MBMS multicast1) Subscription2) Service announcement3) Joining4) Session start5) MBMS Notification6) Data transfer7) Session stop8) Leaving

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast ServiceServices and applications

MBMS does not provide any services MBMS can deliver different types of

media: video, audio, text Two categories for multicast mode

Hotspot area Larger network area

Examples: football game, news update

Multimedia Broadcast Multicast ServiceSystem architecture

Efficient resource usage New network element: BM-SC Core network point-to-multipoint

GTP tunnels: GGSN-SGSN and SGSN-RAN

RAN more complex Needs to decide: p-t-p or p-t-m on

bearers

Standardization

MBMS standardization started 2001 Working item for many 3GPP

technical specification groups System Aspects (SA) Radio Access Networks (RAN) Core Network (CN)

Continuously evolving into new releases

Conclusion MBMS divided into two modes

MBMS broadcast MBMS multicast (hotspot/larger area)

Efficient unidirectional p-t-m data delivery

MBMS enables new possibilities for services

Standardization work is ongoing

Thank you!