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GSM – LTE Migration: Deployment Issues forOperators in Developing Countries

The emergence of new applications such as 
mobile TV and increase in data usage motivated the 3rd 
Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to introduce Long 
Term Evolution (LTE) in 2009 as the latest standard in the 
mobile network technology. GSM standard has been a 
remarkably successful 2G technology with large number of 
subscribers and installed base of infrastructures of above 86% 
market share. It is a circuit-switched system that has the 
ability to deliver 64 kbps to 120 Mbps of data rates and divides 
each 200 kHz channel into eight 25 kHz time-slots. It operates 
majorly either at 900MHz or 1800MHz frequency band and 
uses narrowband Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) 
technique for transmitting signals. The main advantage of 
using GSM standard is the ability to allow customers to roam 
and switch carriers without having to replace their cell phones. 
LTE on the other hand is a 4G Network that provides 
higher data rate for subscribers at the same time reducing the 
cost per bit for service providers and much higher overall 
capacity to deliver more throughputs and reduced latency. It 
was designed to support only packet switched services to 
ensure minimal interference, reduce number of network 
elements by a simplified architecture and deployable in the 
spectrum bandwidth ranges from 1.25MHz–20MHz. Due to the 
variation in the frequency used in different regions, LTE is 
limited in its state of roaming with operators using different 
bands. In view of this, it is unlikely that LTE devices will work 
on other networks than its home network; except the users 
have phones with multi-band capabilities which can roam 
freely across the globe. Another challenge that LTE faces is 
Battery life of the devices. The large number of applications on 
LTE devices results in 5 -20% increase in power consumption 
compared to older phones.The use of a powerful battery with 
very long battery life after each charge is capable of extending 
talk time of the devices but ultimately increases device cost. This paper discusses the issues affecting the network wide 
deployment of LTE in developing countries and proffers 
solution to some of the critical issues.