This three-day course is intended for those wanting a solid grounding on 3G WCDMA and HSPA networks. It will appeal to those already in the 3G industry by giving a wider view of the 3G ecosystem covering deployment and handset design issues. For those moving from 2G networks and handset design to 3G, it gives a thorough analysis of operating systems and RF/baseband design and options.

Emphasis throughout the course will be placed on understanding the radio layer and how the handset and base sites are optimised to give best OPEX value. We will also address the importance of handset design and compare the mainstream operating systems Symbian, Google, Windows Mobile and Android and present some possible devices of the future. We will also cover how these OS's interact with the radio network and the effects of capacity and handset battery life.

All delegates will receive a free copy of *"WCDMA for UMTS: HSPA Evolution and LTE, 4th Edition" by Harri Holma and Antti Toskala (Wiley)

• Up to date overview of 3G handset hardware, OS's and features compared
• Rules for cellular network planning and capacity estimations derived
• Overview of the protocols used in the network, common faults and debug methods

The course is aimed at those wishing to have a solid introduction to all aspects of 3G mobile technology from the handset through to the Internet. It is aimed at those new to 3G mobile communications, or those migrating from a 2G background needing to understand the similarities and differences. With the forthcoming frequency auctions, it will also appeal to technical managers and consultants tasked with future strategy.

Day one (3G terminals and radio network fundamentals)

• An overview and comparison of current handset operating systems: Symbian, Linux, Windows Mobile, iPhone and Android
• Services for business and consumers and alternative revenue models
• Trends in handset design and possible terminals of the future
• Principals of CDMA, code families, synchronisation and CDMA-specific terminology
• WCDMA physical layer operation, including the operation of flexible transport channels, handovers and delivery of packet data
• Standardisation and the use of repeaters
• Factors affecting bit rate and latency, with impact on applications and end-user experience
• Coverage and capacity calculations for 3G and differences to 2G
• The migration of 900MHz bands to 3G, and the future use of higher frequency bands
• UMTS network overall architecture and interworking with existing 2G networks
• Core network and mobility management

Day two (HSPA, femtocells and signalling)

• New capabilities and features for Release 5 HSDPA
• Release 6 HSUPA capabilities and fast scheduling algorithms
• Understanding Femtocells
  • Standardisation of femtocells in an existing network
  • Review of latest deployments
  • Benefits to an operator of femtocells
  • Deployment scenarios
  • Interference avoidance techniques employed
• Examples of Signalling Procedures
  Signalling Overview
  • Call Control
  • Mobility Management
  • GPRS Mobility Management
  • Session Management
• Layer 2 Protocols (UE-RAN)
  • General Protocol Architecture
  • UMTS Layer 2 Principles
  • RLC Functions and Procedures
  • MAC Functions and Procedures
  • Protocol Termination (Release ’99)
  • HSPA outline

Day three (UMTS handset design and operation)

• The USIM, encryption and security in 3G
• Security procedures undertaken by the handset and network
• Demonstration of protocol flows for call setup and data transfers
• A brief history of 3G handset architecture
  • Trend of increased IC integration
  • How to deliver linearity and power efficiency across a wide power output range
  • The move to Zero IF transceivers, benefits and added complexity
• Power consumption trends and battery technologies
• RF transceiver design and how to deliver best of class RF performance
  • Challenges of duplexer design and desensitisation
  • How to support many different duplex bands
• The challenges of HSDPA and HSUPA handset design