Towards next generation mobile communication systems

The next-generation mobile network targets the delivery of a wide range of innovative and attractive services and applications to end users. The technology development for 3G has been focusing on the whole new air interface and core network evolution, to support mobility and simultaneous wireless voice and high-speed data transmission. Global standardization bodies have been actively developing technical specifications to meet the requirements for 3G network. We give an overview of one of the global standardization bodies, 3GPP, and its WCDMA direct spread air interface, as well as core network evolution concepts.