Real-time Network Simulation of 3GPP Long Term Evolution

In 2004 the 3GPP has started to standardize the new system "Long Term Evolution". The key advantages are higher data rates, smaller latency, simpler network architecture and higher spectral efficiency. The worldwide first live demonstration of LTE using our real-time simulation platform was given in September 2006. From that time the network simulator has been continuously enhanced with new functionality also considering latest progress in 3GPP standardization. The simulator shows the behavior of a future LTE network for various scenarios, under different load conditions. Real-time IP traffic is passed through the simulator demonstrating the user perception of future applications with different QoS configurations (e.g. video streaming and gaming). In particular, the aspect of radio resource management including scheduling functionality is highlighted and comprehensively illustrated via an elaborate graphical user interface.