Carrier Aggregation Concepts for LTE Rel-10

Abstract:
Carrier aggregation is a technique developed for efficient use of contiguous or non-contiguous spectrum in order to increase peak-data rates and capacity. Furthermore, it enables usage of fragmented spectrum. For LTE it is important to consider backwards compatibility and reuse existing methods to specifically minimize complexity posed on the user equipment (UE). This paper provides an overview of basic carrier aggregation concepts for LTE Rel-10 and the way it is embedded into the existing LTE system. As 3GPP standardization for the carrier aggregation work item is not supposed to be completed before the end of the year and discussions are still ongoing, only the current standardization status is reflected.