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High Power UEs

Aug 08,2022

By Carolyn Taylor, 3GPP MCC

The high power UE(s) work items specifices solutions to address extending cell coverage area and improving the experience of cell edge users by increasing the transmit power of UE and to support high power UE (power class 1.5), high power UE (power class 2), high power UE (power class 2) for NR TDD intra-band CA in FR1, high power UE (power class 2) for NR inter-band UL CA combinations, high power UE (power class 2) for EN-DC band combinations, and high power UE for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands.

In Release 17 there were 3 work items approved. These work items covered: high-power UE (power class 1.5) operation in NR bands n77 and n78 (RP-202912), high power UE for NR TDD intra-band Carrier Aggregation in frequency range FR1 (RP-221774), and high-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands (RP-221795).

High-power UE (power class 1.5) operation in NR bands n77 and n78

The Release 17 HPUE for NR band n77 and n78 for power class 1.5, which covered smartphones and fixed wireless access (FWA) devices. The UE requirements were defined for power class 1.5 that included maximum output power for power class 1.5, a new duty cycle capability (maxUplinkDutyCycle-MPE-FR1) for power classs 1.5, and definitions of the bits in the field modifiedMPR-Behavior. There were two NR bands that was specifed and provided in Table 1.2-1.

Table 1.2-1 HPUE operation on power class 1.5 NR FDD bands

NR FDD band

Power class

status

(new, ongoing,

completed, stopped)

n77

PC1.5

completed

n78

PC1.5

completed

 

High power UE for NR TDD intra-band Carrier Aggregation in frequency range FR1

The Release 17 HPUE for NR TDD intra-band CA combinations in FR1 for power class 2. The NR intra-band CA band combination in FR1 specific RF rquirements for power class 2 intra-band UL contiguous and non-contiguous CA was specified. There were two NR CA configurations that was specifed andsprovided in Table 1.3-1.

Table 1.3-1: HPUE NR TDD intra-band CA band combination operation

NR CA

configuration

Uplink CA

configuration

Power class

status

(new, ongoing, completed, stopped)

CA_41n(2A)

CA_n41(2A)

PC2

completed

CA_n78(2A)

CA_n78(2A)

PC2

completed

 

High-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands

The release 17 work item for high-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands covered the common UE RF requirements for PC1 Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) devices. There was also a study item on this subject and a technical report was created in TR 37.880: Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and NR; High-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in Band 12, Band 5, and Band n71 that provided sumulation results considering UE requiements for LTE band 12, LTE band 5 and NR band n71 based on macro cell propagation model for rual area.

The HPUE common requirements for fixed wireless/vehicular-mounted use cases captured in TR 38.878: Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and NR; High-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR band and the results from the study item captured in TR 37.880 can be used as the basis for the Release 18 corresponding band specific HPUE requirements.

Preview of high power UE in Release 18

There are eight Release 18 work items approved at 3GPP TSG RAN Meetings #96 and #97e in documents RP-222351 (High power UE (power class 1.5)), RP-222625 (High power UE (power class 2) for NR FR1 FDD single band), RP-222647 (High power UE (power class 1.5 or 2) for intra-band Carrier Aggregation combinations of a single NR FR1 TDD band), RP-222623 (Rel-18 High power UE (power class 1,5 and 2) for a single FR1 NR TDD band in UL of NR inter-band CA/DC combinations with/without NR SUL (supplementary uplink) with y bands downlink (y=2,3,4,5,6) and x bands uplink (x=1,2)), RP-222626 (Rel-18 High power UE (power class 2) for a single FR1 NR FDD band in UL of NR inter-band CA/DC combinations with y bands downlink (y=2,3,4,5,6) and x bands uplink (x=1,2)), RP-221878 (High Power UE support for NR bands n100 and n101 for Rail Mobile Radio (RMR) in Europe), RP-222660 (Rel-18 High power UE (power class m with 1<m<3) for a single FR1 band in UL of Dual Connectivity (DC) combinations of x bands (x=1,2,3, 4 for y=1 or x=1, 2 for y=2) LTE inter-band CA (xDL/1UL) and y bands NR inter-band CA (yDL/1UL)), and RP-221841 (High-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands).

Currently, 3NR TDD bands were identified for high power UE (power class 1.5) to increase UE output power in order to improve uplink coverage provided in Table 1.5-1.

Table 1.5-1: Identified HPUE operation on NR TDD bands

NR TDD band

Status

(new, ongoing, completed, stopped)

n34

completed for PC2, new for PC1.5

n39

completed for PC2, new for PC1.5

n40

completed for PC2, new for PC1.5

Currently,10 NR FDD bands were identified for high power UE (power class 2) for NR FR1 FDD single band to increase UE output power in order to increase the transmit power of the UE which has significant benefits on extending uplink coverage provided in Table 1.5-2.

Table 1.5-2: Identified HPUE operation on power class 2 NR FDD bands in FR1

NR FDD band

status

(new, ongoing, completed, stopped)

n8

completed for PC3, new for PC2

n5

completed for PC3, new for PC2

n28

completed for PC3, new for PC2

n26

completed for PC3, new for PC2

n25

completed for PC3, new for PC2

n66

completed for PC3, new for PC2

n71

completed for PC3, new for PC2

n85

completed for PC3, new for PC2

n2

completed for PC3, new for PC2

n13

completed for PC3, new for PC2

Currently, 4 NR intra-band CA band combinations were identified for high power UE (power class 1.5 or 2) for intra-band Carrier Aggregation combinations of a single NR FR1 TDD band provided in Table 1.5-3.

Table 1.5-3: Identified HPUE NR intra-band CA band combination operation

NR CA

configuration

Uplink CA

configuration

Power class

status

(new, ongoing, completed, stopped)

CA_n77(2A)

CA_n77(2A)

PC2

new

CA_n78(2A)

n78A

PC2

new

CA_n77C

n77A

PC1.5

new

CA_n78(2A)

n78A

PC1.5

new

Currently, 3 NR inter-band CA/DC or NR supplementary uplink (SUL) band combinations were identified for Rel-18 High power UE (power class 1,5 and 2) for a single FR1 NR TDD band in UL of NR inter-band CA/DC combinations with/without NR SUL (supplementary uplink) with y bands downlink (y=2,3,4,5,6) and x bands uplink (x=1,2) provided in Table 1.5-4.

Table 1.5-4: Identified HPUE NR inter-band CA/DC or SUL band combination operation

Band combinations

Power class cases for uplink

status

(new, ongoing, completed, stopped)

Band combination list for Power class 2 NR Inter-band CA/DC for y bands DL with x bands UL (x=1, 2)

1UL(TDD): PC2 on TDD band

new

Band combination list for Power class 1.5 NR Inter-band CA for y bands DL with 1 band UL

2UL(FDD+TDD, TDD+FDD, TDD+TDD): PC3 on FDD band, PC2 or PC3 on TDD band

new

Band combination list for Power class 2 SUL band combinations with or without CA for y bands DL with 2 bands UL

1UL(TDD): PC1.5 on TDD band

new

Currently, two NR inter-band CA/DC band combinations were identified for Rel-18 high power UE (power class 2) for a single FR1 NR FDD band in UL of NR inter-band CA/DC combinations with y bands downlink (y=2,3,4,5,6) and x bands uplink (x=1,2) to increase UE output power in order to improve uplink coverage provided in Table 1.5-5.

Table 1.5-5: Identified HPUE NR inter-band CA/DC band combination operation

NR CA

configuration

Uplink NR CA

configuration

status

(new, ongoing, completed, stopped)

CA_n1A-n78A

n1A

new

CA_n3A-n78A

n3A

new

Currently, two NR FDD bands were identified for high Power UE support for NR bands n100 and n101 for Rail Mobile Radio (RMR) in Europe to increase UE output power in order to introduce the use of UE output power of 31dBm for the use by CAB radios provided in Table 1.5-6.

Table 1.5-6: Identified HPUE operation on n100 and n101 for Rail Mobile Radio (RMR) in Europe

NR FDD band

status

(new, ongoing, completed, stopped)

n100

completed for PC3, new for PC1

n101

completed for PC3, new for PC1

Currently,6 EN-DC band combinations cases were identified for Rel-18 high power UE (power class m with 1<m<3) for a single FR1 band in UL of Dual Connectivity (DC) combinations of x bands (x=1,2,3, 4 for y=1 or x=1, 2 for y=2) LTE inter-band CA (xDL/1UL) and y bands NR inter-band CA (yDL/1UL) to increase UE output power provided in Table 1.5-7.

Table 1.5-7: Identified HPUE EN-DC band combination operation

Band Combination

Comments

2 (1LTE+1NR

different bands DL with 2 (1LTE+1TDD NR) bands UL

3 (2LTE+1NR)

different bands DL with 2 (1LTE+1TDD NR) bands UL

4 (3LTE+1NR)

different bands DL with 2 (1LTE+1TDD NR) bands UL

5 (4LTE+1NR)

ifferent bands DL with 2 (1LTE+1TDD NR) bands UL

3 (1LTE+2NR)

different bands DL with 2 (1LTE+1TDD NR) bands UL

4 (2LTE+2NR

different bands DL with 2 (1LTE+1TDD NR) bands UL

Currently, 8 E-UTRA and NR bands were identified for high-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands in order to improve rural coverage and higher data rates provided in Table 1.5-8.

Table 1.5-8: Identified HPUE operation on E-UTRA and NR FDD bands in FR1

Band

Status

(new, ongoing, completed, stopped)

Release independent from

5 (E-UTRA)

ongoing; Rel-10

12 (E-UTRA)

ongoing; Rel-10

13 (E-UTRA)

ongoing; Rel-10

n5 (NR)

ongoing; Rel-15

n13 (NR)

ongoing; Rel-15

n26 (NR)

ongoing; Rel-15

n71 (NR)

ongoing; Rel-15

n85 (NR)

ongoing; Rel-15

  

911012 High power UE (power class 1.5) for NR band n79 NR_UE_PC1_5_n79   RP-210843
911013 High power UE (power class 2) for NR band n34 NR_UE_PC2_n34   RP-210844
911014 High power UE (power class 2) for NR band n39 NR_UE_PC2_n39   RP-210845
930058 High power UE (power class 2) for one NR FDD band NR_PC2_UE_FDD   RP-212892
900063 High power UE for NR TDD intra-band Carrier Aggregation in frequency range FR1 NR_intra_HPUE_R17   RP-221774
890054 Rel-17 High power UE for NR inter-band Carrier Aggregation with 2 bands downlink and x bands uplink (x=1,2) NR_PC2_CA_R17_2BDL_2BUL   RP-221866
920073 High-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands LTE_NR_HPUE_FWVM   RP-221795
880094 High power UE (power class 2) for EN-DC with 1 LTE band + 1 NR TDD band ENDC_UE_PC2_R17_NR_TDD   RP-221227


The following schemes were introduced as part of the Work Items:

  • High power UE (power class 1.5) for NR band n79 objective: To define the high power UE (power class 1.5) NR band n79 to enable single component carrier UL operation for SA NR operation and specify the RF characteristics.
  • High power UE (power class 2) for NR band n34 objective: To define NR band n34 to support high power UE (Power class 2) and specify the RF characteristics for FR1 NR band n34.
  • High power UE (power class 2) for NR band n39 objective: To define NR band n39 to support high power UE (Power class 2) and specify RF characteristics for FR1 NR band n39
  • High power UE (power class 2) for one NR FDD band objective: To specify RF requirements of power class 2 UEs (PC2) for NR FDD band n1 and n3 to support both 1Tx and 2Tx architecture.
  • High power UE for NR TDD intra-band Carrier Aggregation in frequency range FR1 objective: To specify the band-combination specific RF requirements for FR1 Power class 2 for intra-band UL contiguous and non-contiguous CA.
  • Rel-17 High power UE for NR inter-band Carrier Aggregation with 2 bands downlink and x bands uplink (x=1,2) objective: To specify the band-combination specific RF requirements for selected power class 2 NR inter-band UL CA combinations with 2 band DL / 2 band UL Also, to specify the band-combination specific RF requirements for selected inter-band DL CA combinations with 2 band DL / 1 band UL power class 2 and/or power class 1.5 NR single band UL.
  • High-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands objective: To develop common UE RF requirements for PC1 FWA device.
  • High power UE (power class 2) for EN-DC with 1 LTE band + 1 NR TDD band objective: To specify the band-combination specific RF requirements for selected FR1 power class 2 EN-DC combinations.  

The latest Status report for the High power UE (power class 1.5) for NR band n79 Work Item (RP-211983) reported on agreements approved at 3GPP TSG RAN meeting #93e (September. 13 - 17, 2021), on detailed work from RAN4 Working Group.

The latest Status report for the High power UE (power class 2) for NR band n34 Work Item (RP-211293) reported on agreements approved at 3GPP TSG RAN meeting #92e (June. 14 - 18, 2021), on detailed work from RAN4 Working Group.

The latest Status report for the High power UE (power class 2) for NR band n34 Work Item (RP-211984) reported on agreements approved at 3GPP TSG RAN meeting #93e (September. 13 - 17, 2021), on detailed work from RAN4 Working Group.

The latest Status report for the High power UE (power class 2) for one NR FDD band Work Item (RP-220381) reported on agreements approved at 3GPP TSG RAN meeting #95e (March. 17 - 23, 2022), on detailed work from RAN4 Working Group.

The latest Status report for the High power UE for NR TDD intra-band Carrier Aggregation in frequency range FR1 Work Item (RP-221773) reported on agreements approved at 3GPP TSG RAN meeting #96 (June. 6 - 9, 2022), on detailed work from RAN4 Working Group.

The latest Status report for the Rel-17 High power UE for NR inter-band Carrier Aggregation with 2 bands downlink and x bands uplink (x=1,2) Work Item (RP-221301) reported on agreements approved at 3GPP TSG RAN meeting #96 (June 6 - 9, 2022), on detailed work from RAN4 Working Group.

The latest Status report for the High-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands Work Item (RP-221775) reported on agreements approved at 3GPP TSG RAN meeting #96 (June. 6 - 9, 2022), on detailed work from RAN4 Working Group.

The latest Status report for the High power UE (power class 2) for EN-DC with 1 LTE band + 1 NR TDD band Work Item (RP-221228) reported on agreements approved at 3GPP TSG RAN meeting #96 (June. 6 - 9, 2022), on detailed work from RAN4 Working Group.

Acronyms:

CA                Carrier Aggregation
DC Dual Connectivity
EN-DC E-UTRA/NR DC
FR Frequency Range
FWA Fixed Wireless Access
HPUE High power UE
NR New Radio
PC1.5 Power Class 1.5
PC2 Power Class 2
PPowerClass The nominal UE power (i.e., no tolerance)

 

3GPP Work Plan:

See a listing of all work & study items here:  https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Information/WORK_PLAN/ and search for ‘High power UE’ in the acronym field of the Excel sheet there.

The text above is largely taken from the Release 17 description document TR21.917 (clauses 16, 17.2 and 18), which is a summary based on RP-220604 (High power UE).

Working Groups:

 RAN4

3GPP Release:

Rel-19
Rel-18
Rel-17

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be aware that these pages are a snapshot of the work going on in 3GPP. The full picture of all work is contained in the Work Plan (https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Information/WORK_PLAN/)

Updated: 28/7/2022

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