The recent increase of mobile data usage and emergence of new applications such as MMOG (Multimedia Online Gaming), mobile TV, Web 2.0, streaming contents have motivated the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to work on the Long-Term Evolution (LTE). LTE is the latest standard in the mobile network technology tree that previously realized the GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSxPA network technologies that now account for over 85% of all mobile subscribers. LTE will ensure 3GPP's competitive edge over other cellular technologies.

LTE, whose radio access is called Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN), is expected to substantially improve end-user throughputs, sector capacity and reduce user plane latency, bringing significantly improved user experience with full mobility. With the emergence of Internet Protocol (IP) as the protocol of choice for carrying all types of traffic, LTE is scheduled to provide support for IP-based traffic with end-to-end Quality of service (QoS). Voice traffic will be supported mainly as Voice over IP (VoIP) enabling better integration with other multimedia services. Initial deployments of LTE are expected by 2010 and commercial availability on a larger scale 1-2 years later.

Unlike HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), which was accommodated within the Release 99 UMTS architecture, 3GPP is specifying a new Packet Core, the Enhanced Packet Core (EPC) network architecture to support the E-UTRAN through a reduction in the number of network elements, simpler functionality, improved redundancy but most importantly allowing for connections and hand-over to other fixed line and wireless access technologies, giving the service providers the ability to deliver a seamless mobility experience.

LTE has been set aggressive performance requirements that rely on physical layer technologies, such as, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems, Smart Antennas to achieve these targets. The main objectives of LTE are to minimize the system and User Equipment (UE) complexities, allow flexible spectrum deployment in existing or new frequency spectrum and to enable co-existence with other 3GPP Radio Access Technologies (RATs).

LTE is backed by most 3GPP and 3GPP2 service providers who along with the other interested parties aim to complete and agree the EUTRAN Standards by Q4-2007 and the EPC by Q1-2008.