1. WF on LTE-NR DC with UL coexistence
3GPP TSG RAN WG1 meeting # R
Prague, Czech Republic, 21 – 25 August, 2017
Agenda item: 6.1.6
WF on LTE-NR DC with UL coexistence
Huawei, HiSilicon, Deutsche Telekom, China Unicom, China Telecom

2. Background Operators whose request is included in the frequency range
The band combination NR-LTE uplink sharing have been agreed in RAN4 （R ）
Frequency ranges for NR
Operators whose request is included in the frequency range
MHz (UL)/ GHz*(DL&UL) (1800MHz)
China Telecom, China Unicom, CMCC, Deutsche Telekom
MHz (UL)/ GHz*(DL&UL) (800MHz)
Orange, Telefonica, Etisalat, Deutsche Telekom
MHz (UL)/ GHz*(DL&UL) (900MHz)
CMCC
MHz (UL)/ GHz* (DL&UL) (700MHz)
Orange, Telefonica, Etisalat
*: The exact frequency range around 3.5GHz may be revised during R15 NR WI
Note: The LTE-NR dual connectivity UE RF requirements with the same frequency ranges can be reused as the starting point for the above NR paired band.

3. Background NSA deployment scenarios
R WF on LTE/NR DC deployment scenarios to extend NR UL coverage Orange, Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson, China Unicom, OPPO, Huawei, China Telecom, Nokia, ZTE
Scenario #1 :
DC Low Frequency (LF) + 3.5G
Concept: LTE PUSCH/PUCCH LF, NR PUCCH 3.5G, NR PUSCH 3.5G configurable
Scenario #2:
DC + + SUL with UL sharing
NR and LTE are collocated
Concept: LTE band uses LTE/NR UL sharing
Note: this scenario is potentially beneficial for reducing latency
Scenario #3:
DC + multiple bands (e.g. LF2 and 3.5G)
Concept: NR CA from 3.5G to LF2
Agreements:
RAN1 should consider the following scenarios as listed in R in the future Rel-15 work especially in terms of UL coverage
Scenario 1
Scenario 2 where UL sharing is from network perspective
FFS where UL sharing from UE perspective
Aim to conclude in the next meeting; if no consensus, consider sending an LS to RANP for clarification
Scenario 3

4. LTE/NR Dual Connectivity with UL Sharing Scenario #2 assumes a single LTE carrier in a single LTE band
RAN1 agreed to support scenario #2 from network perspective, in order to provide better coverage (and latency) for the UL of NR UEs.
In a realistic deployment there is just one CN, i.e. for option 3 the CN is the EPC. Therefore, no standalone NR UE can operate in that network.
Thus the only NR UE that can operate NR UL in 1.8 GHz is a LTE-NR DC UE, thus this UE also operates the LTE UL in 1.8 GHz.
Conclusion: in scenario #2 with a single LTE carrier in a single LTE band, support of UL sharing from network perspective means that a UE has to be capable of simultaneous operation of LTE UL and NR UL on the shared UL frequency.

5. Multiple LTE bands for LTE-NR DC with UL sharing Scenario #2 may be extended to multiple LTE carriers in a multiple LTE bands
UE Configuration #1
UE Configuration #2
NR DL/UL
NR DL/UL
3.5GHz
LTE DL
LTE DL
1.8GHz
LTE 20MHz
NR UL
LTE UL
LTE DL
LTE DL
0.8 GHz
LTE 10MHz
LTE UL
NR UL
Conclusion: in scenario #2 with multiple LTE bands and LTE CA + LTE/NR DC, support of UL sharing from network perspective can be achieved even if UEs are not capable of simultaneous operation of LTE UL and NR UL on the shared UL frequency.

6. Proposal Conclusion or Observation #1
In LTE/NR DC deployment scenario #2 of R with a single LTE carrier in a single LTE band, support of UL sharing from network perspective with LTE Pcell means that a UE has to be capable of simultaneous operation of LTE UL and NR UL on the shared UL frequency, e.g. sharing in a TDM manner
It is RAN4 decision which band combination(s) are supported.
Conclusion or Observation #2
In LTE/NR DC deployment scenario #2 of R with multiple LTE carriers and LTE DL CA + LTE/NR DC, support of UL sharing from network perspective can be achieved with even if UEs that are not capable of simultaneous operation of LTE UL and NR UL on the shared UL frequency, if multiple shared UL carriers are available from network perspective.