ure 4-5. CHAPTER 4 NETWORK ROADMAPS E-UTRAN ((q)) ((p)) ((q)) Signals Traffic Figure 4-5. Aspects of network flow Under network options, the following aspects need to be given due consideration: Aspects related to physical network in terms of the air interface: Bandwidth to be deployed Access technology being used (FDD/TDD) Aspects related to the eNodeB being deployed, as in: Cells supported by the eNodeB Antennae and MIMO capabilities of the eNodeB Aspects related to interconnections between the eNodeB: Ability to implement X2 interface Effectiveness of the radio resource management algorithms Additional capabilities related to self-management of the resources such as SON (like) capabilities Support for handovers for the user equipment with other networks (3G, 2G, etc.) Implementation options for the ePC: Whether multiple physical nodes are implemented to support MME: security gateway (SGW), and packet data network gateway (PGW) nodes The kind of roaming access is supported and required for the network in question How the protocols S1-C, S1-U, S5, S6, S11 are implemented CHAPTER 4 NETWORK ROADMAPS User equipment classes and types to be supported: Devices that consume the LTE service and nature of mobility Definition of different types of users to be supported Note Some aspects related to the user equipment and types of users also overlap with the definition of usage models, as explained in the section below. Deployment Options Under deployment options, the operator must meaningfully think about actual steps by which deployment could proceed. Hence, it could make sense for the operator to mull the actual sequence of deployment over time, or with the physical necessities of deployment in terms of coexistence of the solution with other existing options and avenues for the targeted consumer. The following are some options that could be exercised by the operator: Positioning of the network in terms of size, as in Macro, Pico, Micro, or Femto cell network Number of users supported by the network as capacity during dif