4 Description

3GPP42.043Release 17Service descriptionStage 1Support of Localised Service Area (SoLSA)TS

The localised service area concept shall give the operator the basis to offer subscribers different services (e.g. tariffs or access rights) depending on the location of the subscriber.

4.1 Defining subscriber information for localised service area

A subscriber can have up to 20 LSAs per PLMN.

It shall be possible to assign localised service areas to subscribers. Subscriber may have service, which contains several LSAs potentially belonging to different PLMNs. There shall be means to allocate LSA priority to each subscriber independently by operator.

Localised service areas for subscriber(s) may overlap, i.e. one cell may be part of several LSAs belonging to that subscriber.

As an example, within a hierarchical cell structure, cells in different layers can constitute different localised service areas. A localised service area could be defined so that it is possible to establish flexible sized areas, which are applicable to

– a very small localised service area ("home area" covering one or several cells dedicated e.g. to a residential subscriber or a company); or

– a large area covering a part of the city (one or several location areas); or

– a combination of these.

Thus it is possible to use the various radio network configurations.

The definition of location areas and the definition of localised service areas may be independent of each other.

4.2 Service Features

Following service features are building blocks for SoLSA based services. It is up to the operator to decide which service features are required for a specific service.

– Localised service area indication.

– Localised service area support in idle mode (camping).

– Localised service area support in active mode (handover).

– LSA only access.

– Exclusive access.

– Preferential access.

4.2.1 Localised service area indication

It shall be possible to assign a subscriber defined identifier by the operator to each LSA (alphanumeric text up to 10 characters), which can be provided to the user in idle and active mode. As a UE manufacturer option the user may assign an icon or another form of indication to each LSA.

It shall be possible to indicate a change of localised service area during idle and active mode.

The indication is a network option (activated/deactivated by the network).

4.2.2 Localised service area support in idle mode (camping)

The PLMN shall determine, which cells, belonging to the LSA, are to be favoured by the UE when camping.

When camping on a cell in idle mode, the subscriber’s mobile station shall use the information provided by the PLMN in selecting cells belonging to his localised service area. The mobile station shall have the ability to reselect a cell in a different LSA with higher priority. This favouring shall not degrade the overall service quality.

There should be no extra delay in cell selection procedure.

4.2.3 Localised service area support in active mode (handover)

The PLMN shall determine, which cells, belonging to the LSA, are to be favoured during active mode.

The cells belonging to users LSAs shall be favoured at call setup and when handovers are carried out. This favouring shall not degrade the overall service quality.

4.2.4 Exclusive access

For a cell belonging to one or more service areas and where only one or more specific subscribers shall have allowed access, other subscriber’s mobile stations shall be prevented from using the cell to obtain any service, other than TS12 (Emergency Calls).

NOTE: This does not prevent other subscriber’s mobile stations from camping on the cell to perform Location Updating.

Handovers into cells belonging to localised service areas where only specific subscribers shall have allowed access, shall be possible to be prevented for other subscribers, if required by a SoLSA application.

4.2.5 LSA only access

With access allowed only within one or more localised service areas, it shall be possible to prevent receiving and/or originating basic services from non-LSA cells. SMS and Supplementary service operations are allowed in all areas.

It shall be possible to prevent handovers to cells not belonging to allowed localised service areas, if required by a SoLSA application.

4.2.6 Preferential access

It shall be possible to allocate resources at call setup and during the active mode to LSA users, if required by a SoLSA application.

NOTE: An example of a requirement: the last traffic channel is not allocated to non-LSA user or in case of congestion an ongoing call of a non-LSA user is released and replaced with a call of a LSA user.