LTE must be seen in context if it is to be fully understood. This chapter first explains the historical context in which LTE was developed, building on the success of earlier generations of standardized cellular communication systems. The contemporary context of LTE is presented in relation to systems such as WiMAX and the CDMA2000 family, and the influence of regulatory bodies such as ITU‐R is highlighted in allocating suitable spectrum for deployment.
The standardization process in which LTE came to fruition in 3GPP is then outlined. An early step was the definition of targets and requirements for LTE. These are explained in detail, showing in particular how LTE's promise of reliable Quality of Service is founded on consideration of overall system performance and support for mobility, and not simply on the peak data rate.
Finally, the chapter introduces three key technology components of LTE which are expounded in more detail in subsequent chapters of the book, namely multicarrier technology, multiple antenna technology and packet switching in the radio interface.