The UMTS channels are communication channels used by third generation (3G) wireless Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) networks. UMTS channels can be divided into three levels: Physical Transport Logical
List + UMTS Channels Level sex Full Name Description UL/DL Ref3_LOGICAL BCCH broadcast control channel For broadcasting system control information DL 5.3.1.1.13_LOGICAL CCCH common control channel Supports common procedures required to establish a dedicated link between the UE and the network. UL/DL 5.3.1.1.13_LOGICAL CTCH common traffic channel A point-to-multipoint unidirectional channel for transfer of dedicated user information for all or a group of specified UEs. DL 5.3.1.1.13_LOGICAL DCCH dedicated control channel A point-to-point dedicated channel for transmitting control information between a UE and the network. UL/DL 5.3.1.1.13_LOGICAL DTCH dedicated traffic channel A point-to-point dedicated channel for transmitting user traffic information between a UE and the network. UL/DL 5.3.1.1.13_LOGICAL PCCH paging control channel Transfers paging information. Used when the network does not know the location cell of the UE or the UE is in sleep mode. DL 5.3.1.1.12_TRANSPORT BCH broadcast channel Used to broadcast cell and system information. DL 4.1.2.12_TRANSPORT CPCH common packet channel Used for transmission of bursty data traffic. Shared by the UEs in a cell. Employs fast power control. NOTE - removed after R5. UL 4.1.2.52_TRANSPORT DCH dedicated channel Allocated to an individual user and typically used to support a speech channel. UL/DL 4.1.1.12_TRANSPORT DSCH downlink shared channel Carries dedicated user data or control information. May be shared by several UEs. Associated with a downlink DCH. NOTE - removed after R5. DL 4.1.2.62_TRANSPORT E-DCH enhanced dedicated channel HSUPA Enhanced (high-speed) dedicated uplink transport channel. UL 4.1.1.22_TRANSPORT FACH forward access channel Carries control information to UEs in a cell (may also be used to transmit packet data). Makes up the RACH/FACH pair. DL 4.1.2.22_TRANSPORT HS-DSCH high speed downlink shared channel The HSDPA transport channel. Shared by several UEs. DL 4.1.2.72_TRANSPORT PCH paging channel Carries paging procedure data (for sleep mode) used by network to establish connection to UE. Always transmitted over entire cell. DL 4.1.2.32_TRANSPORT RACH random access channel Used to gain access to the system when first attaching to it (can also carry packet data). Makes up the RACH/FACH pair. Always received from entire cell. Entails a collision risk. Transmitted using open loop power control. UL 4.1.2.41_PHYSICAL AICH acquisition indicator channel Carries acquisition indicators. AI corresponds to signature on the PRACH. Fixed rate (sf=256). DL 5.3.3.71_PHYSICAL CD/CA-ICH collision detection/channel assignment indicator channelCarries CD Indicator (CDI) or CD Indicator/CA Indicator (CDI/CAI). Fixed rate (sf=256). NOTE - removed after R5. DL 5.3.3.91_PHYSICAL CPICH common pilot channel Provides the default phase reference for demodulation of the other downlink channels and enables channel estimation. Uses a pre-defined bit sequence. Fixed rate (sf=256). DL 5.3.3.111_PHYSICAL CSICH cpch status indication channel Carries CPCH status information. Fixed rate (sf=256). NOTE - removed after R5. DL 5.3.3.111_PHYSICAL DPCCH dedicated physical control channel Carries physical layer control information including known pilot bits to support channel estimation, transmit power-control (TPC) commands, feedback information (FBI) and, optionally, transport-format combination indicator (TFCI). UL/DL 5.3.3.111_PHYSICAL DPDCH dedicated physical data channel Carries DCH data. Used with DPCCH. May be multiple DPDCHs on each radio link. UL/DL 5.3.3.111_PHYSICAL E-AGCH enhanced absolute grant channel [HSUPA] Establishes absolute power lever for UE transmission on E-DCH. Fixed rate (sf=256). DL 5.3.3.141_PHYSICAL E-DPCCH enhanced dedicated physical control channel [HSUPA] Control information associated with E-DCH. Transmitted along with E-DPDCH. UL/DL 5.2.1.31_PHYSICAL E-DPDCH enhanced dedicated physical data channel [HSUPA] Carries the E-DCH transport channel. Transmitted along with E-DPCCH. UL 5.2.1.31_PHYSICAL E-HICH enhanced hybrid indicator channel [HSUPA] Dedicated channel which carries the E-DCH hybrid ARQ acknowledgement indicator. Fixed rate (sf=128). DL 5.3.2.51_PHYSICAL E-RGCH enhanced relative grant channel [HSUPA] Carries the uplink E-DCH relative grants. Fixed rate (sf=128). DL 5.3.2.41_PHYSICAL HS-DPCCH high speed dedicated physical control channel [HSDPA] Carries feedback signalling related to HS-DSCH including HARQ-ACK and CQI. UL 5.2.1.21_PHYSICAL HS-PDSCH high speed physical downlink shared channel [HSDPA] Carries actual user data for HS-DSCH. DL 5.3.3.131_PHYSICAL HS-SCCH high speed shared control channel [HSDPA] Contains downlink signalling information related to HS-DSCH. Fixed rate (sf=128). DL 5.3.3.121_PHYSICAL P-CCPCH primary common control physical channels Carries BCH (Broadcast Channel). There is one P-CCPCH within a cell used to carry synchronization and broadcast information for all users. DL 5.3.3.31_PHYSICAL PCPCH physical common packet channel Carries CPCH (Common Packet Channel). NOTE - removed after R5. UL 5.2.2.21_PHYSICAL PDSCH physical downlink shared channel Carries DSCH. NOTE - removed after R5. DL 5.3.3.61_PHYSICAL PICH page indicator channel Carries PCH. Fixed rate (sf=256). DL 5.3.3.101_PHYSICAL PRACH physical random access channel Carries RACH (Random Access Channel). UL 5.2.2.11_PHYSICAL S-CCPCH secondary common control physical channels Carries FACH (Forward Access Channel) and PCH (Paging Channel). DL 5.3.3.41_PHYSICAL SCH synchronization channel Used for cell search and conveying synchronization information. Consists of two sub-channels - Primary and Secondary SCH. DL 5.3.3.5
See also UMTS High Speed Packet Access 3GPP Long Term Evolution (aka 4G/LTE)
References
Sources 3GPP specification series 25—Radio aspects of 3G, including UMTS TS 25.101 User Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception (FDD) TS 25.201 Description—Describes basic differences between FDD and TDD. TS 25.211_PHYSICAL channels and mapping of transport channels onto physical channels (FDD) TS 25.212 Multiplexing and channel coding (FDD) TS 25.213 Spreading and modulation (FDD) TS 25.214 Physical layer procedures (FDD) TS 25.215 Physical layer - Measurements (FDD) TS 25.301 Radio interface protocol architecture