Architecture allowing UE to connect to two base stations simultaneously for increased throughput.
Description
Dual Connectivity (DC) enables a UE to utilize radio resources provided by two distinct schedulers located in two eNodeBs (Master eNB and Secondary eNB) connected via non-ideal backhaul.
Unlike Carrier Aggregation which requires ideal backhaul, DC is designed for scenarios where the backhaul between nodes has higher latency. The Master eNB (MeNB) handles the control plane while both nodes contribute to user plane throughput.
DC is particularly useful in heterogeneous networks combining macro cells with small cells.
Purpose & Motivation
Dual Connectivity was introduced to:
- Increase user throughput by using resources from multiple nodes - Improve mobility robustness (anchor at macro, capacity from small cell) - Enable efficient small cell deployments with non-ideal backhaul - Provide load balancing between network layers
Key Features
- ✓Master eNB (MeNB) and Secondary eNB (SeNB)
- ✓Split bearer architecture
- ✓Non-ideal backhaul tolerance
- ✓Independent PDCP for MCG and SCG
- ✓Synchronized and asynchronous operation