LTE protocol stack

The protocol stack or network stack is an implementation of a computer networking protocol suite or protocol family . Some of these terms are used interchangeably but strictly speaking, the suite is the definition of the communication protocols, and the stack is the software implementation of them.

The protocol stack functions consist of the Medium Access Control (MAC), Radio Link Control (RLC), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), and Radio Resource Control (RRC) . LTE is the latest generation of the 3GPP standards. The LTE standard specifies an IP-only network supporting data rates up to 150 Mbps.

The protocol stack is used to allow the combination of different protocols that each set the boundaries for a number of network activities . … These functions are all separated into separate ‘layers’ of data that all require a protocol to be transferred.