Evaluation of authentication signaling loads in 3GPP LTE/SAE networks

The integrated core network architecture and various mobile subscriber behaviors can result in a significant increase of signaling loads inside the evolved packet core network proposed by 3GPP in Release 8. Consequently, an authentication signaling analysis can provide insights into reducing the authentication signaling loads and latency, satisfying the quality-of-experience. In this paper, we evaluate the signaling loads in the EPS architecture via analytical modeling based on the renewal process theory. The renewal process theory works well, irrespective of a specific random process (i.e. Poisson). This paper considers various subscribers patterns in terms of call arrival rate, mobility, subscribers´ preference and operational policy. Numerical results are illustrated to show the interactions between the parameters and the performance metrics. The sensitivity of vertical handover performance and the effects of heavy-tail process are also discussed.