GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Acknowledgement
Before getting into thick of things, we would like to add a few heartfelt words for the people who were part of this seminar in numerous waysPeople who gave unending support from the stage the seminar idea were conceived. We are overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude of them. We take this opportunity to make a mention of the few people who made all the difference. Firstly, My sincere thanks to my guide respected Prof. Ms. Suvarna Jadhav for sharing a great confidence in me, who has been a constant source of inspiration and guiding star in achieving my goal. It is owing to his boundless help, suggestions and guidance and providing all necessary facilities and timely help. I am very much thankful to Prof. S. M. Mukane for his constant support and providing me resources for my thesis without which success of seminar would be difficult. I also thankful to all our friends and those who inherently supported and encouraged us during our framework

Miss. Parvin K. Naikwad i. (B.E. Telecommunication) Electronics &

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Abstract:
We are experiencing exponential growth rates in wireless system, increasing awareness about the wireless in society, and deregulation of former wired systems. While traditional communication systems deals with fixed networks, wireless systems raises a new set of questions, techniques and solutions. The trend trends in wireless system create an ever-increasing demand for well-educated communication engineers who understands the developments and possibilities of wireless systems. Through the medium of this paper we sincerely try to explain GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) wireless system, which is considered as heart of mobile communication. We have chosen this subject because what we see today is only the beginning of the mobile communication era. There are many researches going on around the world in the field of mobile communication. The first section of the paper focuses on the wireless system and types of wireless systems existing today. The next section starts with the typical GSM system with the history of the same and the services offered by GSM. In next section we have explained the architecture of GSM following the protocols used by GSM system. The fourth section gives the in depth explanation of calling technique by the same. The succeeding section contains the different handover mechanisms used. The sixth section of this paper gives the security concerns present in the GSM system. The final section looks for the future developments.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

INDEX
1. Introduction to Wireless systems 2. Global system for mobile communication 3. History of GSM 4. Services provided by GSM 5. GSM cellular system 6. GSM Overview 7. GSM System Architecture 8. GSM Areas 9. GSM Specification 10. GSM call routine 11. Security 12. Comparison of mobile phone standards 13. Advantages of GSM 14. Disadvantages of GSM 15. Future 16. Conclusion 17. References

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Introduction to Wireless systems: The ability to communicate with the people on the move has evolved remarkably since Marconi first demonstrated Radios ability to provide continuous contact with ships sailing the English Channel. That was in 1897, and since then new wireless communication people throughout the world have enthusiastically adapted methods and services. With the development in technology the demand for data rate of transmission has been increasing rapidly. The wired systems though provide good data transmission over a communication link its performance degrades due to characteristics of the wire. Hence to overcome these inadequacies the trend of wireless systems is taking the boom in the world of telecommunication. AMPS AND ETACS In the late 1970s,AT&T Bell Laboratories developed the first US cellular Telephone System called Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS). The AMPS system uses a seven-cell reuse pattern with provisions for sectoring and cell splitting to increase capacity when needed. The European Total Access (ETACS) was developed in middle 1980s and is virtually identical to AMPS, except it is scaled to fit in 25Khz channels. Another difference is how the telephone number of each subscriber is formatted. DECT The Digital European Cordless Telephone (DECT) is a universal cordless telephone standard. DECT provides a cordless communications framework for high traffic density, short-range telecommunications, and covers a broad range of applications and environments. PACS The Personal Access Communication System (PACS) is a third generation Personal Communication System originally developed and proposed by Bellcore in 1992. PACs

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

is able to support voice, data and video images for indoor and microcell use. Main objective is to integrate all forms of wireless local loop communications into one system with full telephone features. WLANS The Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) is of special interest for wireless, mobile computer communication on a campus or in buildings. The global goal of WLANSs is to replace office cabling and, additionally to introduce a higher flexibility for ad-hoc communication. The IEEE standard 802.11 specifies the most famous family of WLANs in which many products are already available. It offers time-bounded and asynchronous services. GSM (GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE) The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is the most popular standard for mobile phones in the world. Over 1.5 billion people use GSM service across more than 210 countries and territories. The ubiquity of the GSM standard makes international roaming very common between mobile phone operators, enabling subscribers to use their phones in many parts of the world. GSM differs significantly from its predecessors in that both signaling and speech channels are digital, which means that it is considered a second generation (2G) mobile phone system. This fact has also meant that data communication was built into the system from very early on. GSM is an open standard, which is currently developed by the 3GPP.From the point of view of the consumer, the key advantage of GSM systems has been higher digital voice quality and low cost alternatives to making calls such as text messaging. The advantage for network operators has been the ability to deploy equipment from different vendors because the open standard allows easy interoperability. Also, the standards have allowed network operators to offer roaming services, which mean subscribers can use their phone all over the world.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

History Once upon a time there was analog cellular communication that didnt support encryption, compression, and ISDN compatibility; in addition each country (company) developed its own system, which was incompatible with everyone elses in equipment and operation. So, in early 80s Europeans realized that pan-European public mobile system should be developed. The new system had to meet certain criteria:

Good subjective speech quality Low terminal and service cost International roaming ISDN compatibility

In 1989, GSM responsibility was transferred to the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI), and phase I of the GSM specifications was published in 1990. Commercial service was started in mid-1991, and by 1993 there were 36 GSM networks in 22 countries Services Provided By GSM: A variety of data services are offered. GSM users can send and receive data, at rates up to 9600 bps, to users on POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service), ISDN, Packet Switched Public Data Networks, and Circuit Switched Public Data Networks using a variety of access methods and protocols, such as X.25 or X.32. Since GSM is a digital network, a modem is not required between the user and GSM network, although an audio modem is required inside the GSM network to interwork with POTS. Other data services include Group 3 facsimile, which is supported by use of an appropriate fax adaptor. A unique feature of GSM, not found in older analog systems, is the Short Message Service (SMS). SMS is a bi-directional service for short alphanumeric (up to 160 bytes) messages. Messages are transported in a store-andforward fashion.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

GSM Cellular System: Cellular systems for mobile space communication implement

division multiplexing. Each transmitter is called as base-station, covers a certain area, a cell. Cell radii can vary from tens of meters in buildings and hundreds of meters in cities. The shapes of the cells are never perfect circles or hexagons as shown in fig, but depend on environment. Mobile communication system uses this form in which the cell around a base station communicates with the base-station and vice versa. Following are some advantages offered by cellular systems with small cells: 1.Higher Capacity: By implementing the space division multiplexing the frequency reuse technique can be used. Foe ex. If one transmitter is away from another i.e. outside the interference range, it can reuse the same frequencies. 2.Less transmission power: While power aspects are not a big problem for basestation, they are indeed problematic for mobile stations. A receiver far away from a base station would need much more transmit power the current few Watts. 3.Local interference only: Having long distances between sender and receiver results in even more interference problems. With small cells, mobile stations and base stations only have to deal with local interference. 4.Robustness: Cellular systems are decentralized and, thus, more robust against failures of single components. If one antenna fails, this defect only influences communication within a small area. There are some disadvantages also: 1.Infrastructure needed: Cellular systems needs more complex infrastructure to connect all base-stations. This infrastructure includes many antennas, switches for call forwarding, and location registers to find a mobile station.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

2.Handover needed: The mobile station has to perform a handover when changing from one cell to another. Depending upon the cell size and the speed of movement, this can be happen quite often. 3.Frequency planning: To avoid the interference problem between the two transmitters using same frequencies, frequencies have to be distributed carefully. On the other hand interference should be avoided, as only a specific number of frequencies are available GSM :

Throughout the evolution of cellular telecommunications various systems have been developed without the benefit of standardized specifications. This presented many problems directly related to compatibility, especially with the development of digital radio technology. The GSM standard is intended to address these problems.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

GSM Overview

Before GSM networks there were public mobile radio networks (cellular). They normally used analog technologies, which varied from country to country and from manufacturer to another. These networks did not comply with any uniform standard. There was no way to use a single mobile phone form one country to another. The speech quality in most networks was not satisfactory. GSM became popular very quickly because it provided improved speech quality and, through a uniform international standard, made it possible to use a single telephone number and mobile unit around the world. The European Telecommunications Standardization Institute (ETSI) adopted the GSM standard in 1991, and GSM is now used in 135 countries. The benefits of GSM include : Support for international roaming Distinction between user and device identification Excellent speech quality Wide range of services

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Interlocking (e.g. with ISDN, DECT) Extensive security features

GSM also stands out form other technologies with its wide range of services : Telephony Asynchronous and synchronous data services ( 2.1/4.8/9.6 dkit/s) Access to packet data network (S.25) Telematic services (SMS, fax, videotext, etc.) Many value-added features (call forwarding, caller ID, voice mailbox) E-mail and Internet connections.

GSM System Architecture

The best way to create a manageable communications system is to divide it into various subgroups that are interconnected using standardized interfaces. A GSM network can be divided into three groups The mobile station (MS), the base station subsystem (BSS) and the network subsystem. They are characterized as follows : The Mobile Station (MS) :

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

10

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

A mobile station may be referred to as a handset , a mobile, a portable terminal or mobile equipment (ME). It also includes a subscriber identity module (SIM) that is normally removable and comes in two sizes. Each SIM card has unique identification number called IMSI (international mobile subscriber identity) In addition, each MS is assigned a unique hardware identification called IMEI (International mobile equipment identity) In some of the newer application (data communication in particular) an MS can also be a terminal that acts as a GSM interface, e.g. for a laptop computer. In this new application the MS does not look like normal GSM telephone. The seemingly low price of a mobile phone can five the (false) impression that the product is not of high quality. Besides providing a transceiver (TRS) for transmission and reception of voice and data, the mobile also performs a number of very demanding tasks such as authentication, handover, encoding and channel encoding. The base station subsystem (BSS) : The base station subsystem (BSS) is made up of the base station controller (BSC) and the base transceiver station (BTS.) The base transceiver station (BTS) : GSM uses a series of radio transmitters called BTSs to connect the mobiles to cellular network. Their tasks include channel coding/decoding and encryption/decryption. A BTS is comprised of radio transmitters and receivers, antennas, the interface to the PCM facility, etc. The BTS may contain one or more transceivers to provide the require call handling capacity. A cell site may be omni directional or split into typically three directional cells. The base station controller (BSC) : A group of BTSs are connected to a particular BSC which manages the radio resources for them. Todays new and intelligent BTSs have taken over many tasks that were previously handled by the BSCs. The primary function of the BSC is call maintenance. The mobile stations normally send a report of their received signal strength to the BSC every 480 ms. With this information the BSC decides to initiate handovers to other cells, change the BTS transmitter power, etc. The mobile switching center (MSC) :

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

11

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Acts like a standard exchange in a fixed network and additionally provides all the functionality needed to handle a mobile subscriber. The signaling between functional entities (registers) in the network subsystem uses signaling system 7 (SS7). If the MSC also has a gateway function for communicating with other networks, it is called Gateway (GMSC). The home location register (HLR) : A database used for management of mobile subscribers. It stores the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), mobiles station ISDN number (MSISDN) and current visitor location register (VLR) address. The main information stored there concerns the location of each mobile station in order to be able to route calls to the mobile subscribers managed by each HLR. The HLR also maintains the services associated with each MS. One HLR can serve several MSCs. The visitor location register (VLR) : Contains the current location of the MS and selected administrative information form the HLR, necessary for call control and provision of the subscribed services, for each mobile currently located in the geographical area controlled by the VLR. AVLR is connected to one MSC and is normally integrated into the MSCs hardware. The authentication center (AuC) : A protected database that holds a copy of the secret key stored in each subscribers SIM card, which is used fro authentication and encryption over the radio channel. The AuC provides additional security against fraud. It is normally located close to each HLR within a GSM network. The equipment identity register (EIR) : The EIR is a database that contains a list of all valid mobile station equipment within the network, where each mobile station is identified by its international mobile equipment identity (IMEI). The EIR has three databases : White list : for all known, good IMEIs Black list : for bad or stolen handsets Grey list : for handsets/IMEIs that are uncertain Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC) The OMC is a management system that oversees the GSM functional blocks. The OMC assists the network operator in maintaining satisfactory operation of the GSM network. Hardware redundancy and intelligent error detection mechanisms help

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

12

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

prevent network down-time. The OMC is responsible for controlling and maintaining the MSC. BSC and BTS. It can be in charge of an entire public land mobile network (PLMN) or just some parts of the PLMN.

The GSM Areas

The GSM network is made up of geographic areas. As shown in Picture 3, these areas include cells, location areas (LAs), MSC/VLR service areas, and public land mobile network (PLMN) areas.

The cell is the area given radio coverage by one base transceiver station. The GSM network identifies each cell via the cell global identity (CGI) number assigned to each cell. The location area is a group of cells. It is the area in which the subscriber is paged. Each LA is served by one or more base station controllers, yet only by a single MSC (see Picture 4). Each LA is assigned a location area identity (LAI) number. Picture 4. Location Areas

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

13

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

An MSC/VLR service area represents the part of the GSM network that is covered by one MSC and which is reachable, as it is registered in the VLR of the MSC (see Picture 5). Picture 5. MSC/VLR Service Areas

The PLMN service area is an area served by one network operator (see Picture 6). Picture 6. PLMN Network Areas

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

14

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

GSM Specifications : Before looking at the GSM specifications, it is important to understand the following basic terms : Bandwidth : the range of channels limits; the broader the bandwidth, the faster data canbe sent. Bits per second (bps) : a single on-off pulse of data; eight bits are equivalent to one byte. Frequency : the number of cycles per units of time; frequency is measured in hertz (Hz) Kilo (k) : kilo is the designation for 10002; the abbreviation kbps represents 1000 bits per second. Megahertz (MHz): 1000000 hertz (cycle per second) Milliseconds (ms) : one thousand of a second Watt (W) : a measure of power of a transmitter. Specific for different personal communication services (PCS) systems vary among the different PCS networks. Listed below is a description of the specification and characteristics for GSM. Frequency band : The frequency range specified for GSM is 1,850 to 1,990 MHz (mobile station to base station) Duplex distance : The duplex distance is 80 Mhz. Duplex distance is the distance between the uplink and downwind frequencies. A channel has two frequencies, 80 MHz apart. Channel separation : The separation between adjacent carrier frequencies. In GSM, this is 200 KHz. Modulation : Modulation is the process of sending a signal by changing the characteristics of a carrier frequency. This is done in GXM via Gaussian minimum shift keying (GMSK) Transmission rate : GSM is a digital system with an over the air bit rate of 270 kbps. Access method :

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

15

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

GSM utilizes the time division multiple access (TDMA) concept. TDMA is a technique in which several different calls may share the same carrier. Each call is assigned a particular time slot. Speech coder : GSM uses linear predictive coding (LPC). The purpose of LPC is to reduce the bit rate. The LPC provides parameters for a filter that mimics the vocal tract. The signal passes through this filter leaving behind a residual signal. Speech is encoded at 13 kbps. GSM Subscriber Services There are two basic types of services offered through GSM : telephony also referred to as teleservices) and data (also referred to as bearer services) Telephony services are mainly voice services that provide subscribers with the complete capability (including necessary terminal equipment) to communicate with other subscribers. Data services provide the capacity necessary to transmit appropriate data signals between two access points creating an interface to the network. In addition to normal telephony and emergency calling, the following subscriber services are supported by GSM: Dual-tone multifriquency (DTMF) : DTMF is a tone signaling scheme often used for various control purposes via the telephone network, such as remote control of an answering machine. GSM supports full originating DTMF. Facsimile group II : GSM supports CCITT Group 3 facsimile. As standard fax machines are designed to be connected to a telephone using analog signals, a special fax converter connected to the exchange is used in the GSM system. This enables a GSM : connected fax to communicate with any analog fax in the network. Short message services : A convenient facility of the GSM network is the short message service. A message consisting of a maximum of 160 alphanumeric characters can be sent to or from a mobile station. This service can be viewed as an advanced form of alphanumeric paging with a number of advantages. If the subscribers mobile unit is offered back to the subscriber when the mobile is powered on or has tendered the coverage area of the network. This function ensures that the message will be received. Cell broadcast :
SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

16

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

A variation of the short message service is the cell broadcast facility. A message of a maximum of 93 characters can be broadcast to all mobile subscribers in a certain geographic area. Typical applications include traffic congestion warnings and reports on accidents.

Voice mail : This service is actually an answering machine within the network, which is controlled by the subscriber. Calls can be forwarded to the subscribers voice-mail box and the subscriber checks for messages via a personal security code. Fax mail : With this service, the subscriber can receive fax messages at any fax machine. The messages are stored in a service center form which they can be retrieved by the subscriber via a personal security code to the desired fax number. Supplementary Services GSM supports a comprehensive set of supplementary services that can complement and support both telephony and data services. Supplementary services are defined by GSM and are characterized as revenue-generating features. A partial listing of Supplementary services follows : Call forwarding : This service gives the subscriber the ability to forward incoming calls to another number if the called mobile unit is not reachable, if it is busy, if there is no reply, or if call forwarding is allowed unconditionally. Barring of outgoing calls : This service makes it possible for a mobile subscriber to prevent all outgoing. Barring of incoming calls : This function allows the subscriber to prevent incoming calls. The following two conditions for incoming call barring exits : baring of all incoming calls and barring of incoming calls when roaming outside the home PLMN. Advice of charge (AoC) : The AoC service provides the mobile subscriber with an estimate of the call charges. There are two types of AoC information : One that

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

17

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

provides the subscriber with an estimate of the bill and one that can be used for immediate charging purposes. AoC for data calls is provided on the basis of time measurements, Call hold : This service enables the subscriber to interrupt an ongoing call and then subsequently reestablish the call. The call hold service is only applicable to normal telephony. Call waiting : This service enables the mobile subscriber to be notified of an incoming call during a conversation. The subscriber can answer, reject, or ignore the incoming call. Call waiting is applicable to all GSM telecommunication services using a circuit switched connection. Multiparty service : The multiparty service enables a mobile subscriber to establish a multiparty conversation-that is, a simultaneous conversation between three and six subscribers. This service is only applicable to normal telephony. Calling line identification presentation/restriction : These services supply the called party with the integrated services digital network (ISDN) number of the calling party. The restriction service enables the calling party to restrict the presentation. The restriction overrides the presentation. Closed user groups (CUGs) : CUGs are generally comparable to a PBS. They are a group of subscribers who are capable of only calling themselves and certain numbers.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

18

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Providing voice or data transmission quality over the radio link is only part of the function of cellular mobile network. A GSM mobile can seamlessly roam nationally and internationally, requiring standardized call routing and location updating functions in GSM networks. A public communications system also needs solid security mechanisms to prevent misuse by third parties. Security functions such as authentication, encryption and the use of Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identities (TMSIs) are an absolute must. Within a GSM network, different protocols are needed to enable the flow of data and signaling between different GSM subsystems. Figure shows the intervals that link the different GSM subsystems and the protocols used to communicate on each interface. Protocols:

There are three layers present in the GSM protocol architecture. Physical Layer:which handles all radio specific functions, which include the multiplexing techniques, data transmission in the form of burst and the synchronization of frames. data link layer :which handles signaling between entities in the GSM network. For this purpose LAPDm (Link Access procedure for D-channel) has been defined in the ISDN

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

19

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

standard. It offers reliable data transfer over connections, re- sequencing of data frames, and flow control network layer, which comprises of several sublayers: Radio Resources Management Controls the setup, maintenance, and termination of radio and fixed channels, including handovers.

Mobility Management Manages the location updating and registration procedures, as well as security and authentication. Connection Management Provides call control, short messaging service and supplementary service Signaling between the different entities in the fixed part of the network, such as between the HLR and VLR, is accomplished through the Mobile Application Part (MAP). MAP is built on top of the Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP, the top layer of Signaling System Number.

System Features
The section provides a brief description of the GSM network features : Roaming : The roaming feature allows a user to make and receive calls in any GSM network and to use the same user specific services worldwide. This requires a roaming agreement between the individual operators. With worldwide roaming the MS is accessible under the same phone number everywhere. Handover : In a cellular network, the radio and fixed voice connections are not permanently allocated for the duration of a call. Hanover, or handoff as it is called in North America, means switching and ongoing call to a different channel or cell. The execution and measurements require for handover are a basic function of the RR protocol layer.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

20

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Multipath equalization : At the 900 MHz range, radio waves bounce off everythingbuildings, hills, cars, airoplanes, etc. Many reflected signals, each with a different phase, can reach an antenna (also known as multipath propagation) Equalization is used to extract the desired signal from the unwanted reflections. It works by finding out how a known transmitted signal is modified by multipath fading, and constructing an inverse filter to extract the rest of the desired signal. This known signal is the 26-bit training sequence transmitted in the middle of every time-slot burst. The actual implementation of the equalizer is not specified in the GS< specifications. Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) : To reduce the MSs power consumption and minimize interference on the air interface, user signal transmission is interrupted during pauses in speech. Comfort noise is artificially generated by the MS to avoid disruption due to an abrupt interruption in speech. Discontinuous Reception (DRS) : Another method used to conserve power at the mobile station is discontinuous reception. The paging channel, used by the base station to signal an incoming call, is structured into sub-channels. Each mobile station needs to listen only to its own sub-channel. In the time between successive paging sub-channels, the mobile can go into sleep mode, when almost no power is used. Short Message Service(SMS) : SMS offers message delivery (similar to two-waypaging) that is guaranteed to reach the MS. If the GSM telephone is not turned on, the message is held for later delivery. Each time a message is delivered to an MS, the network expects to receive an acknowledgement from this MS that the message was correctly received. Without a positive acknowledgement the network will re-send the message or store it for later delivery. SMS supports messages up to 160 characters in length that can be delivered by any GSM network around the world wherever the MS is able to roam. Call Waiting(CW) : CW is a network-based feature that must also be supported by the GSM telephone(MS). With CW, GSM users with a call in progress will receive an audible beep to alert them that there is an incoming call for the MS. The incoming call can be accepted, sent to voice mail or rejected. If the incoming call is rejected, the dealer will receive a busy signal. Once the call is accepted, the original call is put on hold to allow a connection to the new incoming call.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

21

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Call Hold (CH) : CH must be supported by the MS and the network. It allows the MS to park and in progress call, to make additional calls or to receive incoming calls. Call Forwarding(CF) : This is a network-based feature that can be activated by the MS. CF allows calls to be sent to other numbers under conditions defined by the user. Theses conditions can be either unconditional or dependent on certain criteria. (no answer, busy, not reachable) Calling Line ID : Calling Line ID must be supported by the GSM network and the telephone. The GSM telephone displays the originating telephone number of incoming calls. This feature requires the callers network to deliver the calling line ID (telephone no.) to the GSM network. GSM Call Routing Mobile Subscriber Roaming When a mobile subscriber roams into a new location area (new VLR), the VLR automatically determines that it must update the HLR with the new location information, which it does using an SS7 Location Update Request Message. The Location Update Message is routed to the HLR through the SS7 network, based on the global title translation of the IMSI that is stored within the SCCP Called Party Address portion of the message. The HLR responds with a message that informs the VLR whether the subscriber should be provided service in the new location. Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number (MSISDN) Call Routing When a user dials a GSM mobile subscriber's MSISDN, the PSTN routes the call to the Home MSC based on the dialed telephone number. The MSC must then query the HLR based on the MSISDN, to attain routing information required to route the call to the subscribers' current location. The MSC stores global title translation tables that are used to determine the HLR associated with the MSISDN. When only one HLR exists, the translation tables are trivial. When more than one HLR is used however, the translations become extremely challenging, with one translation record per subscriber (see the example below). Having determined the appropriate HLR address, the MSC sends a Routing Information Request to it.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

22

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

When the HLR receives the Routing Information Request, it maps the MSISDN to the IMSI, and ascertains the subscribers' profile including the current VLR at which the subscriber is registered. The HLR then queries the VLR for a Mobile Station Roaming Number (MSRN). The MSRN is essentially an ISDN telephone number at which the mobile subscriber can currently be reached. The MSRN is a temporary number that is valid only for the duration of a single call. The HLR generates a response message, which includes the MSRN, and sends it back across the SS7 network to the MSC. Finally, the MSC attempts to complete the call using the MSRN provided. Adding a Second HLR to the GSM Network As a GSM wireless carrier's subscriber base grows, it will eventually become necessary to add a second HLR to their network. A service subscription record storage capacity issue might prompt this requirement, or perhaps an SS7 message processing performance issue. It might possibly be prompted by a need to increase the overall network reliability. The new HLR can be populated with service subscription records as new subscribers are brought into service or existing service subscription records can be ported from the old HLR to the new HLR to more evenly distribute the SS7 traffic load. Typically, when new subscribers are brought into service, the second HLR will be populated with blocks of IMSI numbers that are allocated when new MSE equipment is ordered. As the following example shows, this grouping of IMSI numbers within a single HLR simplifies the routing translations that are required within the SS7 network for VLR to HLR Location Update Request transactions. Global Title Translation (GTT) tables will contain single translation records that translate an entire range of IMSIs numbers into an HLR address. Even if some individual records are moved between the HLRs, as shown in the example, the treatment of IMSIs as blocks results in a significant simplification of the Global Translation tables. Much more complicated SS7 message routing Global Title Translations are required for Routing Information Request transactions between the MSCs distributed over the entire wireless carrier serving area and the two or more HLRs. MSC Routing Information Requests are routed to the appropriate HLR based on the dialed MSISDN and not the IMSI. Unlike the IMSI numbers, the MSISDN numbers can not easily be arranged in groups to reside within a single HLR and therefore, the MSC must contain an MSISDN

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

23

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

to HLR address association record for every mobile subscriber homed on each of the MSCs. As the example illustrates, the MSC routing tables quickly grow much more extensive than the STP tables. The network administration becomes increasingly complex and prone to error. Example: Simple Network with two MSCs and two HLRs The following example illustrates the issues relating to GSM network routing table administration with multiple HLRs. A simple GSM network is shown, with the various routing tables following:

Network aspects
Ensuring the transmission of voice or data of a given quality over the radio link is only part of the function of a cellular mobile network. A GSM mobile can seamlessly roam nationally and internationally, which requires that registration, authentication, call routing and location updating functions exist and are standardized in GSM networks. In addition, the fact that the geographical area covered by the network is divided into cells necessitates the implementation of a handover mechanism. These functions are performed by the Network Subsystem, mainly using the Mobile Application Part (MAP) built on top of the Signalling System No. 7 protocol.

Figure 3. Signalling protocol structure in GSM The signalling protocol in GSM is structured into three general layers, depending on the interface, as shown in Figure 3. Layer 1 is the physical layer, which uses the channel
SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

24

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

structures discussed above over the air interface. Layer 2 is the data link layer. Across the Um interface, the data link layer is a modified version of the LAPD protocol used in ISDN, called LAPDm. Across the A interface, the Message Transfer Part layer 2 of Signalling System Number 7 is used. Layer 3 of the GSM signalling protocol is itself divided into 3 sublayers. Radio Resources Management :- Controls the setup, maintenance, and termination of radio and fixed channels, including handovers. Mobility Management :-Manages the location updating and registration procedures, as well as security and authentication. Connection Management :- Handles general call control, similar to CCITT Recommendation Q.931, and manages Supplementary Services and the Short Message Service. Signalling between the different entities in the fixed part of the network, such as between the HLR and VLR, is accomplished throught the Mobile Application Part (MAP). MAP is built on top of the Transaction Capabilities Application Part (TCAP, the top layer of Signalling System Number 7. The specification of the MAP is quite complex, and at over 500 pages, it is one of the longest documents in the GSM recommendations

Security: GSM was designed with a moderate level of security. The system was designed to authenticate the subscriber using shared-secret cryptography. Communications between the subscriber and the base station can be encrypted. The development of UMTS introduces an optional USIM, that uses a longer authentication key to give greater security, as well as mutually authenticating the network and the user - whereas GSM only authenticated the user to the network (and not vice versa). Another level of security is performed on the mobile equipment itself, as opposed to the mobile subscriber. A unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number identifies each GSM terminal. A list of IMEIs in the network is stored in the Equipment Identity Register (EIR). The status returned in response to an IMEI query to the EIR is one of the following:
SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

25

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

White-listed :-The terminal is allowed to connect to the network. Grey-listed :-The terminal is under observation from the network for possible problems. Black-listed :-The terminal has either been reported stolen, or is not type approved (the correct type of terminal for a GSM network). The terminal is not allowed to connect to the network.

Comparison of mobile phone standards

GSM and CDMA are the two most prevalent mobile communication technologies. Both technologies have the same goal: to divide the finite RF spectrum between multiple users. GSM (Time Division Multiple Access - underlying technology used in GSM) does it by chopping up the channel into sequential time slices. Each user of the channel takes turns to transmit and receive signals. In reality, only one person is actually using the channel at a specific moment. This is analogous to time-sharing on a large computer server. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) on the other hand, uses special digital modulation Spread Spectrum which spreads the voice over very wide channel in pseudo random fashion. The receiver undoes the randomization to collect the bits together and produce the sound. Imagine that you go to a UN party where couples from different countries are invited. In GSM, each couple takes turns talking. They talk for a short time and then stop to let another couple talk. As there is never more than one person speaking in the room, no one has to worry about being heard over the background noise. In CDMA, each couple talks at the same time; however they all use different languages. Because (we assume) that none of the listeners understand any other language than that of their partner, the background noise does not create any problem.

Advantages of GSM:

GSM is mature, this maturity means a more stable network with robust features.
SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

26

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Less signal deterioration inside buildings. Ability to use repeaters Talktime is generally higher in GSM phones due to pulse nature of transmission. The availability of Subscriber Identity Modules allows to users to switch networks and handsets at will. GSM covers virtually all parts of world so international roaming is not a problem. GSM is an open standard, therefore operators do not need to pay royalties to utilize it.

Disadvantages of CDMA

Breathing of base stations, where coverage area shrinks under load. Most technologies are patented and must be licensed from Qualcomm.

The Future:
Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE): EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution) is a radio signaling technology for 3G mobile networks. It boosts data transfer rates and volumes on existing GSM/GPRS networks by significantly increasing data transfer speeds. EDGE benefits 1. Faster connection 2. Greater data volumes achieved 3. Significant increase in functionality 4. Can interoperate with GSM networks for global coverage

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service):

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

27

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) brings the possibility of data services and applications based on Internet Protocol (IP) to GSM mobile networks. In current network implementations, GPRS data transfer speeds are between 30 to 40 Kbit/s. GPRS enables fast connections through which information can be sent and received as the need arises, without having to wait for a dial-up modem to establish a connection. This is why GPRS devices are sometimes referred to be as being an 'always online' technology. And because pricing is often based on the amount of data transferred rather than the connection time, this has made GPRS applications such as email popular with small and large businesses around the world.

Third Generation (3-G) Wireless Systems: 3G systems promise unparalleled wireless access in ways that have never been possible before. Multi-megabit internet access, communication using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), voice-activated calls, unparalleled network capacity and ubiquitous always on access are just some of the advantages touted by 3G developers. Companies developing 3G equipments envision users having the ability to receive music, conduct interactive web sessions, and have simultaneous voice and data access with multiple parties at the same time using a single mobile handset. Whether driving, walking, or standing still in an office building.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

28

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

CONCLUSION

In the modern world where faster common is needed the wireless communication systems are best to use. For mobile communication various systems are used in which GSM is most reliable and accepted digital system.

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

29

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

References: 1.Wireless Communications- Theodore

Rappaport

2. Mobile Communications- Jochen Schiller

3.Wireless Communications- William Stallings

www.wikipedia.com www.nokia.com www.howstuffworks.com www.shoshin.uwaterloo.ca www.pt.com

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

30

GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE COMMUNICATION

www.seekdonet.net www.pulsewan.com

SVERIS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, PANDHARPUR

31