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Overview of GSM Cellular

Network and Operations

Ganesh Srinivasan
NTLGSPTN
Network and switching subsystem
• NSS is the main component of the public mobile network GSM
– switching, mobility management, interconnection to other networks,
system control
• Components
– Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC)
controls all connections via a separated network to/from a mobile
terminal within the domain of the MSC - several BSC can belong to
a MSC
– Databases (important: scalability, high capacity, low delay)
• Home Location Register (HLR)
central master database containing user data, permanent and
semi-permanent data of all subscribers assigned to the HLR (one
provider can have several HLRs)
• Visitor Location Register (VLR)
local database for a subset of user data, including data about all
user currently in the domain of the VLR
Operation subsystem
• The OSS (Operation Subsystem) enables centralized operation,
management, and maintenance of all GSM subsystems
• Components
– Authentication Center (AUC)
• generates user specific authentication parameters on request of
a VLR
• authentication parameters used for authentication of mobile
terminals and encryption of user data on the air interface
within the GSM system
– Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
• registers GSM mobile stations and user rights
• stolen or malfunctioning mobile stations can be locked and
sometimes even localized
– Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC)
• different control capabilities for the radio subsystem and the
network subsystem
Mobile Handset
TEMPORARY DATA PERMANENT DATA

- Temporary Subscriber Identity Permanent Subscriber Identity

- Current Location Key/Algorithm for Authentication.

- Ciphering Data

Provides access to the GSM n/w


Consists of
Mobile equipment (ME)
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
The GSM Radio Interface

AIR INTERFACE
BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION

z
MH
960
35 -
K 9
LIN
DO WN
MOBILE

Hz
M
15
0 -9
89
K
L IN
UP
The GSM Network Architecture
• Time division multiple access-TDMA
• 124 radio carriers, inter carrier spacing 200khz.
• 890 to 915mhz mobile to base - UPLINK
• 935 to 960mhz base to mobile - DOWNLINK
• 8 channels/carrier
GSM uses paired radio channels

PLINK
U

LINK
W N
DO

890MHz 915MHz 935MHz 960MHz

0 124 0 124
Access Mechanism

– FDMA, TDMA, CDMA


Frequency multiplex
• Separation of the whole spectrum into smaller frequency bands
• A channel gets a certain band of the
spectrum for the whole time
k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6
• Advantages:
– no dynamic coordination c
necessary f
– works also for analog signals
• Disadvantages:
– waste of bandwidth
if the traffic is
distributed unevenly
– inflexible t
– guard spaces
Time multiplex
• A channel gets the whole spectrum for a certain amount of
time
• Advantages:
– only one carrier in the
medium at any time
– throughput high even
k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6
for many users
• Disadvantages: c
– precise
f
synchronization
necessary

t
Time and Frequency Multiplex
• Combination of both methods
• A channel gets a certain frequency band for a certain
amount of time k k k k k5 k6
1 2 3 4

c
f

t
Time and Frequency Multiplex
• Example: GSM
• Advantages:
– Better protection against
tapping
– Protection against frequency
selective interference k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6

– Higher data rates compared to c


code multiplex
f
• But: precise coordination
required

t
• GSM combines FDM and TDM: bandwidth
is subdivided into channels of 200khz,
shared by up to eight stations, assigning
slots for transmission on demand.
GSM uses paired radio channels

PLINK
U

LINK
W N
DO

890MHz 915MHz 935MHz 960MHz

0 124 0 124
Code Multiplex
k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6

• Each channel has a unique code


c
• All channels use the same spectrum at the same
time
• Advantages:
– Bandwidth efficient
– No coordination and synchronization
necessary
f
– Good protection against interference and
tapping
• Disadvantages:
– Lower user data rates
– More complex signal regeneration
t
• Implemented using spread spectrum technology
Various Access Method
Cells
Capacity & Spectrum Utilization
The need:
Solution
• Optimum spectrum usage Network capacity at required QoS
• More capacity with conventional frequency plan
• High quality of service
• Low cost
Out of
Capacity!!!

Subscriber
growth
Time

increase capacity
I wish I could
without adding NEW BTS!
What can I do?
Representation of Cells

Ideal cells Fictitious cells


Cell size and capacity
• Cell size determines number of cells
available to cover geographic area and
(with frequency reuse) the total capacity
available to all users
• Capacity within cell limited by available
bandwidth and operational requirements
• Each network operator has to size cells to
handle expected traffic demand
Cell structure
• Implements space division multiplex: base station covers a certain transmission
area (cell)
• Mobile stations communicate only via the base station
• Advantages of cell structures:
– higher capacity, higher number of users
– less transmission power needed
– more robust, decentralized
– base station deals with interference, transmission area etc. locally
• Problems:
– fixed network needed for the base stations
– handover (changing from one cell to another) necessary
– interference with other cells
• Cell sizes from some 100 m in cities to, e.g., 35 km on the country side (GSM) -
even less for higher frequencies
Capacity of a Cellular System
• Frequency Re-Use Distance
• The K factor or the cluster size
• Cellular coverage or Signal to interference
ratio
• Sectoring
The K factor and Frequency Re-Use
Distance
7
6 2
K = i + ij + j
2 2
1
K = 22 + 2*1 + 12 5 3
j
K=4+2+1 7 R
K=7 2
6
1 i
D
5 3
4

D = √ 3K*R
Frequency re-use distance is based on the cluster size K D=4.58R

The cluster size is specified in terms of the offset of the center of a cluster from the center
of the adjacent cluster
The Frequency Re-Use for K = 4

K = i2 + ij + j2
K = 22 + 2*0 + 02
K=4+0+0
D
K=4
D = √ 3K*R
R
D=3.46R i
The Cell Structure for K = 7

7
6 2
1
5 3
7 4 1
6 2
2
1 7
5 3 6 2
4 1
7 5 3
6 2 7 4
1 6 2
5 3 1
4 5 3
4
Cell Structure for K = 4
1

2 1
4
1 4 2
3
4 2 1 3

3 4 2 1

1 3 4 2

4 2 1 3

3 4 2

3
Cell Structure for K = 12

9 9
8 10 8 10
2 11 2
7 11
3 7 3
1 12 1
6 12
4 6 4
9 5 9
8 5
10 8 10
2 11 2
7 11
3 7
1 3
12 1 12
6 4 6 4
5 5
Increasing cellular system
capacity
• Cell sectoring
– Directional antennas subdivide cell into 3 or 6
sectors
– Might also increase cell capacity by factor of 3
or 6
Increasing cellular system
capacity
• Cell splitting
– Decrease transmission power in base and
mobile
– Results in more and smaller cells
– Reuse frequencies in non-contiguous cell
groups
– Example: ½ cell radius leads 4 fold capacity
increase
Tri-Sector antenna for a cell
Cell Distribution in a Network

Rural
Highway

Suburb Town
Optimum use of frequency
spectrum
• Operator bandwidth of 7.2MHz (36 freq of 200
kHz)
• TDMA 8 traffic channels per carrier
• K factor = 12
• What are the number of traffic channels available
within its area for these three cases
– Without cell splitting
– With 72 cells
– With 246 cells
Re-use of the frequency

One Cell = 288 traffic channels


8 X 36 = 288

72 Cell = 1728 traffic channels


8 X (72/12 X 36) = 1728

246 Cell = 5904 traffic channels


Concept of TDMA Frames and
Channels
c
f

• GSM combines FDM and TDM: bandwidth is subdivided


into channels of 200khz, shared by up to eight stations,
assigning slots for transmission on demand.
GSM uses paired radio channels

PLINK
U

LINK
W N
DO

890MHz 915MHz 935MHz 960MHz

0 124 0 124
GSM delays uplink TDMA frames
The start of the uplink
TDMA is delayed of TDMA frame (4.615 ms)
three time slots

Downlink TDMA R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8
F1MHz
Uplink TDMA
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8 Frame
F1 + 45MHz

R T

R T

Fixed transmit
Delay of three time-slots
GSM - TDMA/FDMA
935-960 MHz
124 channels (200 kHz)
downlink
yc
en
qu

890-915 MHz
fre

124 channels (200 kHz)


uplink
higher GSM frame structures
time

GSM TDMA frame

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
4.615 ms

GSM time-slot (normal burst)


guard guard
space tail user data S Training S user data tail space
3 bits 57 bits 1 26 bits 1 57 bits 3
546.5 µs
577 µs
LOGICAL CHANNELS

TRAFFIC SIGNALLING

FULL RATE HALF RATE


Bm 22.8 Kb/S Lm 11.4 Kb/S
BROADCAST COMMON CONTROL DEDICATED CONTROL

FCCH SCH BCCH


RACH
PCH AGCH
FCCH -- FREQUENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL
SCH -- SYNCHRONISATION CHANNEL
BCCH -- BROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL
PCH -- PAGING CHANNEL
RACH -- RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL SDCCH SACCH FACCH
AGCH -- ACCESS GRANTED CHANNEL
SDCCH -- STAND ALONE DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL DOWN LINK ONLY
SACCH -- SLOW ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL BOTH UP &
FACCH -- FAST ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL UPLINK ONLY DOWNLINKS
Broadcast Channel -
BCH
• Broadcast control channel (BCCH) is a base to
mobile channel which provides general information
about the network, the cell in which the mobile is
currently located and the adjacent cells
• Frequency correction channel (FCCH) is a base to
mobile channel which provides information for
carrier synchronization
• Synchronization channel (SCH) is a base to mobile
channel which carries information for frame
synchronization and identification of the base
station transceiver
Common Control
Channel - CCH
• Paging channel (PCH) is a base to
mobile channel used to alert a mobile to
a call originating from the network
• Random access channel (RACH) is a
mobile to base channel used to request
for dedicated resources
• Access grant channel (AGCH) is a base
to mobile which is used to assign
dedicated resources (SDCCH or TCH)
Dedicated Control
Channel - DCCH
• Stand-alone dedicated control
channel (SDCCH) is a bi-directional
channel allocated to a specific
mobile for exchange of location
update information and call set up
information
Dedicated Control
Channel - DCCH
• Slow associated control channel (SACCH) is a bi-directional
channel used for exchanging control information between
base and a mobile during the progress of a call set up
procedure. The SACCH is associated with a particular traffic
channel or stand alone dedicated control channel
• Fast associated control channel (FACCH) is a bi-directional
channel which is used for exchange of time critical
information between mobile and base station during the
progress of a call. The FACCH transmits control information
by stealing capacity from the associated TCH
DEFINITION OF TIME SLOT - 156.25 BITS 15/26ms = 0.577ms

NORMAL BURST 3 57 1 26 1 57 3 8.25


- NB

FREQUENCY
CORRECTION 3 142 3 8.25
BURST - FB

SYNCHRONISATION 3 39 64 39 3 8.25
BURST - SB

ACCESS
BURST - AB 6 41 36 3 68.25

FIXED BITS SYNCHRONISATION BITS


TAIL BIT GUARD PERIOD

ENCRYPTION BIT TRAINING BITS FLAG BITS MIXED BITS


HIERARCHY OF FRAMES
1 HYPER FRAME = 2048 SUPERFRAMES = 2 715 648 TDMA FRAMES ( 3 H 28 MIN 53 S 760 MS )

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 2043 2044 2045 2046 2047

TRAFFIC CHANNELS 1 SUPER FRAME = 1326 TDMA FRAMES ( 6.12 S )


LEFT (OR) RIGHT
1 SUPER FRAME = 51 MULTI FRAMES

0 1 2 3 4 48 49 50 SIGNALLING CHANNELS

1 SUPER FRAME = 26 MULTI FRAMES

0 1 2 24 25
1 MULTIFRAME = 26 TDMA FRAMES ( 120 ms )

0 1 2 3 24 25
1 MULTI FRAME = 51 TDMA FRAMES (235 .4 ms )
0 1 2 3 4 48 49 50

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0
(4.615ms) TDMA FRAME NO.
0 1
1 TIME SLOT = 156.25 BITS
( 0.577 ms) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0
(4.615 ms)
1 2 3 4 155 156 0 1
1 bit =36.9 micro sec
GSM Frame Full rate
channel is
SACCH is idle in 25
transmitted
0 to 11 and 13 to 24 in frame 12
Are used for traffic data Frame
duration =
0 1 2 12 24 25 120ms

Frame
duration =
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 60/13ms

Frame
duration =
15/26ms
3 57 1 26 1 57 3 8.25
• 114 bits are available for data transmission.
• The training sequence of 26 bits in the
middle of the burst is used by the receiver
to synchronize and compensate for time
dispersion produced by multipath
propagation.
• 1 stealing bit for each information block
(used for FACCH)
LOGICAL CHANNELS

TRAFFIC SIGNALLING

FULL RATE HALF RATE


Bm 22.8 Kb/S Lm 11.4 Kb/S
BROADCAST COMMON CONTROL DEDICATED CONTROL

FCCH SCH BCCH


RACH
PCH AGCH
FCCH -- FREQUENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL
SCH -- SYNCHRONISATION CHANNEL
BCCH -- BROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL
PCH -- PAGING CHANNEL
RACH -- RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL SDCCH SACCH FACCH
AGCH -- ACCESS GRANTED CHANNEL
SDCCH -- STAND ALONE DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL DOWN LINK ONLY
SACCH -- SLOW ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL BOTH UP &
FACCH -- FAST ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL UPLINK ONLY DOWNLINKS
Location update from the mobile
Mobile looks for BCCH after switching on

RACH send channel request

AGCH receive SDCCH

SDCCH request for location updating

SDCCH authenticate

SDCCH authenticate response

SDCCH switch to cipher mode

SDCCH cipher mode acknowledge

SDCCH allocate TMSI

SDCCH acknowledge new TMSI

SDCCH switch idle update mode


Call establishment from a mobile
Mobile looks for BCCH after switching on

RACH send channel request

AGCH receive SDCCH

SDCCH send call establishment request

SDCCH do the authentication and TMSI allocation

SDCCH send the setup message and desired number

SDCCH require traffic channel assignment

FACCH switch to traffic channel and send ack (steal bits)

FACCH receive alert signal ringing sound

FACCH receive connect message

FACCH acknowledge connect message and use TCH

TCH conversation continues


Call establishment to a mobile
Mobile looks for BCCH after switching on

Mobile receives paging message on PCH

Generate Channel Request on RACH

Receive signaling channel SDCCH on AGCH

Answer paging message on SDCCH

Receive authentication request on SDCCH

Authenticate on SDCCH

Receive setup message on SDCCH

Receive traffic channel assignment on SDCCH

FACCH switch to traffic channel and send ack (steal bits)

Receive alert signal and generate ringing on FACCH

Receive connect message on FACCH


FACCH acknowledge connect message and switch to TCH
GSM speech coding

AIR INTERFACE
BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION

z
MH
960
35 -
K 9
LIN
DO WN
MOBILE

Hz
M
15
0 -9
89
K
L IN
UP
Transmit Path

BS Side
8 bit A-Law 8 K sps
to
RPE/LTP speech Encoder
13 bit Uniform To Channel Coder 13Kbps

MS Side

8 K sps,
LPF A/D RPE/LTP speech Encoder
To Channel Coder 13Kbps

Sampling Rate - 8K
Encoding - 13 bit Encoding (104 Kbps)
RPE/LTP - Regular Pulse Excitation/Long Term Prediction
RPE/LTP converts the 104 Kbps stream to 13 Kbps
GSM Speech Coding

• GSM is a digital system, so speech which is


inherently analog, has to be digitized.
• The method employed by current telephone
systems for multiplexing voice lines over
high speed trunks and is pulse coded
modulation (PCM). The output stream from
PCM is 64 kbps, too high a rate to be
feasible over a radio link.
GSM Frame Full rate
channel is
SACCH is idle in 25
transmitted
0 to 11 and 13 to 24 in frame 12
Are used for traffic data Frame
duration =
0 1 2 12 24 25 120ms

Frame
duration =
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 60/13ms

Frame
duration =
15/26ms
3 57 1 26 1 57 3 8.25
GSM Speech Coding
• Speech is divided into 20 millisecond
samples, each of which is encoded as 260
bits, giving a total bit rate of 13 kbps.
• Regular pulse excited -- linear predictive
coder (RPE--LPC) with a long term
predictor loop is the speech coding
algorithm.
• The 260 bits are divided into three classes:
– Class Ia 50 bits - most sensitive to bit errors.
– Class Ib 132 bits - moderately sensitive to bit errors.
– Class II 78 bits - least sensitive to bit errors.
• Class Ia bits have a 3 bit cyclic redundancy code added for error
detection = 50+3 bits.
• 132 class Ib bits with 4 bit tail sequence = 132 + 4 = 136.
• Class Ia + class Ib = 53+136=189, input into a 1/2 rate convolution
encoder of constraint length 4. Each input bit is encoded as two output
bits, based on a combination of the previous 4 input bits. The
convolution encoder thus outputs 378 bits, to which are added the 78
remaining class II bits.
• Thus every 20 ms speech sample is encoded as 456 bits, giving a bit
rate of 22.8 kbps.
• To further protect against the burst errors common to the
radio interface, each sample is interleaved. The 456 bits
output by the convolution encoder are divided into 8
blocks of 57 bits, and these blocks are transmitted in eight
consecutive time-slot bursts. Since each time-slot burst can
carry two 57 bit blocks, each burst carries traffic from two
different speech samples.

3 57 bits 1 26 1 57 bits 3

3 57 bits 1 26 1 57 bits 3

3 57 bits 1 26 1 57 bits 3

3 57 bits 1 26 1 57 bits 3

3 57 bits 1 26 1 57 bits 3

3 57 bits 1 26 1 57 bits 3

3 57 bits 1 26 1 57 bits 3

3 57 bits 1 26 1 57 bits 3
GSM Protocol Suite
SS
HLR

MM + CM
MSC
VLR

RR
BSC

BTS

Radio interface
Link Layer
• LAPDm is used between MS and BTS
• LAPD is used between BTS-BSC
• MTP2 is used between BSC-
MSC/VLR/HLR
Network Layer
• To distinguish between CC, SS, MM and RR protocol
discriminator (PD) is used as network address.
– CC call control management MS-MSC.
– SS supplementary services management MS-MSC/HLR.
– MM mobility management(location management, security
management) MS-MSC/VLR.
– RR radio resource management MS-BSC.
• Messages pertaining to different transaction are
distinguished by a transaction identifier (TI).
Application Layer protocols
• BSSMAP between BSC and MSC
• DTAP messages between MS and MSC.
• All messages on the A interface bear a
discrimination flag, indicating whether the message
is a BSSMAP or a DTAP.
• DTAP messages carry DLCI(information on type of
link on the radio interface) to distinguish what is
related to CC or SMS.
• MAP protocol is the one between neighbor MSCs.
MAP is also used between MSC and HLR.
GSM Functional Architecture and Principal Interfaces

Mobile Application Part A Interface

MAP Q931
BSSAP
TCAP SCCP

CCS7 CCS7 MTP Um


SCCP

CCS7 MTP Q.921


Base Station System

Radio Interface

Q.931

Q.921

A-Bis Interface
GSM protocol layers for
Um
signaling Abis A
MS BTS BSC MSC

CM CM

MM MM

BSSAP
BSSAP
RR RR’
RR’ BTSM BTSM SS7 SS7
LAPDm LAPDm LAPD LAPD

radio radio PCM PCM PCM PCM

16/64 kbit/s 64 kbit/s /


2.048 Mbit/s
Protocols involved in the radio
interface
• Level 1-Physical
– TDMA frame
– Logical channels multiplexing
• Level 2-LAPDm(modified from LAPD)
– No flag
– No error retransmission mechanism due to real time constraints
• Level 3-Radio Interface Layer (RIL3) involves three sub layers
– RR: paging, power control, ciphering execution, handover
– MM: security, location IMSI attach/detach
– CM: Call Control(CC), Supplementary Services(SS), Short
Message Services(SMS),
LAPDm on radio interface
• In LAPDm the use of flags is avoided.
• LAPDm maximum length is 21 octets of
information. It makes use of “more” bit to
distinguish last frame of a message.
• No frame check sequence for LAPDm, it
uses the error detecting performance of the
transmission coding scheme offered by the
physical layer
LAPDm Message structure
ADDRESS CONTROL INFORMATION 0-21 OCTETS

SAPI

N(S) N(R)
LAPDm on radio interface
• The acknowledgement for the next expected frame in the
indicator N(R ).
• On radio interface two independent flows(one for signaling,
and one for SMS) can exist simultaneously.
• These two flows are distinguished by a link identifier called the
SAPI(service access point identifier).
• LAPDm SAPI=0 for signaling and SAPI=3 for SMS.
• SAP1=0 for radio signaling, SAPI=62 for OAM and SAPI=63
for layer 2 management on the Abis interface.
• There is no need of a TEI, because there is no need to
distinguish the different mobile stations, which is done by
distinguishing the different radio channels.
Protocols involved in the A-bis
interface
• Level 1-PCM transmission (E1 or T1)
– Speech encoded at 16kbit/s and sub multiplexed in
64kbit/s time slots.
– Data which rate is adapted and synchronized.
• Level 2-LAPD protocol, standard HDLC
– Radio Signaling Link (RSL)
– Operation and Maintenance Link (OML).
• Level 3-Application Protocol
– Radio Subsystem Management (RSM)
– Operation and Maintenance procedure (OAM)
Presentation of A-bis Interface
• Messages exchanges between the BTS and BSC.
– Traffic exchanges
– Signaling exchanges
• Physical access between BTS and BSC is PCM
digital links of E1(32) or T1(24) TS at 64kbit/s.
• Speech:
– Conveyed in timeslots at 4X16 kbit/s
• Data:
– Conveyed in timeslots of 4X16 kbit/s. The initial user
rate, which may be 300, 1200, … is adjusted to 16 kbit/s
LAPD message structure
FLAG ADRESS CONTROL INFORMATION 0 – 260 OCT FCS FLAG

SAPI TEI

N(S) N(R)
LAPD
• The length is limited to 260 octets of information.
• LAPD has the address of the destination terminal,
to identify the TRX, since this is a point to
multipoint interface.
• Each TRX in a BTS corresponds to one or several
signaling links. These links are distinguished by
TEI (Terminal Equipment Identities).
• SAPI=0, SAPI=3, SAPI=62 for OAM.
Presentation of the A-ter
interface
TRAU

BSC

LAPD TS1
OAM

Speech TS
Transcoding Speech TS
MSC
CCS7 TS CCS7 TS

X.25 TS2 X.25 TS2 OMC

PCM
LINK PCM
LINK
Presentation on the A-ter
interface
• Signaling messages are carried on specific timeslots (TS)
– LAPD signaling TS between the BSC and the TCU
– SS7 TS between the BSC and the MSC, dedicated for BSSAP
messages transportation.
– X25 TS2 is reserved for OAM.
• Speech and data channels (16kbit/s)
• Ater interface links carry up to:
– 120 communications(E1), 4*30
– 92 communications(T1).
• The 64 kbit/s speech rate adjustment and the 64 kbit/s data rate
adaptation are performed at the TCU.
Presentation of the A interface
Signaling Protocol Model
Presentation on the A-Interface
BSSMAP - deals with procedures that take place logically between the BSS and
MSC, examples:

Trunk Maintenance, Ciphering, Handover, Voice/Data Trunk


Assignment

DTAP - deals with procedures that take place logically between the MS and
MSC. The BSS does not interpret the DTAP information, it simply repackages it
and sends it to the MS over the Um Interface. examples:

Location Update, MS originated and terminated Calls, Short Message


Service, User Supplementary Service registration, activation, deactivation
and erasure
Inter MSC presentation
MS NSS

CM CM M
A
MM MM P
BTS BSC

O BSSAP T
R O BSSAP
A R D B C
R A S DTAP/
M R T S A
M A M BSSMAP
A P
P P
L L SCCP SCCP SCCP
A A
P MTP3 MTP3 MTP3
P
D D MTP2 MTP2 MTP2
MTP1

Um A bis A
Interface Interface Interface
MS BSC MSC

PD=RR

PD=MM

TI=a
TI=b
PD=CC
Link: SAPI=0 DLCI: SAPI=0

TI=A
Link: SAPI=3 DLCI: SAPI=3
Channel=C1 Channel ID = N1 DTAP
PD: protocol discriminator
SCCP Ref=R1 TI: Transaction Identifier for
RIL3-CC protocol
DLCI: Data Link connection
Identifier
SAPI: Service Access Point
Identifier on the radio
Interface
Channel=C2 Channel ID = N1 SCCP Ref=R2 TEI: Terminal Equipment
Identifier on the Abis I/F

TRX:TEI=T1

Radio Interface Abis Interface A Interface


Bearer Services
• Telecommunication services to transfer data
between access points
• Specification of services up to the terminal
interface (OSI layers 1-3)
• Different data rates for voice and data (original
standard)
– Data service
• Synchronous: 2.4, 4.8 or 9.6 kbit/s
• Asynchronous: 300 - 1200 bit/s
Tele Services
• Telecommunication services that enable voice communication via
mobile phones.
• All these basic services have to obey cellular functions, security
measurements etc.
• Offered services.
– Mobile telephony
primary goal of GSM was to enable mobile telephony offering the
traditional bandwidth of 3.1 kHz.
– Emergency number
common number throughout Europe (112); Mandatory for all
service providers; Free of charge; Connection with the highest
priority (preemption of other connections possible).
– Multinumbering
several ISDN phone numbers per user possible.
Performance characteristics of GSM
• Communication
– mobile, wireless communication; support for voice and data
services
• Total mobility
– international access, chip-card enables use of access points of
different providers
• Worldwide connectivity
– one number, the network handles localization
• High capacity
– better frequency efficiency, smaller cells, more customers per cell
• High transmission quality
– high audio quality and reliability for wireless, uninterrupted phone
calls at higher speeds (e.g., from cars, trains)
• Security functions
– access control, authentication via chip-card and PIN
Disadvantages of GSM
• No full ISDN bandwidth of 64 kbit/s to the user
• Reduced concentration while driving
• Electromagnetic radiation
• Abuse of private data possible
• High complexity of the system
• Several incompatibilities within the GSM
standards
Thank You

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