TDMA - Time Division Multiple Access

Time Division Multiple Access
(TDMA)
Time Division Multiple Access

Introduction
GSM uses Time Division Multiple Acces (TDMA) as its access scheme. This is
how the MS interfaces with the network. TDMA is the protocol used on the Air
(Um) Link. GSM uses Gaussian Minimum-Shift Keying (GMSK) as its
modulation methos.
Time Division means that the frequency is divided up into blocks of time and
only certain logical channels are transmitted at certain times. Logical
channels will be introduced in the next lesson.The time divisions in TDMA are
known as Time Slots.
Time Slots
A frequency is divided up into 8 time slots, numbered 0 to 7.
Time Slots
On a side note, also remember that GSM carrier frequencies are separated
by 200kHz and that GSM operates in duplex. A channel number assigned to a
pair of frequencies, one uplink and one downlink, is known as an Absolute
Radio Frequency Channel Number (ARFCN). For a review of the ARFCN go to
the Introduction to GSM Tutorial.
Each time slot lasts 576.9 µs. A time slot is the basic radio resource used to
facilitate communication between the MS and the BTS.
Time Slot Duration
Data Rates
As stated earlier, GSM uses Gaussian Minimum-Shift Keying (GMSK) as its
modulation method. GMSK provides a modulation rate of 270.833 kilobits per
second (kb/s).
At that rate, a maximum of 156.25 bits can be transmitted in each time slot
(576.9 µs).
Math:
270.833 kb/s × 1000 = 270,833 bits/sec (Converting from kilobits to

bits)
270,833 b/sec ÷ 1,000,000 = .207833 b/µs (Calculating bits per
miscrosecond)
.207833 b/µs × 576.9 µs = 156.25 bits (Calculating number of bits per
time slot)
So, 156.25 bits can be transmitted in a single time slot
Bits per Time Slot
Data Burst
The data transmitted during a single time slot is known as a burst. Each
burst allows 8.25 bits for guard time within a time slot. This is to prevent
bursts from overlapping and interfering with transmissions in other time
slots. Subtracting this from the 156.25 bits, there are 148 bits usable for
each burst.
There are four main types of bursts in TDMA:
Normal Burst (NB)

Frequency Correction Burst (FB)
Synchronization Burst (SB)
Access Burst (AB)
Normal Burst
The data transmitted during a single time slot is known as a burst. Each
burst allows 8.25 bits for guard time. This is to prevent bursts from
overlapping and interfering with transmissions in other time slots.
Out of 156.25, this leaves 148 bits usable for each burst.
Here is the structure of a normal burst:
Burst
Tail Bits - Each burst leaves 3 bits on each end in which no data is
transmitted. This is designed to compensate for the time it takes for the
power to rise up to its peak during a transmission. The bits at the end
compensate for the powering down at the end of the transmission.
Data Bits - There are two data payloads of 57 bits each.

Stealing Flags - Indicates whether the burst is being used for voice/data
(set to "0") or if the burst is being "stolen" by the FACCH to be used for
singalling (set to "1"). *The FACCH is discussed in the Logical Channels Tutorial
Training Sequence - The training sequence bits are used to overcome

multi-path fading and propagation effects through a method called
equalization.
*Note: 3GPP TS 45.001 Standard does not describe stealing bits, and instead allows for two
58-bit data payloads in a burst. However, it is common practice in GSM networks to use 57-
bit payloads and stealing bits.
This diagram illustrates a single burst inside a time slot. Remember that 8.25
bits are not used in order to allow for a guard time.
Burst within a Time Slot
Since each burst has two 57-bit data segments, we can see that a single
burst has a data payload of 114 bits.
Frequency Correction Burst

This burst is used for frequency synchronization of the mobile station. It is an
unmodulated carrier that shifts in frequency. It has the same guard time as a
normal bit (8.25 bits). The broadcast of the FB usually occurs on the logical
channel FCCH.
Frequency Correction Burst
Synchronization Burst
This burst is used for time synchronization of the mobile. The data payload
carries the TDMA Frame Number (FN) and the Base Station Identity Code
(BSIC). It is broadcast with the frequency correction burst. The
Synchronization Burst is broadcast on the Synchronization Channel (SCH).
Synchronization Burst
Access Burst
This burst is used by mobile station for random access. It has a much longer
guard period (68.25 bits compared to the 8.25 bits in a normal burst). It is
designed to compensate for the unknown distance of the mobile station from
the tower, when the MS wants access to a new BTS, it will not know the
correct Timing Advance.
Access Burst
Calculating the Data Throughput

Since each burst has two 57-bit data segments, we can see that a single
burst has a data payload of 114 bits.
Each burst lasts 576.9 µs, so we can calculate the theoretical bit rate of a
single time slot:
114 bits ÷ 576.9 µs = .1976 bits/µs (Calculating bits per µs)
.1976 bits/µs × 1,000,000 = 197,607 bits/sec nbsp; (Converting µs to

sec)
Since there are 8 time slots per carrier frequency, each time slot would only
get 1/8 of this bit rate, so...
197,607 bits ÷ 8 = 24,700 bits (Calculating bit rate for one of eight time
slots.)
24,700 bits ÷ 1000 = 24.7 kbits/sec (Converting bits to kilobits)
So, using GMSK modulation there is a maximum bit rate of 24.7 kb/s for a
single time slot. Note that this bit rate does not account for any error
correction bits. Any bits used for error correction would have to be stolen
from the 114-bit data payload of each burst.
TDMA Frame Structure & Hierarchy
TDMA Frame
Each sequence of 8 time slots is known as a TDMA frame. The duration of a

TDMA frame is 4.615 milliseconds (ms) (576.9 µs × 8).
* Remember that a TDMA frame is 8 time slots and that no one resource will be given an
entire TDMA frame, the resources must share them.
A TDMA Frame
Multiframe
A Multiframe is composed of multiple TDMA frames.
There are two types of multiframes:
Control Channel Multiframes

Traffic Channel Multiframes
Control Channel Multiframe

composed of 51 TDMA frames
duration = 235.4 ms
Control Channel Multiframe
Traffic Channel Multiframe

composed of 26 TDMA frames
duration = 120 ms
Traffic Channel Multiframe

Here is a diagram comparing the Control Channel multiframe and a traffic
channel multiframe.
Traffic Channel and Control Channel Multiframes
The next diagram shows a Traffic Channel (TCH) Multiframe with TS2 (green)
being allocated to a Mobile Station (MS). The red arrow indicates the
sequence of transmission. The sequence starts in TDMA frame 0 at TS0,
proceeds through all eight time slots, then starts again with TDMA frame 1.
In this example, the MS has been allocated a Traffic Channel in TS2.

Therefore the MS will only transmit/receive during TS2 of each TDMA frame.
Single Time Slot Allocated
Superframe
A Superframe is composed of multiple Multiframes.
Again, there is a superframe for Control Channels and one for Traffic
Channels.
Control Channel Superframe

composed of 26 Control Channel (CCH) multiframes (each CCH multiframe
has 51 TDMA frames)
duration = 6.12 seconds
Traffic Channel Superframe

composed of 51 Traffic Channel (TCH) multiframes (each TCH) multiframe
has 26 TDMA frames)
duration = 6.12 seconds
Each superframe, whether it is a CCH or TCH frame, consists of 1326 TDMA

frames (51 * 26)
*Note: The CCH and TCH frame sequences will synchronize every superframe.
Hyperframe
A hyperframe is composed of 2048 superframes.

duration = 3h 28m 53s 76ms (12,533.76 seconds)
consists of 2,715,548 TDMA frames
Each TDMA frame is numbered according to its sequence within the

hyperframe, starting from 0 and ending at 2,715,547.
The TDMA frame number within a hyperframe is abbreviated FN. The FN is

one of the variables used in GSM encryption algorithms.
The following diagram shows the relationship between all of the various time
segments introduced in this tutorial.
Relationship of All Time Segments

TDMA - Time Division Multiple Access

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Time Division Multiple Access

Time Division Multiple Access

Time Slot Duration

270.833 kb/s × 1000 = 270,833 bits/sec (Converting from kilobits to

Bits per Time Slot

There are four main types of bursts in TDMA:

Normal Burst (NB)

Here is the structure of a normal burst:

Data Bits - There are two data payloads of 57 bits each.

Training Sequence - The training sequence bits are used to overcome

Burst within a Time Slot

Frequency Correction Burst

Frequency Correction Burst

Calculating the Data Throughput

114 bits ÷ 576.9 µs = .1976 bits/µs (Calculating bits per µs)

.1976 bits/µs × 1,000,000 = 197,607 bits/sec nbsp; (Converting µs to

24,700 bits ÷ 1000 = 24.7 kbits/sec (Converting bits to kilobits)

Each sequence of 8 time slots is known as a TDMA frame. The duration of a

A Multiframe is composed of multiple TDMA frames.

There are two types of multiframes:

Control Channel Multiframes

Control Channel Multiframe

Traffic Channel Multiframe

Traffic Channel Multiframe

Traffic Channel and Control Channel Multiframes

In this example, the MS has been allocated a Traffic Channel in TS2.

A Superframe is composed of multiple Multiframes.

Control Channel Superframe

Traffic Channel Superframe

Each superframe, whether it is a CCH or TCH frame, consists of 1326 TDMA

A hyperframe is composed of 2048 superframes.

Each TDMA frame is numbered according to its sequence within the

The TDMA frame number within a hyperframe is abbreviated FN. The FN is

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