GSM Network Architecture

GSM Network Architecture
- the GSM network architecture consists of different elements that all

interact together to form the overall GSM system. These include elements
like the base-station, controller, MSC, AuC, HLR, VLR, etc.
GSM TUTORIAL INCLUDES
GSM tutorial / introduction
History
Network architecture
Interfaces
Radio access network
Frames
Frequency bands and allocations
Power class, control & amplifiers
Physical & logical channels
Codecs / vocoders
Handover / handoff
The GSM technical specifications define the different elements within the GSM network
architecture. It defines the different elements and the ways in which they interact to enable the
overall system operation to be maintained.
The GSM network architecture is now well established and with the other later cellular systems
now established and other new ones being deployed, the basic GSM network architecture has
been updated to interface to the network elements required by these systems.
Despite the developments of the newer systems, the basic GSM system architecture has been
maintained, and the network elements described below perform the same functions as they did
when the original GSM system was launched in the early 1990s.GSM network architecture
elements
The GSM network architecture as defined in the GSM specifications can be grouped into four
main areas:
Mobile station (MS)
Base-Station Subsystem (BSS)
Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)
Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS)
The different elements of the GSM network operate together and the user is not aware of the
different entities within the system.
A basic diagram of the overall GSM system architecture with these four major elements is shown
below:
Simplified GSM Network Architecture Diagram
Mobile station
Mobile stations (MS), mobile equipment (ME) or as they are most widely known, cell or mobile
phones are the section of a GSM cellular network that the user sees and operates. In recent
years their size has fallen dramatically while the level of functionality has greatly increased. A
further advantage is that the time between charges has significantly increased.
There are a number of elements to the cell phone, although the two main elements are the main
hardware and the SIM.
The hardware itself contains the main elements of the mobile phone including the display, case,
battery, and the electronics used to generate the signal, and process the data receiver and to be
transmitted. It also contains a number known as the International Mobile Equipment Identity
(IMEI). This is installed in the phone at manufacture and "cannot" be changed. It is accessed by
the network during registration to check whether the equipment has been reported as stolen.
The SIM or Subscriber Identity Module contains the information that provides the identity of the
user to the network. It contains are variety of information including a number known as the
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).
Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

The Base Station Subsystem (BSS) section of the GSM network architecture that is
fundamentally associated with communicating with the mobiles on the network. It consists of two
elements:
Base Transceiver Station (BTS):
The BTS used in a GSM network comprises the
radio transmitter receivers, and their associated antennas that transmit and receive to
directly communicate with the mobiles. The BTS is the defining element for each cell. The
BTS communicates with the mobiles and the interface between the two is known as the
Um interface with its associated protocols.
Base Station Controller (BSC):
The BSC forms the next stage back into the GSM
network. It controls a group of BTSs, and is often co-located with one of the BTSs in its
group. It manages the radio resources and controls items such as handover within the
group of BTSs, allocates channels and the like. It communicates with the BTSs over what
is termed the Abis interface.
Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)

The GSM system architecture contains a variety of different elements, and is often termed the
core network. It provides the main control and interfacing for the whole mobile network. The
major elements within the core network include:
Mobile Switching services Centre (MSC): The main element within the core network
area of the overall GSM network architecture is the Mobile switching Services Centre
(MSC). The MSC acts like a normal switching node within a PSTN or ISDN, but also
provides additional functionality to enable the requirements of a mobile user to be
supported. These include registration, authentication, call location, inter-MSC handovers
and call routing to a mobile subscriber. It also provides an interface to the PSTN so that
calls can be routed from the mobile network to a phone connected to a landline.
Interfaces to other MSCs are provided to enable calls to be made to mobiles on different
networks.
Home Location Register (HLR):
This database contains all the administrative
information about each subscriber along with their last known location. In this way, the
GSM network is able to route calls to the relevant base station for the MS. When a user
switches on their phone, the phone registers with the network and from this it is possible
to determine which BTS it communicates with so that incoming calls can be routed
appropriately. Even when the phone is not active (but switched on) it re-registers
periodically to ensure that the network (HLR) is aware of its latest position. There is one
HLR per network, although it may be distributed across various sub-centres to for
operational reasons.
Visitor Location Register (VLR): This contains selected information from the HLR that
enables the selected services for the individual subscriber to be provided. The VLR can
be implemented as a separate entity, but it is commonly realised as an integral part of the
MSC, rather than a separate entity. In this way access is made faster and more
convenient.
Equipment Identity Register (EIR): The EIR is the entity that decides whether a given
mobile equipment may be allowed onto the network. Each mobile equipment has a
number known as the International Mobile Equipment Identity. This number, as
mentioned above, is installed in the equipment and is checked by the network during
registration. Dependent upon the information held in the EIR, the mobile may be
allocated one of three states - allowed onto the network, barred access, or monitored in
case its problems.
Authentication Centre (AuC):
The AuC is a protected database that contains the
secret key also contained in the user's SIM card. It is used for authentication and for
ciphering on the radio channel.
Gateway Mobile Switching Centre (GMSC): The GMSC is the point to which a ME
terminating call is initially routed, without any knowledge of the MS's location. The GMSC
is thus in charge of obtaining the MSRN (Mobile Station Roaming Number) from the HLR
based on the MSISDN (Mobile Station ISDN number, the "directory number" of a MS)
and routing the call to the correct visited MSC. The "MSC" part of the term GMSC is
misleading, since the gateway operation does not require any linking to an MSC.
SMS Gateway (SMS-G):
The SMS-G or SMS gateway is the term that is used to
collectively describe the two Short Message Services Gateways defined in the GSM
standards. The two gateways handle messages directed in different directions. The SMSGMSC (Short Message Service Gateway Mobile Switching Centre) is for short messages
being sent to an ME. The SMS-IWMSC (Short Message Service Inter-Working Mobile
Switching Centre) is used for short messages originated with a mobile on that network.
The SMS-GMSC role is similar to that of the GMSC, whereas the SMS-IWMSC provides
a fixed access point to the Short Message Service Centre.
Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS)

The OSS or operation support subsystem is an element within the overall GSM network
architecture that is connected to components of the NSS and the BSC. It is used to control and
monitor the overall GSM network and it is also used to control the traffic load of the BSS. It must
be noted that as the number of BS increases with the scaling of the subscriber population some
of the maintenance tasks are transferred to the BTS, allowing savings in the cost of ownership of
the system.

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GSM Network Architecture

- the GSM network architecture consists of different elements that all

Mobile station (MS)

Base-Station Subsystem (BSS)

Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)

Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS)

Simplified GSM Network Architecture Diagram

Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

Base Transceiver Station (BTS):

The BTS used in a GSM network comprises the

Base Station Controller (BSC):

Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)

Home Location Register (HLR):

This database contains all the administrative

Authentication Centre (AuC):

The AuC is a protected database that contains the

SMS Gateway (SMS-G):

The SMS-G or SMS gateway is the term that is used to

Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS)

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