BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED ELECTRONIC SWITCHING

ENGINEERING INSTRUCTIONS IMPCS

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INTRODUCTION TO IMPCS SYSTEM

1. SCOPE
This engineering instruction gives the brief idea of IMPCS system introduced in the telecom
sector in India.

2. GENERAL

BSNL IMPCS is a pilot project in the field of cellular telephony to provide GSM based
mobile services to its subscribers in the states of Bihar, West Bengal and Tamilnadu. IMPCS will be
used to provide telecommunication services supporting personal mobility, terminal mobility add
service profile management. The objective of IMPCS is to provide voice, data and IN services that
can be accessed regardless of location, network and time. The subscribers within the service area
shall be able to access the same set of services for which they are registered. The IMPCS including
its sub systems will be used to build up network through which the services to the subscribers will be
provided. The network will be realized of contiguous radio cells to provide complete radio coverage
of service area. The system is required to provide wide range of voice and nonvoice services using
advanced intelligent network technology which will allow flexible and personalized billing, personal
numbering, time and location dependent charging etc.

3. MAIN FUNCTIONAL ENTITIES OF IMPCS CELLULAR MOBILE SYSTEM

(i) MOBILE STATION (M.S.) - It includes mobile equipment set and the subscriber identity
module (SIM). Each mobile handset has an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), which is
used by equipment identity register (EIR). When used by a subscriber, it carries the IMSI, which is
embodied in the SIM.

(ii) BASE STATION SUB SYSTEM (BSS) – The BSS is divided into a control function
carried out by the BSC (BASE STATION CONTROLLER) and a radio transmitting function carried
out by the BTS (BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION). The BSS consists of one BSC and one or more
BTSs. Presently the BSS in IMPCS pilot project is being provided by LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES
INC, U.S.A.

(iii) MOBILE SERVICE SWITCHING CENTRE (MSC) – The MSC is an exchange, which
performs all the switching and signaling functions for mobile stations located in a geographical area
designated as the MSC service area. The main difference between a MSC and an exchange in a fixed

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network, is that the MSC has to take into account the impact of the location of radio resources and
the mobile nature of the subscribers. It has to perform in addition, at least the following procedures.

a) Procedures required for the location registration.

b) Procedures required for authentication of subscriber and equipment.
c) Procedures required for basic call handling and supplementary services.
d) Procedures required for handover.

In present IMPCS configuration the MSC has been supplied by C-DOT (CENTRE FOR
DEVELOPMENT OF TELEMATICS).

The MSC, which is connected directly to the PSTN/ISDN network, is referred to as gateway
MSC (GMSC), and this is the only MSC in the network connected to the HLR. If a network,
delivering a call to the PLMN 9PUBLIC LAND MOBILE NETWORK) cannot interrogate the HLR,
the call is routed to an MSC. This MSC will interrogate the appropriate HLR and then route the call
to the MSC where the mobile station is currently located. The MSC, which performs the routing
function to the actual location of the MS, is called the GMSC.

(iv) SMS GATEWAY MSC – The short message service (SMS) gateway MSC (SMS-GMSC)
acts an interface between a short message service center (SC) and the PLMN, to allow short
messages to be delivered to mobile stations from the SC.

(v) SMS INTERWORKING MSC – The SMS interworking MSC (SMS-IMSC) acts as an
interface between PLMN and SC to allow short messages to be submitted from MSs to the SC.

(vi) POINT-TO-POINT SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE CENTRES (SMSC) – this is a

support node used for providing point to point short message service to the mobile subscribers. The
SMSC shall be capable of

(a) Submitting a short message to an MS, retaining the responsibility of the

message until the report has been received, or the validity period expires.

(b) Receiving a report from MSC.

(c) Receiving a short message from an MS.

(d) Returning a report to the MSC for a previously received short message.

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(vii) CELL BROADCAST SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE CENTRE (CBC) – The cell
broadcast short message service center (CBC) is a support node used for providing cell broadcast
short message service to mobile subscribers. The CBC shall be responsible for:

a) Allocation of serial Numbers.

b) Modifying and deleting messages held by the BSC.
c) Initiating broadcast by sending fixed length cell broadcast short messages to a BSC for
each language provided by the cell, and where necessary padding the message with the
appropriate character to a length of 82 octets.
d) Determining the set of cells/BTSs to which a message should be broadcast and indicating
with in the serial number the geographical scope of each message.
e) Determining the time at which a message should commence being broadcast.
f) Determining the time at which a message should cease beings broadcast and subsequently
instructing each BSC to cease broadcast of the message.
g) Determining the rate 05 at which broadcast of the message should be repeated.
h) Determining the call broadcast channel, on which the message should be broadcast.

(viii) HOME LOCATION REGISTER (HLR) - The HLR is a function entity, which is a
database which contains all data related to mobile subscribers and the services which have been
subscribed by them. The management of the subscriber data is done through operator terminals,
which are connected, to the HLR. A PLMN may contain one or several HLRs. Two kinds of
informations are stored in the HLR.

(I) SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION

a) Teleservices and bearer services subscription information.

b) Restrictions) e.g. roaming limitation).

(II) LOCATION INFORMATION

(a) IMSI (INTERNATIONAL MOBILE SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY)

(b) MSISDN (MOBILE SUBSCRIBER ISDN)
(c) VLR ADDRESS

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(ix) SERVICE CONTROL POINT (SCP) – The service control point (SCP) is a real time
database system which also contain various service logic program for enabling executions of the
intelligent network (IN) services subscribed by the subscriber. When an SSP determines that a call is
an IN call, it formulates a query to the SCP, to obtain call processing information upon receipt of the
initial query message from SSP, the SCP identifies the appropriate service subscriber plan its
database.

(x) SERVICE SWITCHING POINT (SSP) – This SSP is the switch that has the capability to
identify calls associated with IN services and invoke service logic residing in SCP. The SSP uses the
intelligent network application part (INAP) for interfacing with SCP.

(xi) VISITOR LOCATION REGISTER (VLR) – This VLR is the functional unit that
dynamically stores subscriber information, such as location area. When the subscriber is located in
the area controlled by this VLR. When roaming mobile enters an MSC area, this MSC warns the
associated VLR of this situation, the mobile enters a registration procedure through which it is
assigned MSRN or visited network address that serves to route incoming calls to that mobile.

A VLR may be in charge of one or several MSC areas. The VLR contains also the
information needed to handle the calls set-up or received by the MSs registered in its data base (for
some supplementary services the VLR may have to obtain additional from the HLR) the following
elements are included.
a) The IMSI
b) The MSISDN
c) The MSRN
d) The TMSI
e) The LMSI (The location area where the mobile station has been registered (currently
located). This data item will be used to call the mobile.

The VLR also contains supplementary service parameters attached to the mobile subscriber
and received from the HLR. The VLR can be an integrated part of MSC and can have a proprietary
interface with MSC.

(xii) EQUIPMENT IDENTITY REGISTER (EIR) – The EIR is a functional entity, which
contains databases for storing the IMEIs used in the IMPCS system. The mobile equipment may be
classified as white listed, gray listed, black listed and therefore may be stored in three separate lists.
An EIR shall as a minimum contain a white list.
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(xiii) AUTHENTICATION CENTER (AUC) – The Authentication center (AUC) is associated

with an HLR, and stores an identity key for each mobile subscriber registered with the associated
HLR. This key is used to generate,

(a) Data, which are used to authenticate the IMSI.

(b) A key used to cipher communication over the radio path between
the mobile station and the network.

(xiv) INTELLIGENT PERIPHERAL (IP) – Intelligent peripheral (IP) is an adjunct node to

SSP/SCP and provides capabilities like playing required announcement, converting text to speech,
recognizing speech, collecting digits dialed by the subscriber and many mode capabilities which are
required for providing advanced IN services. IP may be connected either to SSP or SCP depending
upon the requirement and configuration of the network. IP may also be co-located with SSP.

(xv) VOICE MAIL SYSTEM (VMS) – VMS is an adjunct node to MSC add performs the
function of a call-answering device in the system. It provides a personal voice mailbox of IMPCS
subscribers. Whenever a call is redirected to VMS, it first greets the caller with a personalized
greeting message and prompts the caller to leave the message in the mailbox. Later on the called
party can call up the VMS and listen to the recorded message.

4. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE CENTER (OMC)

The OMC is the functional entity through which the network operator can monitor and
control the system by performing the following functions:

a) HARDWARE INSTALLATIOIN
b) TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
c) PERFORMANCE DATA ANALYSIS
d) TRACING OF SUBSCRIBERS AND EQUIPMENTS
e) CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT
f) SUBSCRIBER ADMINISTRATION
g) MANAGEMENT OF MOBILE EQUIPMENT
h) MANAGEMENT OF TARIFF, CHARGING AND BILLING.

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The OMC for radio network i.e. BSS is termed as OMC-R and is responsible for all the
above said function for BSS. Where as the OMC for NSS is termed as OMC-S, which is distributed
access various nodes of IMPCS network. The OMC-S, for MSC/VLR is co-located with MSC/VLR
and OMC-S for HLR/AUC/EIR is co-located with HLR/AUC/EIR.

5. IMPCS SERVICES

The IMPCS services are broadly divided into three categories as Teleservices, Bearer services and
supplementary services.

(i) TELESERVICES

(a) Telephony
(b) Emergency Call
(c) Short Message Service
(d) Automatic Facsimile (Group III Three)
(e) Alternative Speech and Facsimile (Group – 3).

(ii) BEARER SERVICES

BS-21 Asynchronous 300 kbps

BS-22 Asynchronous 1.2 kbps
BS-23 Asynchronous 1200/75 bps
BS-24 Asynchronous 2.4 kbps
BS-25 Asynchronous 4.8 kbps
BS-26 Asynchronous 9.6 kbps
BS-31 Asynchronous 1.2 kbps
BS-32 Asynchronous 2.4 kbps
BS-33 Asynchronous 4.8 kbps
BS-34 Asynchronous 9.6 kbps
BS-41 PAD Access 300 kbps
BS-42 PAD Access 1.2 kbps
BS-43 PAD Access 1200/75 bps

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BS-44 PAD Access 2.4 kbps

BS-45 PAD Access 4.8 kbps
BS-46 PAD Access 9.6 kbps
BS-51 Packet Access 2.4 kbps
BS-52 Packet Access 4.8 kbps
BS-53 Packet Access 9.6 kbps
BS-61 Alternate speech/Data 13 kbps or 9.6 kbps
BS-81 Speech followed by Data 13 kbps or 9.6 kbps

(iii) SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES

1. Calling Line Identification Presentation (CLIP)

2. Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR)
3. Calling Line Identification Restriction Overside (CLIRO)
4. Calling Line Identification Presentation (COLD)
5. Connect Line Identification Restriction (COLR)
6. Malicious Call Identification (MCI)
7. Call Forwarding Unconditional (CFU)
8. Call Forwarding on Mobile Subscriber Busy (CFB)
9. Call Forwarding on no reply (CFNR)
10. Call Forwarding on Mobile Subscriber not Reachable (CFNRe)
11. Call Transfer (CT)
12. Call Mobile Access Hunting (MAH)
13. Call Hold (CH)
14. Call Back (CB)
15. Three Party Conference
16. Call Waiting (CW)
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17. Six Party Conference

18. Closed user Group (CUG)
19. Advice of Charge Information (AOCI)
20. Advice of Charge Charging (AOCC)
21. Prepaid SIM Card Services
22. Barring of All Outgoing Calls (BAOC)
23. Barring of All Outgoing International Calls (BOIC)
24. Barring of All Outgoing International Calls except to Home (PLMN)
25. Barring of All Incoming Call (BAIC)
26. Local Subscription
27. Regional Subscription
28. Intelligent Network (IN) Services
29. Support of queuing (Without pre-emption)
30. CUG with individual dialing plan
31. Dual numbering
32. Optimal routing (for mobile to mobile calls initially)
33. Operator determined barring of outgoing calls
34. Operator determined barring of incoming calls
35. GSM call forwarding clear all
36. Short code programming for call forwarding
37. A-party announcement for call forwarding in progress

6. NETWORK FEATURES

(i) HOT BILLING – This feature allows the billing records of subscribers to be generated and
send to centralized billing center after the completion of the call.
(ii) Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) – This feature allows the mobile
station (M.S.) user add a PLMN operator defined application to communicate in a way which

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is transparent to the MS and to intermediate network entities. This feature allows

development of PLMN specific supplementary services.

(iii) Subscriber Tracing – This feature enable customer administrations and network
management to trace the activities of various entities (subscriber and equipment) when
specific events occur within the PLMN. This facility should also enable the tracing of all the
information that is available to the PLMN concerning the call path used by the associated
entity.

(iv) Pre-Paid Services – This service is similar to pre-paid SIM card, except that the charging
information is stored at a centralized place in the network, whenever the credit balance
reduces to zero, all the incoming and outgoing calls are barred by the network.
(v) Announcements -
This feature shall provide announcements for giving information for the following services:

a) Barring service.
b) Absent subscriber service
c) Changed number service
d) Closure of service
e) Service not available.
f) User busy announcement
g) Rout busy announcement
h) In valid nos announcement
i) Mobile subs is either switched off or out of reach announcement
j) Announcement related to prepaid subs.

END

Please see the diagrams in the next page

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OMC-S HLR/AuC/EIR/SMSC

C C.D.F.

ISUP/MF
PSTN/ISDN GMSC SCP

ISUP
ISUP INAP

E.G INAP
OMC-S MSC/VLR/SSP MSC/VLR/SSP IP

A A

CBC BSC BSC OMC-R

A-bis

BTS
BTS
Um

MS

MS

FIGURE 1
IMPCS ARCHITECTURE

Location: Calcutta
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C-DOT
Ethernet HLR
Hub SMP

SMP Router

Modem
rack

PSTN

Modem Modem

----------
ROI at ROI at
Hyderabad Patna
Figure-2
SMP in C-DOT HLR

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