GSM

Global System for Mobile Communications

TABLE OF CONTENTS –

1. DEFINITION

2. GSM NETWORK

3. GSM NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

4. GSM NETWORK AREA

5. GSM SUBSCRIBER SERVICE

6. SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES

7. FEATURES OF GSM

8. GSM MOBILE COMPANIES

 INTRODUCTION
GSM is a technology which is the leading cell phone standard all over the world. In 1982 it was
recognized as a standard for digital wireless communications and was first adopted in Europe
and then by Asia, Africa etc. The first system was online in 1991 and GSM was formerly known
as Group Special Mobile but now stands for Global System for Mobile communications. USA,
however has not adopted GSM as a standard and so different carriers now use different
technologies as opposed to only GSM.

GSM uses digital technology and the methods of time division multiple access transmission. In
GSM, sound is digitally prearranged through a special encoder, which imitates the
distinctiveness of human speech. This method of transmission allows a very competent statistics
speed/information content ratio.

GSM is an open system and is a non propriety technology. One of the great benefits of GSM is
that it facilitates international roaming. As it is adopted by more than 170 countries, you have the
facility of using your GSM cell phone in all these places without having to change your number.
GSM satellite roaming has broadened the scope of cellular services even to areas where standard
terrestrial services are not possible.

GSM is a technology that is rapidly growing and constantly evolving with wireless, satellite and
cordless systems offering greatly expanded services. These services include multimedia data
services, high speed, inbuilt support for side by side use of these services and faultless
incorporation with the Internet and wireline networks. 3GSM (next generation of mobile
communications services) is already charted out and will make available services enhancing the
already existing voice, data, and text services. GSM will provide video on demand and will help
to lessen the gap between wireless and internet/computers.

GSM works on different frequency bands across the world. In North America it uses a 1900
MHz frequency whereas in other parts of the world it uses either 900MHz or 1800 MHz. As
different frequencies are used in different places, your GSM handset should support various
bands so that it can be used globally.

From the beginning, GSM has been developed with the need to give its customers utmost
security in terms of secure communications, fraud prevention, and call privacy. Today it is the
worlds most secure public wireless standard for cellular phones.

GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) is a digital mobile telephone system that is
widely used in Europe and other parts of the world. GSM uses a variation of Time Division
Multiple Access (TDMA) and is the most widely used of the three digital wireless telephone
technologies (TDMA, GSM, and CDMA). GSM digitizes and compresses data, then sends it
down a channel with two other streams of user data, each in its own time slot. It operates at
either the 900 MHz or 1,800 MHz frequency band
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( GSM Network
GSM network is divided into following –

Mobile station –

 SIM + MOBILE = MOBILE STATION

 An MS is used by a mobile subscriber to communicate with the mobile network. Several types of
MSs exist, each allowing the subscriber to make and receive calls

The Switching System

SIM
The switching system (SS) is responsible for performing call processing and
subscriber-related functions. The switching system includes the following
functional units:

home location register (HLR) —The HLR is a database used for

storage and management of subscriptions. The HLR is considered the
most important database, as it stores permanent data about
subscribers, including a subscriber's service profile, location
information, and activity status. When an individual buys a
subscription from one of the PCS operators, he or she is registered in
the HLR of that operator.

mobile services switching center (MSC) —The MSC performs the

telephony switching functions of the system. It controls calls to and
from other telephone and data systems. It also performs such functions
as toll ticketing, network interfacing, common channel signaling, and
others.

visitor location register (VLR) —The VLR is a database that

contains temporary information about subscribers that is needed by
the MSC in order to service visiting subscribers. The VLR is always
integrated with the MSC. When a mobile station roams into a new MSC
area, the VLR connected to that MSC will request data about the
mobile station from the HLR. Later, if the mobile station makes a call,
the VLR will have the information needed for call setup without having
to interrogate the HLR each time.

authentication center (AUC) —A unit called the AUC provides

authentication and encryption parameters that verify the user's identity
and ensure the confidentiality of each call. The AUC protects network
operators from different types of fraud found in today's cellular world.
equipment identity register (EIR) —The EIR is a database that
contains information about the identity of mobile equipment that
prevents calls from stolen, unauthorized, or defective mobile stations.
The AUC and EIR are implemented as stand-alone nodes or as a
combined AUC/EIR node.

Base Station Subsystem-BSS

• Control functions and physical links b/w the MSC and BTS.
• High-capacity switch that provides functions such as handover,
cell configuration data, and control of radio frequency (RF) power
levels in base transceiver stations.
• A number of BSCs are served by an MSC
• The BSS is the fixed end of the radio interface that provides
control and radio coverage functions for one or more cells and
their associated MSs.
• It is the interface between the MS and the MSC.
• The BSS comprises one or more Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs),
each containing the radio components that communicate with
MSs in a given area, and a Base Site Controller (BSC) which
supports call processing functions and the interfaces to the MSC.
• Digital radio techniques are used for the radio communications
link, known as the Air Interface, between the BSS and the MS.
Base Tran receiver Station-BTS

• BTS handles the radio interface to the mobile station.

• Radio equipment (transceivers and antennas) needed to service
each cell in the network.
• A group of BTSs are controlled by a BSC.
• The BTS network element consists of the hardware components,
such as radios, interface modules and antenna systems that
provide the Air Interface between the BSS and the MSs.
• The BTS provides radio channels (RF carriers) for a specific RF
coverage area.
• The radio channel is the communication link between the MSs
within an RF coverage area and the BSS.
• The BTS also has a limited amount of control functionality which
reduces the amount of traffic between the BTS and BSC

BSC —The BSC provides all the control functions and physical links
between the MSC and BTS. It is a high-capacity switch that provides
functions such as handover, cell configuration data, and control of
radio frequency (RF) power levels in base transceiver stations. A
number of BSCs are served by an MSC.

BTS —The BTS handles the radio interface to the mobile station. The
BTS is the radio equipment (transceivers and antennas) needed to
service each cell in the network. A group of BTSs are controlled by a
BSC.

Operation and Support System –OSS

• OMC is connected to all equipment in the switching system and to

the BSC
• Implementation of OMC is called OSS
• OSS is the functional entity from which the network operator
monitors and controls the system.
• Provide a network overview and support the maintenance
activities of different operation and maintenance organizations
• The BSC network element provides the control for the BSS.
• It controls and manages the associated BTSs, and interfaces with
the Operations and Maintenance Centre (OMC).
• The purpose of the BSC is to perform a variety of functions. The
following comprise the functions provided by the BSC:
• Controls the BTS components.-
• Performs Call Processing.
• Performs Operations and Maintenance (O & M).
• Provides the O & M link (OML) between the BSS and the
OMC.
• Provides the A Interface between the BSS and the MSC.
• Manages the radio channels.
• Transfers signaling information to and from MSs.
GSM Network Architecture
GSM Network Elements
GSM Network 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.

 Each LA is assigned a location area identity

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

The PLMN service area is an area served by one network operator

GSM SUBSCRIBER SERVICES

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:
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dual-tone multifrequency (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.

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 subscriber's mobile unit is
powered off or has left the coverage area, the message is stored and
offered back to the subscriber when the mobile is powered on or has
reentered the coverage area of the network. This function ensures that
the message will be received.

cell broadcast —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 subscriber's 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 from
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 calls.

barring of incoming calls —This function allows the subscriber to

prevent incoming calls. The following two conditions for incoming call
barring exist: baring of all incoming calls and barring of incoming calls
when roaming outside the home PLMN.

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
telecommunications 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

PBX. They are a group of subscribers who are capable of only calling
themselves and certain numbers.
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 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.

Supplementary Services
Features of GSM
INCREASED CAPACITY -
 The GSM system provides a greater subscriber capacity than
analogue systems.
 GSM allows 25 kHz per user, that is, eight conversations per 200
kHz channel pair (a pair comprising one transmit channel and one
receive channel).
 Digital channel coding and the modulation used makes the signal
resistant to interference from cells where the same frequencies
are re-used (co-channel interference).
This allows increased geographic reuse by permitting a reduction in the
number of cells in the reuse pattern.

AUDIO QUALITY
 Digital transmission of speech and high performance digital signal
processors provide good quality speech transmission.
 Since GSM is a digital technology, the signals passed over a digital
air interface can be protected against errors by using better error
detection and correction techniques.
 In regions of interference or noise-limited operation the speech
quality is noticeably better than analogue.
IMPROVED SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
 GSM offers high speech and data confidentiality.
 Subscriber authentication can be performed by the system to
check if a subscriber is a valid subscriber or not.
 The GSM system provides for high degree of confidentiality for
the subscriber. Calls are encoded and ciphered when sent over
air.
 The mobile equipment can be identified independently from the
mobile subscriber. The mobile has a identity number hard coded
into it when it is manufactured. This number is stored in a
standard database and whenever a call is made the equipment
can be checked to see if it has been reported stolen.

CLEANER HANDOVERS
 GSM uses Mobile assisted handover technique.
 The mobile itself carries out the signal strength and quality
measurement of its server and signal strength measurement of its
neighbors.
 This data is passed on the Network which then uses sophisticated
algorithms to determine the need of handover.
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SUBSCRIBER IDENTIFICATION
 In a GSM system the mobile station and the subscriber are
identified separately.
 The subscriber is identified by means of a smart card known as a
SIM.
 This enables the subscriber to use different mobile equipment
while retaining the same subscriber number.

GSM COMPANIES IN INDIA –

COMING SOON TATA DOCOMO THIS DIWALI -