Chapter One-Introduction To Cellular Communication

Chapter One
Introduction to Cellular Communication
Hassan TERMOS, PhD 1/38

Outline
◊ Introduction
◊ Network Cell Info

◊ Cellular Systems Evolution
◊ Network Densification
◊ Basic Cellular Systems
 Analog cellular system
 Digital cellular system
◊ Example: GSM
Introduction
 The Evolution of the Cell Phone
 Calling, texting, taking, pictures,
email, social media, etc.
 Our cell phones are a vital

component of our daily lives.
 But not too long ago owning a
cell phone meant you were
special, ahead of the curve, on
the cutting edge of technology.
 Now, having a cell phone is not
only normal, it’s essential in our
21st Century world.
Introduction
 International Mobile
Telecommunications (IMT)
standards
 IMT-2000 ⇾ 2.5-3G,
 Enhanced IMT-2000 ⇾ 3.5G
 IMT-Advanced ⇾ 4G
 IMT-Advanced targets peak data

rates of 100 Mb/s for high
mobile access (at speeds of up to
250 km/h), & 1 Gb/s for low
mobility access.

Introduction
 Nokia 3220
General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS) is a packet oriented
mobile data standard on the 2G

& 3G cellular communication
network's global system for
mobile communications (GSM).
Enhanced Data rates for GSM

Evolution (EDGE) is a digital
mobile phone technology that
allows improved data
transmission rates as a
backward-compatible
extension of GSM.

Introduction
 Samsung Galaxy Note 8
 The microSD removable
miniaturized Secure Digital
flash memory cards.
 HSDPA (High-Speed
Downlink Packet Access) is a
packet-based mobile
telephony protocol used in
3G radio networks to
increase data capacity and
speed up transfer rates.

Introduction
 Samsung Gear S3
Long-Term Evolution (LTE)

is a standard for wireless

broadband communication
for mobile devices and data
terminals, based on the
GSM/EDGE technologies

Network Cell Info
 Network Cell Info is a cell network monitor
and measurements log tool (4G, LTE, CDMA,
WCDMA, GSM). It provides also WiFi info.
It contains many tabs:

 RAW
 Gauge
 PLOT
 STATS
 MAP
 Device + SIM Tab

Network Cell Info
 Raw tab, provides detailed info on the
wireless connection.
 LTE: Long Term Evolution
 MCC: Mobile Country Code

 MNC: Mobile Network Code
 CID: Cell ID
 TAC: Tracking Area Code
 RSRP: Reference Signal Received Power
 With this parameter, different cells
using the same carrier frequency can
be compared & HANDOVER or CELL
RESELECTION decisions can be taken.

Network Cell Info
 Raw tab, provides detailed info on the
wireless connection.
 RSSI: Received Signal Strength Indicator
 Total power received, including the

INTERFERENCE from neighboring cells
and other sources
 RSRQ: Reference Signal Received Quality.

 It equals the RSRP divided by the RSSI.
The better this value the better can the
signal of the cell be received compared to
the interference generated by other cells.
The RSRQ is expressed on a logarithmic
scale in decibel (dB) & is negative
Network Cell Info
 Gauge Tab: This is the starting tab showing essential
network signal strength and information for the serving
cell, as well as the neighbor cells.
(1) SIM1 cells’ information
(2) SIM2 cells’ information (for dual SIM phones with

Android > 5)
(3) WiFi network information
(4) Band information (only for Android 7)

Network Cell Info
 Plot tab
It shows the evolution of the signal strengths of serving

and neighbor cells over time, allowing for better network
quality exploration, especially when moving.

Network Cell Info
 Plot2 tab
This tab is plotting signal strength/quality over time, and it

is more tailored for the LTE wireless system.

Network Cell Info
 Stats Tab
This tab gives essential information on the robustness and

coverage of your network.
For example you might have a
4G plan, but the network most of the time connects you to
a 2G or 3G wireless network.
Network Cell Info
 MAP Tab
Tab where measurements are done, and visual location and

cell info is provided.

Network Cell Info
 Device + SIM Tab
This Tab provides information about the SIM(s) and the
Device.
1) Hide sensitive data from displaying (in case you want to

take a screenshot
2) Refresh the data of the Tab
3) SIM1 information
4) SIM2 information (for dual SIM phones with Android)

Back Then: 0 G Wireless Communications
 Mobile radio telephones were used for military communications in early 20th century
 Car-based telephones first introduced in mid 1940s

 Single large transmitter on top of a tall building

 Single channel used for sending and receiving
 To talk, user pushed a button, enabled transmission and disabled reception
 Became known as “push-to-talk” in 1950s
 CB-radio, taxis, police cars use this technology
 IMTS (Improved Mobile Telephone System) introduced in 1960s

 Used two channels (one for sending, one for receiving)
 No need for push-to-talk
 Used 23 channels from 150 MHz to 450 MHz
Cellular Systems Generation
 1G (first generation): Voice-oriented systems based on analog technology; ex.:
Advanced Mobile Phone Systems (AMPS).
 2G (second generation): Voice-oriented systems based on digital technology; more

efficient and used less spectrum than 1G; ex.: Global System for Mobile (GSM) and
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)
 3G (third generation): High-speed voice-oriented systems integrated with data

services; ex.: General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA)
 4G (fourth generation): Mobile ultra-broadband Internet access, for example to

laptops with USB wireless modems to smart phones, and to other mobile devices
Cellular Systems Evolution

Now: Network Densification

Now: Network Densification
 Why?
 Low power transmitter system: Smaller antennas, less radiations
 Increase network capacity
 Frequency reuse
 Build robust scalable system
 Account for different user distributions: Rural areas, high density hotspots,
restricted areas
 Flexible network design
 Why not?
 Cost of cells
 User tracking required
 Handovers

Basic Cellular Systems
 Analog cellular system
 A basic analog cellular system
consists of three subsystems:
 Mobile unit,
 Cell site,
 Mobile telephone switching
office (MTSO),
with connections to link the three

subsystems.

1) Mobile units:
A mobile telephone unit contains a
control unit, a transceiver, and an

antenna system.
2) Cell site:
The cell site provides interface
between the MTSO and the mobile
units. It has a control unit, radio
cabinets, antennas, a power plant,
and data terminals.

3) MTSO:
The switching office, the central
coordinating element for all cell sites,

contains the cellular processor and
cellular switch.
It interfaces with telephone company
zone offices, controls call processing,
provides operation & maintenance, &
handles billing activities.
4) Connections:
The radio and high-speed data links
connect the three subsystems.
 The MTSO is the heart of the

analog cellular mobile system. Its

processor provides central
coordination & cellular
administration.
 The cellular switch, which can be

either analog or digital, switches
calls to connect mobile subscribers
to other mobile subscribers and to
the nationwide telephone network.

 Digital cellular system
 A basic digital system
consists of four elements:

 Mobile station (MS),
 Base transceiver
station (BTS),
 Base station controller

(BSC), and
 Switching subsystems
(SS)
 MS: It consists of two parts,
mobile equipment (ME) &
subscriber identify module

(SIM).
SIM contains all subscriber-
specific data stored on the MS.
 BTS: It has the Transcoder/Rate

Adapter Unit (TRAU), which
carries out coding and
decoding as well as rate
adaptation in case data rate
varies.

 BSC: A new element in digital
systems that performs the
Radio Resource (RR)

management for the cells
under its control.
BSC also handles handovers,

power management time and
frequency synchronization,
and frequency reallocation
among BTSs.

 Switching subsystems:
a) MSC (Mobile
Switching Center): The
main function of MSC
is to coordinate the
setup of calls between
MS & PSTN.
b) VLR (Visitor Location
Register): A database of
all mobiles roaming in
the MSC’s area of
control.
c) HLR (Home Location

Register): A centralized
database of all
subscribers registered
in a PLMN.
d) AUC (Authentication
Center): Provides HLR
with authentication
parameters & ciphering
keys that are used for
security purposes.
e) EIR (Equipment Identity

Register): A database for
storing all registered
mobile equipment
numbers.
f) OMC (Operational and

Maintenance Center):
This function resided in
analog MSC but
became a separated
entity in digital systems.
 Different Services:
 CSPDN: Circuit Switched

Public Data Network
 ISDN: Integrated Services
Digital Network
 PLMN: Public Land Mobile
Network
 PSPDN: Packet Switched
Public Data Network
 PSTN: Public Switched
telephone network

Analog Vs. Digital
 HOW?
 Mobile Station: User’s phone

 Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
 Base Station
 Network Components:
 Switching modules
 Registers: Equipment identity, authentication, location

Example: GSM
GSM: Global
System For Mobile
GSM Architecture
GSM consists of many
subsystems:
 MS,
 BSS,
 NSS: (Network and
Switching Sub-
System), and
 OSS: Operation Sub-
System

Example: GSM
 GSM offers
 Several types of connections

 voice connections, data connections, short message service
 Multi-service options (combination of basic services)

Example: GSM
 Three service domains
 Bearer Services – interface to the physical medium (transparent for example in

the case of voice or non transparent for data services).
 Telematic Services – services provided by the system to the end user (e.g., voice,
SMS, fax, etc.)
 Supplementary Services – associated with the tele services: call forwarding,

redirection, etc.

Example: GSM
 Performance characteristics of GSM
 Communication
 mobile, wireless digital 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
 Uninterrupted phone calls at higher speeds (from cars, trains) – better handoffs
 Security functions
 Access control, authentication via chip-card and PIN
Example: GSM
 Disadvantages of GSM
 There is no perfect system!!

 No end-to-end encryption of user data

 No full ISDN bandwidth of 64 kbit/s to the user, no transparent B-channel
 Abuse of private data possible

 Roaming profiles accessible
 High complexity of the system

 Several incompatibilities within the GSM standards

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Chapter One

Introduction to Cellular Communication

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 1/38

◊ Network Cell Info

◊ Cellular Systems Evolution

◊ Basic Cellular Systems

 Analog cellular system

 Digital cellular system

 Our cell phones are a vital

 IMT-Advanced targets peak data

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 4/38

mobile data standard on the 2G

Enhanced Data rates for GSM

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 5/38

flash memory cards.

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 6/38

Long-Term Evolution (LTE)

is a standard for wireless

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 7/38

It contains many tabs:

 Device + SIM Tab

 MCC: Mobile Country Code

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 9/38

 Total power received, including the

 RSRQ: Reference Signal Received Quality.

(1) SIM1 cells’ information

(2) SIM2 cells’ information (for dual SIM phones with

(3) WiFi network information

(4) Band information (only for Android 7)

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 11/38

It shows the evolution of the signal strengths of serving

and neighbor cells over time, allowing for better network

quality exploration, especially when moving.

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 12/38

This tab is plotting signal strength/quality over time, and it

is more tailored for the LTE wireless system.

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 13/38

This tab gives essential information on the robustness and

coverage of your network.

For example you might have a

4G plan, but the network most of the time connects you to

Tab where measurements are done, and visual location and

cell info is provided.

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 15/38

1) Hide sensitive data from displaying (in case you want to

2) Refresh the data of the Tab

4) SIM2 information (for dual SIM phones with Android)

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 16/38

 Car-based telephones first introduced in mid 1940s

 Single large transmitter on top of a tall building

 IMTS (Improved Mobile Telephone System) introduced in 1960s

 2G (second generation): Voice-oriented systems based on digital technology; more

 3G (third generation): High-speed voice-oriented systems integrated with data

 4G (fourth generation): Mobile ultra-broadband Internet access, for example to

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 19/38

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 20/38

Hassan TERMOS, PhD 21/38

with connections to link the three