2 System introduction

Objectives
After this chapter the student will:
• be able to describe the different nodes in a GSM network.
• be able to describe geographical subdivision of a GSM network.
• be able to describe the most common identity numbers.
• be able to describe some basic traffic cases.

2.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................2

2.2 NODES AND FUNCTIONS ....................................................................2

Mobile Station (MS) ..................................................................2
Base Station System ..................................................................3
Switching System.......................................................................3
Operation and Maintenance Centre (OMC) ..............................4

2.3 AREAS ..........................................................................................5

GSM PLMN(Public Land Mobile Network).................................5
MSC/VLR(Service Area) .............................................................5
Location area ............................................................................6
Cell ............................................................................................6

2.4 IDENTITY NUMBERS ..........................................................................6

Mobile Station ISDN Number (MSISDN) ....................................6
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) ........................6
Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI)...........................7
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)........................7

2.5 SIMPLIFIED TRAFFIC CASES .................................................................7

Call from a Mobile Station.........................................................7
Call to a Mobile Station.............................................................8
Location Updating ....................................................................9
2.1 Introduction
This chapter will give you a brief orientation of the nodes and their functions in the
network, the geographical areas into which the network is divided, and the identity
numbers used in the network. Finally a few simplified traffic cases will illustrate the way
the system works.

2.2 Nodes and functions

AUC

EIR VLR HLR

MS BTS BSC MSC GMSC

OTHER
GSM Network NETWORKS

AUC AUthentication Centre HLR Home Location Register

BTS Base Transceiver Station MS Mobile Station
BSC Base Station Controller MSC Mobile services Switching Centre
EIR Equipment Identity Register VLR Visitor Location Register
GMSC Gateway MSC

The basic nodes of the GSM network will be covered. Some nodes are left out to be covered in
a later chapter.

Mobile Station (MS)

The MS is made up of the SIM and the “Mobile Equipment” (ME). The SIM, “Subscriber Identity
Module”, is a separate physical entity that contains all information regarding the subscription.
The SIM is an IC-card, or a "Smart Card". The “Mobile Equipment” is the actual piece of
hardware enabling radio communication with the system. Without the SIM, the Mobile
Equipment cannot be used in the GSM network, except for emergency calls. The SIM can be put
into a different “Mobile Equipment”, whereby all calls are routed to that “Mobile Equipment”.
”Mobile Stations”, belong to different power classes, depending on the maximum power level.
The MS:s could be car-mounted, portable or handheld.

Base Station System

Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
This is the radio equipment, the main task of which is communication on radio with the MS:s.
One BTS covers a cell with transmitted radio waves. The BTS contains all the radio equipment
necessary to stay in touch with the MS.

Base Station Controller (BSC)

The BSC controls and supervises the underlying BTS:s. While the BTS takes care of the actual
radio communication, BSC is in charge of all action that is taken. The BSC tells the BTS:s what to
do, when to transmit, what power to use, etc.

Switching System
Mobile services Switching Centre (MSC)
This entity sets up, supervises and releases calls. It can connect calls within the GSM network,
or between a mobile subscriber and a subscriber in the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone
Network) or in some other network.

Up to now we have described the equipment necessary to make a call from the MS: A number
is dialed on the MS. When the "send button" is pressed, the call will be set up, via the BTS,
onwards via the BSC and to the MSC. The MSC will analyze the digits dialed and set-up the call
to wherever it is to go.

If we would like to give a ring to an MS though, the task will be trickier. Since the MS could be
moving around, virtually anywhere in the GSM-world, we need to know where it is. This brings
us to the next few entities necessary:

Gateway Mobile services Switching Centre (GMSC)

A gateway between the GSM and other networks is necessary. At a call to a subscriber in the
GSM network, the call will first be routed to the GMSC. The GMSC is responsible for finding out
in what part of the GSM network the MS is by questioning HLR and also for routing the call
there.

Home Location Register (HLR)

The global data base will keep track of approximately where the subscriber is. There is normally
one HLR per operator (this is not the case with some operators). In that HLR, data about all
subscribers belonging to that particular network is stored. Among that data, the information
about ‘in what MSC/VLR service area the MS is’ will be stored.
Visitor Location Register (VLR)
This is a regional data base that is found together with every MSC. This data base stores
information about all the subscribers that are registered (visiting) in that MSC-service area at
the moment. When the HLR has informed the GMSC about in which MSC/VLR service area the
subscriber is, a more detailed description of in which Location area the MS will be found in the
VLR.

AUthentication Centre (AUC)

This is a database that deals with security. It produces keys for authentication and encryption.
For this, it contains parameters for all the subscribers belonging to that operator. All MS:s can
be asked to go through an authentication procedure before they are allowed to do anything in
the system. All necessary means for authentication are found on the SIM-card.

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

This data base stores information about the pieces of mobile equipment (i.e. the hardware). It
can keep track of information such as stolen equipment, non-type approved equipment, etc.
While the AUC is concerned with the SIM, the EIR is concerned with the mobile equipment.

Operation and Maintenance Centre (OMC)

This entity can be used for supervision and control of all the other entities in the network. Even
though this part is not obligatory, it is highly needed. While the parameters set in the analogue
network can be counted in tens, the corresponding parameters in a GSM network can be
counted in hundreds.
2.3 Areas
Every telephone network needs a structure to be able to route calls to the right MSC and
to the right subscriber. In a GSM network, structure is even more essential as the
subscribers are mobile, and could be virtually anywhere in the world.
PLMN

MSC
MSC Service Area
MSC

Location Area

MSC

BSC CELL

BSC

BSC

Geographical structure of a GSM network

GSM PLMN(Public Land Mobile Network)

(Compare PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network)
A GSM PLMN is the complete GSM network belonging to one operator in one country. Each
country can have one or several PLMN:s (today one or two PLMN:s is most common. In
Australia and Sweden there are three).

MSC/VLR(Service Area)
If the system has more than one MSC, the PLMN is subdivided into several MSC/VLR service
areas. To be able to route calls to the right MSC and eventually to the right MS, it is necessary
to know in which MSC/VLR service area the MS is. In the largest GSM networks today, the
number of MSC:s seldom exceeds 10.

The HLR stores the data, about which MSC/VLR service area the MS is in. The VLR contains
detailed information about all the MS:s in the MSC/VLR service area.