Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh city

Chapter8. Mobile
Communication Systems
Composed by Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
Updated in Aug 2018

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

Contents
I. Introduction
II. GSM network architecture
III. Geographical Network Structure
IV. Wireless Transmission
V. Transmission Channels
VI. Cell Planning
VII. Introduction of 2G, GPRS, EDGE, 3G, 4G/LTE.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

I. Introduction
Mobile telecommunications is one of the fastest growing and
most demanding of all telecommunications technologies.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

I. Introduction (cont.)

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

I. Introduction (cont.)
Số liệu cục thống kê tháng 05/2018
Tổng số thuê bao di động có phát sinh lưu lượng: 123,910,048
>Tổng số thuê bao 2G có phát sinh lưu lượng: 72,266,239
Thuê bao 2G trả trước: 67,593,168
Thuê bao 2G trả sau: 4,673,071
>Tổng số thuê bao 3G có phát sinh lưu lượng: 51,643,809
Thuê bao 3G trả trước: 47,469,752
Thuê bao sử dụng data card: 4,187,743
Thuê bao sử dụng máy điện thoại: 43,282,009
Thuê bao 3G trả sau: 4,174,057
Thuê bao sử dụng data card: 665,301
Thuê bao sử dụng máy điện thoại: 3,508,756

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

II. GSM network architecture
 SS: Switching System
 BSS: Base Station System
 AUC: Authentication Center
 VLR: Visitor Location Register
 HLR: Home Location Register
 EIR: Equipment Identity Register
 GMSC: Gateway Mobile services
Switching Center
 MSC: Mobile services Switching
Center
 BSC: Base Station Controller
 BTS: Base Transceiver Station
 MS: Mobile Station
 NMC: Network Management
Center
 OMC: Operation and Maintenance
Center
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
II. GSM network architecture (cont.)
 MSC performs the telephony switching functions for the mobile
network and other telephony and data systems, such as the
PSTN, ISDN, PLMNs.
 HLR is a centralized network database that stores and manages
all mobile subscriptions belonging to a specific operator:
subscriber identity, subscriber supplementary services,
subscriber location information, subscriber authentication
information.
 VLR is a database that contains information of all the mobile
subscribers currently located in an MSC service area. Thus,
there is one VLR for each MSC in a network.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

II. GSM network architecture (cont.)
 AUC is a database connected to the HLR which provides it with the
authentication parameters and ciphering keys used to ensure
network security.
 EIR is a database containing mobile equipment identity used for
blocking calls from stolen, unauthorized, or defective MSs.
 BSC manages all the radio-related functions of a GSM network. It is a
high capacity switch that provides functions such as MS handover,
radio channel assignment and the collection of cell configuration data.
A number of BSCs may be controlled by each MSC
 BTS controls the radio interface to the MS. The BTS comprises the
radio equipment such as transceivers and antennas which are needed
to serve each cell in the network. A group of BTSs are controlled by a
BSC

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

II. GSM network architecture (cont.)
 OMC is a computerized monitoring center which is connected to
other network components such as MSCs and BSCs via X.25 data
network links. In the OMC, staff are presented with information
about the status of the network and can monitor and control a
variety of system parameters.
 NMC is a centralized control in hierarchical approach of a GSM
network.
 MS is used by a mobile subscriber to communicate with the mobile
network. The range or coverage area of an MS depends on the output
power of the MS. Different types of MSs have different output power
capabilities and consequently different ranges. For example, hand-held
MSs have a lower output power and shorter range than car-installed
MSs with a roof mounted antenna

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

II. GSM network architecture (cont.)
 GSM network needs a specific structure to route incoming calls to
the correct exchange and then on to the subscriber based on
geographical plan. Especially, as subscribers move through the
network, these structures are used to monitor their location.
 A Cell is the basic unit of a cellular system and is defined as the
area of radio coverage given by one BS antenna system. Each cell is
assigned a unique number called Cell Global Identity (CGI). In a
complete network covering an entire country, the number of cells
can be quite high

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

II. GSM network architecture (cont.)
 A Location Area (LA) is defined as a group of cells. Within the
network, a subscriber’s location is known by the LA which they are
in. The identity of the LA in which an MS is currently located is
stored in the VLR
 When an MS crosses a boundary from a cell belonging to one LA
into a cell belonging to another LA, it must report its new location
to the network1. When an MS crosses a cell boundary within an LA,
it does need to report its new location to the network. When there
is call for an MS, a paging message is broadcast within all cells
belonging to an LA.
Handover

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

II. GSM network architecture (cont.)
 An MSC service area is made up of a number of LAs and represents
the geographical part of the network controlled by one MSC. In
order to be able to route a call to an MS, the subscriber’s MSC
service area is also recorded and monitored. The subscriber’s MSC
service area is stored in the HLR

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

II. GSM network architecture (cont.)
 A Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) service area is the entire set
of cells served by one network operator and is defined as the area
in which an operator offers radio coverage and access to its
network. In any one country there may be several PLMN service
areas, one for each mobile operator’s network.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

II. GSM network architecture (cont.)
An MS can have one of the following states:
 Idle: the MS is ON but a call is not in progress
 Active: the MS is ON and a call is in progress
 Detached: the MS is OFF

Mode Term: Description

Idle Registration: the process in which an MS informs a network that it is attached
Roaming: When an MS moves around a network in idle mode, it is referred to as
roaming
International Roaming: When an MS moves from in PLMN of a country to another
PLMN of other country
Location Updating: An MS roaming around the network must inform the network
when it enters a new LA.
Paging: This is the process whereby a network attempts to contact a particular MS.
This is achieved by broadcasting a paging message containing the identity of that MS.
Active Handover: This is the process in which control of a call is passed from one cell to
another while the MS moves between cells
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
III. Wireless Transmission
1. Some main characteristics
 Frequency characteristics:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
1. Some main characteristics (cont.)
 Frequency standards:

 Channel: A duplex channel, two frequencies. One for the direction from
the MS to the network called uplink and the other from the network to
the MS called downlink

Downlink

Uplink
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
1. Some main characteristics (cont.)
 Duplex Distance:

 Carrier Separation:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
1. Some main characteristics (cont.)
 Modulation method: Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK).
 Access method: Time division multiple access (TDMA)

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
1. Some main characteristics (cont.)
 Problems about frequencies:
 It is the number of frequencies in a cell which determines the
cell’s capacity.
 Each company with a license to operate a mobile network is
allocated a limited number of frequencies. These are distributed
throughout the cells in their network.
 Depending on the traffic load and the availability of frequencies, a
cell may have one or more frequencies allocated to it.
 Interference is the sum of all signal contributions that are neither
noise or the wanted signal. The interference create degradation
of signal quality

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
1. Some main characteristics (cont.)
 Problems about frequencies:
❖ Co-channel interference (C/I): Co-channel interference is caused by the
use of a frequency close to the exact same frequency.
❖ Adjacent channel interference (C/A): Adjacent frequencies (A), that is
frequencies shifted 200kHz from the carrier frequency (C), must be
avoided in the same cell and preferably in neighboring cells also

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
1. Some main characteristics (cont.)
 Frequency re-use is applied to improve quality and capacity.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
1. Some main characteristics (cont.)
 Information transmission:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
1. Some main characteristics (cont.)
 Transmission process:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
2. Transmission problems
 Path loss occurs when the received signal becomes weaker and
weaker due to increasing distance between MS and BTS, even if
there are no obstacles between the transmitting (Tx) and receiving
(Rx) antenna.
 Shadowing occurs when there are physical obstacles including hills
and buildings between the BTS and the MS. The obstacles create a
shadowing effect which can decrease the received signal strength

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
2. Transmission problems (cont.)
 Multipath fading occurs when there is more than one transmission
path to the MS or BTS, and therefore more than one signal arriving
at the receiver. This may be due to buildings or mountains, either
close to or far from the receiving device.
✓ Rayleigh fading occurs when a signal takes more than one path
between the MS and BTS antennas. In this case, the signal is not
received on a line of sight path directly from the Tx antenna. Rather, it
is reflected off buildings. Rayleigh fading occurs when the obstacles are
close to the receiving antenna

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
2. Transmission problems (cont.)
✓ Time dispersion is another problem relating to multiple paths to the
Rx antenna of either an MS or BTS. However, in contrast to Rayleigh
fading, the reflected signal comes from an object far away from the Rx
antenna
✓ Time dispersion causes Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) where
consecutive symbols (bits) interfere with each other making it difficult
for the receiver to determine which symbol is the correct one.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
2. Transmission problems (cont.)
 Each MS on a call is allocated a time slot on a TDMA frame. This is
an amount of time during which the MS transmits information to
the BTS. The information must also arrive at the BTS within that
time slot. The time alignment problem occurs when part of the
information transmitted by an MS does not arrive within the
allocated time slot.

When will create time alignment?

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
2. Transmission problems (cont.)
 The lowest signal strength value required for a specified output is
called receiver sensitivity level.

What happened if the global mean is smaller the receiver sensitivity?

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems
 Speech coding: Instead of using 13 bits per sample as in A/D
conversion, GSM speech coding uses 260 bits/20ms. This calculates
as 50 x 260 = 13 kbits/s.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems
 Channel coding: Channel coding is used to detect and correct
errors in a received bit stream. Channel coding in GSM uses the 260
bits and split according to their relative importance:
• Block 1: 50 very important bits
• Block 2: 132 important bits and
• Block 3: 78 not so important bits

Segment
260 bits

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems
 Interleaving: There two level of interleaving
❖ First interleaving:

If one burst transmission is lost, What is the BER for the

entire 20 ms of speech?
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems Burst Frames
 Interleaving (cont.):
❖ Second interleaving:

If one burst transmission is lost, what is the

BER for the entire 20 ms of speech?

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems
 Antenna diversity:
❖ Space diversity:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems
 Antenna diversity:
❖ Polarization Divers::

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems
 Adaptive equalization:
A set of predefined known bit patterns exist, known as training sequences
(S). These are known to the BTS and the MS.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems
 Low frequency hopping (LH):
It is assumed there are 4 carrier frequencies in one BTS and a frame TDM
have 8 time slots

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems
 Fast frequency hopping (FH):
It is assumed there are 4 carrier frequencies in one BTS and a frame TDM
have 8 time slots

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

III. Wireless Transmission (cont.)
3. Solutions to transmission problems
 Timing advance (TA):
In GSM, the timing advance information relates to bit times. Thus, an MS
may be instructed to advance its transmission by a certain number of bit
times. The maximum in GSM is 63 bit times. This is one of the parameters
that limits the GSM cell size to a maximum of 35 km radius

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

IV. Transmission channels
1. Types of channels:

Frequency channels

Physical channels

Logic channels

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

 IV. Transmission channels (cont.)
2. Logical channels:
Broadcast Channels (BCH):
• Frequency Correction Channel
(FCCH)
• Synchronization Channel (SCH)
(TCH)
• Broadcast Control Channel
(BCCH)
Common Control Channels
(CCCH):
• Paging Channel (PCH)
• Random Access Channel
(RACH)
• Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
Dedicated Control Channels
(DCCH):
• Stand alone Dedicated Control
Channel (SDCCH)
• Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
• Slow Associated Control
Channel (SACCH)
• Fast Associated Control
Channel (FACCH
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
IV. Transmission channels (cont.)
2. Logical channels:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

 IV. Transmission channels (cont.)
2. Logical channels:
Broadcast Channels (BCH):
• Frequency Correction Channel
(FCCH)
• Synchronization Channel (SCH)
• Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)
Common Control Channels (CCCH):
• Paging Channel (PCH)
• Random Access Channel (RACH)
• Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH):
• Stand alone Dedicated Control
Channel (SDCCH)
• Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
• Slow Associated Control Channel
(SACCH)
• Fast Associated Control Channel
(FACCH
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
IV. Transmission channels (cont.)
2. Logical channels:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

IV. Transmission channels (cont.)
2. Logical channels:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

IV. Transmission channels (cont.)
3. Mapping the logical channels in physical channels:

(This model is applied for GSM Ericsson)

For each site, we usually use 2 or 3 slots for signaling

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

IV. Transmission channels (cont.)
4. Sample traffic case - call to an MS:

Hint: Transcoder Controller (TRC)

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

IV. Transmission channels (cont.)
5. Process from voice signal to data channels:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

 V. Cell planning
1. Concepts:
 There are two main types of cell:
✓ Omni directional cell:An omni directional cell (or omnicell) is served by
a BTS with an antenna which transmits equally in all directions (360
degrees).
✓ Sector cell:A sector cell is the area of coverage from an antenna which
transmits in a given direction only. For example, this may be equal to 120
degrees or 180 degrees of an equivalent omni directional cell.

Sector cell:
Omni directional cell

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
1. Concepts:
 Cell splitting is the process of subdividing a congested cell into
smaller cells. In that way, each smaller cell has reduced antenna height and
reduced transmitter power. It also increases the capacity of a cellular
system since number of times channels are reused increases.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
1. Concepts:
 Cell splitting (cont.):

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
1. Concepts:
 Configuration for frequency re-use:

Groups of frequencies can be

placed together into patterns of
cells called clusters.
A cluster is a group of cells in
which all available frequencies
have been used once and only
once.
This model using cluster
configuration (re-use pattern) = 4
(sites)/12 (cells)

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
1. Concepts:
 Distribution of carrier frequencies:

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
1. Concepts:
 Configuration for frequency re-use:

Some cluster configuration: 3/9, 4/12

and 7/21
Assume that R is cell radius, N is the
number of cells in a cluster and D is re-
use distance as the distance between
centers of the nearest co-channel cells
For this model:
2
𝐷= 3 3𝑅 + 3𝑅 2 =6R

General formulations for D:

𝐷 = 𝑅 3𝑁
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
V. Cell planning
1. Concepts:
 Calculate C/IdB:

Calculate C/I of GSM network using the re-use pattern 4/12. It is known that
4𝜋𝑑 2
the radius of cells is 2 Km and path loss formulation is 𝐿 = λ

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
2. Cell planning:
 Cell planning process:

Student is required to read Section 10. Cell Planning in

“Reference [2]. Ericsson_GSM System Survey”
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
V. Cell planning
2. Cell planning:
 Cell planning process:

Course learning outcomes Planning steps

CLO3 (d1). Identify input / output design problems with Step 1. Traffic &coverage
constraints on industry standards, efficiency, analysis
environmental and human safety. Step 2. Nominal cell plan
Step 3. Survey
CLO4 (d2). Design block diagram of the system, define Step4. System design
the input / output parameters between the blocks
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
V. Cell planning
2. Cell planning:
 Step 1. Traffic and coverage analysis

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
2. Cell planning:
 Step 2. Nominal cell planning

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
2. Cell planning:
 Step 3. Survey

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
2. Cell planning:
 Step 4. System design

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
2. Cell planning:
 Step 5. Implement

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

V. Cell planning
2. Cell planning:
 Step 6. System turning

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

VI. Evolution of mobile networks

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

VI. Evolution of mobile networks (cont.)

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

VI. Evolution of mobile networks (cont.)

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

VI. Evolution of mobile networks (cont.)

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

Problems
1. Name mobile network technologies what you know.
2. Present general structure of GSM network and explain
function of each modules.
3. Define the SS7 function modules in GSM network.
4. Explain the concepts in mobile network: cell, location area
(LA), MSC service area, PLMN.
5. Explain the concepts in mobile network: Ideal, active and
detached, roaming, international roaming, location update,
paging, handover.
6. Define characteristic parameters of GSM900.
7. What is a duplex channel?
8. What is the separation between two consecutive carriers?
Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang
Problems
9. Name mobile network technologies what you know.
10. How many slots are used for signalling in a site BTS?
11. Define frequency channel, physical channel and logic channel in mobile
network.
12. Present normal burst structure of a logic channel.
13. Present the general diagram of a mobile station (MS).
14. Present the general diagram of a BTS.
15. Describe main transmission problems in mobile network.
16. Define transmission problems are called Rayleigh fading and time
dispersion in mobile network.
17. Define solutions for transmission problems in mobile network.
18. Explain the advantage of using interleaving technique.
19. Explain the advantage of using antenna diversity technique.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

Problems
20. Explain the advantage of using Viterbi equalization technique.
21. Explain the advantage of timing advance (TA) technique.
21. Present basic structure of logical channels in mobile networks.
22. Describe a traffic case call to MS.
23. Define types of cell in a mobile network and method for splitting cell.
24. What is a cluster?
25. Define the formulation for calculating the distance between co-channel
cells.
26. What types of data will be collected in Step 1. Traffic &coverage analysis
27. What types of problems will be done in Step 2. Nominal cell plan
28. What types of data will be collected in Step 3. Survey
29. What types of data will be collected in Step 4. System design

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang

Exercises
1) It is known that the network use GSM 900 standard, uplink 890-900MHz,
downlink 935-950, the re-use pattern 3/9. Define carrier distribute table
and draft geographical network model.
2) Define C/IdB for a mobile network, that have the re-use pattern 3/9 and
cell radius 1.5km.
3) Cell planning for a mobile communication network of Ho Chi Minh city. It
is known that the network use GSM 900 standard, uplink 890-905MHz,
downlink 935-950, the re-use pattern 4/12, QoS is 0.02. The area of Ho
Chi Minh city is 2100km2, population density is 1200 people per 1 km2, in
BH, the holding time is about 2 minute, the time rate is about 1.
4) Cell planning for a mobile communication network of Da Nang city. It is
known that the network use GSM 900 standard, uplink 890-915MHz,
downlink 935-960, the re-use pattern 3/9, QoS is 0.02. The area of the
city is 1285km2, the population is 1.125.000 people. It is surveyed that in
BH, the holding time is about 2 minute, the time rate is about 1.

Bui Thu Cao, Pham Tran Anh Quang