Module-2 GSM and TDMA Technology

GSM System overview – Introduction, GSM Network and System Architecture, GSM Channel Concept.
GSM System Operations – GSM Identities, System Operations –Traffic cases, GSM Infrastructure
Communications (Um Interface)
(Text 2, Part1 and Part 2 of Chapter 5) L1, L2, L3

Module-2
GSM and TDMA Technologies
2.1. Introduction to GSM and TDMA

Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) services are a standard collection of
applications and features available to mobile phone subscribers all over the world. The
GSM standards are defined by the 3GPP collaboration and implemented in hardware and
software by equipment manufacturers and mobile phone operators. The common standard
makes it possible to use the same phones with different companies' services, or even roam
into different countries. GSM is the world's most dominant mobile phone standard.
• GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication.
• It is a digital cellular technology used for transmitting mobile voice and data services using
digital modulation .
GSM: History
• Developed by Group Special Mobile (founded 1982) which was an initiative of CEPT ( Conference
of European Post and Telecommunication ).
• Under ETSI, GSM is named as “ Global System for Mobile communication “ in 1989.
• Full set of specifications phase-I became available in 1990.
• Phase 2 of the GSM specifications occurs in 1995. Coverage is extended to rural areas.
• Development of services evolved into phase 2+, which includes HSPA to GSM.
• HSPA is used in GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and EDGE (Enhanced data rates for global
evolution .

GSM Services:

The Relationship of tele-services and bearer services to the GSM system are shown in figure 2.1. GSM has
following service namely
• GSM Tele-services
• GSM Bearer or Data Services
• Supplementary services
 Figure 2.1 Relationship of tele services and bearer services to the GSM system

Tele services: Voice communication between two users

Bearer services: Provide the user with ability to transfer data between user network interfaces.
Supplementary services: There are services that enhance or support a tele services provided by the
network.
Table 2.1 Phase I GSM services

Table 2.2 Phase II GSM services

Tele Services
• Teleservices provide standard voice communications between end users and additional
communications between two end user applications according to some standard protocol.
• Offered services
- Mobile telephony
- Emergency calling
Bearer Services
• Bearer services provide user with the ability to transmit data between user network interfaces.
• Include various data services for information transfer between GSM and other networks like PSTN,
ISDN etc at rates from 300 to 9600 bps
• Short Message Service (SMS)
- up to 160 character alphanumeric data transmission to/from the mobile terminal
• Voice mailbox
Supplementary Services
• Supplementary services are services that enhance or support a teleservice provided by the network.
Call related services:
• Call Waiting- Notification of an incoming call while on the handset
• Call Hold- Put a caller on hold to take another call
• Call Barring- All calls, outgoing calls, or incoming calls
• Call Forwarding- Calls can be sent to various numbers defined by the user
• Multi Party Call Conferencing - Link multiple calls together
GSM Radio frequency carriers
Global Positioning system consists of the channel that has frequency separation of 200 KHz.
The GSM 900 band has 124 carriers Frequencies, and the 1800 band has 374 carrier frequency and GSM
1900 band has 299carrier frequencies. Since each carrier can be shared by upto 8 users.
The total number of channels for each system is
124x8=992 channels for GSM 900
374x8=2992 channels for GSM 1800
299x8=2392 channels for GSM 1900/PCS 1900.

The frequency band allocated to the five present GSM system implementations are shown in table 2.3.
The figure 2.2 shows the bands in the PCS spectrum allocation that are used by the GSM 1900 system.
It shows the how various bands are allocated for use in eith er major or basic trading areas (MTA and BTA).
The A, B and C bands are each 15-MHz wide and the D, E and F bands are each 5MHz wide.

For a particular carrier frequency, a channel consists of a single t ime slot that occurs during TDMA frame of
eight timeslots as shown in figure 2.3.

Table 2.3: GSM Frequency band and channel numbers

Figure 2.2 GSM frequency allocations in the 1900-MHz PCS bands MTA Major trading area and BTA
Basic Trading area

Figure 2.3. GSM timeslot in a TDMA Frame

2.2 GSM Network and System Architecture

Figure 2.4: GSM System Architecture

Figure 2.4 shows the basic system architecture for a GSM wireless cellular network

The Major subsystem of GSM Network and System Architecture are

Network Switching Subsystem (NSS), Base Station Subsystem (BSS) and Mobile Station (MS).

The Mobile Station (MS) is the device provides the radio link between the GSM subscriber and
the wireless mobile network.
Mobile Equipment (ME)
The GSM also make use of a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or the SIM card that when
inserted into the MS makes it functional.

Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

Base Station Controller (BSC)

Network Switching Subsystem(NSS)

Mobile Switching Center (MSC)
Home Location Register (HLR)
Visitor Location Register (VLR)

Authentication Center (AUC)

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

Mobile Station (MS)

The Mobile Station is made up of two entities:
Mobile Equipment (ME) •
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) •
• MS provides subscribers the means to control their access to the PSTN and PDN

• MS can make calls without SIM card Mobile Equipment

• Portable, vehicle mounted, hand held device

• Uniquely identified by an IMEI number (International Mobile
 Equipment Identity)

• Voice and data transmission

• Monitoring power and signal quality of surrounding cells for optimum handover

• Power level : 0.8W – 20 W

160 character long SMS

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) • Smart card contains the International Mobile Subscriber
Identity (IMSI)
• The mobile MSIISDN Number

• Allows user to send and receive calls and receive other subscribed services

• Protected by a password or SIM PIN (Personal identification Number)

• Can be moved from phone to phone – contains key information to activate the phone

• Security/authentication parameters and also address book contact information (name and numbers)
saved by users.

• SIM card also stores the SMS received by the users and saves.

• Portability of SIM is possible

System Architecture Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

• The BSS is the link between the MS and GSM Mobile switching centre.

• Base Station Subsystem is composed of two parts that communicate across the standardized Abis
interface allowing operation between components made by different suppliers

• Base Transceiver Station (BTS) and Base Station Controller (BSC)

Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

• The BSS communicate with MS over air interface using protocols

• BSC and BTS communicate using LAPD protocol Link access protocol for DChannels.
• LAPD is the data link protocol used ISDN
Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
• Encodes, encrypts, multiplexes, modulates and feeds the RF signals to the antenna.
 • Communicates with Mobile station and BSC. Consists of Transceivers (TRX) units

• It is also called as Radio base station or RBS. RBS is the interface corresponds to the subscribers
MS.
• Provides radio link the MS over the air interface

• Basic components of BTS are radio receivers units, a switching and distribution units, RF power
combining and distribution and

• Environmental control unit, A power system and

• A processing and database storage unit Base Station Controller (BSC)

• The components of BSC are input and output interface multiplexers, a time slot inter change group
switch, sub rate switch, speech coder/decoders, transcoders and rate adapters , SS7 signalling
system number 7, power supply and distribution units, Environmental control unit, Various control
and signal processor
• Manages Radio resources for BTS

• Assigns Frequency and time slots for all MS’s in its area

• Handles call set up

• Handover for each MS. It communicates with MSC and BTS.

• Its also contains Transcoder controller (TRC). Urban and suburban area traffic are handled by
BSC/TRC
Network Switching Subsystem(NSS)
The system contains the following functional units

• Mobile Switching Center (MSC)

• Home Location Register (HLR)

• Visitor Location Register (VLR)

• Authentication Center (AUC)

• Equipment Identity Register (EIR) also has a switching System may have flexible number in register
and interworking location register to provide more system functionalities
• Short message services the wireless Switching System we need to have an SMS gateway
MSC(SMS-GMSC) and an SMS interworking MSC(SMS-IWMSC).
 • The implementation of GPRS for high-speed data transmission and reception requires

A Gateway GPRS support node (GGSN)

Mobile Switching Centre (MSC)
Heart of the network

Manages communication between GSM and other networks

Billing information and collection
Mobility management

- Registration
- Location Updating

- Inter BSS and inter MSC call handoff

- SS7 Protocol

Home Location Registers (HLR)

Stores information about each subscriber that belongs to it MSC in permanent and
temporary fashion.

As soon as mobile subscriber leaves its current local area , the information in the HLR
is updated.
Ddatabase contains IMSI, MSISDN, prepaid/postpaid, roaming restrictions,
the use of two additional switching elements

Visitor Location Registers (VLR)

• Temporary database which updates whenever new MS enters its area, by HLR database.

• Assigns a TMSI (Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity) to each MS entering the VLR area which
keeps on changing.
 • Controls those mobiles roaming in its area.

• Database contains IMSI, MSISDN, Location Area, authentication key.

Authentication Centre (AUC)

• Contains the algorithms for authentication as well as the keys for encryption.

• Protects network operators from fraud.

• Situated in special protected part of the HLR.

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

• Stores all devices identifications registered for this network.

• Database that is used to track handsets using the IMEI (International Mobile
Equipment Identity)
• Prevents calls from stolen, unauthorised or defective mobile devices

• The AUC and EIR in conjunction with MSC/VLR and HLR provides the additional
GSM network security and facilitates international roaming within GSM network.

• The flexible numbering register (FNR) provides portability to a subscriber

Operation and Support System and Other Nodes

• The centralized operation of the various units in the system and functions needed to
maintain the subsystems.
• Dynamic monitoring and controlling of the network.

• Functions :

• Configuration management

• Fault report and alarm handling

• Performance supervision/management

• Storage of system software and data

GSM network interfaces and protocols

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 Figure 2.5 GSM network interfaces

GSM protocols and Signaling Model

Figure 2.6 GSM Signalling model,

TCAP Transfer capabilities application part,

SCCP Signaling connection control Part

MTP Message Transfer Part, ISUP ISDN user Part TUP Temporary user part ,
MAP Mobile Application Part, BSSAPBSS Application Part

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 Figure 2.7. Signalling between the MSC, BSS and MS in a GSM system

Figure 2.8 Signalling over the GSM Ater interface

GSM Protocol and signalling Model

The network structure is defined within the GSM standards. Additionally each
interface between the different elements of the GSM network is also defined. This
facilitates the information interchanges can take place. It also enables to a large
degree that network elements from different manufacturers can be used.

However as many of these interfaces were not fully defined until after many
networks had been deployed, the level of standardization may not be quite as high
as many people might like.

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Figure 2.5 shows the GSM network interfaces and GSM Signalling model is depicted in
figure
2.6.

 The network structure is defined within the GSM standards.

 Additionally each interface between the different elements of the GSM network is
also defined.
 This facilitates the information interchanges can take place.

 It also enables to a large degree that network elements from different

manufacturers can be used.
 Um interface : The "air" or radio interface standard that is used for exchanges
between a mobile (ME) and a base station (BTS / BSC).

 For signaling, a modified version of the ISDN LAPD, known as LAPDm is used.
 Abis interface : exists between BSC and a BTS, and it has not been totally
standardized.

 The Abis interface allows control of the radio equipment and radio frequency
allocation in the BTS.
 A interface : The A interface is used to provide communication between the BSS
and the MSC.

 The interface carries information to enable the channels, timeslots and the like to
be allocated to the mobile equipment's being serviced by the BSSs.
 The messaging required within the network to enable handover etc to be
undertaken is carried over the interface.
Although the interfaces for the GSM cellular system may not be as
rigorously defined as many might like, they do at least provide a large
element of the definition required, enabling the functionality of GSM
network entities to be defined sufficiently. Figure 2.7. shows the Signalling
between the MSC, BSS and MS in a GSM system
Signalling over the GSM Ater interface is shown in figure 2.8.

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