The global system for mobile communications (GSM) is a set of recommendations and specifications for a digital cellular telephone network (known as a Public Land Mobile Network, or PLMN). These recommendations ensure the compatibility of equipment from different GSM manufacturers, and interconnectivity between different administrations, including operations across international boundaries
The GSM network is comprised of the following components:
Network Elements
The GSM network incorporates a number of network elements to support mobile equipment. They are listed and described in the GSM network elements section of this chapter.
GSM subsystems
In addition, the network includes subsystems that are not formally recognized as network elements but are necessary for network operation. These are described in the GSM subsystems (non-network elements) section of this chapter.
Standardized Interfaces
GSM specifies standards for interfaces between network elements, which ensure the connectivity of GSM equipment from different manufacturers. These are listed in the Standardized interfaces section of this chapter.
Network Protocols
For most of the network communications on these interfaces, internationally recognized communications protocols have been used
These are identified in the Network protocols section of this chapter.
GSM Frequencies
The frequency allocations for GSM 900, Extended GSM and Digital Communications Systems are identified in the GSM frequencies section of this chapter.
2. INTRODUCTION
The global system for mobile communications (GSM)
is a set of recommendations and specifications for a
digital cellular telephone network (known as a Public
Land Mobile Network, or PLMN). These
recommendations ensure the compatibility of equipment
from different GSM manufacturers, and interconnectivity
between different administrations, including operations
across international boundaries.
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3. THE GSM NETWORK
The GSM network is comprised of the following components:
Network Elements
The GSM network incorporates a number of network elements to
support mobile equipment. They are listed and described in the GSM
network elements section of this chapter.
GSM subsystems
In addition, the network includes subsystems that are not formally
recognized as network elements but are necessary for network
operation. These are described in the GSM subsystems (non-network
elements) section of this chapter.
Standardized Interfaces
GSM specifies standards for interfaces between network elements,
which ensure the connectivity of GSM equipment from different
manufacturers. These are listed in the Standardized interfaces section of
this chapter.
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4. THE GSM NETWORK - CONTINUED
Network Protocols
For most of the network communications on these interfaces,
internationally recognized communications protocols have been used
These are identified in the Network protocols section of this chapter.
GSM Frequencies
The frequency allocations for GSM 900, Extended GSM and Digital
Communications Systems are identified in the GSM frequencies section
of this chapter.
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5. DIGITAL NETWORKS
GSM networks are digital and can cater for
high system capacities. They are consistent
with the world wide digitization of the
telephone network, and are an extension of
the Integrated Services Digital Network
(ISDN), using a digital radio interface
between the cellular network and the mobile
subscriber equipment.
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6. INCREASED CAPACITY
The GSM system provides a greater subscriber capacity than
analogue systems. GSM allows 25 kHz. Per user, that is, eight
conversations per 200kHz. 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 the cells where the same frequencies are re-used (co-channel
interference); a Carrier to Interference Ratio (C/I) level of 9 dB is
achieved, as opposed to the 18 dB typical with analogue cellular.
This allows increased geographic reuse by permitting a reduction in
the number of cells in the reuse pattern. Since this number is directly
controlled by the amount of interference, the radio transmission
design can deliver acceptable performance.
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7. CGI : CELL GLOBAL IDENTITY
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 7
MCC MNC LAC CI
LAI
CGI
MCC = Mobile Country Code
MNC = Mobile Network Code
LAC = Location Area Code
CI = Cell Identity
9. MSISDN
The Mobile Subscriber ISDN (MSISDN)
number is the telephone number of the MS.
This is the number a calling party dials to
reach the subscriber. It is used by the land
network to route calls towards the MSC.
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10. IMSI
IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber
Identity) Network Identity Unique To A Sim.
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MCC MNC MSIN
404 XX 12345..10
SIM = Subscriber Identity Module
MCC = Mobile Country Code
MNC = Mobile Network Code
MSIN = Mobile Subscriber Identity Number
11. IMEI
IMEI : Serial number unique to each mobile
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TAC FAC SNR SP
6 2 6 1
IMEI = International Mobile Equipment Identity
TAC = Type Approval Code
FAC = Final Assembly Code
SNR = Serial Number
SP = Spare
12. SUBSCRIBER IDENTIFICATION
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
Just the IMEI identifies the mobile equipment, other numbers are
used to identify the mobile subscriber. Different subscriber identities
are used in different phases of call setup. The International Mobile
Subscriber Identity (IMSI) is the primary identity of the subscriber
within the mobile network and is permanently assigned to that
subscriber.
Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI)
The GSM system can also assign a Temporary Mobile Subscriber
Identity (TMSI). After the subscriber’s IMSI has been initialized on the
system, the TMSI can be used for sending backward and forward across
the network to identify the subscriber. The system automatically
changes the TMSI at regular intervals, thus protecting the subscriber
from being identified by someone attempting to monitor the radio
channels. The TMSI is a local number and is always transmitted with
the Local numbers and is always transmitted with the Location Area
Identification (LAI) to avoid ambiguities.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 12
13. SUBSCRIBER IDENTIFICATION MODULE
(SIM)
By making a distinction between the subscriber identity and the
mobile equipment identity, a GSM PLMN can route calls and
perform billing based on the identity of the subscriber rather than
the mobile equipment being used. This can be done using a
removable Subscriber Information Module (SIM). A ”smart card” is
one possible implementation of a SIM module.
IMSI. This is transmitted at initialization of the mobile equipment.
TMSI This is updated periodically by the PLMN
MSISDN This is made up of a country code, a national code and a
subscriber number.
Location Area Identity (LAI) This identified the current location of
the subscriber.
Subscriber Authentication Key (KI) This is used to authenticate
the SIM.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 13
14. EQUIPMENT IDENTITY NUMBER
International Mobile station Equipment Identity (IMEI)
Each MS is identified by an International Mobile station Equipment
Identity (IMEI) number which is permanently stored in the mobile
equipment. On request, the MS sends this number over the
signalling channel to the MSC. The IMEI can be used to identify MS,s
that are reported stolen or operating incorrectly.
Equipment Identity Register ( EIR )
A listing of the allowed IMEI is maintained by the PLMN’s in the
Equipment Identity Register (EIR) to validate the mobile equipment.
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15. Frequency Bands
Uplink 890 – 915 MHz 25 MHz
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Downlink 935 – 960 MHz 25 MHz
100 KHz 200 KHz 100 KHz
1 43 1242 …………….
A 200 KHz carrier spacing has been chosen. Excluding 2x100 KHz edges of
the band, this gives 124 possible carriers for the uplink and downlink. The
use of carrier 1 and 124 are optional for operators.
17. MS – Mobile Station
Mobile station provides user access to GSM network
for voice and data
All GSM mobiles comply to GSM standards
Subscriber data is read from a SIM card that plugs
into ME
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SIM ME
MS
18. MS (cont..)
Each MS has a unique number called as IMEI
number, which is stored in EIR for
authentication purposes
Mobile camps on to the GSM network
through the BTS serving the cell
Mobile also scans neighboring cells and
reports signal strengths
Mobile transmits and receives voice at 13 kb/s
over the air interface
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19. Mobile Station Output Power
CLASS 1 20 watts Vehicle and Portable
CLASS 2 8 watts Portable and Vehicle
CLASS 3 5 watts Hand-Held
CLASS 4 2 watts Hand-Held (GSM)
CLASS 5 0.8 watts Hand-Held (DCS
1800)
Output power determines:
Accessibility in areas of coverage
Talk Time and Standby time
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20. Mobile Station Identities
CC – Country Code
NDC – National Destination Code
SN – Serial Number
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MSISDN : Mobile Station ISDN Number
It is the human identity used to call a Mobile
Station
CC SNNDC MSISDN
98 250 00134
21. IMSI (International Mobile
Subscriber Identity)
MCC – Mobile Country Code
MNC – Mobile Network Code
MSIN – Mobile Subscriber Identity Number
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MCC MSINMNC IMSI
3 2 or 3
Not more than 15
NMSI
22. IMEI (International Mobile
Equipment Identity)
TAC – Type Approval Code
FAC – Factory Assembly Code
SNR – Serial Number
SP – Spare digit (usually used to specify
software version)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 22
TAC SPFAC IMEISNR
6 162 15
23. SIM ( Subscriber Identity
Module)
Removable module inserted when the
subscriber wants to use the ME
Two sizes: credit card size and stamp size
SIM features and contents are personalized by
the Service Activator
ROM – 6kb to 16 kb
RAM – 128 bytes to 256 bytes
EEPROM – 3kb to 8 kb
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 23
Space to insert SIM photo
24. Contents of SIM
Serial Number
IMSI, Subscriber Key Ki, Ciphering Key Kc
Algorithms for authentication and ciphering
Network Code
PIN, PUK
Charging Information
Abbreviated Dialling
Supplementary Features (e.g. Call barring)
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25. SIM Security
Two level protection
When mobile is turned on, it will ask for user
to enter PIN (Personal Id Number)
3 tries for PIN, after that PIN locked
To unblock PIN, there is PUK (Pin Unblock
Key)
10 attempts of PUK allowed
After that SIM is blocked
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26. BTS (Base Transceiver Station)
BTS has a set of Transceivers (TRXs) to communicate
with mobiles in its area
One BTS covers one or more than one cell
The capacity of a cell depends on number of
transceivers in the cell
BTS is connected to the BSC through Abis Interface
which is 2Mbps
BTS transmits and receives voice at 13kbps over air
interface to the mobiles.
BTS commands mobiles to set Tx. Power, timing
advance and Handovers
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 26
28. BSC – Base Station Controller
Several BTSs are connected to the BSC
BSC Manages channel allocation, handovers and
release of channels at connected BTSs
BSC connects to the BTS via the Abis interface
and to the MSC on A interface
BSC has the entire database of cell parameters
associated with the BTSs.
No mobile data is stored in the BSC
Less connections for MSC as intelligence is made
common to all BTSs by the BSC
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31. TRAU (cont..)
The MSC is based on ISDN switching. The
Fixed Network is also ISDN based.
ISDN has speech rate of 64 kbps. Mobile
communicates at 13 kbps.
TRAU converts the data rates between
13kbps GSM rate to 64kbps Standard ISDN
rate
TRAU can be collocated with the BTS, BSC
or MSC or it can be a separate unit.
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32. Location of Transcoder
Collocated with MSC, BSC, BTS
Separate Unit
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MSC
Transco
der
BSC
33. MSC – Mobile Switching
Centre
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 33
BSC
BSC
BSC
BTSs PSTN
HLR
VLR
34. MSC (cont..)
Exchange where calls are established, maintained and
released
Database for all subscribers and their associated
features.
Communicates with the BSCs on the A interface and
with PSTN on fixed line.
MSC is weighted on the number of subscribers it can
support. E.g. an MSC of 1 lac subscribers means one
MSC is enough till subscriber base increases upto 1 lac,
beyond which another MSC is required.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 34
35. Multiple MSCs
When there is more capacity, there are more than
one MSCs.
All MSCs have to communicate with one another
and to the outside world.
Very complicated to connect each MSC to each
other and each MSC to PSTN
So there is a concept of GMSC (Gateway MSC)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 35
BSC
BSC
MSC
MSC
GMSC PSTN
36. HLR – Home Location Register
MSC has all subscriber database stored
in HLR
HLR has all permanent subscriber
database
HLR has a database which describes the
subscriber’s profile i.e. basic features
and supplementary services
MSC communicates with the HLR to get
data for subscribers on call
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37. VLR – Visiting Location Register
A subscription when activated is registered in
VLR
VLR has all the subscriber numbers which are
active.
VLR has a temporary database of all active
subscribers (on/off, location information)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 37
MSC VLRVLR
HLR
38. VLR (cont..)
MSC communicates with HLR for subscribers
coming from different MSCs. If the subscriber is
found valid, then it registers the subscriber in
the VLR
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MSC MSCVLRVLR
HLR
VLR
39. AUC – Authentication Centre
Authentication is a process by which a SIM is
verified
Secret data and the verification process
algorithm are stored in AUC
AUC is the element which carries out the
verification of the SIM
AUC is associated with the HLR
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 39
MS MSC HLR AUC
40. EIR (Equipment Identity Register)
EIR is the Mobile Equipment Database
which has a series of IMEIs
MSC asks the Mobile to send its IMEI
MSC then checks the validity of IMEI with
the EIR
All IMEIs are stored in EIR with relevant
classifications
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 40
EIR
MSC
41. Classification of IMEIs
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 41
White list: This contains the IMEI of
type approved mobiles
Black List: List of IMEIs which should be
barred because either they are stolen or
are not functioning properly
Grey list: List of IMEIs which are to be
evaluated before they are put in black list
42. Billing Centre (BC)
BC Generates the billing statement for each
subscriber
BC may be directly connected to the MSC or
through a mediation device
MSC sends CDRs (Call Detail Records) to the BC
According to the template of pulse rates and
units set, BC creates a bill according to the
destination called and the call duration
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 42
43. Billing Centre (BC) (cont..)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 43
CDRs
Templates for unit costs
44. OMC – Operations and
Maintenance Centre
Also called the NOC (Network Operations
centre)
It is the central monitoring and remote
maintenance centre for all network elements
OMC has links to BSCs and MSCs
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 44
45. OMC – Operations and
Maintenance Centre
Also called the NOC (Network Operations
centre)
It is the central monitoring and remote
maintenance centre for all network elements
OMC has links to BSCs and MSCs
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 45
48. GSM Channels
Physical Channel
One time slot on one carrier is called physical
channel.
Logical Channel
Information carried by physical channels is called
logical Channels.
Logical channels are mapped on physical
channels.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 48
49. Logical Channels
Traffic channels: Used for speech and data
Full Rate(TCH/F)
Half Rate(TCH/H)
Control channels: Used for signaling .i.e.
setting up a radio connection, call or controlling
an MS during conversation
BCH(Broadcast channels)
CCCH(common control channels)
DCCH(dedicated control channels)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 49
52. BCH(Broadcast Channels)
BCCH(Broadcast Control Channels)
Downlink Only.
Broadcast information of the serving cell (System
Information).
Transmitted on timeslot zero of BCCH carrier.
Reads only by idle mobile at least once every 30
secs.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 52
53. BCH(Broadcast Channels) cont’d
SCH(Synchronisation Channels)
Downlink Only
Carries information for frame synchronisation.
Contains frame number and BSIC(Base Station
Identity Code).
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 53
54. BCH(Broadcast Channels) cont’d
FCCH(Frequency Correction Channels)
Downlink Only.
Enable MS to synchronies to the frequency.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 54
55. CCCH(Common Control
Channel)
RACH(Random Access Channel)
Uplink only.
Used by the MS when making its first access to
the Network.
The reason for access could be initiation of a call
or a page response.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 55
56. CCCH(Common Control Channel)
cont’d
AGCH(Assess Grant Channel)
Downlink only.
Used for acknowledgement of the access attempt
sent on RACH.
Used by the network to assign a signaling cannel
upon successful decoding of access bursts.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 56
57. CCCH(Common Control Channel)
cont’d
PCH(Paging Channel)
Downlink only.
The network will page the MS ,if there is a
incoming call or a short Message.
It contains the MS identity number, the IMSI or
TMSI.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 57
58. DCCH(Dedicated Control
Channel)
SDCCH (Stand-alone Dedicated Control
Channel)
Uplink and Downlink.
Used for call setup, authentication, ciphering
location update and SMS.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 58
59. DCCH(Dedicated Control
Channel) cont’d
SACCH(Slow Associated Control Channel)
Downlink and Uplink.
Used to transfer signal while MS have ongoing
conversation on traffic or while SDCCH is being
used.
On the forward link, the SACCH is used to send
slow but regularly changing control information to
each mobile on that ARFCN, such as power
control instructions and specific timing advance
instructions
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 59
60. SACCH(Slow Associated Control Channel)
cont’d
The reverse SACCH carries information about
the received signal strength and quality of the
TCH, as well as BCH measurement results
from neighboring cells.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 60
61. DCCH(Dedicated Control
Channel) cont’d
FACCH(Fast Associated Control Channel)
Downlink and uplink.
Associate with TCH only.
It is used to send fast message like hand over
message.
Work by stealing traffic bursts.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 61
62. Mapping on Physical
Channels
The Logical channels are mapped on the
physical channels.
The TDMA frames are grouped together into
multi-frame.
26 TDMA multi-frame for Traffic.
51 TDMA multi-frame for control signal.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 62
63. Channel Combination
Combined
All the controlling signals are in the time slot 0 of
the Multi-frame.
Non Combined
Dedicated controlling signals are in time slot 1 of
the Multi-frame.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 63
64. Combined
Cell with single carrier.
Timeslot 0 :BCCH+CCCH+SDCCH.
Timeslot 1-7 :TCH/FACCH+SACCH.
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65. Non Combined
Cell with Two carrier
Timeslot 0 (of carrier 1) BCCH+CCCH.
Timeslot 1 (of carrier1) SDCCH+SACCH.
Timeslot 2-7 & 0-7(of both carriers)
TCH/FACCH+SACCH.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 65
66. BROADCAST MESSAGES
System information 5 and 6 sent on the SACCH
immediately after Handover or whenever nothing else is
being sent.
Downlink SACCH is used for system information
messages while uplink SACCH is used for measurement
reports.
System Information types 7 and 8 (optional) are an
extension to type 4 and broadcast on the BCCH.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 66
68. SYSTEM INFORMATION 1
When frequency hopping is used in cell MS needs to
know which frequency band to use and what frequency
within the band it should use in hopping algorithm.
Cell channel description
Cell Allocation Number(CANO)-Informs the band
number of the frequency channels used.
00-Band 0(current GSM band)
Cell Allocation ARFCN(CA ARFCN):- ARFCN’s
used for hopping.It is coded in a bitmap of 124 bits.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 68
70. SYSTEM INFORMATION 1
RACH Control Parameters
Access Control Class(ACC) :-Bitmap with 16 bits.
All MS spread out on class 0 –9 . Priority groups use
class 11-15. A bit set to 1 barred access for that class.
Bit 10 is used to tell the MS if emergency call is allowed
or not.
0 – All MS can make emergency call.
1 - MS with class 11-15 only can
make emergency calls.
Cell barred for access(CB):-
0- Yes
1- No
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71. SYSTEM INFORMATION 1
RACH Control Parameters
Re-establishment allowed(RE):-
0- Yes
1- No
Max_retransmissions(MAXRET):-Number of times
the MS attempts to access the Network [1,2,4 or 7].
Tx-integer(TX):- Number of slots to spread access
retransmissions when a MS attempts to
access the system.
Emergency call allowed:- Yes/No.
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72. SYSTEM INFORMATION 2
System Information Type 2 message consists of
the Double BA list which defines the BCCH
frequencies used in the neighboring cells.
The Double BA list provides the MS with
different frequencies on which to measure,
depending on whether the MS is in idle or active
mode.
In active mode, the MS should measure on a
reduced number of frequencies in order to
improve the accuracy of measurements.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 72
73. SYSTEM INFORMATION 2
In Idle mode,the MS should measure on larger
number of frequencies, so that the time required
for the MS to access the network after power on
is reduced.
The MS is also informed which PLMN’s it may
use.
As well as System Information Type 2,it is also
possible to have System Information Type 2 Bis
and System information Type 2 Ater, depending
on the size of the BA List.
System Information Type 2 Bis/Ter are optional.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 73
74. SYSTEM INFORMATION 2
Neighbor Cell Description:-
BA Indicator(BA IND):- Allows to differentiate
measurement results related to different list of BCCH
frequencies sent to MS.
BCCH Allocation number(BANO):-
Band 0 is used.
PLMN Permitted(NCCPERM):-This the PLMN
color codes permitted and tells the MS which network
color codes(NCC) on the BCCH carriers it is allowed to
monitor when it is in this cell.
.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 74
75. SYSTEM INFORMATION 2
RACH Control Parameters
Access Control Class(ACC) :-Bitmap with 16 bits.
All MS spread out on class 0 –9 . Priority groups
use class 11-15. A bit set to 1 barred access for
that class. Bit 10 is used to tell the MS if emergency
call is allowed or not.
0 – All MS can make emergency call.
1 - MS with class 11-15 only can
make emergency calls.
Cell barred for access(CB):-
0- Yes
1- No
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76. SYSTEM INFORMATION 2
Re-establishment allowed(RE):-
0- Yes
1- No
Max_retransmissions(MAXRET):-Number of times
the MS attempts to access the Network [1,2,4 or 7].
Tx-integer(TX):- Number of slots to spread access
retransmissions when a MS attempts to
access the system.
Emergency call allowed:- Yes/No.
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77. SYSTEM INFORMATION 2
BCCH ARFCN Number(BAIND):- ARFCN’s used for in
a Bitmap of 124 bits
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124 123 122 121
024 023 022 021 020 019 018 017
016 015 014 013 012 011 010 009
008 007 006 005 004 003 002 001
78. SYSTEM INFORMATION 3
The System Information Type 3 contains information on
the identity of the current LA and cell identity, because a
change means that the MS must update the network.
System Information 3 also as Control Channel
Description parameters used to calculate the Paging
group.
When the MS is in idle mode it decides which cells to lock
to. Information needed by the MS for cell selection is also
broadcast in the Type 3 information.
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79. SYSTEM INFORMATION 3
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1 1 1 1
LAC
LOCATION AREA IDENTITTY(LAI)
MCC DIG 1MCC DIG 2
MCC DIG 1
MNC DIG 1MNC DIG 2
CI
CI
CELL IDENTITY
LAC
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 79
80. SYSTEM INFORMATION 3
Control Channel Description
Attach / Detach(ATT):-
0 = Allowed
1 = Not Allowed
bs_agblk:-Number of block reserved for AGCH [0-7]
Ba_pmfrms:-Number of 51 frame multi-frames
between transmission of paging messages to MS of
the same group
T3212:- Periodic location update timer .
[1-255 deci hours].
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 80
81. SYSTEM INFORMATION 3
cch_conf Physical channels combined No. of CCH
0 1 timeslot(0) No 9
1 1 timeslot(0) Yes 3
2 2 timeslot(0,2) No 18
4 3 timeslot(0,2,4) No 27
6 4 timeslot(0,2,4,6) No 36
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 81
82. SYSTEM INFORMATION 3
Cell options
DTX:-Whether Discontinuous Transmission
used or not.
PWRC:-Power control on the downlink.
0 = Not used.
1 = Used.
Radio link timeout(RLINKT):-
Radio link time-out is the time before an MS
disconnects due to failure in decoding SACCH
message. Sets the timer T100 in the MS.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 82
83. SYSTEM INFORMATION 3
Cell Selection Parameters
Rxlev_access_min:- Minimum received signal level
at the MS for which it is permitted to access the
system.
0-63 = -100 dBm to –47 dBm.
Mx_txpwr_cch:- Maximum power the MS will use
when accessing the system.
Cell_reselect_hysteresis:- Used for cell reselection.
RACH Control Parameters.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 83
84. SYSTEM INFORMATION 4
Location Area Identification.
Cell Selection Parameters
Rxlev_access_min:- Minimum received signal level
at the MS for which it is permitted to access the
system.
0-63 = -100 dBm to –47 dBm.
Mx_txpwr_cch:- Maximum power the MS will use
when accessing the system.
Cell_reselect_hysteresis:- Used for cell reselection.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 84
85. SYSTEM INFORMATION 4
RACH Control Parameters
max_retransmissions(MAXRET)
tx_integer(TX)
Cell barred for access(CB).
Re-establishment allowed(RE)
Emergency Call Allowed
Access Control Class (ACC)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 85
86. SYSTEM INFORMATION 4
CBCH Description(Optional) :
CHN:- This is the channel number for CBCH. It is
controlled internally in BSC.
TSC:- Training Sequence Code. Base Station Color
Code(BCC) part of BSIC is used.
CBCHNO:- Absolute RF channel number of CBCH.
MAC:- Mobile Allocation in the cell, describes the
frequencies to be used in the hopping sequence if
frequency hopping is used.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 86
87. SYSTEM INFORMATION 4
Hopping Channel(H):-Informs if CBCH Channel is
hopping or single.
ARFCN:- If H=0;
MAIO:- If H=1, informs the MS where to
start hopping.
Values [0-63].
HSN:- If H=1, informs the MS in what order
the hopping should take place. Values[0 –63].
HSN=0 Cyclic Hopping.
MA:-Indicates which RF Channels are used
for hopping. ARFCN numbers coded in
bitmap.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 87
88. SYSTEM INFORMATION 5
Sent on the SACCH on the downlink to the MS in
dedicated mode.
On SAACH, the MS also receives information about the
BCCH carrier in each neighboring cell. This may differ
from those sent in System information type 2.
It is also possible to have system Information Type 5 Bis
and System Information Type 5Ter, depending on the
size of the BA list.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 88
89. SYSTEM INFORMATION 5
Neighbor Cell Description:-
BA-IND:-Used by the Network to discriminate
measurements results related to different lists of
BCCH carriers sent by the MS(Type 2 or 5).
Values 0 or 1(different from type 2).
BCCH
Allocation number:-00-Band 0(current GSM band).
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 89
90. SYSTEM INFORMATION 5
BCCH ARFCN:-Neighboring cells ARFCN’s. Sent as a
bitmap.
0-Not used
1-Used.
124 123 122 121
024 023 022 021 020 019 018 017
016 015 014 013 012 011 010 009
008 007 006 005 004 003 002 001
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 90
91. SYSTEM INFORMATION 6
Ms in dedicated mode needs to know if the LA has
changed.If so, it must perform location updating when
the call is released.
MS may change between cells with different Radio link
timeout and DTX.
Cell Identity.
Location Area Identification.
PLMN permitted.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 91
92. SYSTEM INFORMATION 6
Cell options:
DTX
PWRC
Radio Link timeout.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 92
93. SYSTEM INFORMATION 7/8
System Information Types 7 and 8 contain Cell
Reselect parameters. Their function is to
supplement System Information Type 4.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 93
94. GSM Interfaces
(Um) Air interface - MS to BTS
A bis interface - BTS to BSC
A Interface - BSC to MSC
B Interface - MSC to VLR
C interface - MSC to HLR
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 94
96. GSM Interfaces
The interfaces between MSC and MS is called A,
Abis and Um interfaces.
On these interfaces only three layers are
defined.They are not corresponding to the OSI
(Open System Interconnection) model.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 96
97. A Interface
A interface between the BSC and the MSC
The A interface provides two distinct types of
information, signalling and traffic, between the
MSC and the BSC.
The speech is transcoded in the TRC and the SS7
(Signalling system) signalling is transparently
connected through the TRC or on a separate link
to the BSC.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 97
98. Abis Interface
The A-bis interface responsible for transmitting traffic
and signalling information between the BSC and the
BTS.
The transmission protocol used for sending signalling
information on the A-bis interface is Link Access
Protocol on the D Channel (LAPD)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 98
99. (Um) Air Interface
This is the interface between the mobile station and the
Base station.
The Air interface uses the Time Division Multiple Access
(TDMA) technique to transmit and receive traffic and
signalling information between the BTS and MS.
The TDMA technique is used to divide each carrier into
eight time slots.These time slots are then assigned to
specific users,allowing up to eight conversations to be
handled Simultaneously by the same carrier.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 99
100. 7 56 34 12 0
1 2 43 5 76
Down Link
Up Link 0
Time Slot
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 100
• This interface is the radio interface between the
mobile station and the network and uses layer
Three messages.
• On Layer three messages we have the division
of message types into CM (communication
Management), MM (Mobility Management), and
RR (Radio Resource Management).
101. Connection Management
(CM)
There are three entities within CM:
Call Control(CC) – Which handles the procedures
concerning call control. e.g. setup,Change of bearer
service.
Supplementary Service (SS) – Which handles such as call
bearing, call waiting , call forwarding etc.
Short Message Service (SMS) – Enables the MS to handle
short message transfer to and from the network.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 101
102. Mobility Management (MM)
Mobility management handles functions for
authentication, location updating, identification and
others concerning the mobility of the mobile station.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 102
103. Radio Resource Management
(RR)
It contains the functions concerning the radio link. Here
we find the capability to establish,maintain and release
the radio connection between the network and the
mobile station, which includes the handover procedure.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 103
104. B Interface
The B interface between the MSC and the VLR uses the
MAP/TCAP protocol.
Most MSCs are associated with a VLR, making the B
interface "internal".
Whenever the MSC needs access to data regarding a MS
located in its area, it interrogates the VLR using the
MAP/B protocol over the B interface.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 104
105. C Interface
The C interface is between the HLR and a MSC.
Each call originating outside of GSM (i.e., a MS
terminating call from the PSTN) has to go through a
Gateway to obtain the routing information required to
complete the call, and the MAP/TCAP protocol over the
C interface is used for this purpose.
Also, the MSC may optionally forward billing information
to the HLR after call clearing.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 105
106. D Interface
The D interface is between the VLR and HLR.
It uses the MAP/TCAP protocol to exchange the data
related to the location of the MS and to the management
of the subscriber.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 106
107. E Interface
The E interface interconnects two MSCs.
The E interface exchanges data related to handover
between the anchor and relay MSCs using the
-MAP/TCAP+ISUP/TUP protocol.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 107
108. F Interface
The F interface connects the MSC to the EIR.
It uses the MAP/TCAP protocol to verify the status of the
IMEI that the MSC has retrieved from the MS.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 108
109. G Interface
The G interface interconnects two VLRs of different
MSCs.
It uses the MAP/G protocol to transfer subscriber
information, during e.g. a location update procedure.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 109
111. Topics for discussion
Speech Encoding
Data Encoding
Interleaving for Voice,Control and Data
signals
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 111
112. Speech Encoding
We shall start with a raw voice signal fed into
the microphone, travel through the various
stages involving vocoding, channel coding etc
till it reaches the final burst format on the Air
Interface.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 112
114. Speech Encoding ckt
The voice is sampled at the rate of 50 samples
per second.
This results in 20 msec blocks of speech
Each of this 20 msec block is passed on to the
13Kbps vocoder.
There are 260 information bits from the
output of the vocoder for every 20 msec input
i.e.; 13Kbps *20msec = 260 bits.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 114
116. Channel coding
Channel Coding is done to protect the logical
channels from transmission errors introduced
by the radio path.
The coding schemes depend on the type of
the logical channels, hence the coding can
differ from speech, control and data .
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 116
117. Channel Coding for speech
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 117
Class class 1b class 2
1a
50 3 132 4 tail
Bits parity bits
Convolutional coder
½ coder, k=5
456 bits=378 bits from Convolution coder + 78 class 2 bits
260 bits
118. Channel coding for Speech
The 260 bits of speech info from the vocoder is
broken down into three parts.
Class 1a- 50 bits , these represent the filter
coefficients of the speech and are the most
important for proper detection of the speech at
the receiver and hence are given maximum
protection. 3 additional parity bits are derived
from the class 1a bits for cyclic redundancy check
(CRC).
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 118
119. Channel coding for Speech
cont’d
Class 1b - 132 bits are not parity checked but
are fed into the convolutional coder along
with 4 tail bits which are used to set the
registers in the receiver to a known state for
decoding purpose.
Class 1b- 78 bits, these are not so important
and are not protected but are combined with
the output of the convolution coder.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 119
120. Convolutional coder CC
The Convolutional coder is a series of shift
registers implemented using logic gates, where
for every one input bit we get 2 output bits.
Hence it is called ½ coder.
Here k=5 is the constraint length, it means there
are 5 shift register and each bit has memory
depth of 4 , meaning it can influence the output
of up to four next successive bits. This is useful
during reception as bits can be derived even if a
few consecutive bits are lost due to errors or
corruption.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 120
122. Convolutional coder cont’d
The output of the CC* is now 378 bits.
(50+3+132+4)*2=378
The total number of bits now is 378+78=456 bits.
*Note : The bit rate from the vocoder was 13Kbps
for the 20 msec speech block, but after CC the bit
rate increases to 22.8Kbps.
456 bits *20msecs=22.8Kbps
* CC = Convolutional Coder.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 122
123. Control Channel Coding
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 123
184 bits
Control data
184 40 4 tail
Fire coded parity bits
½ Convolutional Coder
456 bits output
124. Control Channel Coding
The control information is received in blocks of
184 bits.
These bits are first protected with a cyclic code
called as Fire code, which is useful in correction
and detection of burst errors.
40 Parity bits are added, along with 4 tail bits.
These 228 bits are given to the CC whose output
is again 456 bits at a bitrate of 22.8Kbps.
The control channels include the RACH, PCH,
AGCH etc.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 124
125. Data Channel Coding
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 125
240 bits 4 tail
Data bits
½ Convolutional Coder
Output= 488 bits
After Puncturing
Output=456 bits
126. Data Channel Coding
The data bits are received in blocks of 240 bits.
These are directly convolution coded after
adding 4 tail bits.
The output of the CC is now 488 bits, which
actually increases the bitrate to 24.4 Kbps.
To keep the bitrate constant on the air interface
we need to puncture the output of the CC.
Hence, we have a final bitrate of 22.8 Kbps again
.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 126
127. Channel Coding cont’d
The above explanation was given keeping in
view a full rate Traffic, Control, or Data
channel.
For Half rate or Lesser rates the same
principle of channel coding holds good, with
slight differences in the encoding process.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 127
128. Interleaving
Having encoded the logical channel
information, the next step is to build its bit
stream into bursts that can be transmitted
within the TDMA frame structure. This is the
stage where the interleaving process is
carried out.
Interleaving spreads the content of one
information block across several TDMA
timeslots or bursts.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 128
129. Interleaving cont’d
The following interleaving depths are used :
Speech – 8 blocks
Control – 4 blocks
Data – 22 blocks
The interleaving process for a speech block is
shown wherein which a 456 bit speech block is
divided into 8 blocks of 57 bits each and each of
these odd and even 57 bit blocks are interleaved
diagonally on to alternate bursts on the TDMA
frame.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 129
130. Speech Interleaving
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 130
8* 57 bits each = 456 bits
Of Speech block N
57
Even
Of N-1
57
Even
Of N
Speech block
N-1
57
odd
Of N-1
57
odd
Of N
The speech is spread over 8 such normal bursts
Each normal burst consists of two blocks of 57 bit speech
from different 20msec blocks (say N, N-1) along with
26 bit training sequence T and 2 flag F plus 6 start stop bits .
T+FT+FT+F
456 bit speech data
131. Control Data Interleaving
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 131
114 114 114 114
456 bits control data
The control data is spread over 4 blocks using rectangular
interleaving instead of diagonal interleaving as in
speech the receiver will have to wait for at least
2 multiframes before being able to decode the control
message
TDMA
Burst blocks
132. Data Interleaving
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 132
114 114 114 114
Burst 1 Burst 22Burst 2 Burst 3 Burst 4 Burst 19
First 6
bits
First 6
bits
Last 6
bits
Last 6
bits
456 bit data block
133. Data Interleaving cont’d
Here the data block of 456 bits is divided into 4
blocks of 114 bits each.
The first 6 bits from each of the 114 bit blocks is
inserted in to each frame, the second 6 bits from
each of the 114 bits into the next frame and so on
spreading each 114 block over 19 TDMA bursts
while the entire 456 bits is spread over 22 TDMA
bursts.
Thus the data interleaving is said to have a depth
of 22 bursts.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 133
134. Data Interleaving cont’d
The reason why data is spread over such along
period of time is that if data burst is corrupted or
lost, only a small part of it is lost which can be
reproduced at the receiver.
This wide interleaving depth does produce a
time delay during transmission but that is
acceptable since it does not affect the data
signal quality at the receiver, unlike speech
where delay could result in bad quality of signal
to the subscriber.
*Note – The interleaving used in data is diagonal
interleaving.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 134
135. Before Deinterleaving
3 successive bursts corrupted
After Deinterleaving
The corrupted bursts are spread over a length equal to the
interleaving depth so that the effect of the errors is
minimized.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 135
Interleaving Advantage
136. Air Interface Bitrate
The information which is now coded and
interleaved at 22.8 Kbps now has to be
transmitted over the Air interface to the BTS.
The information burst is not sent directly , but is
sent in ciphered form within a burst envelope.
This ciphering is done using ciphering keys and
algorithms known both by the mobile and the
BSS.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 136
137. Air Interface Bitrate
cont’d
The Kc is the ciphering key and A5 algorithm
are applied to the information(speech or
data) which increases the bitrate to a final
rate of 33.8 Kbps from/to each mobile.
If we assume all 8 timeslots of the cell to be
occupied then the bitrate of the Air interface
comes to 33.8 * 8= 270.4 Kbps/channel.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 137
139. Air Interface Bitrate
cont’d
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 139
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Mobile
Tx’s at
33.8 Kbps
Cell rx’s 8*33.8
KBps = 270.4 Kbps
Per TDMA frame
Cell coverage area
TDMA Fn TDMA Fn+1
140. Decoding and Deinterleaving at
the Receiver
At the receiver the reverse process of
Deinterleaving and decoding have to take place
respectively, so as to recover the information
from the signal.
After Deinterleaving the signal will be decoded
which is the reverse process of the Convolutional
coding, using Viterbi decoders.
The decoder can recover lost or corrupted data
up to 4 successive bits, because the memory
depth of the CC is 4(for k=5).
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 140
141. Channelization
Frequency band has several application
segments
Certain blocks of the Band are reserved for
certain applications by regulating authorities
Technologies have decided their frequency
bands
E.g. AMPS/DAMPS: 824-894 MHz
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 141
142. Channelization methods
Channelization can be done primarily by three
methods:
FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)
TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 142
143. FDMA
E.g. AMPS band is divided into 30 KHz channels
(1666 Freq. channels)
Television Channels (Star, Zee, Sony,..)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 143
Frequency
Time
Power
144. TDMA
E.g. AMPS has 3 timeslots on each 30 KHz
channel
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 144
Frequency
Time
Power
145. CDMA
Frequency channel is divided into code
channels
E.g. in IS-95 CDMA, 1.228 MHz channel is
divided into 64 Code Channels
Each user has a particular code
Codes are orthogonal to each other, do not
interfere with each other
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 145
146. Duplex Access Methods
Frequency Division Duplex (FDD)
Transmit on one frequency and receive on
another frequency
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 146
F1 F2 Frequency
Amplitude
Time
Tx Rx
147. Time Division Duplex
Time division duplex
Tx and Rx is on the same frequency but on
different times
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 147
F1 Frequency
Amplitude
Time
Tx
Rx
148. GSM Air Interface
Separate Bands for Uplink and Downlink
Downlink: 935-960Mhz (EGSM: 925-960MHz)
Uplink: 890-915 MHz (EGSM: 880-915 MHz)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 148
• TDMA and TDMA Multiplex
– 124 Frequency Channels (ARFCN) for
GSM900
– 1 to 124 fro current band
– 975 to 1023 for E-GSM
– 200kHz Channels
– 8 Mobiles share ARFCN by TDMA
149. GSM Air interface (1800)
1800: Downlink: 1805-1880 MHz
1800: Uplink: 1710-1785 MHx
374 ARFCNs
Separation of 95 MHz
ARFCNs are numbered from 512 to 885
inclusive
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 149
150. The GSM Burst
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 150
3 357 261 571 8.25
Tail Bits
Data
Control
Bit
Midamble
Control
Bit
Data
Tail Bits
Guard
Period
151. Speech Coder
RPE/LTP coder (Regular
Pulse excitation/Long term
Prediction)
Converts 64 kbps speech
to 13 kbps
At the end we get 13kbps
speech i.e. 260 bits in 20
ms
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 151
20 ms blocks
Speech Coder
Bits Ordered
50 very
important
bits
132
important
bits
78 other
bits
152. Error Correction
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 152
Type 1a 50 3(CRC)Type 1b 132 Type II 78
Reordering
25 66366 25 4 Type II 78
Type 1a
Type 1b Type 1b
Type 1a
Tail
Half rate convolutional code
378 Type II 78
456 bits from 20 ms of speech
153. Diagonal Interleaving
Traffic channel (TCH) bursts carry two 57 bit blocks
(114)
Each 120 ms of speech = 456*6 = 2736 bits
2736/114 = 24 bursts i.3. 24 frames
Multiframe has 26 frames in 120ms.
There are 2 spare frames .. 1 SACCH, 1 Idle
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 153
456 bits from 20ms of speech 456 bits from 20ms of speech
57 57575757575757 57 57575757575757
57 57 57 5757 5757 5757 5757 5757 5757 57
154. Convolutional Coding and
Interleaving
Bits to be Tx ed: HELLO
Convolutionally encoded: HHEELLLLOO
Interleaved: EE HH LL LL OO
Bits Rx ed: EE HH LL LL OO
De-Interleaved: HHEELLLLOO
Viterbi Decoded: HELLO
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 154
156. TRAU frame
260 bits info + 60 TRAU bits = 320 bits/20ms =
TRAU frame
60 bits contain frame Information data which
indicates speech, data, O&M, full rate/half
rate
60 bits = 35 synchronization + 21 control + 4
timing
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 156
157. Midamble or Training Bits
8 midamble patterns (Colour codes) of 26 bits (BSIC)
RACH and SCH have longer 41 and 64 bit Midambles
Equalizer estimates channel impulse response from
midamble
Mathematically construct inverse filter
Uses inverse to decode bits
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 157
3 357 261 571 8.25
Tail Bits
Data
Control Bit
Midamble
Control Bit
Data
Tail Bits
Guard
Period
158. Downlink and Uplink
Uplink lags downlink by 3 timeslots
Uplink and downlink use same timeslot number
Uplink and downlink use same channel number
(ARFCN)
Uplink and downlink use different bands (45
MHz apart for GSM 900)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 158
160. Mobile Power Control
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 160
Mobile is commanded to change its Transmit
Power
Change in Power is proportionate to the Path
Loss
Change in Power is done in steps of 2 dbs
Path Loss
Power Command
161. Timing Advance
TDMA approach requires signals to arrive at
BTS at the correct time
A mobile at 30 km will be late by 100micro
seconds
Timing advance is in the range of 0-62
One unit is 550m
So maximum cell size is 63*0.55 = ~35 kms
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 161
162. Concepts of Channels in GSM
A company vehicle is used for several purposes in a
day
Similarly in GSM, the timeslots are used for different
purposes at different times
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 162
163. Frames and Multiframes
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 163
0 654321 7
3 Data 1Midamble1 Data 3 8.25 bits
156.25 bits 576.92 micro sec
4.615 ms
Time
Slot
Frame
0 50 0 25
Control Channel
Multiframe
Traffic Channel
Multiframe
165. Mobile Turn On
Mobile Searches for Broadcast
Channels (BCH)
Synchronizes Frequency and Timing
Decodes BCH sub-channels (BCCH)
Checks if Network Allowed by SIM
Location Update
Authentication
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 165
166. Location Area
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 166
Location Area 1Location Area 1
Location
Area 2
Location
Area 2
BTS
BTS
BTS
BTS
BTS
BTS
BTS
BTS
BSC
BSC
BSC
MSC
167. Location Area Identity
Location area is the area covered by one
or more BTSs where a mobile can move
freely without updating the system
One Location area can be covered by one
or more BSCs, but ony one MSC.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 167
MCC LACMNC
168. Importance of Location Area
Reduce Paging load
Resource Planning
Smaller Location Areas – Location update
increases
Larger Location Areas – Paging load increases
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 168
169. What is Location Update?
MSC should know the location of the
Mobile for paging
Mobile is continuously changing
location area
Mobile when changes Location Area
informs the MSC about its new LA
Process of informing MSC about new
Location area is Location Update
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 169
170. Types of Location Updates
1. Normal Location
Update
2. IMSI Attach
3. Periodic Location
Update
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 170
Hi,
I am in Location area
xxx
171. IMSI Attach
Mobile turns off and sends an IMSI Detach
to MSC
Mobile turns on again and compares LAI
If same, sends an IMSI attach to MSC
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 171
Is the received
LAI same as
before
If same,
Sends
IMSI
attach
172. Normal Location Update
Mobile Turns on Power
Reads the new LAI
If different, does a Location Update
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 172
Is the received
LAI same as
before
If different,
does
Location
Update
173. Periodic Location Update
The periodic location Update time is set
from OMC/MSC
After the periodic location update timer
expires, the mobile has to do a location
update
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 173
174. What happens at Location
Update?
Mobile changes location area
Reads the new Location Area from
BCCH
Sends a RACH (request for channel)
Gets a SDCCH after AGCH
Sends its IMSI and new and old LAI in a
Location Update request to MSC on
SDCCH
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 174
175. What happens at location
update cont..
….. . .
MSC starts Authentication
If successful, Updates the new Location area
for the Mobile in the VLR
Sends a confirmation to the Mobile
Mobile leaves SDCCH, and comes to idle mode
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 175
176. Mobile Originated Call
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 176
Channel Request
Immediate Assign
Service Request
Call Proceeding
Set Up
Ciphering
Authentication
Alerting
Assignment
Connection
177. Mobile Terminated Call
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 177
Paging
Channel Request
Immediate Assign
Set Up
Ciphering
Authentication
Paging Response
Assignment
Call Confirmed
Alerting
Connection
178. Security Features
Authentication
Process to verify Authenticity of SIM
Mobile is asked to perform an operation
using identity unique to SIM
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 178
• Ciphering
–Process of coding speech for
secrecy
–The speech bits are EXORed with
bit stream unique to MS
181. Handover
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 181
Cell 1 Cell 2
Handover is a GSM feature by which the
control/communication of a Mobile is transferred
from one cell to another if certain criteria’s are
met. It is a network initiated process.
182. Criteria for Handover
Receive Quality (RXQUAL) on uplink and
downlink
Receive Signal Strength (RXLEV) on uplink
and downlink
Distance (Timing Advance)
Interference Level
Power Budget
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 182
183. Handover Decision
BSC process the measurements reported by Mobile
and the BTS
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 183
BTS
BTS
BTS
BTS
BTS
BTS
Mobile has measurements of six neighbors
184. Handover Decision (cont..)
BSS performs averaging function on these
measurements every SACCH frame (480ms)
Handover Decision algorithm is activated after a
set number of SACCH frame periods by
comparison against thresholds
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 184
186. INTRA-CELL HANDOVER
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 186
C0
C1
Handover between timeslots of same frequency
Handover between different frequencies of the same cell
(to reduce interference)
MSC is not aware about this
188. Inter-cell Handover (cont..)
MSC is told about HO
BTS -> BSC -> MSC
Why MSC is informed?
In case of change of LA, MSC may need LAC for
paging. As MS is busy, a link already exists. So, MSC
can send a tone in case of call waiting, and does not
need to page again.
This is needed also for billing and call tracing
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 188
191. Inter MSC Handover
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 191
BSC
BSC
MSC
MSC
BTS
BTS
GMSC/
PSTN/
Backbone
In this case the handover takes place through the
interconnecting element which can be GMSC or
PSTN or private Backbone between the MSCs
192. Cell Barring
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 192
BTS
Cell Barring is a GSM feature by which certain
mobiles could be barred access to certain cells
Cell barring is activated/deactivated at BTS level
Cell barring is done for mobile categories and
priorities
193. Cell Barring
Every mobile has an access class
The access class is stored in the SIM
Classes 0-9 are termed normal calsses
Classes 11-15 are emergency classes
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 193
• Every cell has a set parameter which
defines which access classes are
barred for the particular cell. This
parameter is broadcasted on the
BCCH
194. What is DTX?
DTX (Discontinous Transmission)
Each direction of Transmission is only 50%
Transmitter is switched ON for useful
information frames
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 194
Need for DTX
•To increase battery life
•To reduce the average interference
level
DTX is done by DTX handlers which
195. VAD (Voice Activity
Detector)
Senses for speech in 20ms blocks
Removes stationary noise
VAD is an energy detector
Compares Energy of filtered speech threshold
It determines which 20ms blocks contain
speech and it only forwards those frames
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 195
196. Evaluation of Background Noise
Background noise is always present with
speech
DTX cuts off this noise with speech
Gives an uncomfortable feeling to the listener
VAD takes care of this by inserting comfort
noise at the receiving end when speech
discontinues.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 196
197. Emergency Calls
GSM specs define 112 as an emergency
number
‘112’ is accessible with or without SIM
Without SIM it is sent on the best
channel
Mobile on sensing ‘112’ sets the
establishment cause to emergency call in
the RACH
Routing of this call be done to a desired
location defined in the switch
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 197
198. Cell (Re)selection
Cell reselection is done using C1 path loss
criterion.
The purpose is to ensure that the MS is
camped on to the cell with the best
transmission quality.
The MS will camp on to the cell with the
highest C1 value if C1 > 0.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 198
199. The following parameters are used to
calculate the C1 criterion
The received signal at the MS side.
Rxlev_access_min - broadcast on the BCCH -
The minimum received level at the MS
required for access to the network.
Ms_txpwr_max_cch - the maximum power
that an MS may use when initially accessing
the network.
The maximum power of the MS
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 199
200. C1 = A - Max(B,0)
A = Received level Average -
Rxlev_access_min.
B = MS_txpwr_max_cch - maximum output
power of the MS
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 200
201. Cell Reselect Hysteresis
Cell reselection on the border of two location areas result
in a location update. When an MS moves on the border
of two location areas lots of location updates take place.
To avoid these location updates, the reselect hysteresis
is introduced.
A location update is performed only if:
The C1 value of the new location area is higher than
the C1 value in the current location area and
The received signal strengths have at least a
difference of the reselect hysteresis.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 201
203. Why to use the cellular
concept ?
Solves the problem of Spectral congestion
and user capacity by means of frequency
reuse.
Offers high capacity in a limited spectrum
allocation.
Offers system level approach, using low
power transmitters instead of a single, high
power transmitter (large cell) to cover larger
area.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 203
204. A portion of the total channels available is
allocated to each base station.
Neighboring base stations are assigned
different groups channels, in order to
minimize interference.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 204
208. Cell size
Large cell : (up to 70km in diameter)
It exists where :
1-Radio waves are unobstructed.
2-Transmission power can cover the area.
3-low subscriber density.
Small cell : (up to 2km in diameter)
It exists where :
1-Radio waves are obstructed.
2-Low transmission power to decrease interference.
3-High subscriber density.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 208
210. What is a cluster ?
A cluster is a group of
cells.
No channels are
reused within a
cluster.
It is the unit of
design.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 210
211. Cluster size
Definition : It is The number of cells per
cluster
N = i^2 + ij + j^2
Where :
i = 0, 1, 2….& j = 0,1,2…. etc.
N = 1 , 3 , 4 ,7, 9 , 12 ,……
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 211
212. Types of clusters
1-N=7 omni frequency plan (2-directional).
2-N=7 trapezoidal frequency plan
(1-directional).
3-N=9 omni frequency plan.
4-Tricellular plans
a) N=3 tricellular plan (3/9).
b) N=4 tricellular plan (4/12).
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 212
213. Channel assignment
strategies
Considerations :
1) Max. capacity.
2) Min interference.
3) Perfect handover.
Types of assignment strategies :
1) Fixed :
Each cell has permanent predetermined set of voice
channels.
New calls served by unused channels of this cell.
Borrowing strategy if all channels are occupied.
High probabiltity that call is Blocked if channels are
occupied.( disadv.)
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 213
214. 2) Dynamic :
Channels are not allocated to different cells
permanently.
Each new call BTS requests new channel from
MSC.
MSC allocate a channel, by using an algorithm
that takes into account:
1- Frequency is not already in use.
2- Min. reuse distance to avoid co-channel
interference.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 214
215. Adv. of dynamic assignment strategy :
1) Increase channel utilization
( Increase trunking efficiency ).
2) Decrease probability of a blocked call.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 215
221. Definition : procedure that allows MS to
change the cell or time-slot to keep as good
link as possible during all the call.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 221
222. Types of handover
IntraCell : bet. 2 channels of same cell.
InterCell : bet. 2 channels of 2 different cell &
same BTS.
InterBTS (intra BSC) : 2 cells of different BTS
Same BSC.
InterBSC : bet. 2 cells of different BSC’s & same
MSC.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 222
223. Measurements before
handover
1- Measurements from MS to BSC :
a) Strength of BTS signal.
b) Quality of BTS signal.
c) Signal strength of 6 neighbor BTS’s.
2-Measurements from BTS to BSC :
a) Strength of MS signal.
b) Quality of MS signal.
c) Distance between serving BTS & MS.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 223
224. Different causes of handover
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 224
Better cell HOEmergency HO
Level Quality
PBGT
Traffic causes
InterferenceDistance
Different causes of
Handover
225. Basic handover
algorithms
a)“Min. acceptable performance” algorithm:
MS power is increased when quality deceases
till handover is the only way.
b) “Power budget “ algorithm:
Prefer direct handover when quality deceases
without increasing MS power first .
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 225
226. Handover priority
1) UL quality cause (or interference).
2) DL quality cause (or interference).
3) UL level cause.
4) DL level cause.
5) Distance cause.
6) Better cell cause.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 226
228. Sources of interference
include:
1) Another mobile in the same cell.
2) A call in progress in the neighboring
cell.
3) Other BTS’s operating in the same
frequency band.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 228
229. Interference effects :
In voice channel causes crosstalk
In control channels it leads missed and
blocked calls due to errors in the digital
signaling.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 229
231. 1) Co-channel interference
Source : Near cell using same frequency.
It is a function of reuse distance(D/R).
General rule :
io = No. of co-channel interfering cells.
S = Signal power from a desired BS.
Ii = interference power caused by the ith
interfering co-channel cell BS.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 231
232. Another form :
C/I = 10 log {(1/n)(D/R)*m}
Where :
m = propagation constant
(dep’s on nature of environment)
n = number of co-channel interferers.
Can be minimized by :
Choosing minimum reuse distance
= (2.5….3)(2R).
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 232
233. 2) Adjacent channel
interference
Source : A cell using a frequency adjacent to the
one in another cell due to imperfect reciever’s
filter.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 233
234. Can be minimized by :
1-careful filtering
2-careful channel assignments
3-Directional antenna.
General rule : ACI= -10 Log[(d1/d2)*m] – Adj ch
isolation.
Where :
d1: distance between MS & proper BTs d2:
dist. Bet MS & adj BTS causing
interference.
Adj ch isolation = Filter isolation = -
26db.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 234
236. Why do we need to
know traffic?
The amount of traffic during peak hours allows
us to dimension our wireless system for a certain
GOS.
GOS : probability of having a call blocked
during busy hour (block rate).
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 236
237. Traffic intensity (E)
Erlang : A unit of traffic intensity measure.
1 Erlang = 1 circuit in use for 1 hour.
T ( in Erlangs) = [No. of calls per hour*average
call holding time(sec.)] / [3600]
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 237
239. Traffic tables
Erlang B
Table
Blocked calls are not
held
Erlang C
Table
Blocked calls are held in
the queue indefinitely
Poisson
Table
Blocked calls are held in
the queue for a time =
the mean holding time05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 239
241. Trunking
Sharing channel among several users.
Trunking efficiency (nT) : Measures the number
of subscribers that each channel in every cell can
accommodate.
nT = (traffic in Erlangs / no. of channels)*100.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 241
242. Trunking efficiency
in presence of one
operator :
N = 7 , 312 one direction
voice channels
No. of channels / cell = 312 /
7 = 44 ch./cell.
From Erlang-B table @GOS
2%,this’s equivalent to 35
Erlangs
nT = 35 / 44 = 79.55.
Trunking efficiency
in presence of two
operators :
N = 7 , 312 / 2 = 156 one
direction voice channel for
each operator.
No. of channels / cell = 156 /
7 = 22 ch./cell.
From Erlang-B table
@GOS 2%,this’s
equivalent to 15 Erlangs.
nT = 15 / 22 = 68.18.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 242
244. S : total duplex channels available for use = k*N
Where:
N : cluster size.
k : No. of channels / cell.
C : total No. of duplex channels in system;
C = M*k*N.
Where :
M : No. of times the cluster is repeated.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 244
247. Sectoring
We use directional antennas instead of being
omnidirectional
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 247
248. What does sectoring
mean?
We can now assign frequency sets to sectors
and decrease the re-use distance to fulfill :
1) More freq reuse.
2) Higher system capacity.
3) Improve S/I ratio ( better signal quality ).
How S/I ratio is improved?
-e.g. In 120 degree sectoring there’s only
2 interferers instead of 6 incase of omnidirectional N=7
cluster.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 248
253. N = 7 omni frequency
plan :
n = 6 , m = 4.
D / R = 4.583.
1) Co-channel
interference ratio :
C / I = 18.6 dB.
2) Adjacent channel
interference :
ACI = -26 dB @ d1= d2.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 253
254. N = 7 trapezoidal
frequency plan
n = 2 , m = 4.
D / R = 6.245.
1) Co-channel interference
ratio :
C / I = 28.8.
2) Adjacent channel
interference : disappears
because the channels are
assigned alternatively to the
cells.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 254
255. Trunking efficiency :
312 one direction voice channels
N = 7
312 / 7 = 44.57 ~ 44 ch./cell.
From Erlang-B table @ GOS = 2%
T = 35 E.
nT = 35 / 44 = 79.55 %.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 255
256. N = 9 omni frequency plan
n = 4 , m = 4.
D / R = sqrt ( 3 * 9 ) = 5.2.
1) Co-channel
interference :
C / I = 22.6 dB.
2) Adjacent channel
interference :
ACI = -38 dB @ d2 = 2
(d1).
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 256
257. Trunking efficiency :
312 one direction voice channels
N = 9
312 / 9 = 34.67 ~ 34 ch./cell.
From Erlang-B table @ GOS = 2%
T = 25.529 E.
nT = 25.529 / 34 = 75.085 %.
Conclusion : nT 7 > nT 9
But C/I 7 > C/I 9
ACI 7 > ACI 9
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 257
258. 4 / 12 cell pattern
n = 1 , m = 4.
D / R = sqrt (3* 4) = 3.732.
C / I = 22.87 dB.
Trunking efficiency :
No. of channels/cell
= 312 / 12 = 26 ch./cell.
From Erlang-B table @
GOS = 2 %.
T = 18.4 E/cell.
nT = 18.4 / 26= 70.77%.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 258
259. 3 / 9 cell pattern
n = 1 , m = 4.
D / R = sqrt (3* 3) = 3.
C / I = 19.1 dB.
Trunking efficiency :
No. of channels/cell
=312 / 9 = 34 ch./cell.
From Erlang-B table @ GOS
= 2 %.
T = 25.5 E/cell.
nT = 25.5 / 24 = 75 %.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 259
260. 120 degree cell sectoring
n = 2 , m = 4.
D / R = sqrt(3 * 7) = 4.583.
Co-channel interference :
C / I = 23.436 + 6dB(due to
isolation) = 29.436 dB.
Trunking efficiency :
No. of channels/cell = 312 / 21 =
14.857.
From Erlang-B @ GOS=2% T=
8.2003.
nT = 8.2003 / 14.857
=56.216%.
05/31/13Tempus Telcosys 260