UMTS Technology Reference Page

An evolution from the GSM technology network standards

The following protocols appear in this family

AAL2
AAL5
AMR
BCC
BMC
BSSAP+
CAMEL
CC
FP
GCC
GMM
GSM
GTP
luUP
MAC
MAP
MM
MTP-3B
NbUP
NBAP
PCAP
PDCP
Q2630
RANAP
RLC
RLP
RNSAP
RRC
SCCP
SCTP
SNDCP
SM
SMS
SMS (TP)
SS
SSCOP
SSCF-NNI

see ATM
see ATM
Adaptive Multi-Rate Speech Codec
Broadcast Call Control.
Broadcast/Multicast Control Protocol
Base Station System Application Part Protocol
Customized Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic
Circuit-switched Call Control Protocol
Frame Protocol
Group Call Control
GPRS Mobility Management.
GPRS Session Management
GPRS Tunneling Protocol
Iu User Plane Protocol
Medium Access Control
Mobile Application Part
Mobility Management.
Message Transfer Part Level 3B:
Node B Application Part
Packet Data Convergence Protocol
(ALCAP) Access Link Control Application Part.
Radio Access Network Application Protocol.
Radio Link Control Protocol
Radio Link Protocol
Radio Network Subsystem Application Part
Radio Resource Control
Signalling Connection Control Part.
Stream Control Transmission Protocol
Sub-Network Dependant Convergance Protocol
Session Management.
Short Message Service
Short Message Transfer Protocol
Supplementary Services
(Q.2110)
(Q.2140)

Third Generation Cellular Networks (commonly referred to as 3G) represent the next phase in
the evolution of cellular technology, evolution from the analog systems (1st generation) and
digital systems (2nd generation). 3G networks will represent a shift from voice-centric services
to converged services, including voice, data, video, fax and so forth.
UMTS is the dominant 3G solution being developed, representing an evolution from the GSM
network standards, interoperating with a GSM core network. The 3G will implement a new
access network, utilizing both improved radio interfaces and different technologies for the
interface between the access network and the radio network.
UMTS will use a wideband CDMA technology for transmission, and a more efficient modulation
than GSM. This will allow UMTS to reach higher utilization, and offer higher bandwidth to the
end-user. UMTS also implements an ATM infrastructure for the wireline interface, using both
AAL2 and AAL5 adaptations; AAL2 for real-time traffic and AAL5 for data and signaling.

ATM

ATM relies on cell-switching technology. ATM cells have a fixed length of 53 bytes which allows
for very fast switching. ATM creates pathways between end nodes called virtual circuits which
are identified by the VPI /VCI values.
This section describes the ATM UNI and NNI cell header structures and the PDU structures for
the various ATM/SAR formats including: AAL0, AAL1, AAL2, AAL3/4 and AAL5.

This ATM section includes information on the following:

UNI/NNI cell
AALO
AAL1 PDU
AAL2
AAL3/4
AAL5
F4/F5 OAM
RM Cells
Reserved VPI/VCI Values
SSSAR
For more information on ATM testing

UNI/NNI Cells
The UNI or NNI cell header comprises the first 5 bytes of the ATM cell. The remaining 48 bytes
comprise the payload of the cell whose format depends on the AAL type of the cell. The
structure of the UNI and NNI cell headers are given here:
4

8 bits

GFC

VPI

VPI

VCI
VCI

VCI

PTI (3 bits)

CLP

HEC
UNI cell header
4

8 bits

VPI
VPI

VCI
VCI

VCI

PTI (3 bits)
HEC
NNI cell header

GFC
Generic flow control (000=uncontrolled access).

VPI
Virtual path identifier.

VCI

CLP