Chapter 10 of《GSM RNP&RNO》-GPRS Radio Network Planning and Optimization-20060624-A-1.0

GSM Radio Network Planning and Optimization
Chapter 10 GPRS Radio Network Planning and Optimization For internal use only
Table of Contents
Chapter 10 GPRS Radio Network Planning and Optimization.....................................................4

10.1 GPRS Basic Principles....................................................................................................... 4
10.1.1 Network Structure and Functional Entities...............................................................4
10.1.2 Service Function and Numbering Plan....................................................................9
10.1.3 Main Interfaces and Related Protocols..................................................................26
10.1.4 Radio Channels and Their Importance..................................................................34
10.1.5 System Information and Main Flows......................................................................43
10.1.6 Parameters and Application...................................................................................63
10.2 GPRS Network Planning.................................................................................................. 70
10.2.1 Capacity Planning.................................................................................................. 71
10.2.2 Coverage Planning................................................................................................ 78
10.2.3 Frequency Planning............................................................................................... 81
10.3 GPRS Network Optimization............................................................................................ 82
10.3.1 GPRS Network Optimization Objectives and Principles........................................83
10.3.2 Network Optimization Indexes...............................................................................84
10.3.3 Network Optimization Problem Analysis................................................................91
List of Figures
Figure 10-1 GPRS network structure.......................................................................................4
Figure 10-2 MM state transition model...................................................................................19
Figure 10-3 GPRS address and numbering diagram.............................................................20
Figure 10-4 NSAPI numbering diagram.................................................................................21
Figure 10-5 Main interfaces in the GPRS system..................................................................25
Figure 10-6 GPRS data transfer protocol platform.................................................................27
Figure 10-7 Structure of a radio channel................................................................................34
Figure 10-8 Structure of the RLC/MAC data block.................................................................36
Figure 10-9 Structure of RLC/MAC block...............................................................................36
Figure 10-10 Uplink two phase access (acknowledged mode) flow on CCCH.......................45
1/28/2019 All rights reserved Page1 of 99

Figure 10-11 Downlink TBF establishment flow.....................................................................48
Figure 10-12 Coordinated GPRS attach................................................................................50
Figure 10-13 Update of the coordinated RA/LA within a SGSN.............................................53
Figure 10-14 GPRS detach initiated by the MS......................................................................55
Figure 10-15 PDP context activation initiated by the MS........................................................56
Figure 10-16 PDP context modification..................................................................................60
Figure 10-17 Recovery flow for GPRS suspended service....................................................61
Figure 10-18 Coverage corresponding to four GPRS channel coding schemes....................78
Figure 10-19 Relationship between C/I and distance.............................................................79
Figure 10-20 Relationship between C/I distribution probability and C/I..................................79
Figure 10-21 Frequency reuse clusters supported by GPRS channel coding schemes.........80
Figure 10-22 Relationship between C/I distribution probability and frequency reuse coefficient
........................................................................................................................................ 81
List of Tables
Table 10-1 Definition of the priority class in GPRS QoS.........................................................13
Table 10-2 Definition of the reliability class in GPRS QoS......................................................13
Table 10-3 Definition of the delay class in GPRS QoS...........................................................14
Table 10-4 Definition of the peak throughput class in GPRS QoS..........................................15
Table 10-5 Definition of the mean throughput in GPRS QoS..................................................15
Table 10-6 Application of the GPRS upper layer functions in network entities........................16
Table 10-7 TID format............................................................................................................. 24
Table 10-8 GPRS channel coding scheme.............................................................................36
Table 10-9 The size of the RLC/MAC data block....................................................................37
Table 10-10 Meaning of the SI bit...........................................................................................38
Table 10-11 Meaning of the S/P bit......................................................................................... 38
Table 10-12 Meaning of the RRBP field..................................................................................38
Table 10-13 Meaning of the effective payload type.................................................................39

Table 10-14 Meaning of the FBI bit.........................................................................................39
Table 10-15 MS multislot capability........................................................................................ 40
Table 10-16 Coordination between GPRS NMO and paging..................................................48
Table 10-17 PDP context deactivation initiated by the MS.....................................................60
Table 10-18 Meaning of the ALPHA.......................................................................................63
Table 10-19 Meaning of the INS_MEAS_CHANNEL_LIST_AVAIL.........................................65
Table 10-20 GPRS subscriber’s average data rate................................................................73
Table 10-21 Average available bandwidth of the PDCH under various configurations (a)................76
Table 10-22 Average available bandwidth of the PDCH under various configurations (b)................76
Table 10-23 Mapping relationship of GPRS channel coding scheme and C/I.........................78
Table 10-24 Percentage of voice coverage area relative to channel coding scheme.............79
Table 10-25 Relationship between grade of voice service and C/I.........................................81
Table 10-26 Definition of the GPRS PDCH number...............................................................85
Table 10-27 Definition of GPRS congestion rate....................................................................86
Table 10-28 Definition of GPRS call drop rate........................................................................87

Chapter 10 GPRS Radio Network Planning and

Optimization
10.1 GPRS Basic Principles
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a kind of mobile packet data service
developing from the existing GSM mobile communication network. GPRS introduces
packet switching functional entities to the GSM digital mobile communication network.
In this case, the data can be transmitted in terms of packet in a GPRS system. The
GPRS system expands the services provided by the original GSM circuit switching
system. Therefore, in a GPRS system, mobile users can use packet data mobile
terminals to access the Internet or other packet data networks.
The digital cellular mobile communication based on GSM and CDMA as and the
packet data communication based on the Internet are the two industries enjoying the
fastest growth in information area. Tendency shows that the two industries are
coming to integration. The advent of the GPRS takes the first step towards the
integration of the mobile communication and the packet data communication.
Currently, while the voice service keeps developing, the 2G mobile communication
gradually supports IP and high-speed data services. Moreover, the 3G mobile
communication will be also characterized by IP and high data services.
GPRS provides multiple data services, including PTP (Point-to-Point) service, PTM-M
(Point to Multipoint Multicast) service, PTM-G (Point to Multipoint Group Call) service,
and IP-M (Internet Protocol Multicast) service.
GPRS can be applied in various areas, including E-mail, WWW browse, WAP service,
electronic commerce, information query, remote supervisory, and so on.
10.1.1 Network Structure and Functional Entities
The GPRS network supports packet switching and packet transmission, which
enables the GSM network to efficiently support data services. As shown in Error:
Reference source not found, the GPRS network is an overlay network of the existing

GSM network. In the GPRS network, the functional entities, such as Service GPRS
Support Node (SGSN) and Gateway GPRS Support Node (GPSN) are added to the
existing GSM network.
The GPRS network and the existing GSM network share the same BSS system, but
the corresponding hardware and software must be upgraded to meet the
requirements of GPRS services. Meanwhile, the interfaces of the functional entities of
the GPRS network and the GSM network must be properly defined. In addition, the
MS must be required to support the GPRS services.
The GPRS network can connect to PSPDN with the help of GGSN. Either the X.75 or
X.25 can work as the interface protocol. Moreover, the GPRS network can connect to
the IP network directly.
Figure 1.1 GPRS network structure
The following introduces the functions of the equipments related to the GPRS network
in detail.
I. GPRS mobile station
 Terminal equipment
The terminal equipment (TE) is a computer terminal operated by users. In the GPRS
system, it transmits and receives the packet data of the terminal users. The TE can
be an independent computer, or can be integrated with the mobile terminal (MT). To
some extent, all the functions provided by the GPRS network enable a packet data

transmission path to be established to connect the TE and the external data

networks.
 Mobile terminal
The mobile terminal can communicate with the TE. In addition, it can communicate
with BTS through Um interface and establish logical links to SGSN. In a GPRS
network, the ME can enjoy the services provided by the GPRS system only when it is
configured with related GPRS functional software. During data communication, the
MT connects the TE to the Modem in the GPRS system. The functions of the MT and
TE can be integrated into one physical device.
 Mobile station
The mobile station (MS) can be taken as the integration of the MT and TE. Physically,
it can be either one entity or two entities (TE + MT).
Three types of MSs are available, including type A, type B, and type C. The MSs of
type A can perform packet switched service and packet circuit switched service
simultaneously. The MSs of type B can be attached to the GPRS network and the
existing GSM network, but they cannot perform packet switched service and packet
circuit switched service simultaneously. The MSs of type C cannot be attached to the
GPRS network and the existing GSM network.
II. BTS
The base station transceiver (BTS) is the wireless part in BSS system. It is controlled
by base station controller (BSC) and serves one or more cells.
The functions of the BTS are as follows:

 Realize radio transmission and related control function between the BTS and the
MS through Um interface.
 Fulfill the functions of the Um interface at the first and second layers and
transparently transmit the messages at the third layer.
 Help the BSC to fulfill the functions of the Um interface at the third layer.
III. BSC
BSC is the core controlling part in the BSS system of the GSM network and the
GPRS network. For packet switched service, the BSC undertakes the following
responsibilities:
 Configure packet radio channels
 Control the conversion of the radio channel between packet switched service
and packet circuited service.

 Provide necessary packet call control support for the cells with no Packet
Broadcast Control Channel (PBCCH).
IV. PCU
Packet control unit (PCU) helps the BSS support the GPRS. Its functions are as
follows:
 Manage the major part of the packet radio resources
 Control packet calls
 Transmit packet data
 Support Gb interface and Pb interface
V. SGSN
SGSN is a basic network element in the GPRS network. The SGSN is introduced to
the GSM network to enable GPRS service. The main function of the SGSN is to
forward the packet data for the MSs within the local SGSN service areas, which is
similar to the function of the Visited Mobile Switching Center (VMSC) in the GSM
circuit network. The specific functions of the SGSN are as follows:
 Forward the packet data and provide the route for all the GPRD MSs within the
local SGSN service areas.
 Provide encryption and authentication
 Manage session
 Manage mobility
 Manage logical links
 Provide the interface with GPRS BSS, GGSN, HLR, SMS-GMSC, and SMS-
IWMSC.
 Generate the output bills and collect the information of the utilized radio
resources.
In addition, the SGSN contains the function similar to that of the VLR in the GSM
network. When subscribers are in GPRS attach state, the SGSN stores the
information of the subscribers and their location. Similar to VLR, most information of
the SGSN subscribers are obtained from the VLR when the subscribers perform
location update.
VI. GGSN
The Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) is introduced to the GSM network to
support GPRS service. It provides the route and encapsulation for the data packets to
be transmitted between the GPRS network and the external data networks. Which
GGSN is selected as the gateway is decided according to subscribers’ subscription

information and access point name (APN) during the PDP context activation. The
GGSN provides the following functions:
 Provide the interface to the external data networks.
 Manage GPRS session and establish the communication between the MS and
external networks.
 Generate and output bills (it is mainly applied when subscribers use the external
networks.)
 Note:
The GGSN must provide the interface for the MS to access external packet data
networks. From the perspective of external networks, the GGSN can be compared to
the router of the IP of all the subscribers in the GPRS network, so it has to exchange
the route information with external networks.
VII. CG
Charging gateway (CG) collects, combines, and preprocesses the GSN bills and
keeps the communication at the interfaces between billing centers. This equipment
does not exist in earlier GSM networks. The bills of the GPRS subscribers are
generated from multiple network elements when the subscribers access the network
once. Moreover, each network element will generate multiple bills.
Therefore, the CG is introduced to combine and preprocess the bills before they are
sent to billing center. As a result, the load of the billing center is eased. In addition, the
SGSN and the GGSN do not have to provide the interface to billing center.
VIII. RADIUS
During non-transparent access, the network will authenticate the subscribers’

identities. The Remote Authentication Dial in User Service Server (RADIUS) stores
the information of the authentication and authorization of the subscribers. This
functional entity is not exclusive to the GPRS.
IX. DNS
Two types of Domain Name Servers (DNS) exist in the GPRS network. One connects
the GGSN to external networks. Its main function is to resolve the domain name of
the external networks, which is completely equivalent to the function of the general
DNS fixed on the Internet. The other one is applied in the GPRS backbone network. It
functions in two aspects. One is to resolve the IP address of the GGSN according to

the determined APN during the PDP context activation. The other one is to resolve
the IP address of the original SGSN according to the original routing area number
during the routing area update. The DNS is not exclusive to GPRS.
X. BG
In fact, the border gateway (BG) is a router. It provides the route between the SGSN
and GGSN in the GPRS network and manages the security. It is not exclusive to the
GPRS.
XI. HLR
The home location register (HLR) stores the permanent information of GPRS
subscribers. It provides the required data of the subscribers to the SGSN. In addition,
it can update the information of the subscribers if necessary and notify the update to
the corresponding SGSN. The HLR has the following functions:
 Manage the data of GPRS subscribers
 Manage the information of the location of GPRS subscribers
 Authenticate subscribers’ identities
 Recover errors
XII. MSC/VLR
The Mobile Switching Center (MSC)/Visitor Location Register (VLR) can combine the
GPRS service and the GSM service with the help of Gs interface. In this case, the
MSC /VLR store both the information of the International Mobile Subscriber Identity
(IMSI) of subscribers and the related SGSN numbers. The MSC/VLR have the
following functions:
 Combine attachment and detachment
 Combine location update and route update
 Page circuit service
 Prompt non-GPRS in associated status
 Request subscriber information
 Indicate mobile information
10.1.2 Service Function and Numbering Plan
In a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), the GPRS enables subscribers to transmit
and receive data under end-to-end packet transfer mode. Two types of bearer
services are defined in GPRS. They are PTP service and PTM service. Based on the
standard network protocols supported by GPRS bearer services, GPRS carriers can

support or provide subscribers with various telecommunication services. The

application of the services provided by GPRS has the following characteristics:
 They are applicable in the transmission of the discontinuous non-periodic (burst)
data. The occurrence interval of the burst data is far greater than its mean
transmit delay.
 They can be applied to process the data service shorter than 500 bytes. In this
case, the data service can occur several times in each second and can be
frequently transmitted.
 They can be applied to process the data service of thousands of bytes. In this
case, the data service can occur several times in each hour and can be
frequently transmitted.
These characteristics prove that the GPRS is favorable to the application of the burst
data services and can efficiently use the channel resources. However, the GPRS
network must restrict the huge data services. The reasons are as follows:
 A small amount of data traffic is prescribed in the GPRS network.
The GPRS network is developed from the existing GSM network. Currently,
GSM networks mainly provide telephony service. The telephony subscribers are
of great intensity and the traffic volume of great, but the intensity of the GPRS
data subscribers is relatively low, so only a small number of channels can be
applied to the GPRS service in a cell.
 The transmission rate of the data on radio channels is low.
Currently, the CS-1 and CS-2 coding schemes are in general use. They can
meet the requirement of carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) is equal to or greater
than 9 dB and ensure 100% (CS-1) and 90% (CS-2) of the GPRS coverage. In
this case, however, the transmission rate of the data is only 9.05 Kbit/s (CS-1)
and 13.4Kbit/s (CS-2) (including the RLC block header). The reason is that half
of the bit rate (CS-1) and one third of the bit rate (CS-2) in the radio link control
(RLC) blocks is applied to the forward error correction (FEC). Though this
reduces the requirement of C/I, it reduces the transmission rate of the data.
Though the transmission rate of the data under the CS-3 (15.6Kbit/s) and CS-4
(21.4Kbit/s) is relatively high (including the RLC block header), it is enhanced
through reducing and canceling the error correction bits, so the CS-3 and CS-4
coding schemes require the C/I to be a greater value. In this case, the CS-3 and
CS-4 are applicable in the areas with greater C/I value.
In addition, the number of multislot channels supported by the MS is limited at
present, so the GPRS network must restrict the huge data services. Generally,
the high data is allowed to occur several times in each hour.
 When the GPRS service and GSM service share channels, the telephony service
takes the higher priority if the channels are dynamically allocated. The two times
of conversation gapping of any one dynamically allocated channel can be

applied to the GPRS service. For the GPRS system, its packet data channel can
be shared by multiple GPRS MSs. That is, multiple logical channels can be
reused on one physical channel. Therefore, the GPRS can be particularly
applied for the burst data. In this case, the utilization rate of the channels can be
greatly enhanced.
I. GPRS bearer serivce
2) PTP data service

The PTP service enables the transmission of one or more packets between two
subscribers. Two types of PTP service are available. They are PTP Connectionless
Network Service (PTP-CLNS) and PTP Connection Orientated Network Service
(PTP-CONS).
The PTP-CLNS belongs to the service type of data diagram. It is mainly applied in
bursting non-interacting service and it is supported by the Connectionless Network
Protocols (CLNP), such as the Internet Protocols (IP).
PTP-CONS is applied in burst events and interacting application service. It is

supported by the Connection Orientated Network Protocols (CONP), such as the
X.25.
3) PTM data service
The PTM data service enables single information to be sent to multiple subscribers. It
includes the following three types of services.
 PTM-M data service
This service enables the information to be sent to all the current subscribers in
an area. It is a kind of one-way communication service, so not all subscribers
can necessarily receive the information correctly. The time to provide the packet
data and the quality of service (QoS) are decided according to the negotiation of
the GPRS carriers and the PTM-M providers.
 PTM-G data service
This service enables the information to be sent to current specific sub-group
subscribers in an area. It provides both one-way communication and multi-way
communication. The PTM-G data service is particularly used to provide the
communication to group data subscribers, so it is mainly used in the areas, such
as in the dispatching management of group subscribers, taxi dispatch, group
classified information, and special news services.
 IP-M data service
This service is one of the services defined in the Internet Protocols. The
information of the data is transmitted among the participants of the IP-M data
services. The subscribers in an IP group can be both fixed and mobile IP

subscribers. The service areas of IP-M are not restricted in terms of geography,
so the IP-M subscribers can be either a group of subscribers in a PLMN or in the
Internet.
II. GPRS supplementary service
According to the specifications defined in the ETSI GPRS in SMG#28 earlier, most of
the supplementary services for the circuit switched service are inapplicable to GPRS.
The supplementary services applicable to GPRS include:
 Call Forwarding Unconditional (CFU)
 Call Forwarding on Mobile Subscriber Not Reachable (CFNRc)
 Closed User Group (CUG)
 Advice of Charge (Information) (AoCI)
 Advice of Charge (Charging) (AoCC)
In addition, specific GPRS supplementary services are applicable to GPRS
subscribers. Currently, the specific GPRS supplementary service is the “barring
GPRS interworking files” service. This service restricts subscribers from accessing
external networks with the help of the interworking files activated by barring.
The specifications in the ETSI GPRS in SMG#29 later clearly indicate that the
supplementary services are not defined for GPRS.
III. Other service relationships of GPRS and GSM
4) PTP SMS
In the GPRS network, the MS can receive and send short messages.
If the MS is in GPRS attach and IMSI detach state, the short message service (SMS)
is provided by the GPRS channel. If the MS is in GPRS attach and IMSI attach state,
short messages can be sent both on the GPRS channel and the CS control channel.
In this case, the channel priority is decided by carriers. Generally, the radio resources
will be more efficiently used if the short messages are sent on the GPRS channel. If
the CS control channel is in use, the SGSN will page the MS, and the short messages
are sent in this way.
5) Circuit switched service
If both the SGSN and the MSC/VLR supports the Gs interface, and when the SGSN
stores the corresponding VLR number and the VLR stores the corresponding SGSN
number, a correlation will be established between the SGSN and the MSC/VLR. The
correlation functions to coordinate the MSs in GPRS attach and IMSI attach state,
and the operation mode is related to the operation mode of the network and the type
of the MS. If a GPRS-attached MS enters the circuit switched mode (dedicated

mode), it can request the network to suspend the GPRS service. After finishing the
circuit switched service, however, it can recover the suspended GPRS service.
IV. GPRS QoS
QoS stands for quality of service. Each PDP context has an independent QoS script
related to itself. The GPRS QoS has several attributes, including priority class, delay
class, reliability class, peak throughput class, and mean throughput class, and each
attribute can be divided into multiple levels. These classes can form multiple GPRS
script according to various combinations. A GPRS network can support only one
subset of the QoS combinations.
Upon subscription, the subscriber subscribes to the defaulted QoS script. During PDP
context activation, the MS and the network side renegotiate the QoS script. The MS
can request a different QoS from the subscribed one.
Because all the attributes cannot be exclusive to the end-to-end transmission of the
packet data, especially because many factors, such as the radio resources at the Um
interface, the frame relay link resources at the Gb interface, and bandwidth of the
GPRS backbone network, and the processing capability of various GPRS
equipments, are related to the transmission, the best effort class is required to be the
QoS at present. That is, the data must be transmitted as fast and accurate as
possible while the most efficient utilization of the resources is ensured.
Because the system resources needed by various services vary with the grade of
service (GoS), the QoS enjoyed by subscribers varies. As a result, carriers can tell
the classes of subscribers according to the subscribers’ GoS and adopt flexible
charging strategies. And this is helpful for carriers to popularize the GPRS service.
6) Priority class
The priority class ensures subscribers to enjoy the basic or important services in
abnormal cases. When network resources are scarce or congested, the network side
and the MS decide which data packet must be discarded and which data packet must
be sent according to their priority classes.
A priority class is a 3-bit binary code. Currently, three priority classes are defined.
They are priority class 1, 2, and 3. For uplink transmission, the three priority classes
maps the radio priority classes 2, 3, and 4. For the transmission of the signaling at
radio interfaces, the high priority classes must be adopted. The priority class is
defined in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1 Definition of the priority class in GPRS QoS
Corresponding radio priority

Coding Priority class Meaning
class for uplink transmission
001 1 Highest priority class 2
010 2 Normal priority class 3
011 3 Lowest priority class 4
7) Reliability class
The reliability class is defined by together by the GTP, LLC, and RLC transmission
modes. The reliability class in the QoS script indicates the transmission features
required by subscribers. The reliability class is selected according to the types of
services. The reliability class is defined in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 Definition of the reliability class in GPRS QoS
Priority GTP LLC frame LLC data RLC

Applicable service type
class mode mode mode mode
Non-real time service,

great error sensitivity,
Acknowle Acknowle Protecte Acknowle
1 applicable to the
dged dged d dged
service that cannot
process the loss of data
Non-real time service,

general error sensitivity,
Unacknow Acknowle Protecte applicable to the
2 Protected
ledged dged d service that can
process a little loss the
data
Non-real times service,

poor error sensitivity,
applicable to the
Unacknow Unacknow Protecte Acknowle
3 service that can
ledged ledged d dged
process the loss of the
data and the GMM/SM
service

Real-time service, poor

error sensitivity,
Unacknow Unacknow Protecte Unacknow applicable to the
4
ledged ledged d ledged service that can
data
Real-time service, no
error sensitivity,
Unacknow Unacknow Unprotec Unacknow applicable to the
5
ledged ledged ted ledged service that can
data
Note:
For real-time services, proper delay and throughput are required to be configured for
QoS script.
8) Delay class
The delay classes defined in the QoS script are the mean delay of the service data
units and the maximum delay of the 99% of the service data units that are involved in
the end-to-end transmission of the data in the GPRS network. In the GPRS system,
four delay classes are defined. The lowest requirement is that the network must
support the delay class 4 (best effort). Currently, most carriers support the delay class
4 only. The delay class is defined in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 Definition of the delay class in GPRS QoS
Length of the service data unit
128 bytes 1024 bytes

Coding Delay class
95% 95%
Mean delay/s Mean delay/s
delay/s delay/s
001 1 (predicted) < 0.5 < 1.5 <2 <7
010 2 (predicted) <5 < 25 < 15 < 75
011 3 (predicted) < 0.5 < 250 < 75 < 375
100 4 (best effort) Not defined

9) Peak throughput class

The peak throughput class defines the maximum transmission rate that each PDP
context can reach in the network. The peak throughput class is decided by the data
transmission capability of the MS and the allocation of the radio resources. The peak
throughput is measured at the Gi interface and the R reference point. The peak
throughput class is defined in Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 Definition of the peak throughput class in GPRS QoS
Coding Peak throughput class Peak throughput (byte/s)
0001 1 1000 (8kbit/s)
0010 2 2000 (16kbit/s)
0011 3 4000 (32kbit/s)
0100 4 8000 (64kbit/s)
0101 5 16000 (128kbit/s)
0110 6 32000 (256kbit/s)
0111 7 64000 (512kbit/s)
1000 8 128000 (1024kbit/s)
1001 9 256000 (2048kbit/s)
10) Mean throughput class

The mean throughout class defines the mean transmission rate that the PDP context
is expected to reach during the PDP context activation in the GPRS network. The
mean throughput is measured at the Gi interface and the R reference point, and the
measurement time does not include the data transmission time. If the mean
throughput class is the best effort, it means that the network must provide subscribers
with negotiable throughput class according to the requests of the subscribers and the
allocation of the network resources. The mean throughput class is defined in Table
1.1.
Table 1.1 Definition of the mean throughput in GPRS QoS
Coding Mean throughput class Mean throughput (byte/h)
00001 1 100 (about 0.22bit/s)

00010 2 200 (about 0.44bit/s)
00011 3 500 (about 1.1bit/s)
00100 4 1000 (about 2.2bit/s)
00101 5 2000 (about 4.4bit/s)
00110 6 5000 (about 11bit/s)
00111 7 10000 (about 22bit/s)
01000 8 20000 (about 44bit/s)
01001 9 50000 (about 111bit/s)
01010 10 100000 (about 222bit/s)
01011 11 200000 (about 444bit/s)
01100 12 500000 (about 1.1kbit/s)
01101 13 1000000 (about 2.2kbit/s)
01110 14 2000000 (about 4.4kbit/s)
01111 15 5000000 (about 11kbit/s)
10000 16 10000000 (about 22kbit/s)
10001 17 20000000 (about 44kbit/s)
10010 18 50000000 (about 111kbit/s)
11111 31 Best effort
V. GPRS upper layer function
For the application of the GPRS upper layer functions in network entities, see Table
1.2.
Table 1.2 Application of the GPRS upper layer functions in network entities
Function MS BSS SGSN GGSN HLR
1. Network access control function
Registration X

Authentication X X X
License control X X X
Message screening X
Packet terminal adaptation X
Charging Data Collection X X
2. Packet routing and transfer function
Forward (relay) X X X X
Routing X X X X
Address translation and mapping X X X
Encapsulation X X X
Tunneling X X
Compression X X
Encryption X X X
3. Mobility management function X X X X
4. Logical link management function
Logical link establishment X X
Logical ink maintenance X X
Logical link release X X
5. Radio resource management function
Um management X X
Cell reselection X X
Um-Tranx X X
Path management X X
Note:
X indicates that an entity has the function listed in the left column.

The following introduces the network access control function, packet routing and
transfer function, mobility management function, logical link management function,
and radio resource management function respectively.
1) Network access control function
This function controls the MS to access the network so as to make the MS use the
related network resource to fulfill data service. For GPRS network, subscribers can
access the network from the MT and the fixed network side (including the Internet and
X.25). As for some special carriers, they can restrict subscribers from accessing the
network or provide specific services to specific subscribers.
The GPRS network access function consists of the following:

 Registration function
 Authentication function
 License function
 Message screening function
 Packet terminal adaptation function
 Charging Data Collection function
2) Packet routing and transfer function

This function ensures the packet data to be sent to the destination according to the
best path. This function consists of the following:
 Forward (relay) function
 Routing function
 Address translation and mapping function
 Encapsulation function
 Tunneling function
 Compression function
 Encryption function
 DNS function
3) Mobility management function

This function is applied to monitor the current location of the MS in the PLMN. The
mobility management function of GPRS is similar to that of GSM. That is, one or more
cells constitute a routing area (RA) or a RA subset, and the SGSN provides services
for several RAs.
The mobility management (MM) of subscribers can be described according to three

types of MM state. Each type of state describes a certain level of function and

information allocation. All the information is stored in the MM context of the MS and
the SGSN.
The three types of MM state are idle state, standby state and ready state. The
network monitors the MS location according to the MM state of the MS. If the MS is in
standby state, the network only knows the RA of the MS. When the MS is in ready
state, the network can know which cell the MS is in.
The following introduces the three types of state respectively.
a) Idle state
When the MS is in idle state, the MM context of the MS and the SGSN does not
contain the valid location and routing information of the subscriber. The MS can
receive the PTM-M service information, but it cannot carry out the PTM-G service. If
the MM context is to be established between the MS and the SGSN, the MS must
perform PLMN selection, cell selection and reselection, and GPRS attach program.
b) Standby state
When the MS is in standby state, the subscriber attaches the GPRS network, and MM
context identified by the IMSI of the subscriber is established in the MS and the
SGSN. The MS can receive both the PTM-M service data and the PTM-G service
data. In addition, it can also receive the circuit switched pages passing the SGSN.
However, the MS can neither receive the PTP service in this state, nor can it send the
PTP service and the PTM-G data.
The MS can select and reselect the GPRS RAs and cells. When the MS enters a new
RA, it notifies its current location to the SGSN with the help of the MM procedure.
When the MS is in standby state, it can initiate the procedures to activate and
deactivate the PDP context. Before the receiving and sending data, the PDP context
must be activated.
When the network needs to send data or signaling to the standby MS, the SGSN will
send a paging request in the RA where the MS is in. If the MS receives the paging
request and makes a response, the MM state of the MS will change from standby
state to ready state. Meanwhile, when the SGSN receives the response from the MS,
the MM state of the SGSN will change from standby state to ready state. When the
MS needs to send data and signaling to the network, the MM state of the MS will
change from standby state to ready state after the MS sends the data and the
signaling. When the SGSN receives the data and the signaling from the MS, its MM
state will change from standby state to ready state.
Either the MS or the SGSN can initiate the GPRS detach procedure to change the
MM state to idle state. When the MS leaves the ready state for standby state, the

SGSN will start the MS reachable timer. After receiving the PTP PDU from the MS,
the SGSN will stop this timer. If this timer expires, the SGSN will initiates the implicit
GPRS detach procedure. In this case, the MM context of the MS and the SGSN will
be deleted and the MS will enter the idle state.
c) Ready state
When the MS is in ready state, the information of the cell that the MS has camped on
is added to the MM context corresponding to MS in the SGSN. The MS provides the
information to the network through initiating the procedure to activate the PDP
context.
When the MS is in ready state, the MS can both receive and send PTP PDU. The
network does not start the PS page for the MS, and the page for other services can
be realized by the SGSN.
Before the MM ready timer (T3314) expires, the MM state keeps in ready state
regardless that the MS should be allocated with radio resource. After the T3314
expires, the MM state will change to standby state. If the MM state will change from
standby state back to idle state, the MS must initiate the procedure to deactivate the
PDP context.
Figure 3.1 shows the transition of the three types of MM state.

Figure 3.1 MM state transition model
4) Logical link management function

The logical links indicate the links established between the MS and the GPRS
network and needed for the transmission of packet data. The logical link management
function keeps channel for the communication between the MS and the PLMN. After
logical links are established, the MSs and the logical links are one-to-one matched.
The logical management function consists of the following:
 Logical link establishment function
 Logical ink maintenance function
 Logical link release function
5) Radio resource management function

The radio resource management function involves the allocation and management of
the radio communication channels. For the GPRS radio resource management
function, it must enable the GPRS service and GSM service to share the radio
channels. The radio resource management function consists of the following:
 Um management function
 Cell reselection function
 Um-tranx function
6) Network management function

It is the operation and maintenance function of the GPRS system. The realization of
this function varies with carriers.
VI. GPRS numbering plan
The distribution of the addresses, numbers, and identities involved in the GPRS are
shown in Figure 6.1.
Figure 6.1 GPRS address and numbering diagram

In a GPRS backbone network, each SGSN had an internal IP address, which is used
for the communication within the backbone network. In addition, the SGSN has a
SGSN SS7 number, which is used for the communication with MSC/VLR, HLR, and
EIR. Each GGSN also has an internal IP address, which is used for the
communication within the backbone network. If the GGSN connects to the HLR
through Gc interface, it should also have a GGSN SS7 number. Moreover, as the
gateway connecting to external data networks, the GGSN has an address used for
the connection with the external data networks.
The GPRS MS has an exclusive IMSI. When it is attached to the GPRS, the SGSN
will allocate a temporary P-TMSI to the MS. If the MS intends to access an external
PDN, it must have an address (it is called PDP address) corresponding to the PDN.
For example, if the MS accesses the X.25/X.75 network, the type of the PDP address
is X.121 address. If the MS accesses an IP network, the type of the PDP address is
the IP address of the IP network. The IP address can be either a static address or a
dynamic address, among which the dynamic address is allocated by the GGSN.
When starting the packet data service, the MS must provide an APN to the SGSN;
otherwise the network cannot know which external network the MS intends to access.
When the GPRS packet data service is being processed, the logical link between the
MS and the SGSN is identified by the TLLI only, and the logical link between the
SGSN and the GGSN is identified by the TID only.
1) IMSI
Compared with the original GSM subscribers, GPRS subscribers also have an IMSI
except anonymous subscribers. The anonymous access means that a subscriber
accesses the network anonymously without the IMSI or IMEI authentication. In this
case, the call cost is paid by the called party. Carriers can decide whether to allow the
anonymous access according to actual service needs.
2) P-TMSI
The SGSN will allocate a P-TMSI used for packet call to the GPRS-attached
subscribers. The P-TMSI is related to the subscriber IMSI. Both the P-TMSI and TMSI
consist of are 32-bit codes, but the most significant bit of P-TMSI is 11, and the most
significant bit of TMSI is 00, 01, and 10.
3) NSAPI
As shown in Figure 3.1, the network layer service access point identifier (NSAPI) is
the address used for application layer of the packet data protocol (PDP) to access the
sub-network dependent convergence protocol (SNDCP). For the X.25 and IP, they
have their own NSAPI. The value of NSAPI ranges from 0 to 15. Currently, the NSAPI
whose value ranges from 5 to 15 are used for dynamic allocation.

Figure 3.1 NSAPI numbering diagram
4) TLLI
The TLLI stands for temporary logical link identity. When the MS has just accessed
the GPRS network and the GPRS network has not allocated the P-TMSI to the MS,
the TLLI identifies the exchanged signaling between the MS and the SGSN. The TLLI
identifies a solar logical link between the MS and the SGSN in an RA. If the MM
context does not know which RA the TLLI belongs to, the TLLI and the routing area
identifier (RAI) should be used together. In a RA, the TLLI and the IMSI are one-to-
one matched. The TLLI consists of 32-bit codes. In the GPRS system, there are four
types of TLLI, and they are introduced hereunder.
a) Local TLLI
The most significant bit of the local TLLI is 11. The other bits come from the P-TMSI
allocated by the SGSN to the MS. The local TLLI is valid only in the RAs related to the
P-TMSI.
b) Foreign TLLI
The most significant bit of the foreign TLLI is 10. The other bits come from the P-TMSI
allocated by the other RA. When the subscriber performs RA update, the MS will
report the RA update to the SGSN.
c) Random TLLI
If no P-TMSI is attached to the MS, the MS must provide a random TLLI. The most
five significant bit of the random TLLI is 01111. The others are random bits.
d) Assisted TLLI
The assisted TLLI provides the identities to the anonymously-accessed MSs. The
most five significant bit of the assisted TLLI is 01110. The others are allocated by the
SGSN.

e) NSAPI/TLLI pair
The NSAPI/TLLI pair is used to select the route of the network layer. The TLLI can
identify the logical links between the MS and the SGSN. The NSAPI and the TLLI are
used as the route of the network layer. There is only one NSAPI/TLLI pair in a RA.
f) PDP address
The PDP address is the address of the packet protocol. The MS is identified by the
IMSI. For different external networks, however, they must have the PDP address if
they intend to fulfill the packet data function; because the PDP address helps the
external data networks identify the PDP context of the MS. The PDP address can be
divided into IP address (IP4 address or IP6 address) and X.121 address (for the X.25
service).
The previous types of addresses can be either statically or dynamically allocated.

When they are statically allocated, the MS must be subscribe to the network first, and
then the network will allocate a corresponding address to the MS. Meanwhile, the
network will record the fixed address in the SIM card and the database of the
subscriber. The type of PDP address must be made clear during subscription;
otherwise the system will reject the PDP address that has not been subscribed.
g) TID
Tunnel identifier (TID) consists of IMSI and NSAPI. It lies in the GTP header and
identifies the solar PDP context between GSNs (between SGSN and GGSN, or
between SGSN and the original SGSN). The TID consists of 8 bytes. For the specific
format, see Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 TID format
Bit
8 7 6 5 4 3 2
1
IMSI the 2nd digit IMSI the 1st digit
IMSI the 4th digit IMSI the 3rd digit
IMSI the 6th digit IMSI the 5th digit

NSAPI IMSI the 15th digit
h) RAI
The RAI stands for routing area identifier. The carriers define the RA. A RA can
contain one or more cells, or it can be a location area, or a subset of a location area.
A location area is controlled by a SGSN. As a kind of system information, the RA
information will be broadcast on common control channels.
RAI = MCC + MNC + LAC + RAC (The RAC has a maximum of 16 bits.)
CGI = LAI + {RAC} + CI (If the cell supports GPRS, the CGI contains the RAC;
otherwise it does not contain the RAC.)
i) CI
The CI stands for cell identity. The CI of the GPRS network is the same as that of the
original GSM network.
j) GSN address and number
To communicate with the GPRS backbone network and other GSNs, each SGSN and
each GGSN have an IP address (IPv4/IPv6) of their own. These addressed are the
internal addresses of the GPRS network, and each address has one or more
corresponding domain names. The GSN address consists of address type (2 bits),
address length (6 bits), and address (a maximum of 16 bits). When the address type
is 0, the address is IPv4 address. When the address type is 1, the address is IPv6
address.
To communicate with the HLR and the EIR, each SGSN must still have a SGSN SS7
number. If the GGSN connects to the HLR through Gc interface, it must have a
GGSN SS7 number.
k) APN
The APN identifies the GGSN that is to be used in the GPRS backbone network. In
the GGSN, the APN is used to characterize the external data networks.
The APN consists of two parts. One is APN network identification. It is mandatory.
The carriers allocate the APN network identification to the Internet service providers
(ISP) and companies and it is the same as the fixed Internet domain name. The other
one is APN carrier identification. It is optional and identifies the home network. It is
expresses as “xxx.yyy.gprs”. For example, MNC.MCC.gprs.

Generally, the APN network identification can be stored as the subscription data in the
HLR. Subscribers can provide the APN to SGSN when initiating packet services,
because the APN helps the SGSN select the GGSN that the subscribers should
access and helps the GGSN judge which external network should be selected. In
addition, the APN can be stored as a wildcard (*). In this case, the subscribers and
the SGSN can choose to access an APN that is not stored in the HLR. The
subscribers can select the GGSN according to different APNs. That is, the
subscribers can activate multiple PDP contexts (each PDP context is related to one
APN only). The reason for the subscribers to select different APNs is that they can
select an external network to access through different GGSNs.
The APN cannot obtain the real IP address of the GGSN or the external network node
until the DNS successfully resolve their domain names.
An APN consists of one or more labels, and each label consists of an octet indicating
the length and multiple octets coded by the 8-bit ASCII. The maximum length of an
APN is 100 octets. The value of an octet can be expressed by English letters, Arabic
numbers, and the mark “-“.
The APN network identification contains at least one label, and the maximum length
of the label is 63 octets. The label of the APN network identification cannot be a “*”,
the first label cannot be “rac”, “lac”, and “sgsn”, and the last label cannot be “gprs”.
The APN network identification is exclusively allocated by each GPRS PLMN. The
APN carrier identification identifies one GPRS PLMN only, including three labels.
They are “carrier name”, carrier group”, and “gprs” according to the front-to-back
sequence. The defaulted APN carrier identification is “MNC.MCC.gprs”.
10.1.3 Main Interfaces and Related Protocols
I. Main Interfaces
Various interfaces exist among the entities in the GPRS network. Equipments of
different carriers cooperate with each other if these interfaces are properly defined.
Figure 4.2 shows the main interfaces in the GPRS system.

Figure 4.2 Main interfaces in the GPRS system
The following introduces the interfaces shown in Figure 4.2.

1) R reference point
The R reference point is the interface connecting the TE to MT. Subscribers can
perform packet data services at the TE.
2) Um interface
The Um interface connects the MS to the GPRS network side. It maintains the
communication between the MS and the network side. In addition, it helps the
realization of multiple functions, including the packet data transmission, mobility
management, session management, and radio resource management, between the
MS and the GPRS network side. The RF part of the Um interface utilizes the timeslot
of the GSM carrier, but it must be configured with PDCH. The coding schemes on the
PDCH can be divided into CS1, CS2, CS3, and CS4 corresponding to the data
transfer rate. The PDCH supports multislot transmission. The number of transmitted
timeslots is decided by the multislot level of the MS.
3) Gb interface
The Gb interface connects the SGSN to the BSS. The SGSN maintains the
communication with the BSS and the MS with the help of Gb interface so that the
functions, including packet data transmission, mobile management, and session
management, can be realized between them. Moreover, the Gb interface provides
flow control function.
This interface is a must in the GPRS networking. Currently, the standard GPRS
protocols define that the Gb interface adopts frame relay as the transfer protocols at

the lower layer. In addition, the standard GPRS protocols also define that either frame
relay or PTP frame relay can be used for communication between the SGSN and the
BSS.
4) Gi reference point
The Gi reference point connects the GPRS network to the external packet data
networks. It lies between the GGSN and the external packet data networks. The
GPRS network connects communicates with various PDNs (such as the Internet) or
ISDNs through the Gi reference point. The operations, including the
encapsulation/decapsulation of the protocols, the conversion of the addresses (such
as the conversion between IP address of a private network and that of a public
network), the authentication and authorization of the subscriber access, must be
performed at the Gi reference point.
5) Gn interface
The Gn interface connects the GPRS support nodes (GSN) with each other. That is,
the Gn interface connects the SGSNs to each other and connects the SGSN to the
GGSN within the PLMN. Based on the TCP/UDP protocols, the Gn interface bears
the GTP to carry out the communication and manage the packet data transmission
and mobility.
6) Gs interface
The Gs interface connects the SGSN to the MSC/VLR. It adopts the BSSAP+
protocols bearing on the No.7 signaling. The cooperation of the Gs interface and the
MSC helps the SGSN manage the mobility of the MS. In addition, the Gs interface
enables the SGSN to receive the circuit switched paging messages from the MSC
and deliver them to the MS through PCU. If no Gs interface is provided, the SGSN
cannot perform paging coordination, so the network can work under the network
mode of operation II (NMO II) and NMO III only, and this will prevent the
enhancement of the call connected ratio. In addition, if no Gs interface is provided,
the RAs of the combined locations cannot be updated, and this will results in heavy
signaling load in the system.
7) Gr interface
The Gr interface connects the SGSN to the HLR. It adopts the MA+ protocols bearing
on the No. 7 signaling. The SGSN obtains the data relative to the MS through the Gr
interface. The HLR stores the data and the routing information for the GPRS
subscribers. When any RA updates in the SGSN, the SGSN will update the
corresponding information in the HLR. When the data in the HLR changes, the HLR
will notifies the change to the SGSN.
8) Gd interface

The Gd interface connects the SGSN to the SMS-GMSC and SMS-IWMSC. The
SGSN, SMS-GMSC, SMS-IWMSC, and SMC cooperate with each other at the Gd
interface to fulfill the SMS in the GPRS system. The Gd interface enables the SGSN
to receive short messages and forward them to the MS. If no Gd interface is provided,
the Class C MSs cannot receive and send short messages when attached to the
GPRS network.
9) Gp interface
The Gp interface connects GPRS networks with each other, so it is used between the
GSNs that belong to different PLMNs. The Gp interface is similar to the Gn interface
in telecommunication protocols except that the border gateway and fire wall are
added to the Gp interface. Because the BG provides the routing protocols for the
border gateways, the Gp interface enables the GSNs belonging to different PLMNs to
communicate with each other normally.
10) Gc interface
The Gc interface connects the GGSN to the HLR. When the network side initiates the
PDP context activation, the GGSN uses the IMSI to request the address of the
current SGSN where the subscriber is in from the HLR. In current mobile data
services, this kind of situation is seldom seen.
11) Gf interface
The Gf interface connects the SGSN to EIR. Generally, the EIR is not configured with
the networks at present, so the Gf interface cannot be necessarily emphasized.
II. Related protocols
The data and signaling in the GPRS system are transmitted in an integrated platform,
as shown in Figure 11.1.
Figure 11.1 GPRS data transfer protocol platform
The following introduces the protocols shown in Figure 11.1.

1) GTP

The GTP stands for GPRS tunneling protocol. It is used for the tunneling transmission
of the data and signaling between GSNs in the GPRS backbone network. The GTP is
applicable to the Gn interface and the Gp interface.
The GTP consists of GTP signaling and data transmission program. In the signaling
platform, the GTP defines the tunneling control and management protocols for the MS
to access the GPRS network. In the transfer platform, the GTP utilizes the tunnels
established between the GSNs to transmit subscriber data.
All PDP PDUs transmitted between GSNs must be encapsulated with the GTP
header. The format of the GTP header is fixed to 20 bytes, the last 8 of which identify
the TIDs for specific subscribers.
In addition, the GTP provides the flow control function.

2) UDP/TCP
The UDP/TCP is the transport layer protocol used to establish the reliable link from
end-to-end. The TCP orients to connection. It can discard and protect the errors and
controls flow. In addition, it ensures the data to be accurately transmitted and can
used to bear the GTP PDUs that require reliable transmission.
Compared with the TCP, the UDP orients to non-connection. It neither recovers errors
nor cares about whether receives the messages correctly or not. Instead, it transmits
and receives the data only. It is used to bear the GTP PDUs that do not require
reliable transmission.
3) IP
The IP stands for the Internet protocols. It is used to select the route for the
subscriber data and control signaling in the GPRS backbone network. Currently the
IPv4 is widely used, but it will gradually develop into IPv6.
4) BSSGP
The BSSGP (BSS GPRS protocols) includes the functions of the network layer and
parts of the transport layers. It provides a radio link that is used to transmit the
unacknowledged data between the BSS and the SGSN. The primary function of the
BSSGP is to explain the routing information and the QoS information. On downlinks,
the SGSN provides the radio information to be used by the RLC/MAC to the BSS. On
uplinks, the BSS provides the radio information obtained from the RLC/MAC from the
SGSN. In addition, the BSSGP also manages and controls the nodes between the
SGSN and the BSS.
The BSSGP entity uses BSSGP virtual circuit (BVC) to transmit BSSGP packet data
units (BSSGP PDU). The BVC consists of a group of network service virtual circuits
(NS-VC) and is only identified by the BSSGP virtual circuit identification (BVCI) and

network service entity identification (NSEI) in the SGSN. In the BSSGP layer, the
BVCI identifies a cell.
The BSSGP has three users. They are relay (RL), GPRS mobility management
(GMM), and network management (NM).
The function of flow control is available is the BSSGP layer. This function controls the
load for the QoS delay class queues between the SGSN and the BSS so as to
optimize the buffer area. Because the physical mediums and transmission protocols
at the Gb interface are different from that at the Um interface, the data transfer rate at
the Gb interface is higher that that at the Um interface. In addition, when the data is
transferred on the downlink, the transfer will receive the restriction from multiple
factors, such as the multislot capability of the MS, the radio quality, and the
unavailability of the radio channels in cells, at the Um interface. Therefore, the data
transmission rate is unstable. In this case, you must control the flow of the data
transmitted on the downlink, while the control of the flow of the data transmitted on
the uplink is unnecessary.
The BSSGP layer manages two types of buffers. One buffer of the MS and the other
is the buffer of the BVC. First the BSSGP puts each LLC-PDU, with TLLI as
identification, received by each LLC-PDU into the buffer of the corresponding MS,
and then put the data, with BVCI as identification, into the buffer of the BVC.
When the cell works normally, the PCU must start the flow control procedure. In this
case, the PCU reports the size and rate of the buckets in the cell to the SGSN
periodically according to the radio packet channels. In addition, it must also report the
size and the rate of the MS to the SGSN according to the radio resource seized by
the MS. Upon receiving the reports, the SGSN adjusts the downlink data rate for the
cell and the MS according to the reported parameters in needed time. And this is how
the downlink data flow is controlled. The SGSN controls the flow according to one
principle. That is, when controlling the LLC-PDU flow, it controls the flow of the MS
first, and then controls the flow of the BVC.
 Note:
 The bucket of the cell is the maximum of packet data that the cell can store. That
is, it is the maximum amount of the packet data of that the buffer of the BVC can
store. The bucket varies with the number of packet channel in the cell.
 The bucket of the MS is the maximum amount of the packet data that the MS
can store. That is, it is the maximum amount of the packet data that the buffer of
the MS can store. The bucket varies with the number of channels allocated to the
MS.

 The bucket rate is the data transmission rate.
5) NS
The NS stands for network service. The primary functions of the NS layer include the
transmission of the network service packet data units (NS-PDU), the indication of
network congestion, and the indication of NS layer state.
The NS layer consists of the NS sub-network and the NS control part. Currently, the
NS sub-network adopts the frame relay. The NS control part transmits the NS-PDU,
shares the load, and manages the NS-VC. The NS-VC is the frame-relay permanent
virtual circuit (PVC) and it is only identified by the NS-VCI in the SGSN. The NS-VCI
is an end-to-end identification at the Gb interface.
6) SNDCP
The SNDCP stands for Sub-Network Dependent Convergence Protocol. The SNDCP
layer is the transition between the network layer and the link layer. It mainly
contributes to the transparent transmission of the network layer PDU (N-PDU) and
the enhancement of the channel utilization. The SNDCP can reuse the date (it is from
various service source) to be transmitted. The PDP type of the data varies with its
service source and the PDP context is identified by different NSAPIs. A type of PDP
can contain several PDP contexts and NSAPIs and different PDPs can use a NSAPI.
The SNDCP layer packet data unit (SN-PDU) includes header and data. One SN-
PDU contains the data of one N-PDU only. The SN-PDU has two formats, SN-DATA
PDU and SN-UNITDATA PDU, the first of which is used to transmit the data of the
acknowledged mode, and the second of which is used to transmit the data of the
unacknowledged mode.
The SNDCP has two compression types, data header compression and data
compression.
7) LLC
The LLC stands for logical link control. The LLC protocol is the radio link protocol
used at the transport layer and based on high-speed digital subscriber line (HDSL). It
provides the logical link between the MS and the SGSN, with end-to-end encryption
and no error. The LLC layer supports point-to-multipoint addressing, data
retransmission and multiple QoS delay class. The intact LLC frame can be generated
through adding the LLC address and frame field to the LLC based on the PDU.
An LLC frame (LLC PDU) consists of address field (1 byte), control field (a maximum
of 32 bytes), information field (a maximum of N201 bytes, and frame correction
sequence (FCS) field (3 bytes). Under acknowledged mode, the parameter N201-I

will indicate that the maximum valid bytes of SN-DATA PDU are 1520. Under
unacknowledged mode, the parameter N201-U will indicate that the maximum valid
bytes of the SN-UNITDATA PDU are 500.
The LLC layer has set different service access points (SAP) for different upper layer
subscribers. Each SAP is identified by one service access point identifier. A SAPI
consists of 4 bytes and locates in the least-4 digits of the field address of the LLC
frame. Currently 6 values are adopted, in which the SAPI = 1 matches the GPRS
mobility management/session management (GMM/SM) service, the SAPI = 7
matches the short message service, and the SAPI = 3, 5, 9, and 11 match data
service of the subscribers whose QoS is 1, 2, 3, and 4.
8) RLC
The RLC protocol is applied between the link layer and the network layer. It controls
the radio links. The primary function of RLC layer is to disassemble and assemble
LLC-PDU. The application of the sliding window mechanism enables the RLC layer to
ensure the data transmission between the MS and the BSS through adopting the
acknowledged mode or unacknowledged mode. The size of the GPRS RLC sliding
window is 64.
a) RLC acknowledged mode
Under this mode, each RLC data blocks sent by the sending end must be
acknowledged by the receiving end; otherwise the sending end must select the
automatic repeat request (ARQ) mechanism to resend the data. Only after all the data
are sent and acknowledged by the receiving end, the temporary block flow (TBF) can
be released.
The TBF is a kind of physical connection used for the transmission of the data
between the MS RR entity and the BSS RR entity. It exists during data transmission
only.
b) RLC unacknowledged mode
Under unacknowledged mode, the data sent by the sending end do not have to be
acknowledged by the receiving end and the discarded data blocks do not have to be
resent either. The TBF can be released after the data is completely sent.
 Note:
At present, all GPRS networks adopt the RLC acknowledged mode.
9) MAC
The MAC stands for medium access control. The MAC protocol is applied to the link
layer. Its primary functions are to define the GPRS logical channels at the Um

interface and make coordination to enable multiple MSs to share these channels or
enable one MS to use the physical channels of different timeslots. Therefore, the
MAC must fulfill the following tasks:
 Fully reuse the uplink and downlink
 Perform the contention and decision during uplink access
 Transmit the downlink data according to access attempt sequence
 Process the radio priority class
 Match the LLC-PDU to the corresponding physical channels
There are three MAC modes, including fixed allocation, dynamic allocation, and
extended dynamic allocation, which are detailed in the following.
a) Fixed allocation
Under this mode, the BSS allocates the radio blocks to be used by the MS in
advance. If there is still data needs to be transmitted after all the radio blocks have
been used, the BSS will reallocates radio blocks to the MS.
b) Dynamic allocation
Under this mode, the BSS allocates the radio blocks to be used by the MS when MS
needs them. When assigning radio resources to the MS, the BSS will assign several
radio channels and the corresponding uplink state flag (USF) for the MS. Upon
receiving an assignment message, the MS begins to listen the downlink radio blocks
in the assigned channel to obtain the USF. If this USF is the same as the assigned
USF, the MS will transmit the data on the corresponding uplink radio block.
c) Extended dynamic allocation
Under this mode, the resource allocation mechanism is the same as that under the
dynamic allocation mode except that greater uplink throughput is provided under the
dynamic allocation mode. According to extended dynamic allocation, the multislots
are allocated to the MS according to its multislot capability. Upon receiving a USF on
one PDCH, the MS can transmit the data on both the PDCH and the PDCHs with a
greater number.
10.1.4 Radio Channels and Their Importance
I. Radio Chnnels
10) Types of packet data logical channels

Packet data logical channels can be divided into four types. They are packet data
traffic channel (PDTCH), packet broadcast control channel (PBCCH), packet common

control channel (PCCCH), and packet dedicated control channel (PDCCH). The
following details the four types of channels respectively.
a) PDTCH
The PDCH is used to transmit the subscriber data under packet transfer mode and
the transfer rate ranges from 0 to 22.8 kbit/s. All the PDCCHs are unidirectional. The
PDTCH uplink (PDTCH/U) helps the MS to transmit the data to the GPRS network.
The PDTCH downlink (PDTCH/D) helps the GPRS network to transmit the data to the
MS.
b) PBCCH
The PBCCH broadcasts the parameters needed by the MS to access the network for
packet service. In addition, it also broadcasts the parameters used for circuit switched
service. The GPRS-attached MSs monitor the PBCCH only.
If a cell has the PBCCH, corresponding prompt is present in the BCCH. That is, the
MS will be told that this cell is configured with the PBCCH through SI13. If there is no
PBCCH is the cell, the BCCH will broadcast the parameters used for packet service.
c) PCCCH
The PCCH can be divided into the following types:

 Packet paging channel (PPCH)
It is applied to the downlink only and used to page the MS.
 Packet random access channel (PRACH)
It is applied to the uplink only and used to request one or more PDTCH for the
MS.
 Packet access grant channel (PAGCH)
It is applied to the downlink only and used to allocate one or more PDTCH.
 Packet notification channel (PNCH)
It is applied to the downlink only and used to notify the MS that the PTM-M call
exists.
If there is no PCCCH in a cell, the information of the packet service is transmitted on
the CCCH. If there is PCCCH, the information of the packet service is transmitted on
the PCCCH, and the information of the circuit switched service can also be
transmitted on the PCCCH.
d) PDCCH
The PDCCH can be divided into the following types:

 Packet associated control channel (PACCH)
It is bi-directional and used to transmit the packet signaling.

 Packet timing advance control channel uplink (PTCCH/U)

It is used to transmit the random access burst so that the BSS side can estimate the
timing advance for the MS performing the packet service.
 Packet timing advance control channel downlink (PTCCH/D)
It is used to provide the information of timing advance for multiple MSs. A
PTCCH/D matches multiple PTCH/Us.
11) Combination of the packet data logical channels
There are the following combinations:
 PBCCH + PCCCH + PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH
 PCCCH + PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH
 PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH
If the cell needs the PBCCH, the first combination is used. A cell needs only one
group of the combination only.
If a great number of MSs are present in a cell, one or more groups of the second
combination can be configured when the PCCCH is busy. The second combination
cannot be configured with a cell unless the first combination is configured.
The third combination is used to transmit the uplink and downlink packet data only. A
cell can be configured with one or more groups of this combination.
12) Mapping transformation between logical channels and physical channels
The GPRS channel adopts 52-multiframe structure. Each packet channel has 52
multiframes in total, four of which form a radio block. Therefore, a radio block consists
of 12 radio blocks and 4 idle frames. Figure 12.1 shows the structure.
B0 B1 B2 X B3 B4 B5 X B6 B7 B8 X B9 B10 B11 X
B0-B11: 12 radio blocks X: idle frame
Figure 12.1 Structure of a radio channel
In a GPRS system, the packet logical channel has a mapping relationship with the
PDCH physical channel according to the radio block sequence. That is, B0, B6, B3,
B9, B1, B7, B4, B10, B2, B8, B5, B1.
 For the PBCCH, it can be mapped to the B0, B3, B6, B9, and so on. The specific
numbe of radio blocks are decided by the parameter BS_PBCCH_BLKS
according to how busy the PBCCH is.
 For the PCCCH, the PAGCH and the PPCH can be mapped to any radio block of
the downlink channels except the radio blocked seized by the PBCCH. The
uplink radio blocks seized by the PRACH correspond to the radio blocks seized
by the PBCCH, PAGCH, and PPCH.

 For the PDTCH, it can be mapped to all the radio blocks and is used to transmit
the packet data.
 For the PACCH, it can be mapped to all the radio blocks and is used to send the
control message.
 For the PTCCH, the 12th and the 38th uplink frames of each 52-multiframe form a
PPCCH/U channel, and the 12th and the 38th downlink frames of two neighboring
52-multiframe form a PTCCH/D channel.
II. Channel coding
A GPRS radio block can only bear 456 bits. Four coding schemes are available for
the GPRS channel. They are CS-1, CS-2, CS-3, and CS-4.
When coding the channel according to CS-1, first add the USF to the data bit as
information bit, and then add the block check sequence (BSC) to detect and correct
the codes. After that, add the tail bits and convolute all the bits by half. Finally, the
456-bit channel code is obtained.
When coding the channel according to CS-2 and CS-3, first add the USF to the data
bit as information bit, and then add the BCS to detect and correct the codes. After
pre-coding the USF, add the tail bit and convolute all the bits by half using the
chopping technologies. Finally, the 456-bit channel code is obtained.
When coding the channel according to CS-4, first add the USF to the data bit as
information bit, and then add the BCS to detect and correct the codes. After that, pre-
code the USF. Finally, the 456-bit channel code is obtained. Note that the CS-4 does
not adopt convolutional codes.
For details, see Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 GPRS channel coding scheme
Channel coding Data rate

Data bit USF BCS Tail bit
scheme (kbit/s)
CS-1 181 3 40 4 9.05
CS-2 268 6 16 4 13.4
CS-3 312 6 16 4 15.6
CS-4 428 12 16 0 21.4
The data transmission rate and the requirement on transmission quality vary with the
CS. The higher the data transmission rate, the higher the transmission quality is
required. When transmitting the data, the BSS can adjust the channel CS according

to the variation of the radio quality. In this case, the radio resource can be fully used
and the data transmission rate can be enhanced based on the assurance of the
transmission quality.
III. RLC/MAC block structure
When used for packet data transmission, the structure of the RLC/MAC block is
different from that when it is used for control message transmsion.
13) RLC/MAC data block
The RLC/MAC data block consists of MAC header and RLC data block, the later of
which consists of RLC header, RLC data unit, and reserved bit. And the RLC data unit
contains the octets that are fragmented from one or more LLC PDU. Figure 13.1
shows the structure of the RLC/MAC data block
RLC/MAC block
RLC data unit
MAC header
RLC header RLC data unit Reserved bit
Figure 13.1 Structure of the RLC/MAC data block
The size of the RLC/MAC data block varies with the CS type. For details, see Table
1.1.
Table 1.1 The size of the RLC/MAC data block
The size of RLC/MAC data

The size of RLC/MAC
CS type block when reserved bit is not Reserved bits
data block (byte)
accounted (byte)
CS1 22 0 22
CS2 32 7 32 7/8
CS3 38 3 38 3/8
CS4 52 7 52 7/8
14) RLC/MAC control block

The RLC/MAC block used for the control message transmission consists of MAC
header and RLC/MAC control block. Figure 14.1 shows the structure of the RLC/MAC
block.
RLC/MAC block
MAC header RLC/MAC control block

Figure 14.1 Structure of RLC/MAC block
15) Field remark

The following provides the remarks on the main fields.
a) USF field
The USF field is transmitted in all uplink RLC/MAC blocks. It indicates the owner of
the downlink block or the user of the next radio block of the same timeslot. When
performing dynamic allocation, the network side uses the USF to allocate the uplink
radio resources to the MS. The USF field stands for the eight different values
composed of the binary codes. On the PCCCH, the value of the USF is 111, indicating
that the corresponding uplink block is the uplink random access block.
b) SI bit
The SI bit stands for suspend indication bit. In the window mechanism, the SI bit
indicates whether the RLC transmit window of the MS needs the suspension. The MS
must set the SI bit in all uplink RLC data blocks. For the meaning of the SI bit, see
Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 Meaning of the SI bit
Value Meaning
The RLC transmit window of the MS does not need

0
suspension.
1 The RLC transmit window of the MS needs suspension.
c) S/P bit
The S/P bit stands for the supplementary/polling bit. It is used to indicate whether the
relative reserved block period (RRBP) field is valid or not. For the meaning of the S/P
bit, see Table 1.2.
Table 1.2 Meaning of the S/P bit
Value Meaning
0 The RRBP field is invalid.
1 The RRBP field is valid.

d) RRBP field
The RRBP stands for relative reserved block period. This field indicates the location
of the uplink blocks where the network side sends the PACKET CONTROL ACK
message or the PACKET DL ACK/NACK message to. The value of the RRBP bit
ranges from 0 to 3. For the meaning of the RRBP field, see Table 1.3.
Table 1.3 Meaning of the RRBP field
Value Meaning
00 TDMA frame number = (N+3) mod 2715648 uplink block
01 TDMA frame number = (N+17 or N+18) mod 2715648 uplink block
10 TDMA frame number = (N+21 or N+22) mod 2715648 uplink block
11 TDMA frame number = (N+26) mod 2715648 uplink block
e) Effective payload type
This field indicates the range of the effective data contained in the RLC/MAC block.
For the meaning of this field, see Table 1.4.
Table 1.4 Meaning of the effective payload type
Value Meaning
00 The RLC/MAC block contains one RLC data block.
The RLC/MAC block contains one RLC control block but not contains
01
the optional bytes in the RLC/MAC control header.
On the downlink, the RCL/MAC block contains both one RLC control
10
block and the first optional byte in the RLC/MAC control header.
11 Reserved.
f) FBI bit
The FBI bit stands for the final block indicator bit, indicating the final downlink RLC
data block in the downlink TBF. For the meaning of the FBI bit, see Table 1.5.

Table 1.5 Meaning of the FBI bit
Value Meaning
0 The current block is not the final RLC data block in the TBF.
1 The current block is the final RLC data block in the TBF.
g) RTI field
The RTI stands for the radio transaction identifier. This field is used to number a
group of the RLC/MAC blocks constituting a RLC control message. A RTI consists of
5 bits, and its value ranges from 1 to 31.
h) TFI field
The TFI field stands for the temporary block flow identifier field. It identifies all the
TBFs affiliated to the RLC. Different channels can share the same TFI, which can
identify the same TBF and different TBFs. The TBI of a channel is affiliated to an
uplink or downlink TBF only at any time. The same MS can use either the same TFI
or different TBIs during TBF transmission. Both the uplink TFI and downlink TFI are 5-
bit binary codes, and their value ranges from 0 to 31.
i) BSN field
The BSN field stands for the block sequence number field. It is the number of each of
the RLC data blocks in the TBF. The BSN is the 7-bit binary code, and its value
ranges from 0 to 127.
IV. MS multislot capability
The MS multislot capability is divided into 27 classes. The number of the packet
channels can be used by the MS simultaneously varies with the multislot capability
class. The MS reports its multisolt capability class in the packet resource request
message. When allocating the radio resource to the MS, the BSS must consider
multiple factors, such as the amount of the data to be transmitted, the required QoS,
and the number of available radio channels. If the radio resource can be fully used,
the multislot capability class of the MS should be ensured to the maximum.
Table 1.6 lists the multislot capability of the MS.
Table 1.6 MS multislot capability
Multislot Multislot
Maximum timeslots Maximum timeslots
capability class capability class

Rx Tx Sum Rx Tx Sum
1 1 1 2 16 6 6 NA
2 2 1 3 17 7 7 NA
3 2 2 3 18 8 8 NA
4 3 1 4 19 6 2 NA
5 2 2 4 20 6 3 NA
6 3 2 4 21 6 4 NA
7 3 3 4 22 6 4 NA
8 4 1 5 23 6 6 NA
9 3 2 5 24 8 2 NA
10 4 2 5 25 8 3 NA
11 4 3 5 26 8 4 NA
12 4 4 5 27 8 4 NA
13 3 3 NA 28 8 6 NA
14 4 4 NA 29 8 8 NA
15 5 5 NA
Note:
 Rx indicates the maximum timeslots used by the MS for downlink transmission in
a TDMA frame.
 Tx indicates the maximum timeslots used by the MS for uplink transmission in a
TDMA frame.
 Sum indicates the sum of the timeslots used by the MS for data transmission in a
TDMA frame. That is, the number of the timeslots used by the MS for uplink and
downlink transmission must be equal to or less than the value of the Sum.
According to the multislot capability class configured with the MS, the MS can be
divided into two types. That is, type 1 and type 2. In the 29 multislot capability
classes, the MSs whose multislot capability classes are 1-12 and 19-29 belong to
type 1, and the MSs whose multislot capability classes are 13-18 belong to type 2.
The MSs of type 1 cannot transmit and receive data simultaneously, while the MSs of
type 2 can.
V. DRX
The DRX stands for discontinuous reception. To reduce the power consumption in
idle state, the MS needs to adopt the DRX model. Under this model, the MS receives
the related paging messages on the paging channels only regardless of the paging
type.
When attaching to the GPRS, the MS needs to notify the GPRS/GSM network
whether it supports the DRX or not. If yes, the MS works according to the DRX

parameters received from the network. For the current network, it determines the
paging group that the MS belongs to according to the BS_PA_MFRMS received on
the CCCH.
VI. Power control
Currently, the GPRS system provides the algorithms for uplink open loop power
control. The open power control is based on the assumption that the uplink and
downlink have the same path loss. Therefore, the MS can adjust the output power
according to the level of the received signals. The power control parameters are
delivered in the SI13.
In the GPRS system, the algorithm for uplink power control is expressed as follows:
PCH = min (0 - CH -  * (C + 48), PMAX)
Here,
 PCH is the output power of the MS during uplink power control
 0 is the maximum transmit power of the MS
 CH is the power control parameter sent by the network side to the MS.
  is the power control parameter sent by the network side to the MS
 C is the normalized level of the received signals. It is the average level of the
bursts of 4 TDMA frames in a radio blocks.
 PMAX is the maximum transit power of the MS allowed by the cell, and it is
delivered in the system information.
For open loop power control, the  = 1.0, so PCH = min (0 - CH - C - 48), PMAX).
When the MS performs the uplink open loop power control, the values of 0, C, and
PMAX are known for the MS. The value of the CH is calculated by the network side
according to the BTS receiving level, BTS transmit power, and the maximum MS
transmit power. In addition, the value of the CH can be sent to the MS in the RLC/MAC
control message.
When the MS performs the downlink open loop power control, it uses the same power
to transmit the 4 TDMA frames in a radio block. When the MS has reselected and
entered a new cell, it must transmit the data with the maximum output before
receiving the power control parameters from the cell.
VII. Timing advance control
Because the packet data is discontinuously transmitted, it is hard for the network side
to obtain the timing advance (TA) of the MS. As a result, the downlink data may not
be normally received. Therefore, the GPRS system introduces a new timing advance

algorithm, which is divided into initial timing advance control algorithm and continuous
timing advance control algorithm. In this case, the valid TA can always be obtained.
16) Initial timing advance control algorithm
When the MS accesses the network, the BTS uses this algorithm to calculate the TA
of the MS according to the access burst received on the PACH (the MS sends the
access burst). After that, the BTS delivers the BTS to the MS in a Packet Assignment
message.
If a TBF is established during uplink or downlink data transmission, the Packet

Downlink Assignment message may not include TA. In this case, the network side can
set the polling bits in the Packet Downlink Assignment message. After receiving the
message, the MS will send a Packet Control Ack/Nack message to the network side
to help it to obtain the TA.
In addition, when the MS has sent a Packet Channel Request message, the network
cannot necessary deliver a Packet Assignment message to the MS due to no
available resource. In this case, to obtain the TA, the network side can enable the
packet polling procedure to send a Packet Polling message to make the MS send 4
Packet Ack/Nack messages in the form of bursts.
If the Packet Assignment message does not include TA, the MS can obtain the TA
from the Packet Power Control/Timing Advance message or the timing advance
update only.
17) Continuous timing advance control algorithm
This algorithm is applied to the packet transfer mode. The MS ascertains the PTCCH
allocated to it the according to the TAI sent in the Packet Assignment message and
sends the access bursts on the corresponding PTCCH. (The TAI stands for timing
advance index, and its value ranges from 0 to 15.). The network side calculates the
new TA of the MS according to the received access bursts. After that, it tells the TA to
the MS through the corresponding PTCCH, or the Packet Power Control/Timing
Advance message and the Packet Uplink ack/Nack message.
10.1.5 System Information and Main Flows
I. Packet system information
The packet system information (PSI) is used to broadcast the parameters needed by
the MS when the MS intends to access the network. If the cell supports GPRS
service, the SI13 must be added to the BCCH. The SI13 includes the information on
GPRS cell access control, GPRS cell selection and reselection, and GPRS power
control.

The PBCCH can be either configured or not configured in a cell. The SI13 will tell the
MS whether the PBCCH is present in the cell or not. On the PBCCH mainly the
GPRS dedicates PSI is broadcast, including PSI1, PSI2, PSI3, PSI3bis, PSI4, PSI5,
and PSI13. The following lists them respectively.
 PSI1 contains the information on cell selection, PRACH control, control channel
description, and power control parameters.
 PSI2 contains the information on frequency list, cell allocation table, GPRS
mobile allocation table, and PCCCH description.
 PSI3 contains the information on neighbor cell BCCH allocation table and the
service cell/non-service cell selection parameters.
 PSI3bis contains the information on neighbor cell BCCH allocation table and
non-service cell selection parameters.
 PSI4 contains the PDCH lists used by the MS to make measurement in service
cells.
 PSI5 contains the information on measurement report and network control cell
reselection.
 PSI13 is the same as the SI13 broadcast on the BCCH. It contains the
information relative to the access of the specific GPRS cells.
The PSI1, PSI2, PSI3, and PSI4 can be broadcast either on the PBCCH or PACCH.
The PSI5 can only be broadcast on PBCCH. The PBCCH can only be broadcast on
PACCH. If there is a PBCCH in the cell, it does not send the PSI13 and the PSI1 is
broadcast periodically on the PACCH. If there is no PBCCH in a cell, the PSI13 is
broadcast periodically on the PACCH.
II. Cell reselection
The GPRS cell reselection is independent of the GSM cell reselection. Handover is
not used in the GPRS system. In either packet transfer mode or packet idle mode, the
service cell is selected according to cell reselection program in the GPRS system.
In the GPRS system, the cell reselection can be performed by the MS automatically
or controlled by the network side.
18) MS automatically-started cell reselection
The MS always monitors the PBCCH/BCCH carrier of the neighbor cells. It chooses
to attach the best cell according to the signal strength and the base station color code
(BCC) of the carriers. Meanwhile, it starts the RA update procedure to notify its RA to
the network.
If no PBCCH is present in service cell where the MS is in, the MS will monitor the SI
broadcast on the BCCH and reselects the cell using the C1/C2 rules that are used in
the GSM.

For the parameter CRH, however, it is processed according to different situations.

When the MS is in packet idle mode, if the RA of the service cell is different from that
of the reselected new cell, the CRH must be used. When the MS is in ready state, if
the MS reselects a new cell, the CRH must be used.
If the PBCCH is configured with the service cell where the MS is in, the MS needs to
monitor the SI broadcast on the PBCCH only. In this case, the MS can reselect the
cell using the C31/C32 rules used in the GPRS. (For details, see protocols
GSM05.08.)
Generally, no PBCCH is configured with the current GPRS system, so the MS

reselect the cell using the C1/C2 rules only.
19) Network-controlled cell reselection
The network side can also control the cell reselection. In this case, the MS will submit
the measurement report to the network side periodically according to the parameters
broadcast in the SI. The network will send the packet cell change order to assign the
cell that the MS must attach according to the factors, such as the measurement report
from the MS and the load of the neighbor cells. Upon receiving the packet cell change
order, the MS will stop transmitting the data on the uplink immediately and decoding
the data on the downlink. Meanwhile, the MS starts the timer T3174 and begins to
enter the reselected cell. This process is controlled by the parameter
NETWORK_CONTROL-ORDER, which is a network control mode parameter.
There three types of network control modes, including NC0, NC1, and NC2. They are
defined as follows.
a) NC0
This is for general MSs. In this mode, the MS will reselect the cell automatically
without sending the measurement report to the network side.
b) NC1
In this mode, the MS will send the measurement report to the network side while
reselect the cell automatically.
c) NC2
This is the network control mode. In this mode, the MS will send the measurement
report to the network side but not reselect the cell automatically. Instead, it accepts
the network-controlled cell reselection.
The NC1 and NC2 are applicable to the MSs in ready state only. The NC0 is
applicable to the MSs both in ready state and standby state. That is, the MSs in
standby state can only use the NC0 mode.

In the current GPRS phase, only the NC0 mode is used for cell reselection. That is,
the network-controlled cell reselection has not been used.
III. Uplink TBF establishment
When there is data to be transmitted on the upper layer of the MS, the RLC/MAC
layer of the MS will initiate packet access procedure. The packet access of the MS
can be divided into short access, one phase access, two phase access, paging
response, cell update, and mobility management. They are detailed as follows:
 If the data blocks to be transmitted are less than 8 RLC blocks, the channel
request type of the MS is short access. The number of data packets is calculated
according to CS-1.
 If the data blocks to be transmitted are more than 8 TLC blocks and the RLC
mode is required to be the acknowledged mode, the channel request of the MS
is one phase access or two phase access.
 If the measurement report of the MS is to be transmitted, the channel request
type of the MS is the first phase of the two phase access.
 If the paging response, cell update, or mobility management works as the
channel request type, it is generally be treated as one phase access or two
phase access.
The same procedure is used for short access or one phase access. That is, the radio
resource (such as the TFI and dynamically-allocated USF, or the radio block bit table)
is allocated to the MS once, and then the MS begins to transmit the data.
For the two phase access channel request, the network side allocates one radio block
to the MS only for the first time. The MS sends the Packet Resource Request
message on the single allocated radio block, and then the network side allocates the
radio resource (including the TFI, USF, or radio block bit table) to the MS for the
second time).
A packet channel request is an 8-bit or 11-bit access burst, which carries only a little
information, but a packet resource request is a RLC/MAC control block coded
according to CS-1, which carries more information, including the TLLI of the MS, the
multisolt capability of the MS, and the radio priority class), so this is helpful for the
network to allocate more suitable resource to the MS.
In the current GPRS system, most carriers adopt the two phase access, so the
following mainly introduces the two phase access procedure.
Figure 19.1 shows the uplink two phase access (acknowledged mode) flow on CCCH.

Figure 19.1 Uplink two phase access (acknowledged mode) flow on CCCH
The following details the flow:
The MS sends a Channel Request message to the network side on RACH.
a) Upon receiving the Channel Request message, the network side will send an
Immediate Assignment message, which carries an assigned uplink block, on
the corresponding AGCH.
b) The MS sends a Packet Resource Request message, which carries TLLI, in the
assigned uplink block.
c) The network side allocates the uplink channel to the MS according to the
packet resource request and receives the Packet Uplink Assignment message,
which carries TLLI, delivered on the PDCH. In this case, the two phase access
contention and decision are completed.
d) For dynamic allocation, the network side sets the USF on the assigned uplink
packet channel, and the MS sends the RLC data blocks, which carries no TLLI,
on the corresponding uplink blocks. To acknowledge that the RLC data blocks
have been received, the network side sends back a Packet Uplink Ack/Nack
message to the MS after receiving multiple uplink RLC data blocks according to
the range and the data transmission delay of the sliding window. In addition, the
network side sends back the Packet Uplink Ack/Nack message to the MS upon
receiving an uplink RLC data block whose SI field is 1.

e) When the data is being transmitted, the network will acknowledge the data.
After that, the MS will consider retransmitting the data according to the
acknowledgement.
f) When the data is transmitted to the last BS_CV_MAX (it is a parameter

broadcast in the SI) data block, the MS will start the countdown flow. In the last
uplink RLC data block, the MS will se the CV field to 0.
g) Upon receiving the data block whose CV field is 0, the network side will send a
Packet Uplink Ack/Nack message to the MS. If the network side has received
all the RLC data blocks, it will set the FAI field of the Packet Uplink Ack
message to 1. If the network has not received all the network RLC data block, it
will set the FAI to 0. In this case, the MS must retransmit the unacknowledged
data block.
h) Upon receiving a Packet Uplink Ack/Nack message whose FAI is 1, the MS will
send a packet control ack message to the network side, and then release the
TBF.
The data transmission flow in the uplink unacknowledged mode is almost the same
as that in the uplink acknowledged mode except that the data do not have to be
retransmitted in the former mode.
IV. Downlink TBF establishment
If the network side needs to send data to the MS in packet idle mode, it must
establish the downlink TBF through packet paging.
20) Paging coordination
In the GPRS system, the network side can page the circuit service through the paging
coordination as well as packet paging. For the GPRS-attached and IMSI-attached
MS, the MSC/VLR can page the circuit service when the network works in network of
operation mode I (NMOI). In this case, the connection between the SGSN and MSC
must support the Gs interface. If the MS is in standby state, the page is performed in
the RA. If the MS is in ready state, the page is performed in the cell.
Under NMOI, if a PDCH is allocated to the MS, the system sends the paging
message on the PACCH. If no PDCH is allocated but a PCCCH is configured with the
system, the system sends the paging message on the PPCH. If the PCCCH is not
configured with the system, the system sends the paging message on the PCH
through Pb interface.
If no Gs interface is provided between the SGSN and MSC, the GPRS/GSM system
can works in NMOII and NMOIII. In this case, the system can send the Packet Paging

message on the CCCH only. Upon receiving the Packet Paging message, the MS
accesses the RACH and then starts to connect the circuit.
If the MS is performing the GPRS service, the MS will starts the GPRS-suspended
procedure to suspend the GPRS service unless the circuit connection is released.
After that, the network side starts the recovery procedure to recover the GPRS
service.
For the coordination between GPRS NMO and paging, see Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 Coordination between GPRS NMO and paging
Channel for Channel for

NMO Paging coordination
circuit paging GPRS paging
PPCH PPCH The paging coordination function is

available and the Gs interface should be
selected. For the GPRS-attached MSs, the
PCH PCH
packet paging channel assigned by the
network functions the same as the circuit
I
paging channel, so the MSs have to
monitor one type of the channels only. If
PACCH – having allocated a PDCH to the MS, the
network delivers the circuit paging
information to the MS on the PDCH.
The paging coordination function is not

available. All paging messages are
II PCH PCH delivered on PCH and the MS has to
monitor the PCH only, even if it has been
assigned the PDCH.
The paging coordination function is not

PCH PPCH
available. The network delivers the Circuit
Paging message on the PCH. If the cell is
III
configured with the PCCCH, the network
PCH PCH delivers the Packet Paging messages on
the PPCH; otherwise it is sent on the PCH.
21) Downlink TBF establishment on CCCH

Figure 21.1 shows the downlink TBF establishment flow.

Figure 21.1 Downlink TBF establishment flow
The following detail the flow:
i) Where there is downlink data to be transmitted to the MS, the SGSN must send
a Packet Paging message.
j) The SGSN sends the Packet Paging message to the PCU through Gb
interface, and then the PCU converts the message into a Packet Paging
Request message at the Um interface and sends it to the MS. If the BSS
system is configured with the PCCCH, this message is sent on the PPCH. If no
PCCCH is configured for the BSS system, the PCU delivers this message to
the BSC through Pb interface, and the BSC sends it on the PCH.
k) Upon receiving the Packet Paging message, the MS will initiate the TBF
establishment flow, and then send the message in the form of RLC data block
to the PCU at the Um interface through packet response packets. The RLC
data block carries the TLLI.
l) The PCU sends the paging response data block in the form of uplink PDU to
the SGSN.

m) Upon receiving the paging response, the SGSN make the response to the PCU
in the form of downlink PDU.
n) Upon receiving the downlink PDU from the SGSN, the PCU delivers an
Immediate Assignment message on the CCCH through Pb interface. The
Immediate Assignment message carries the assigned downlink packet
channels and the starting time of TFI and TBF.
o) During the downlink TBF establishment, to enable the MS to obtain the valid
TA, the network side can deliver the Packet Polling Request message with TFI
as the identification on the downlink PACCH.
p) Upon receiving the Packet Polling Request message, the MS will responds a
Packet Control Acknowledgement message whose type is access burst (AB) on
an immediate assignment channel.
q) The network side extracts the TA from the AB, and then notifies the TA to the
MS through a Packet Power Control/Timing Advance message. After that, the
network assigns the downlink channel to the MS by delivering a Packet
Downlink Assignment message.
r) The network side fragments the PDU into several downlink RLC data blocks
and sends them to the MS through the downlink packet channel. According to
the range of the sliding window, the network side sets the RRBP field in the
sent RLC data blocks. According to the indication of the RRBP, the network
side acknowledges the received the RLC data block by sending the Packet
Downlink Ack/Nack message on the corresponding PACCH.
s) The network side will set the FBI to 1 in the last downlink data block. If the MS
has receives all the RLC data blocks, it will send the packet downlink ack/nack
whose FAI is 1; otherwise it will send the packet downlink ack/nack whose FAI
is 0 to request the network to resend the data blocks that it has not received.
t) Upon receiving the Packet Downlink Ack/Nack message whose FAI is 1, the
network side will release the TBF.
V. Mobility management
The GPRS mobility management includes many aspects; including GPRS

attach/detach and cell/RA update, and coordinated RA/LA update. When the MS
completes the GPRS attach, the SGSN will establish mobility management for the
MS, stores the current location and state of the subscriber. After that, when the MS
roams between cells or RAs, it will start the cell/RA update automatically. The SGSN
will monitor the MS and store the latest location of the MS if the MS performs the

cell/RA update successfully. When the MS performs the coordinated GPRS

attach/IMSI attach and coordinated cell/RA update, the SGSN will exchange the
location information of the MS with the MSC through the Gs interface.
The following introduces the GPRS attach, cell update, location area (LA) update, and
GPRS detach respectively.
22) GPRS attach
The GPRS attach is divided into normal GPRS attach and coordinated GPRS attach.
The normal GPRS attach attaches the IMSI of the MS to the GPRS service and the
coordinated GPRS attach attaches the IMSI of the MS to both the GPRS service and
non-GPRS service. The GPRS attach is applied to most of the current networks.
Figure 22.1 shows the coordinated GPRS attach.
new old
MS BSS new SGSN old SGSN GGSN EIR MSC/VLR HLR MSC/VLR
1. Attach Request
2. Identification Request
2. Identification Response
3. Identity Request
3. Identity Response
4. Authentication
5. IMEI Check
6a. Update Location
6b. Cancel Location
6c. Cancel Location Ack
6d. Insert Subscriber Data
6e. Insert Subscriber Data Ack
6f. Update Location Ack
7a. Location Update Request

7b. Update Location
7c. Cancel Location
7d. Cancel Location Ack
7e. Insert Subscriber Data
7f. Insert Subscriber Data Ack
7g. Update Location Ack

7h. Location Update Accept
8. Attach Accept
9. Attach Complete
10. TMSI Reallocation Complete
Figure 22.1 Coordinated GPRS attach

a) The MS sends an Attach Request message to the SGSN. The message carries
the IMSI (or P-TMSI and the old RAI), MS classmark, attach type, DRX
parameter, and the old P-TMSI signature (it is used when the P-TMSI is used).
Whether to use the IMSI or not depends on whether the current P-TMSI is valid
or not. The P-TMSI and the old RAI must appear at the same time. The attach
type indicates the current attach types, including GPRS attach, IMSI attach,
and coordinated GPRS/IMSI attach.
b) If the MS is identified by the P-TMSI and the it has moved to another SGSN
service area when it is in detach state, the SGSN obtains the IMSI of the MS
through sending an identification request message (it contains the P-TMSI, the
old RAI, and the old T-PMSI) to the old SGSN. The old SGSN will send back an
identification response message, which contains the IMSI and authentication
triplet.
c) If both the new and the old MS do not know the MS, the new SGSN will send
an identity request message to the MS, with ISMI as the identification type. The
MS will send back an identity response message, which carries the IMSI.
d) If the MM context does not exist at the network side, the network side will
enforce the authentication procedure. If the P-TMSI allocation is necessary, the
network side must support encryption.
e) The flow checking the IMEI is optional. Generally, it can be omitted.
f) If the SGSN codes change during GPRS detach, the new SGSN must send an
update location message, which includes the SGSN codes, SGSN address,
and IMSI, to the HLR. After that, the HLR will send a cancel location message
to the old SGSN. Upon receiving the message, the old SGSN will sends back a
Cancel Location Ack message. Then the HLR will send an Insert Subscriber
Data message, which contains the IMSI and the data of GPRS subscribers, to
the new SGSN. After acknowledging that the MS is in a new RA, it constructs
the MM context of the MS and sends back an Insert Subscriber Data Ack
message, which carries the IMSI, to the HLR. After canceling the old MM
context and inserting the new MM context, the HLR will send back an Update
Location Ack message to the new SGSN.
g) If the attach type of the MS is IMSI attach or GPRS/IMSI attach, upon receiving
the first Insert Subscriber Data message from the HLR, the new SGSN will start
the location update to the new MSC/VLR. The VLR codes are from the LA
information. This operation makes the VLR identifies the MS as GPRS attach.
h) The new SGSN sends an Attach Accept message to the MS. The message
contains the P-TMSI, VLR TMSI, P-TMSI, and SMS priority.

i) If the received P-TMSI and the VLR TMSI have been updated, to acknowledge
that the TMSI has been received, the MS will send back an Attach Complete
message.
j) If the received VLR TMSI has been updates, to acknowledge that the VLR
TMSI is reallocated, the new SGSN will send a TMSI Reallocation Complete
message to the VLR.
k) If the attach request has not been accepted, the new SGSN will send back an
Attach Reject message to the MS.
23) Cell update
When the MS in ready state enters the new cell that has the same RA with the old
one, the MS will perform cell update.
The following details the cell update flow:
a) The MS sends an uplink LLC-PDU of any type that carries the identification of
the MS to the BSS.
b) At the Gb interface, the BSS sends the received PPC-PDU and the CGI of the
new cell (the CGI includes the RAC and LAC) to the SGSN in the form of
BSSGP PDU.
c) The BSSGP PDUs that contain the identification of the new cell are correctly
received by the SGSN.
d) The SGSN records the results of the cell update of the MS. The network sends
the subsequent service to the MS through the new cell.
24) LA update
The LA update includes the update of the LAs within the SGSN, the update of the LAs
between SGSNs, the update of the coordinated RA/LA within the SGSN, and the
update of the coordinated RA/LA between RA/LAs.
Generally, a SGSN contains one or more LA, and each LA contains one or more RA.
The IMSI-attached and GPRS-attached MS can perform the coordinated RA/LA
update when entering the cells of NMOI. If the MS enters the a RA of other NMO that
does not support paging coordination, it is meaningless for the MS to initiate the
RA/LA update.
In addition, the ways the MSs supporting the RA update vary with the types of the
MSs. For the MSs of chass A, they support the RA update only when performing the
circuit service. For the MSs of class B, they do not support any update when
performing the circuit update. For the MSs of class C, they do not support the
coordinated RA/LA update.

For the current GPRS networks, its data traffic is not great, so the RA and the LA are
set in the same way.
Figure 24.1 shows the update flow of the RA/LA within a SGSN.
Figure 24.1 Update of the coordinated RA/LA within a SGSN.
a) The MS sends a Routing Area Update Request message, which contains the
old RAI, the old P-TMSI signature, and the update type) to the SGSN. The
update type indicates whether the update is the coordinated RA/LA update or
the IMSI-attached RA/LA update. Before sending the message to the SGSN,
the BSS joins the CGI (including the RAC and LAC) of the cell where the
message belongs to.
b) The security function is optional.
c) If the Gs interface is present and has connected the SGSN to the VLR, when
the update type indicates that the coordinated RA/LA attached to the IMSI
updates or the LA changes during LA update, the SGSN will send a Location
Update Request message, which includes the new LAI, IMSI, SGSN number,
and LA update type, to the VLR. The location update type indicates whether the

location update is IMSI attach or it is the normal update. The VLR number can
be obtained from the RAI listed in the data table of the SGSN. The VLR creates
or updates its connection with the SGSN through storing the SGSN number.
d) If the VLR discovers that the data of a subscriber has not been identified by the
HLR, the new VLR must notify it to the HLR. Upon receiving the notification, the
HLR must cancel the data of the subscriber in the old VLR and insert the data
to the new VLR.
e) The new VLR allocates a new VLR TMSI to the subscriber and sends back a
Location Update Accept message (VLR TMSI) to the SGSN. If the VLR has not
changed, this message does not contain the VLR TMSI.
f) If the MS is not allowed to attach to the new LA or the IMEI (optional) detection
fails, the SGSN will rejects the Location Update Request. If the MS is allowed
to attach to the new LA and the IMEI detection (optional) succeeds, the SGSN
will update the MM context of the MS and allocates a new P-TMSI to the MS.
Meanwhile, the SGSN will send back a Routing Area Update Accept message,
which carries the new P-TMSI, new VLR TMSI, and P-TMSI, to the MS.
g) If the P-TMSI or the VLR TMSI is reallocated successfully, the MS will send
back a Routing Area Update Complete message, which carries the new P-
TMSI and new VLR TMSI, to the SGSN.
h) If the MS has acknowledged the VLR TMSI, the SGSN will send a TMSI
Reallocation Complete message (VLR TMSI) to the VLR.
25) GPRS detach
The GPRS detach can be initiated by either the MS or the network side, in which the
GPRS detach initiated by the network side can be initiated by either the SGSN or the
HLR. The purpose for the HLR to initiate the GPRS detach is to cancel the subscriber
MM and PDP contexts stored in the SGSN. And the GPRS detach initiated by the
SGSN can help the MS reattach to the GPRS or reactivate the old PDP contexts.
Figure 25.1 shows the GPRS detach initiated by the MS.

MS BSS SGSN GGSN MSC/VLR
1. Detach Request
2. Delete PDP Context Request
2. Delete PDP Context Response
3. IMSI Detach Indication
4. GPRS Detach Indication

5. Detach Accept
Figure 25.1 GPRS detach initiated by the MS
a) The MS sends a Detach Request message that contains the detach type and
switch off indication to the SGSN. The detach type includes GPRS detach, IMSI
detach, and coordinated IMSI/GPRS detach. The switch off indication indicates
whether the detach is cause by the switch off or not.
b) If the detach type is GPRS detach, the SGSN will send a Delete PDP Context
Request message to the GGSN to activate the PDP context of the MS in the
GGSN. Meanwhile, the GGSN must confirm the message by sending back a
Delete PDP Context Response message to the SGSN.
c) If the detach type is IMSI detach, the SGSN will send an IMSI Detach Indication
message to the VLR.
d) If the MS attached to both the IMSI and GPRS performs GPRS detach only, the
SGSN will send a GPRS Detach Indication message to the VLR. Upon
receiving this message, the VLR will cancel the information related to the
SGSN and not deliver any paging message or location update message
through this SGSN.
e) If the switch off indication indicates that the GPRS detach is not caused by the
switch off, the SGSN will send a Detach Accept message to the MS.
VI. Session management
The GPRS session management includes PDP context activation and deactivation,
PDP context correction, and short message sending and reception. In addition, the
GPRS session management can be also applied to suspend and recover the circuit
switched service under GPRS packet transfer mode.

The MS can be connected to many other external PDNs through the GPRS network.
As a result, to tell the packet data service from each PDN, the GPRS network will
allocate a PDP address to the each PDN, and each PDP address matches a PDP
context. The PDP context describes the PDP state and the information related to the
current services, including PDP type, PDP address, PDP state, APN, NSAPI, and
QoS.
The PDP state includes PDP activation and PDP deactivation.
When the MS attaches to the GPRS network, it must activate the PDP context if it
intends to transmit packet data. When transmitting the data, the MS can modify the
PDP context according to the status of the current service. After finishing transmitting
the data, the MS breaks the connection with the external PDNs by deactivating the
PDP context.
26) PDP context activation
Figure 26.1 shows the PDP context activation initiated by the MS.
Figure 26.1 PDP context activation initiated by the MS
The following details the activation flow:
a) The MS sends an Activate PDP Context Request message to the SGSN. This
message contains the NSAPI, TI, PDP type, PDP address, APN, requested
QoS, PDP configuration options.
The NSAPI tells the multiple PDP contexts simultaneously constructed by the
MS from each other. The network uses the IMSI and the NSAPI together to
distinguish different PDP contexts, so the NSAPIs of the PDP contexts of the
MS must be different with each other.
The TI and PDP type indicate the type of the PDP address, which is divided
into the IP address and the X.121 address.

The PDP address indicates that is the dynamic PDP address or the static PDP
address the MS adopted. If the MS adopts the dynamic PDP address, the field
is vacant.
The APN is the logical name of an interface of an external PDN that the MS
intends to connect. The MS can choose a reference point in the external
networks with the help of APN, and the APN corresponds to one physical or
logical interface in the GGSN.
The requested QoS indicates the QoS script that the MS expects to use.
The PDP configuration options contain the protocol options necessary for the
data transmitted between the GGSN and the MS. The PDP configuration
options are transparently transmitted through the SGSN.
b) After receiving the request message, the SGSN judges whether to perform the
authentication and encryption and reallocate the P-TMSI or not. For
anonymous access, the SGSN does not perform the authentication and
encryption.
c) After completing the encryption, the SGSN provides the MS with the PDP
context and the PDP address (if it is static address) and authenticate the APN
through the information recorded in the PDP context.
First the SGSN must authenticate whether the end of the APN address is
marked with GPRS. If yes, the SGSN must remove the identification part (such
as .MNC.MCC.GPRS) from the APN and compare the network name with the
subscription information.
If the subscription record exists, the SGSN must continue authenticating other
records concerning the MS. After that, the SGSN sends the complete APN to
the DNS and obtains the corresponding address of the GGSN from the APN.
If the SGSN cannot resolve the address of the GGSN from the APN or the
activation request is invalid, the SGSN will reject the PDP activation request.
If the SGSN resolve the address of the GGSN from the APN successfully, it
creates a TID (IMSI + NSAPI) (The IMSI is stored in the MM context of the
SGSN, and the NSAPI is from the Activate PDP Context Request message),
and then sends a Create PDP Context Request message to the GGSN. This
message contains the PDP type, PDP address, APN, the negotiated QoS, TID,
MSISDN, selection model, and PDP configuration options.
If the MS requests the dynamic address, the PDP address is vacant, so the
SGSN has to request the GGSN to allocate a dynamic address to the MS.

The GGSN can find out an external network with the help of APN. The SGSN
can restrict the properties of the requested QoS according to its capability,
current load and the subscribed QoS script. The selection model indicates
which type of APN is used, including the subscribed APN, the non-subscribed
APN sent by the MS, and the non-subscribed APN selected by the SGSN used.
d) The GGSN can decide to accept or reject the PDP context activation according
to the selection model. For example, if the subscribed APN is required, the
GGSN only accepts the PDP context activation for the subscribed APN
indicated by the SGSN selection model. If the GGSN accepts the PDP context
activation, it will create a new record that will develop into a billing identification
in the PDP context list. This record allows the PDP PDU to be transmitted
between the GGSN, SGSN, and external networks. Meanwhile, the billing
begins.
The GGSN can further restrict the negotiated QoS according to its capability
and current load. After that, the GGSN will send back a Create PDP Context
Response to the SGSN. This message contains the TID, PDP address, re-
sequencing request, PDP configuration options, negotiated QoS, billing
identification, and cause value.
If a PDP address is allocated in the GGSN, the Create PDP Context Response
message must contain the PDP address unit. The re-sequencing request
indicates whether to re-sequence the N-PCUs before the SGSN sends them to
the MS. The PDP configuration options contain the optional PDP parameters
that the GGSN can send to the MS. These PDP parameters are transparently
transmitted through the SGSN.
The Create PDP Context message traverses the whole GPRS backbone
network. If the negotiated QoS received by the SGSN is incompatible with the
PDP context to be activated, that is, the reliability class cannot support the PDP
type; the GGSN will reject this Create PDP Context Request message and
sends back a Reject Create PDP Context Request message to the SGSN. The
compatible script is configured by the GGSN operator.
e) If the SGSN receives the Create PDP Context Response message from the
GGSN, it will insert the NSAPI, GGSN address, dynamic PDP address into the
PDP context. In addition, it will select the radio priority class according to the
negotiated QoS. After that, it will send back an Activate PDP Context Accept
message to the MS. This message includes the PDP type, PDP address, TI,
negotiated QoS, radio priority, and the PDP configuration options. In this case,
the SGSN can transmit the PDP PDU between the MS and the GGSN and the
billing begins.

Different QoS scripts can be applied for the each PDP address. For example,
some PDP address related to the application of the E-mail can stand a long
delay, while the PDP address related to other applications, such as the
interactive application, cannot stand the delay and requires great throughput.
These requirements are reflected at the QoS script. If such requirements is
beyond the PLMN capability, the PLMN-negotiated QoS script must as near to
the requested QoS as possible. For the MS, it has to choices. One is accept the
negotiated QoS script, and the other is to activate the PDP context.
f) After receiving an Activate PDP Context Accept message from the MS, the
SGSN enters the PDP activation state. At this time, the route for the packet
data transmission between the MS and the GGSN is established. If the PDP
context activation fails or the SGSN sends back an Activate PDP Context
Reject message, with the PDP Configuration Options as the cause, the MS can
attempt to activate the same APN for up to 5 times. If the MS still fails to
activate it for the fifth time, the MS will stop activating the PDP context.
27) PDP context deactivation
Table 1.1 shows the PDP deactivation initiated by the MS.
Table 1.1 PDP context deactivation initiated by the MS
The following details the deactivation flow:
a) The MS sends a Deactivate PDP Context Request message that carries the TI
needed in the PDP context deactivation, to the SGSN.
b) The security functions are optional.
c) The SGSN sends a Delete PDP Context Request message to the GGSN. Upon
receiving it, the GGSN deletes the PDP context and sends back a Delete PDP
Context Response (TID) to the SGSN. If the MS is using the dynamic address,
the GGSN releases the PDP address and marks this address for subsequent

use. The Delete PDP Context message is transmitted through the whole GPRS
backbone network.
d) The SGSN sends back a Deactivate PDP Context Accept (TI) message to the
MS.
28) PDP context modification
Figure 28.1 shows the PDP context modification.
Figure 28.1 PDP context modification
The following details the modification flow:
a) The SGSN sends an Update PDP Context Request message that contains the
TID, negotiated QoS, and the programs used to start the PDP context
modification to the GGSN.
b) Upon receiving the Update PDP Context Request message, if the GGSN
discovers that the negotiated QoS does not match the PDP context to be
modified, it will reject this message. The GGSN can restrict the negotiated QoS
according to its capability and the current load. The GGSN stores the
negotiated QoS and sends back an Update PDP Context Response message
that carries the TID and negotiated QoS to the SGSN.
c) Upon receiving the Modify PDP Context Request message, the SGSN will send
a Modify PDP Context Request message that carries the TI, negotiated QoS,
and radio priority class to the MS.
d) Upon receiving the Modify PDP Context Request message, the MS will send
back a Modify PDP Context Accept message to the SGSN if accepting the
modification request; otherwise the MS will deactivate the PDP context. If the
SGSN does not receive the response from the MS on time, the SGSN can
resend the Modify PDP Context Request message up to four times.
29) GPRS service suspension and recovery
If the MS in GPRS packet transfer mode starts the GSM circuit service and the MS
cannot perform the GPRS service and the GSM circuit service at the same time, the

MS request the network side to suspend the GPRS service. When the GSM service
completes, the network side will notify the MS to recover the suspended GPRS
service.
Figure 29.1 shows the flow.
MS BSS SGSN MSC/VLR
1. Dedicated Mode Entered
2. Suspend
3. Suspend
3. Suspend Ack
4. Resume
4. Resume Ack
5. Channel Release
6. Routeing Area Update Request
Figure 29.1 Recovery flow for GPRS suspended service
u) The MS in packet transfer mode must enter the dedicated mode.
v) The MS sends a RR Suspend message that carries the TLLI and RAI to the
PCU through the BSC to indicate to suspend the current packet data service
and begins the dedicated service. Upon receiving the message, the PCU can
suspend all the GPRS services.
w) The PCU sends a Suspend message that carries the TLLI and RAI to notify the
SGSN to suspend the current packet data service. Upon receiving the
message, the SGSN stops sending the PDU to the MS and stores the status of
the current packet data service, and then sends back a Suspend Ack message
to the PCU.
x) Upon receiving the Suspend Ack message, the PCU notifies the BSC to begin
the dedicated service and stores the TLLI and RAI of the MS. In this case, the
MS can still request the SGSN to recover the GPRS service after leaving the
dedicated mode.
y) Once detecting that the dedicated service completes, the BSC prepares for
releasing the circuit service channel and notifies the current location

information of the MS to the PCU. If the PCU can request the SGSN to recover
the GPRS service, it will send a Resume message that carries the TLLI and
RAI to the SGSN to recover the suspended packet data service. Meanwhile,
the PCU report the current location information of the MS.
z) The SGSN sends back a Resume Ack message to the PCU to confirm that the
packet data transmission is recovered and begins to transmit the PDU.
aa) The PCU notifies the BSC to recover the suspended packet data service. After
that, the BSC sends a Channel Release message (Resume) to the MS and
releases the resource seized in the dedicated mode. In addition, the PCU
notifies the MS whether to recover the suspended data service in this message.
The Resume indicates that whether the BSS has requested the SGSN to
recover the GPRS service for the MS successfully or not. That is, whether the
BSS has received a Resume Ack message before sending the Channel
Release message or not.
bb) When the MS leaves the dedicated mode for the packet transfer mode, it
begins to transmit and receive the packet data.
cc) If the MS has not received any Channel Release (Resume) message before
leaving the dedicated mode, or the message indicates that the BSS has not
requested the SGSN to recover the GPRS service for the MS successfully, the
MS will recover the GPRS service by sending a Location Update Request
message to the SGSN.
10.1.6 Parameters and Application
I. Cell reselection parameters
Currently, the cell reselection algorithm for most GPRS systems is the same as that
for the GSM system, so the parameters concerned are the same. These parameters
have been introduced in the previous chapters, so here we will not focus on detailing
them.
II. Power control parameters
Generally, power control parameters are delivered in the system information (SI).
Upon receiving these parameters, the MS judges its TX class according to the
environment at the radio interfaces. Hereunder is the description of the parameters.
30) ALPHA

This parameter is used by the MS to calculate the value of its output power (PCH) on
the uplink PDCH.
This parameter consists of 4-bit codes. For the meaning, see Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 Meaning of the ALPHA
Value Code Corresponding value
0 0000 0.0
1 0001 0.1
2 0010 0.2
3 0011 0.3
4 0100 0.4
5 0101 0.5
6 0110 0.6
7 0111 0.7
8 1000 0.8
9 1001 0.9
10 1010 1.0
For the open loop power control, this parameter must be set to 1.0. Because the
current GPRS systems adopt the open loop power control only, this parameter is
always set to 1.0.
31) GAMMA
This parameter is the class of the initial power class of the MS according to the GPRS
power control algorithm. Its value ranges from 0 to 31, in the unit of dB.
32) Pb
This parameter sets the BTS output power reduction (relative to the output power
used on BCCH) used on the PBCCH. If a cell is not configured with the PBCCH, this
parameter makes nonsense. Because current GPRS systems are not configured with
the PBCCH, this parameter is not used at present. The values of this parameter can
be 0, -2 dB, -4 dB… and -30 dB.
33) T_AVG_W
This parameter sets the signal strength filter period for the MS when it is in packet idle
mode. The MS uses this parameter to measure the downlink signal strength in packet

idle mode and calculate C value. Here C stands for the level of the signals received
by the MS under certain algorithm. Its values range from 0 to 25.
34) T_AVG_T
This parameter sets the signal strength filter period for the MS when it is in packet
transfer mode. The MS uses this parameter to measure the downlink signal strength
in packet idle mode and calculate C value.
35) N_AVG_I
This parameter sets the filtering constant of the collision signal strength for the power
control. Its values range from 0 to 15.
36) PC_MEAS_CHANNEL
This parameter sets which channel is used by the MS to measure the received power
class. If is set to BCCH, the MS will measure the level of the signals received on the
downlink BCCH. If it is set to PDCH, the MS will measure the level of the signals
received on the downlink PDCH. Generally, this parameter is set to BCCH.
The value of this parameter can be either the BCCH or PDCH according to actual
conditions.
37) INS_MEAS_CHANNEL_LIST_AVAIL
This parameter indicates whether the information of the INT_MEAS_CHANNEL_LIST
is broadcast in the PSI4 for the cell. Currently, this parameter is set to 0 for the
network.
This parameter is 1-bit code. For the meaning, see
Table 1.1 Meaning of the INS_MEAS_CHANNEL_LIST_AVAIL
Code Meaning
The information of the INT_MEAS_CHANNEL_LIST is not broadcast in the

0
PSI4.
The information of the INT_MEAS_CHANNEL_LIST is broadcast in the

1
PSI4.
III. Radio link control parameters
Generally, the reservation and release of the radio links are controlled by related
timers and counters that are delivered in the SI. When the MS is in a different radio
link status, it will start the corresponding timer and counter. The following details
these timers and counters respectively.

38) T3168
This timer sets the time of the MS waiting for the Packet Uplink Assignment message.
If the PBCCH does not exist, this timer is broadcast in SI13.
After sending a Packet Resource Request message or a Packet Control

Acknowledgement message, the MS starts this timer to wait for the Packet Uplink
Assignment message. Upon receiving the Packet Uplink Assignment message, the
MS stops the timer. When the timer expires, the MS will restart the packet access.
The value of this timer can be set to 500ms, 1000ms, 1500ms, 2000ms, 2500ms, or
3000ms. When setting the value for this timer, you must consider the effect of the
radio environment. When the radio environment is favorable, the timer can be set to a
smaller value to ensure the utilization of radio resource; otherwise the timer must be
set to a bigger value to enhance the success rate of TBF establishment. Generally,
this timer is set to 1000ms.
39) T3192
This timer sets the time of an MS waiting for the TBF release after the MS receives
the last data block.
The MS starts this timer when sending a “Packet Downlink Ack/Nack” message (FAI =
1) to the network, or sending a “Packet Control Ack” message as a response to the
last data block in the unacknowledged mode. Upon receiving the Packet Downlink
Assignment message or the Packet Timeslot Reconfigure message delivered by the
MS, the MS will stop this timer. If this timer expires, the MS will release the resource
relative to the TBF and begin to monitor the paging channel.
The value of this parameter can be set to 500ms, 1000ms, 1500ms, 0ms, 80ms,
120ms, 160ms, or 200ms. If it is set to a too small value, the MS will return to idle
state immediately after receiving the data. In this case, new TBF blocks must be
established if there is new data to be sent to the MS, and this will result lengthen the
data transmission time. If it is set to a too big value, however, it will waste the radio
resource. Generally, this timer is recommended to 500ms.
40) DRX_TIMER_MAX
This parameter sets the maximum time for the MS to work in the non-DRX mode
when the MS leaves the packet transfer mode for the packet idle mode. This
parameter is broadcast in the cell broadcast.
When leaving the packet transfer mode for the packet idle mode, the MS must stay in
the non-DRX mode for a while. When the MS stays in the non-DRX mode, it will
monitor all CCCH blocks and the PCU will reserve the related contexts of the MS.
The reservation time is decided by the minimum value of the Non_DRX_Timer and
DRX_Timer_Max.

This parameter is represented in 3-bit binary. The parameter value is represented as

2 (k - 1), (Here k = DRX_TIMER_MAX, ranging from 0 to 7. When k = 0, this parameter
value is 0.). The value of the parameter can be set to one of the 0s, 1s, 2s, 4s, 8s…
64s.
The “Immediate Assignment Command” message is sent faster in the non-DRX mode
that in DRX mode, so the TBF establishment takes shorter time in the non-DRX
mode, but power consumption of the MS is great in the non-DRX mode. Generally,
this parameter can be set to 3, that is, the MS enters the DRX mode 4s later.
41) PAN
In radio link failure control, the PAN parameters and the N3102 used at the MS side
are used together. The PAN consists of three parameters, including PAN_DEC,
PAN_INC, and PAN_MAX.
Each time the MS reselects a new cell, it will set the value for N3102 according to the
parameter PAN_MAX. When the MS receives a Packet Ack/Nack message, the
N3102 is increased to the PAN_INC, but it cannot excel the PAN_MAX. If the sending
window is full, the MS will stop the T3182. If the MS does not receive the Packet
Ack/Nack message until the T3182 expires, the MS will subtract the PAN_DEC from
the N3102. When the N3102 is equal or less than 0, the MS will perform abnormal
TBF release and triggers the cell reselection.
The value of PAN_DEC ranges from 0 to 7. The value of the PAN_INC ranges from 0
to 7. And the value of the PAN_MAX can be one of the 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, and
32. If the values of the previous three parameters are all set to 0, the N3102 is invalid.
42) BS_CV_MAX
This parameter is used by the MS to calculate the Countdown Value (CV). If the
PBCCH does not exist, it is broadcast in the SI13.
During the countdown period, the MS sets the CV in each uplink RLC data block and
notifies the BSN’ of the RLC data blocks to be transmitted on the uplinks to the
network to ensure that the last RLC data block is transmitted just when the CV is 0.
The maximum CV can be 15. Suppose that the number of the RLC block to be
transmitted is the last but X one, if X ≤ BS_CV_MAX, the CV = X; otherwise the CV =
15.
The value of the BS_CV_MAX ranges from 0 to 15.
IV. Mobility management parameters
For the mobility management in the GPRS system, corresponding GMM timers must
be used to control the waiting time or period for some operations in case of abnormal

conditions. In fact, the initial values of the needed GMM timers are defined during
system initialization. Users can view and modify the initial value of a timer. The
following introduces some important parameters.
43) T3312
This parameter designates the setting of the length of the periodical route update
timer that is used at the MS side. The network sends this timer parameter to the MS
in an Attach Accept or Routing Area Update Accept message during MS attach or
route update. The MS updates the location areas periodically according to the period
defined by this timer.
The MSs of Class B do have to update their location areas periodically when
performing circuit switched telecommunication, but other GPRS-attached MSs must
update their location area periodically. The flow of periodical route update is the
almost the same as the location area update in the SGSN except the update type. For
the MSs attached to both the IMSI and GPRS, their periodical route update type is
defined by the network mode of operation (NMO).
Under the NMOI mode, the MS performs the periodical routing area update only. In
this case, the MSC/VLR takes the GPRS-attached MS as implicit detach, and the
periodical location area update is completed by the SGSN. If the SGSN receives no
message on the periodical location area update and the SGSN has detached the MS,
it will send an IMSI Detach Indication message to the MSC/VLR.
Under the NMOII or NMOIII mode, the MS must perform the periodical routing area
update and the periodical location area update respectively, in which the former is
realized through the Gb interface and the later is realized through the Abis interface.
When the MS is in ready state, it will stop T3312 when sending the LLC-PDU each
time. When the MS returns to the standby state, it will restart the T3312.
If the MS cannot complete the periodical routing area update in the GPRS network, it
must wait for a compensation time that is equivalent to the T3312 to the restart the
periodical routing area update.
If the T3312 is set to a too small value, huge signaling flow will be generated in the
system and the power of the MS will be consumed quickly though the service quality
of the network can be enhanced. Therefore, the values of the T3312 mainly depend
on the traffic flow of the system and the system’s capability to process the traffic flow.
Generally, the T3312 must be set to a relatively bigger value for the networks whose
traffic flow is great.

The T3312 consists of 8-bit codes, ranging from 0 to 255, and the step length is 6
minutes. Here, “0” indicates that the periodical routing area update is unnecessary
and “1” indicates 6 minutes. The defaulted value is 54 minutes.
44) T3314
This timer, a READY timer, maintains the READY timers in the MS and SGSN. If the
T3314 is enabled, great memory consumption caused by the infinite accumulation of
the MM contexts and PDP contexts can be avoided in the SGSN. The READY timer
can control the time for the MS and the MM context in the SGSN to keep in MM
READY state.
After sending the LLC-PDU, the MS will restart the T3312. Once receiving the correct
LLC-PDU, the SGSN will also restart the T3314. When the MS is in READY state and
the T3312 is working, the MS must perform the cell update after each cell reselection.
(If the new cell and the service cell belong to different routing areas, the MS must
perform the routing area update.). Once the T3314 expires, the MS and the MM
context in the SGSN must transit to the STANDBY state. In this case, the MS does
not perform cell update after each cell reselection. (If the new cell and the service cell
belong to different routing areas, the MS still must perform the routing area update.)
The length of the T3314 in the MS and SGSN is the same, and it is controlled by the
SGSN through the Attach Accept message and the Routing Update Accept message.
If it is not provided in the Attach Accept message and the Routing Update Accept
message, the length of the READY timer recommended by the MS should be used. If
the MS does not provide the length either, the defaulted value should be used.
The T3314 consists of 8-bit codes, in which the least 5 significant bits indicate the
values of the timer, and the most 3 significant bits indicate the step length of the
value. The value of the T3314 ranges from 0 to ∞. For details, see
The most 3 The least 5

Value of the timer Remark
significant bits significant bits
000 00000 0s
000 00001 2s The step length is

– – – 2s.
000 11111 62s
001 00000 0
The step length is
001 00001 1min
1min.
– – –

001 11111 31min
010 00000 0
010 00001 6min The step length is

– – – 6min.
010 11111 ∞
111 – Timer barred Not activated
Note:
 When the value of the T3314 is set to 0, the MS must return to STANDBY state.
 The T3314 is defaulted to 44s.
V. Other parameters
Other parameters relative to radio network planning and optimization are the
parameters concerning PDCH support capability and the channel coding conversion.
When setting these parameters, you must consider the operation of the current
networks and the cooperation between equipments. Because the setting of these
parameters varies with carriers, they are not detailed in this book.
10.2 GPRS Network Planning
When planning the GPRS network, you must ensure the QoS of the existing voice
service and take measures to reduce the negative effect of the GPRS services
imposing against the voice service. In addition, you must also fully use the radio
network equipments and radio resources to save the investment and cost. Based on
that, you must ensure the quality of the GPRS network.
The introduction of the GPRS network has the following effects against the existing
GSM network:
 Currently, the GPRS system does not provide the uplink power control and the
duty ratio (activation factor) of the radio signals on the PDCH nearly reaches
100%, so the introduction of the GPRS will bring new interference into the GSM
network. To some extent, it will result in the decrease of the voice quality and the
rise of the call drop rate. In this case, the voice service area of the GSM network
will shrink.
 The frequency hopping has no apparent advantage against the GPRS service.
For CS-1, the frequency hopping can improve the performance of the GPRS

network. For CS-2 or CS-3, the frequency hopping makes little sense. For CS-4,
the frequency hopping will reduce the performance of the GPRS network.
 At the current stage, the GPRS does not support the network-controlled cell
reselection, and the GPRS MS and GSM MS use the same cell selection and
reselection parameters. Therefore, if you intend to ensure the QoS of the GPRS
service, you must well plan the addresses, capacity, and the coverage for the
GSM network and the GPRS network.
 With the development of the GPRS service, it may affect the channel load of the
GSM network, so you need to make an overall re-planning. For example, if the
CCCH is used as the access channel of the GPRS service, the load on the
CCCH will greatly increase.
 The GPRS introduces the dynamic PDCH allocation strategy, which complicates
the dispatch of radio resources, so it has certain effect on the channel allocation
and occupation for the GSM network.
Though the previous effects are present, you can take the following measures to ease
the negative effects.
 The BCCH carrier must also transmits at the full power, so the introduction of the
GPRS service will not add new interference on the downlink direction. As a
result, it has no effect on the service area of the GSM network. Therefore, you
can configure the PDCH on the BCCH carrier.
 When the GPRS service grows up, you can divide a location area into several
routing areas according to the geographic distribution and the GPRS service
distribution within this location area.
 During the early stage after the GPRS service is introduced, to avoid
complicating the network planning, you would better not change the existed
frequency hopping parameters. Meanwhile, to fully use the advantages of GPRS
coding technology while ensure the existing voice quality, you can consider
planning an independent channel for the GPRS service. In addition, you can also
consider introducing new frequencies into the network or planning the GPRS
capability on the frequencies that where the traffic is not great. Furthermore, you
can still consider making out a more encoding rate solution.
 Enable the uplink power control in the GPRS system.
 Do not frequently change the channel coding schemes in the GPRS system.
10.2.1 Capacity Planning
The capacity planning for the GPRS network includes the traffic channel planning and
signaling channel planning, the former of which helps you configure a suitable
number of PDCHs to provide the GPRS service to the expected GPRS subscribers,
and the later of which helps you judge whether to expand the capacity for the

signaling channels or not according to the network configuration and the rise of the
signaling load caused by the application of the GPRS.
I. Traffic channel capacity calculation
Plan the capacity for the traffic channels according to the following steps:
a) Calculate the number of GPRS subscribers according to the GPRS permeation
rate and the number of GSM subscribers.
b) Calculate the mean throughput of each subscriber according to the traffic
model of the GPRS subscribers and convert the mean throughput into the
bandwidth requirement (bps) and the traffic (erl).
c) Calculate the number of PDCHs the system must provide according to the GoS
of the packet service.
d) Calculate the number of the static PDCHs and dynamic PDCHs the system
must provide according to the PDCH utilization rate.
II. Calculating the number of GPRS subscribers
Based on the number of GSM subscriber in a cell and the permeation rate of the
GPRS subscribers, you can calculate the number of the GPRS subscribers in the cell.
The formula is as follows:
The number of GPRS subscribers = the number of GSM subscribers * the permeation
rate of the GPRS subscribers.
III. Equivalent busy-hour traffic calculation
Due to the features of packet data services, such as delay and call queuing, the
ErlangB cannot be directly applied to calculating the traffic of GPRS subscribers,
which is different from the application of this formula in the calculation of the
congestion in speech services.
Generally, some methods based on fixed IP networks can be used to estimate the
capacity of a GPRS system. According to the traffic model of the fixed IP network and
the characteristics of GPRS protocols, you can calculate the average traffic of each
subscriber. Then according to the bearer capability of the physical channels at the
wireless interfaces, you can calculate the equivalent traffic of each GPRS subscriber.
45) Calculating the GPRS subscribers’ average access rate
In actual planning, you need to estimate the busy-hour average traffic of each
subscriber. Before the estimation, however, you need to estimate the subscriber’s
average access rate. Generally, the average access rate is decided together by the

channel coding schemes, subscriber’s multislot capability, block error rate (BLER),
header, and average load factor.
You need to make the following assumptions before calculating the average access
rate:
 There is no SNDCP compression and decompression, and no SNDCP
segmentation and reassembly. (An IP packet like this is transmitted by one LLC
PDU at the LLC layer.)
 The LLC uses unacknowledged mode to transmit data, and the RLC uses the
acknowledged mode (a retransmission rate of 10% must be considered).
 LLC frames= LLC header (9 bytes) + SNDCP header (4 bytes) + IP data + FCS
(3 bytes), and each packet seizes a RLC indication byte in length.
 The average length of each IP packet is 200 bytes.
 The IP data flows continuously within at least 10 IP packets.
 If the data is transmitted in RLC acknowledged mode, the transmission of each
LLC PDU means once TBE setup and release. Generally, from the TBF setup to
TBF release, the RLC/MAC control block overheads account for 20% of the total
radio blocks.
The known conditions are as follows:
 A radio block is transmitted every 20ms.
 The BLER is 10%.
 The RLC/MAC header seizes 3 bytes. Therefore, if the tail bit is not considered,
under the CS-1, CS-2, CS-3, and CS-4, the LLC PDU transmitted in each RLC
data block is 20 bytes, 30 bytes, 36 bytes, and 50 bytes.
 The sum of the bytes of the head of the FR, NS, BSSGP, LLC, and SNDCP at
the Gb interface is 53 bytes.
Based on the previous assumptions and known conditions, the following formulas can
be used to calculate the average access rate under each CS at the IP layer.
 M   A1 / B 
 T   M   M  0.2   M  0.1   0.02
 V IP  A2 / T
 VGb = VIP × (150 + 53)/150 = 1.327 VIP
Here,
 “M” indicates the minimum number of RLC data blocks needed for transmitting
N* LLC-PDUs.
 “A1“indicates the total bytes of the N*LLC-PDUs.

 “A2“indicates the total bytes of N*IP packets.

 “B” indicates the bytes of LLC-PDU that each RLC data block can bear.
 “T” indicates the time for transmitting N*LLC-PDUs (N*IP packets).
 “VIP“indicates the estimated bearer rate of each PDCH at the IP layer.
 “VGb” indicates the estimated bearer rate needed by each PDCH at the IP layer.
Table 1.1 lists the GPRS subscriber’s average data rate.
Table 1.1 GPRS subscriber’s average data rate
CS-1 (kbps) CS-2 (kbps) CS-3 (kbps) CS-3 (kbps)
Physical layer rate at

9.05 13.4 15.6 21.4
Um interface
Bearer rate at IP layer 5.42 8.14 9.77 13.63
Bearer rate needed at

16 16 32 32
Abis physical layer
Bearer rate needed at

7.19 10.79 12.96 18.09
Gb physical layer
For the GPRS networks where the conversion among various channel coding rates is
available, the average access rate of each timeslot at the IP layer can be calculated
by the following formula:
VIPa = VCS1*RCS1 + VCS2*RCS2 + VCS3*RCS3 + VCS4*RCS4
Here,
 “VIPa” indicates the average bearer rate of each timeslot at the IP layer.
 “VCS1, VCS2, VCS3, and VCS4” indicates the average bearer rates of CS-1 to CS-4 at
the IP layer respectively.
 “RCS1, RCS2, RCS3, and RCS4” indicates the percentage of the CS-1 to CS-4
respectively.
Based on the bearer rate at IP layer listed in Table 1.1, the average access rate of
each subscriber can be calculated by the following formula when multiple timeslots
are bound:
Va = VIpa *N*R
Here,
 “Va” indicates the average access rate of each subscriber.
 “VIpa“indicates the average bearer rate of each timeslot at the IP layer.

 “N” indicates the maximum number of bound timeslots allowed by the multislot
capability of the MS.
 “R” indicates the multislot capability utilization of an MS.
If the ratio of CS-1 to CS-2 is 1:9, the average access rate of each timeslot at the IP
layer in the network = 5.42 x 10% + 8.14 x 90% = 7.868kbit/s.
If the multislot capability of an MS is 3 + 1, that is, up to 3 downlink timeslots and 1

uplink timeslot can be bound, the multislot capability utilization of the MS can reach
60%, so the average access rate of each subscriber is = 7.868 x 3 x 60% =
14.162kbit/s.
46) Calculating GPRS subscriber’s average traffic
Currently, GPRS subscriber’s average traffic is calculated according to the following
method.
Based on the model (it is from ChinaNet) applied in fixed IP areas and the
characteristics of mobile data, each GPRS subscriber’s traffic can be calculated
according to the following two formulas:
 S = r1 × r2 × (A × n × T × r3 × R/3600)
 S/A = r1 × r2 × n × T × r3 × R/3600
Here,
 “S” indicates the traffic of the local GPRS network.
 “V” indicates the busy-hour average traffic of the GPRS subscriber.
 “A” indicates the number of local GPRS subscribers.
 “n” indicates the average times for each subscriber to access the network.
 “T” indicates the average length of each conversation.
 “r1” indicates busy-day concentration coefficient, which indicates the ratio of the
traffic on the busiest day in a month. This coefficient has little relation with the
traffic types. Generally, it can be 1/20.
 “r2” indicates the busy-hour concentration coefficient, which indicates the ratio of
the traffic at the busiest hour in a day. It varies greatly according to different
traffic types.
 “r2” indicates the duty ratio, which indicates the ratio of the actual time for a
subscriber to download data to the total time for the subscriber to stay in the
network. Generally, it is 1/4.
 “R” indicates the average access rate of a subscriber.
According to the previous methods, China Mobile estimated the average traffic for
GRPS subscribers in 2001-2002, and the busy-hour average traffic of each
subscriber is 180bit/s.

After calculating the GRPS subscriber’s average traffic, you can plan the capacity for
the GPRS network.
47) Calculating equivalent busy-hour traffic of each GPRS subscriber
In actual conditions, subscribers are quite sensitive to the dynamic bandwidth used
during the transmission. Considering the convenience and flexibility of the calculation,
you can convert the busy-hour average traffic of a subscriber into the traffic required
by the average bandwidth and the busy-hour traffic
The average bandwidth of GPRS subscriber is equal to the GSM physical channel
rate or the GPRS subscriber’s average access.
Because the GSM physical channel rate is 16 kbps, the average bandwidth of GPRS
subscriber is 1 KByte/s if the previous assumptions are present.
If the ErlangB can calculate the equivalent traffic of a GPRS subscriber, you can
abstract the behavior of the GPRS subscriber as “packet call”. If each packet call
seizes one “GPRS channel”, the bandwidth of the GPRS channel can be taken as the
average bandwidth of a GPRS subscriber.
In this case, busy-hour equivalent traffic of a GPRS subscriber = busy-hour average

traffic/ channel width = busy-hour average traffic/average bandwidth.
IV. PDCH number calculation
After obtaining the busy-hour equivalent traffic of a GPRS subscriber, you can
estimate the capacity requirement for the GPRS network according to ERLANGB.
The corresponding formulas are as follows:
 The number of GPRS channels = ERLANGB (GPRS traffic and GoS)
 GPRS traffic = the number of GPRS subscribers * busy-hour equivalent traffic of
a GPRS subscriber
 The number of PDCHs = the number of GPRS channels * GPRS channel
bandwith/IP layer bandwidth of each PDCH
Here, the GPRS channel bandwidth is the average bandwidth of the GPRS
subscriber, and the IP layer bandwidth is the IP layer rate at each timeslot.
V. Static and dynamic PDCH configuraiton calculation
Through calculating the probability of the TCHs to be seized using the Poisson
probability distribution formula, you can obtain the average available bandwidth of the
dynamic PDCH under various configurations. Hereunder are two examples.

 If the static PDCH = 1, and the dynamic PDCH = 1, 2, and 3, the average
available bandwidth of the PDCH under various configurations are listed in the
Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 Average available bandwidth of the PDCH under various configurations (a)
Number of average
Probability for the number of idle available PDCHs when
Available Circuit
Number TCHs is N the number of dynamic
TCH/PDCH service
of TRXs PDCHs is M
timeslot traffic
N=0 N=1 N=2 N=3 M=1 M=2 M=3
1 7 2.9 4.68% 9.68% 16.69% 23.03% 1.95 2.81 3.50
2 14 8.2 3.48% 5.52% 8.08% 10.84% 1.97 2.88 3.70
3 22 14.85 2.95% 4.18% 5.63% 7.20% 1.97 2.90 3.77
4 29 21 2.77% 3.70% 4.75% 5.89% 1.97 2.91 3.80
5 37 28.25 2.67% 3.40% 4.22% 5.07% 1.97 2.91 3.81
6 45 35.6 2.57% 3.18% 3.84% 4.53% 1.97 2.92 3.82
7 52 42.1 2.51% 3.03% 3.60% 4.19% 1.97 2.92 3.83
8 60 49.6 2.44% 2.91% 3.40% 3.91% 1.98 2.92 3.83
 If the static PDCH = 0, and the dynamic PDCH = 1, 2, and 3, the average
available bandwidth of the PDCH under various configurations are listed in the
Table 1.2.
Table 1.2 Average available bandwidth of the PDCH under various configurations (b)
Number of average
available PDCHs
Available Circuit Probability for the number of idle
Number when the number of
TCH/PDCH service TCHs is N
of TRXs dynamic PDCHs is
timeslot traffic M
N=0 N=1 N=2 N=3 M=1 M=2 M=3
1 7 2.9 1.90% 4.59% 9.50% 16.38% 0.98 1.92 2.76
2 14 8.2 2.00% 3.41% 5.41% 7.92% 0.98 1.93 2.82
3 22 14.85 1.95% 2.90% 4.10% 5.52% 0.98 1.93 2.84

4 29 21 1.97% 2.72% 3.63% 4.66% 0.98 1.93 2.85
5 37 28.25 2.00% 2.62% 3.33% 4.13% 0.98 1.93 2.85
6 45 35.6 2.00% 2.52% 3.12% 3.77% 0.98 1.93 2.86
7 52 42.1 1.99% 2.46% 2.97% 3.53% 0.98 1.94 2.86
8 60 49.6 1.98% 2.40% 2.85% 3.33% 0.98 1.94 2.86
When the number of the dynamic PDCHs is M, the number of the average available
PDCHs is the sum of the followings:
 The defined number of the static PDCHs
 If only one dynamic PDCH is available, the probability is the figure in the
previous table when N = 1.
 If only two dynamic PDCHs are available, the probability is the figure in the
previous table when N = 2.
 If M * dynamic PDCHs are available, the probability is the sum of figures in the
previous table when N ≥ M.
VI. Signaling channel planning
The steps to plan the signaling channels are as follows:
a) Calculate the capacity of the current signaling channel according to the

configuration of the existing network.
b) Calculate the signaling load of the unit subscribers of various service types
according to the GPRS service model.
c) Calculate the total signaling load of the each service type according to the
capacity planning result.
d) Judge whether to expand the signaling channel capacity according to the

signaling load.
Currently, most of the existing GSM networks adopt non-combined CCCH

configuration. During the early GPRS network construction stage, the network size
and the number of subscribers are not great, so you do not have to expand the CCCH
after introducing the GPRS service to the existing GSM network. With the
development of the GPRS network, however, you must increase the number of
CCCHs in accordance with the rise of the network load.

The size of the RA can be planned the same as that of the LA at the planning stage.
As the number of GPRS subscribers grows, however, to reduce the load on the PCH,
you must scale down the RA to reduce packet pages.
Considering the operation of the previous GPRS network, you do not have to expand
the capacity for the RACH and the PCH, but you need to configure the extended-
BCCH for the AGCH based on actual conditions in case of AGCH congestion.
You can ease the signaling channel capacity using the following methods:
 Configure multiple non-combined CCCHs
 Enable the PCCCH as early as possible
 Support the Gs interface
10.2.2 Coverage Planning
The coverage area of the GPRS network depends greatly upon the channel coding
schemes. For a certain coverage area, the E/N is the restriction factor. For the
interference-restricted area, the C/I is the main restriction factor.
The following lists the coverage indexes required for the current GPRS system:
 The BLER is equal to or less than 10%.
 Under the CS-1, the area covered by the GPRS service must be the same with
the area covered by the voice service provided by the GSM network.
 Under the CS-2, the area covered by the GPRS service must equal to 80% or
more of the area covered by the voice service provided by the GSM network.
Table 1.3 lists the values of carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) corresponding to each
GPRS channel coding scheme.
Table 1.3 Mapping relationship of GPRS channel coding scheme and C/I
C/I (frequency hopping is C/I(frequency hopping is

Channel coding scheme
used) not used)
CS-1 7.1 dB 10.8 dB
CS-2 11.5 dB 12.8 dB
CS-3 13.6 dB 13.7 dB
CS-4 20.8 dB 17.2 dB
Note:
The data in this table is calculated when the BLER is 10%.

In the environment where interference is present, the coverage area percentage of

the GPRS network relative to the voice coverage area varies with the channel coding
schemes, as listed in
Table 1.4 Percentage of voice coverage area relative to channel coding scheme
Channel coding scheme Okumura-Hata (%) Walfish-Ikegami (%)
CS-1 79 80
CS-2 61 63
CS-3 54 57
CS-4 34 37
Note:
The data in this table is obtained based on the following assumptions:
 The interference in the service area is constant.
 The frequency hopping is not used.
 The C/I of the voice service is 9 dB.
For the coverage corresponding to the four channel coding schemes, see Figure
47.2.
cs-1
cs-2
cs-3
cs-4
Figure 47.2 Coverage corresponding to four GPRS channel coding schemes
In actual GPRS network planning, you must define the coverage and continuous
converge based on the areas covered by the voice service of the existing GSM
network.
Currently, you can obtain the corresponding curve indicating the performance of the
GPRS network with the help of emulation tools. As shown in Figure 47.3, under

normal conditions, the C/I at the cell edge is 9 dB when the GSM traffic is busy. Once
the GPRS service is introduced, the C/I decrease as the GPRS load increases. When
the GPRS load is 100%, the area where the C/I is greater than 9 dB accounts for only
88% of the original area.
Figure 47.3 Relationship between C/I and distance
Figure 47.4 shows the relationship between the C/I distribution probability and C/I. As
the curve shows, the C/I also decreases as the GPRS load increases. Suppose that
the C/I at the cell edge is equal or greater than 9 dB, the coverage ratio is 90% when
the GPRS service is not introduced, but the coverage ratio reduces to 86% when the
GPRS load reaches 100%.

Figure 47.4 Relationship between C/I distribution probability and C/I
According to related protocols, a mapping relationship exists between the grade of

voice service and the C/I, as listed in Table 4.1.
Table 4.1 Relationship between grade of voice service and C/I
Grade of voice
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
service
C/I (dB) 23 19 17 15 13 11 8 4
Generally, the BCCH carrier is of 4*3 reuse and the C/I cannot be greater than 13 dB,
so the requirement on the GPRS coverage can be ensured. The reuse level of the
non-BCCH carrier is higher than that of the BCCH carrier, so the C/I must be planned
greater than 9 dB. Therefore, it is recommended to configure the PDCH on the BCCH
carrier.
10.2.3 Frequency Planning
When planning the frequency for the GPRS network, you must consider the data rate
of the network, because the data rate varies with channel coding schemes. As
introduced before, the requirement on C/1 is different under different channel coding
schemes, while the frequency reuse pattern depends largely on the requirement on
C/I.

Figure 47.5 lists the frequency reuse clusters supported by the GPRS channel coding
schemes.
Figure 47.5 Frequency reuse clusters supported by GPRS channel coding schemes
Channel coding scheme C/I threshold (dB) Frequency reuse clusters
Voice 9 7～9
CS-1 10.8 9
CS-2 12.8 12
CS-3 13.7 13
CS-4 17.2 >19
For the GSM network, the voice communication has relatively lower requirement on
the bit error rate. To enhance spectral frequency, you can use aggressive frequency
reuse technology. However, the GSM data communication has high requirements on
the bit error rate, so aggressive frequency reuse technology cannot ensure the data
transmission.
Generally, voice service and data service exist within the same cell simultaneously.
Because the 4*3 reuse pattern is used in the frequency planning for GSM BCCH
carrier, the C/I of the channels on the BCCH carriers can meet the requirements of
GPRS service. As a result, if configuring the PDCH on the BCCH carriers, you do not
have to consider the aggressive reuse pattern, frequency hopping, and power control.
For the static PDCH, it must be configured on the BCCH carrier or on the TCH carrier
where the reuse distance meet the C/I requirement. For the dynamic PDCH, it must
be configured on the carriers where the C/I requirement is met. For the cells with
various frequency reuse patterns, you must begin to configure them on the carriers
with further reuse distance according to the GPRS channel selection mechanism.
In addition, different GPRS load has different effect on the C/I. The larger the
frequency reuse coefficient is, the looser the frequency reuse, so the network can
bear heavier GPRS load. Figure 47.6 shows the relationship between the C/I
distribution probability and frequency reuse coefficient.

Figure 47.6 Relationship between C/I distribution probability and frequency reuse
coefficient
For the areas where the GPRS load is heavy, to ensure the QoS of the GPRS
network, you must choose looser frequency reuse pattern. This conclusion, however,
contradicts to the frequency reuse solution used by the existing network. Therefore,
you can consider introducing new bands to make an independent frequency plan for
the GPRS network.
10.3 GPRS Network Optimization
As the GPRS service grows, the QoS of the current GPRS networks cannot meet the
users’ requirements, so you must optimize these GPRS networks. The challenges
you may meet in the network optimization are listed the following:
 The channel coding schemes adopted for the most of the current GPRS
networks are CS-1 and CS-2, and the multislot capability of the GPRS MSs are
3+1 or 4+1. Therefore, the limit rate for the data to be transmitted is 40.2 kbit/s or
53.6 kbit/s. That is, 13.4*(3/4) kbit/s = (40.2/53.6) kbit/s. However, the rate
reduction during the transmission is not considered into this limit rate.
 Because the activation factor on the GPRS channel is near 100%, theoretically
the interference against the GPRS service is 3 dB more than that against the
voice service. As a result, the C/I in the areas where the GPRS traffic is huge will
become small and the service area will shrink. In this case, the access success
ratio of the GPRS service will be reduced. In addition, the reduction of the C/I will
result in the decrease of the data transmission rate.

 As the voice service of the GSM network grows, the radio channel resource will
become scarce, so only a small number of PDCHs can be provided to the GPRS
service. Meanwhile, owing to the improper configuration of the static channels
and dynamic channels, the channel utilization ratio in some areas is low or even
no channel is available to the data service in some areas. In addition, to avoid
network congestion, you need to adopt the traffic guide strategies different from
that used for the GSM service for the GPRS service according to the
characteristics of the data service.
 The operation of the GPRS system will add the signaling load on the PCH and
AGCH. For the GPRS networks with great load, you must reduce the load on the
PCH and AGCH through reducing the scope of the routing area. In this case, you
must re-plan the routing area.
 Currently, the GPRS system does not support the network-controlled cell
reselection, but the GPRS-attached MSs still reselect the cell following the same
procedure used in the GSM network. Therefore, if the network layout and the
parameters are not properly set, the MSs will reselect the cell frequently. Though
frequent cell reselection has little effect on the GSM network, it will greatly
reduce the GPRS data transmission rate.
10.3.1 GPRS Network Optimization Objectives and Principles
I. GPRS network optimization objectives
The objectives to optimize the GPRS network are listed in the following:
 Establish and research mobile data service model. To achieve this objective, you
must collect and analyze the data on the system performance, resource
configuration, network resource, data service, and subscribers’ behavior.
 Optimize the configuration of the parameters and radio resources for the radio
access network. To achieve this objective, you must understand the operation of
the GPRS network in combination with the market position.
 Accumulate the experiences on GPRS network optimization for future use (3G
service).
II. GPRS network optimization principles
The principles to optimize the GPRS network are listed in the following:
 Mining the existing equipment resources to the maximum to meet the growing
services.
 Enhance the investment efficiency.
 Maximize the spectrum resource utilization.

 Improve theh QoS of the GPRS network as much as possible while ensuring the
GSM circuit switched service.
 Adopt different adjustment strategies to optimize the network at each stage
according to the development of the GPRS network.
The work flow applied to the GPRS network optimization is similar to that applied to
the GSM network optimization, and it is introduced in the previous chapters.
Therefore, this chapter aims to analyze the problems hit during the network
optimization and provides some beneficial suggestions.
10.3.2 Network Optimization Indexes
Because the GPRS system enable the data to access the network in the form of
packets, the indexes used for the GPRS network performance are different from that
used for the GSM network. In addition, the GPRS service will affect the GSM service
to some extent, so you must consider the related indexes used for the GSM network if
you intend to have an overall evaluation of the GPRS network.
It must be emphasized that the GPRS has not developed to a high level at present,
and the traffic model used is relatively conservative, but the GPRS service may
change rapidly if new services are introduced. Therefore, to prevent the rapid change
of GPRS traffic model from impacting the network planning, you must keep
monitoring the key indexes used for the GPRS network.
The GPRS network indexes are divided into traffic statistics index and test index. The
former is registered by the OMC and collected by the PCU or SGSN. The later is
obtained from the results of the items tested by means of CQT and DT.
For traffic statistics indexes, this section introduces the indexes that are measured at
the PCU side and indicates the performance of the radio interfaces. For test indexes,
this section introduces parts of the indexes relative to the current GPRS service.
I. Traffic statistics indexes
The analysis of the traffic statistics indexes can help you optimize the network, handle
failures, and establish packet traffic model. Therefore, the traffic statistics indexes
needed to be emphasized during the routing maintenance can be divided into the
following three categories:
 System performance indexes
These indexes indicate the processing capability and the data throughput
capability of the system. Through analyzing these indexes, you can know more
information on the network operation and plan and optimize the network
accordingly.

 Maintenance indexes
These indexes indicate abnormities occurred in the network. Through analyzing
them, you can find out the where the failure lies and optimize the accordingly.
 Reference indexes
These indexes are related to traffic models. Through analyzing these indexes,
you can accumulate more data and experiences on network operation for the
future network optimization and re-planning.
The following details the three categories of indexes respectively.

48) System performance indexes
The system performance indexes includes PDCH number, network congestion ratio,
and call drop rate. They are detailed in following.
a) PDCH number
This index indicates whether the system has overloaded or not. For the definition of
the related PDCH traffic statistics indexes, see Table 1.1.
Table 1.1 Definition of the GPRS PDCH number
Index Definition
Available PDCH During a measurement period, the average number of

average number PDCHs available under the BSC.
Seized PDCH average During a measurement period, the average number of the
number PDCHs available under the BSC.
Currently, the PDCH is divided into dynamic PDCH and static PDCH. The traffic data
is an average value, so if the average number of the PDHC available excels the
average value, the maximum value is probably beyond the capability of the current
PCU equipments to process the PDCH. In this case, the service in some cells may be
affected.
When checking the average number of the available PDCHs, you must check the
average number of the seized PDCHs. If the average number of the seized PDCHs is
small, it means that the actual traffic volume is not great probably due to too many
static PDCHs have been configured for the cell. In this case, the channel utilization
ratio is low. To solve this problem, you must reduce the number of static PDCHs
configured for the cell where the traffic volume is low. If the average number of the
seized PDCHs is large, it means that the actual traffic volume is great. In this case,
you must expand the capacity for the hardware equipments.

b) Network congestion ratio
The network congestion ratio originally means that the ratio of the MSs who cannot
access the network due to network congestion. In the GPRS system, the access flow
used for the MS is different from that in the GSM system, so the meanings of this
index are different. In the GPRS system, the network congestion ratio refers to the
rise of the TBF setup failures resulted from the decrease of the packet immediate
assignment success ratio due to multiple factors, such as data configuration, network
capacity, channel quality, circuit service busyness, packet service busyness, and so
on. The GPRS congestion ratio is recorded on the uplink and downlink as follows:
 Uplink TBF congestion rate = times of uplink TBF setup failure/times of uplink
TBF setup request = (times uplink TBF setup request – times of uplink TBF setup
success)/times of uplink TBF setup request.
 Downlink TBF congestion rate = times of downlink TBF setup failure/times of
downlink TBF setup request = (times of downlink TBF setup request – times of
downlink TBF setup success)/times of downlink TBF setup request.
For more information on the GPRS congestion rate, see Table 1.2.
Table 1.2 Definition of GPRS congestion rate
Index Definition
Times of uplink TBF The times for the PCU to receive the Uplink TBF Setup
setup request Request message.
The times for the PCU to successfully receive the uplink

Times of uplink TBF
data blocks from the MS after sending the Uplink
setup success
Assignment message.
Times of downlink The times for the PCU to send the Downlink Assignment
TBF setup request message.
Times of downlink The times for the PCU to send the Downlink Assignment
TBF setup success Ack message to the MS.
According to the GPRS flow, assignment messages are retransmitted many times, so
an assignment failure has little effect on the MS. As a result, it is still acceptable that
the congestion ratio can be a little higher. In the GPRS network, high uplink
congestion ratio is probably resulted from the scarcity of the network resource or poor
quality of the radio links. If the downlink congestion ratio is high, it is probably
because of the poor quality of the radio links.

c) Call drop rate
In the GPRS system, call drop rate refers to the TBF abnormal releases during data
transmission. It is also recorded on the uplinks and downlinks as follows:
 Uplink TBF call drop rate = times of uplink TBF abnormal release/ times of uplink
TBF setup success = (times of uplink TBF setup success – times of uplink TBF
normal release)/times of uplink TBF setup success.
 Downlink TBF call drop rate = times of downlink TBF abnormal release/timed of
downlink TBF setup success = (times of downlink TBF setup success – times of
downlink TBF normal release)/times of downlink TBF setup success
For more information on the GPRS call drop rate, see Table 1.3.
Table 1.3 Definition of GPRS call drop rate
Index Definition
The times for the PCU to receive the Packet Control

Times of uplink TBF normal
Ack message indicating stopping the TBF
release
transmission from the MS.
The times for the PCU to successfully receive the

uplink data blocks of the MS after sending the
Times of uplink TBF setup
downlink acknowledged or control message
success
indicating stopping the TBF transmission from the
MS.
Times of downlink TBF

The times for the PCU to receive the Downlink
normal release
Times of downlink TBF setup The times for the PCU to send the Downlink
success Assignment Ack message to the MS.
For current GPRS networks, the TBF transmission time is short (2 to 3 seconds in
average), so the call drop rate is higher than that in the GSM network, but it has little
effect on the service.
Similar to the congestion rate, high call drop rate is probably resulted from the poor
quality of the radio links. In addition, frequent cell reselection will result in more TBF
abnormal releases.
49) Maintenance indexes
These indexes include the indexes related TBF setup and release performance, RLC
data transmission performance, LLC data transmission performance, and radio
channel performance.

a) TBF setup and release performance
The TBF setup and release performance is closely related to the radio quality, traffic
volume, and the MS behaviors.
The indexes related to the TBF setup and release performance are listed in the
following:
 Uplink TBF abnormal releases caused by N3101 overflow
 Uplink TBF abnormal releases caused by N3103 overflow
 Downlink TBF abnormal releases cause by N3105 overflow
 Uplink or downlink TBF abnormal releases caused by SUSPEND
 Uplink or downlink TBF abnormal releases caused by FLUSH
 Uplink or downlink TBF abnormal releases due no available radio resource.
b) LLC data transmission performance
The indexes related to the LLC data transmission performance include the uplink or
downlink throughput rate at the LLC layer and the times for the LLC-PDU to be
discarded.
c) Radio channel performance
The indexes related to the radio channel performance checks the utilization of the
PDCH and its logical channels and the cell reselection of the MS, including actual
average PDCH utilization rate, uplink PDTCH/ACCH utilization rate, and the times of
Pingpong cell reselection.
50) Reference indexes
The reference index include the traffic statistics at the LLC layer, TBF data flow
measurement, PDCH seizure measurement, and MS behavior measurement. These
indexes check the traffic properties of the LLC layer, RLC/MAC layer, physical layer,
and the MS respectively.
II. Test indexes
This section details the test indexes.

51) GPRS attach test
The following details the indexes related to the GPRS attach test, and they are tested
according to the multiple login of the GPRS network.
 GRPS attach success rate
GPRS attach success rate = times of GPRS success attach/times of GPRS attach
attempt * 100%. The GPRS attach success means that the MS receives the GPRS
attach accept message within 15 seconds after sending the Attach Request message.

 Average attach time

Average attach time = the sum of each GPRS attach success time/times of GPRS
attach success. After sending the first Attach Request message, the MS will receive
the GPRS attach message, and the delay between the two messages is defined as
the GPRS attach success time.
52) WAP test
The WAP test includes the WAP website login test and page update test. During WAP
website login test, the buffers must be cleared from the MS. During the page update
test, multiple pages must be visited. The indexes related to the WAP test are
introduced as follows:
 PDP activation success rate
PDP activation success rate = times of PDP activation success/total times of PDP
activation attempt * 100%. The PDP activation success means that the MS receives
the Activate PDP Context Accept message within 15 seconds after sending the
Activate PDP Context Request message.
 Average PDP activation time
Average PDP activation time = the sum of each PDP avtivaton success time/times of
PDP activation success. After sending the first Activate PDP Context Request
message, the MS will receive the Activate PDP Context Accept message, and the
delay between the two messages is defined as the PDP activation success time.
 WAP website login success rate
WAP website login success rate = times of success login/times of login attempt. The
WAP website login success rate means that the web page displays completely within
60 seconds after the MS applies to visit the WAP website. If the MS fails to log in to
the system, you must record the login failure messages of the MS and divide them
into certain types.
 Average WAP first page display time
Average WAP first page display time = the sum of each WAP first page display
time/times of WAP first page display success. After the MS request to visit the WAP
website, it takes a time for the first page of the website to completely display, and this
time is defined as the average WAP first page display time.
 WAP page update success rate
WAP page update success rate = times of WAP upate success/times of WAP update
attempt. The successfully updated WAP pages refer to the pages to be browsed are
completely and correctly displays in 60 seconds.
53) Ping test

According to the ping test, the tailored length of the data packet is used to ping the
sites in the GGSN local area network. The indexes related to the ping test are
introduced as follows.
 Ping success rate
Ping success rate = times of ping success/times of ping attempts *100%.
 Ping average delay
Ping average delay = the sum of each ping success/times of ping success.
54) PTF application layer download rate test
According to this test, the files with the tailored length are downloaded from the
designated server. The main test indexes are introduced as follows.
 PTF application layer download rate test
PTF application layer download rate = actual downloaded quantity (byte)/actual
downloaded time (s)
 Average throughout of FTP download RLC layer
This index is recorded by dedicated test software.
55) RAU (Routing Area Update) test
 Average RAU interval
Average RAU interval time = total test time (s)/total RAU times.
 Average RAU distance
Average RAU distance = total test distance (km)/totoal RAU times.
56) Cell reselection test
 Average interval for cell reselection
Average interval for cell reselection = total test time (s)/total times of cell reselection.
 Average distance for cell reselection
Average distance for cell reselection = total test distance (Km)/total times of cell
reselection.
57) Coverage test
This index is measured by coverage ratio per kilometer, which is equal to the ratio of
the total test distance (Km) to the times for the MS not within the GPRS coverage. No
GPRS coverage occurs in the following situations:
 During the coverage test, the MS transits from READY state or STANDBY state
to IDLE state.
 The MS stays in READY STATE or STANDBY state, but its level stays lower than
-94dBm in 5 seconds or more.
 The MS receives the out-of-service message.

58) Call drop test

It is measured according to the call drop rate per kilometer (kilometer/time), which is
equal to the rate of the total test distance/total times of download call drop. The call
drop is defined as follows:
 The PPP connection between the computer and the MS is interrupted. That is,
the computer prompts that the dialing connection is interrupted.
 The PPP connection is normal, but the data cannot be transmitted for 3 minutes
or more when the signals in the network are normal.
10.3.3 Network Optimization Problem Analysis
I. Attach problems
59) Attach failure

The subscriber attach failure is divided into individual failure, area failure, and total
failure. If any failure occurs, first you should analyze the MS. If it is the area failure,
you should analyze the cell and PCU. If it is the total failure, you should analyze the
core network.
The individual failure is caused by the following factors:

 The properties of the APN or the MOSEN of the MS are wrongly set.
 The MS cannot attach the network in time due to frequent cell reselection.
 The MS does not subscribe to the GPRS service.
 The visit class control restricts the MS to access the network.
The area failure is caused by the following factors:
 The GPRS function is not enabled in the cell.
 The GPRS resource cannot be allocated to the MS due to voice channel
congestion and no static PDCH available.
 The PCU uplink and downlink flow is abnormal as a result of the PCU hardware
and software failures.
 The MS cannot attach the network due to poor network coverage.
The total failure is caused by the following factors:
 The data is not or wrongly transmitted at the signaling network.
 The signaling interface plane fails.
 The addressing format of the SGSN equipment and that of the HLR equipment is
incompatible with each other.
 The network interfaces or links are abnormal.
 The subscriber data in the HLR is abnormal.
60) Slow attach

The MS may attach the network at a low speed due to the following factors:
 The relative configuration of the GSN and the No.7 signaling network is incorrect.
 The poor performance of the SGSN slows down the processing speed.
 The signaling load of the network is too high.
61) Cross-SGSN routing area update failure
The cross-SGSN routing area update failure is caused by the following factors:
 The data for the adjacent SGSNs are wrongly configured.
 The RAI in the DNS is incorrectly translated in the SGSN.
 The Gn interface or Gr interface fails.
II. Access problems
62) Low random access success rate

The random access occurs when the subscriber sends a channel request on the
RACH but the network cannot decode the request due to radio interference or
equipment failure. To solve this problem, you must fully consider the interference
band and channel seizure.
Generally, if both the random access rate and the immediate assignment success
rate are quite low, the reasons are probably that the channels are unavailable and the
system is unstable.
63) High TBF setup failure rate
Currently, the main reasons for the high TBF setup failure rate are that the MS and
the network equipments are incompatible with each other and the related parameters
are not properly set. The other reasons are listed in the following:
 The effect from the radio environment and system resource.
 The MS does not support the assigned frequency.
 The MS cannot seize a radio channel.
 The parameters PAN_DEC, PAN_INC, and PAN_MAX are not properly set.
 The timers, such as T3168 and T3192 are not properly set.
III. Paging problems
Paging problems are closely related to low paging success rate. If the PCU cannot
receive the access request fed back by the MS after the system sends the packet
paging message, paging problems will occur.
The reasons for the low packet paging success rate are listed in the following:
 There are dead zones in the coverage area.

 The parameters related to the paging channels and the routing areas, including
CCCH number, BS_AG_BLKS_RES, and BS_PA_MFRMS, are not properly set,
which cause PCH congestion and AGCH congestion.
 There is no response to the delivered paging messages due to frequent location
update and cell reselection.
 The interference present in the radio environment prevents the MS from correctly
decoding the information.
 The unreasonable paging strategies causes paging overload.
 The paging process cannot be completed due to heavy load on the traffic
channel. (Generally, in the GPRS system, the first LLC PDU received by the
SGSN marks the success page.)
IV. PDP activation problems
64) Low PDP activation success rate

The PDP activation success rate is low when there is no response to the MS or the
MS is rejected during the PDP activation after the MS attaches the GPRS network.
The possible reasons are listed in the following:
 The APN of the MS is wrongly set.
 The MS mismatches the QoS.
 The IP address of the MS is wrongly set.
 The subscriber operation is wrong.
 The PCU fails.
 The DNS resolution is abnormal.
 The GTP between the SGSN and the GGSN is abnormal.
 The firewall is in abnormal work.
 The problems are present in the PDN.
 The router fails.
65) Low PDP activation speed
The possible reasons for low PDP activation speed are as follows:
 The APN of the SGSN is wrongly configured.
 The local DNS or roaming DNS failure causes low APN resolution speed.
 The improper configuration of the DHCP or RADIUS server causes the GGSN to
process the data and signaling at a low speed.
V. Abnormal PDP deactivation
The abnormal PDP deactivation indicates that the PDP context is deactivated
abnormally. If the PDP context is deactivated abnormally, the connection between the
subscribers and the external data network will be interrupted. In this case, the PDP

context must be reactivated if the subscriber intends to access the network. The
possible reasons for the abnormal PDP deactivation are listed in the following:
 The poor radio quality causes the MS to fail to make a response to the network.
 Improper network operation causes abnormal PDP deactivation.
 The MS cannot respond to the network-activated PDP context due to inadequate
processing capability.
 The MS fails to get the authentication from the HLR during location update.
VI. Data transmission problems
66) Low GPRS data transmission rate

The possible reasons for the low GPRS data transmission rate are listed in the
following:
 Frequent cell reselection is caused by improper setting of the parameters and
addressing layout.
 The C/I fails to meet the requirement to retransmit the RLC.
 The C/I cannot ensure the adoption of higher channel coding scheme.
 The system bottleneck is caused by the improper setting of the channels at the
Um interface and the parameters at the Gb interface.
67) Abnormal TBF disconnection
If the TBF is abnormally released after being released, the corresponding data needs
to be retransmitted but the PDP context needs not to be re-setup, and this is defined
as the abnormal TBF disconnection. The possible reasons for abnormal TBF
disconnection are listed in the following:
 The dynamic packet resource is seized by force due to high traffic load.
 The cell reselection happens frequently.
 The radio environment is poor.
 The MS fails.

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GSM Radio Network Planning and Optimization

Chapter 10 GPRS Radio Network Planning and Optimization.....................................................4

Figure 10-1 GPRS network structure.......................................................................................4

Figure 10-2 MM state transition model...................................................................................19

Figure 10-3 GPRS address and numbering diagram.............................................................20

Figure 10-4 NSAPI numbering diagram.................................................................................21

Figure 10-5 Main interfaces in the GPRS system..................................................................25

Figure 10-6 GPRS data transfer protocol platform.................................................................27

Figure 10-7 Structure of a radio channel................................................................................34

Figure 10-8 Structure of the RLC/MAC data block.................................................................36

Figure 10-9 Structure of RLC/MAC block...............................................................................36

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Figure 10-11 Downlink TBF establishment flow.....................................................................48

Figure 10-12 Coordinated GPRS attach................................................................................50

Figure 10-13 Update of the coordinated RA/LA within a SGSN.............................................53

Figure 10-14 GPRS detach initiated by the MS......................................................................55

Figure 10-15 PDP context activation initiated by the MS........................................................56

Figure 10-16 PDP context modification..................................................................................60

Figure 10-17 Recovery flow for GPRS suspended service....................................................61

Figure 10-18 Coverage corresponding to four GPRS channel coding schemes....................78

Figure 10-19 Relationship between C/I and distance.............................................................79

Figure 10-20 Relationship between C/I distribution probability and C/I..................................79

Table 10-1 Definition of the priority class in GPRS QoS.........................................................13

Table 10-2 Definition of the reliability class in GPRS QoS......................................................13

Table 10-3 Definition of the delay class in GPRS QoS...........................................................14

Table 10-4 Definition of the peak throughput class in GPRS QoS..........................................15

Table 10-5 Definition of the mean throughput in GPRS QoS..................................................15

Table 10-7 TID format............................................................................................................. 24

Table 10-8 GPRS channel coding scheme.............................................................................36

Table 10-9 The size of the RLC/MAC data block....................................................................37

Table 10-10 Meaning of the SI bit...........................................................................................38

Table 10-11 Meaning of the S/P bit......................................................................................... 38

Table 10-12 Meaning of the RRBP field..................................................................................38

Table 10-13 Meaning of the effective payload type.................................................................39

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Table 10-14 Meaning of the FBI bit.........................................................................................39

Table 10-15 MS multislot capability........................................................................................ 40

Table 10-16 Coordination between GPRS NMO and paging..................................................48

Table 10-17 PDP context deactivation initiated by the MS.....................................................60

Table 10-18 Meaning of the ALPHA.......................................................................................63

Table 10-19 Meaning of the INS_MEAS_CHANNEL_LIST_AVAIL.........................................65

Table 10-20 GPRS subscriber’s average data rate................................................................73

Table 10-25 Relationship between grade of voice service and C/I.........................................81

Table 10-26 Definition of the GPRS PDCH number...............................................................85

Table 10-27 Definition of GPRS congestion rate....................................................................86

Table 10-28 Definition of GPRS call drop rate........................................................................87

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Chapter 10 GPRS Radio Network Planning and

10.1 GPRS Basic Principles

10.1.1 Network Structure and Functional Entities

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Figure 1.1 GPRS network structure

I. GPRS mobile station

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transmission path to be established to connect the TE and the external data

The functions of the BTS are as follows:

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During non-transparent access, the network will authenticate the subscribers’

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10.1.2 Service Function and Numbering Plan

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support or provide subscribers with various telecommunication services. The