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1. NETWORK ELEMENTS AND NETWORK SUBSYSTEMS

At the initial stage, the 3G network looks much like the GSM network enhanced with a GPRS network. It
comprises two main sections:
• Radio Access Network (RAN), which interfaces the 3G MSs (Mobile Stations) to the
network and controls its radio resources.

• Core Network (CN), which controls the RAN and interfaces it to other telephone and
data networks. The Core Network is further divided into two sections:

o Network Subsystem (NSS) part, which is currently based on the GSM technology.

o IP Multimedia Domain (IM Domain), which is a dedicated GPRS subsystem for the 3G
network.
The figure below shows an overview of the 3G network.

Figure: Overview of the 3G radio access network

1.1 Radio Access Network (RAN)
The RAN comprises the equipment which provide the radio resources of the network and their control facilities. It
features the following network elements:
• Mobile Station (MS)

o The MS is a user terminal with 3G support.

• Base Station (BTS)

o The radio interfaces of the BTS connect the MSs to the Radio Access Network. The
BTS also controls the MSs to a lesser degree.

• Radio Network Controller (RNC)

o The RNC controls and manages the BTSs and MSs in its own area. Adjacent RNCs are
connected to one another via the Iur interface.
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• Multimedia Gateway (MGW)

o The MGW interfaces the RNC with the MSCs in the Core Networks.

1.2 IP Multimedia Domain (IM Domain)

The IM Domain handles the internal packet data connections of the 3G network, and those between the 3G
network and other packet data networks (PDNs), notably the Internet. Its key network elements are the following:
• Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN)

o The SGSN handles e.g. call routing, mobility management and charging functions, and
acts as the gateway between the IM Domain and the Radio Access Network. The packet data
calls are directed to the SGSN directly from the RNCs.

• Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)

o The GGSN functions as a Domain Name System, Border Gateway and a Firewall,
interfacing the IM Domain to packet data networks.

• Charging Gateway

o The Charging Gateway is a standalone network element that collects CDRs from the
SGSN and GGSN.
Some optional devices may also be added to the GPRS network when needed, e.g. additional routers, which
help to build redundancy into the physical connections.
1.3 Network Subsystem (NSS)
The NSS handles the connections for voice calls within the 3G network, along with those for voice and circuit-
switched data calls between the 3G network and other telephone networks (notably the PSTN). Initially made up
of a GSM NSS with circuit-switched technology, it is interfaced to the RAN by means of Time Division
Multiplexed (TDM) trunk lines. The tasks of the NSS network elements in the 3G network are generally the same
as in the GSM networks. Its key network elements are:
• Mobile Switching Center and Visitor Location Register (MSC/VLR)

o The tasks of the MSC/VLR are the same in the 3G network as in the GSM/DCS
systems, primarily switching functions, interfacing of the 3G to PSTN and storing of visiting
subscriber data.

• Home Location Register (HLR)

o The HLR contains the home subscriber and equipment databases and performs e.g. the
associated authentication and verification tasks.

• Gateway (or Transit) Mobile Switching Center (GMSC)

o The GMSC) serves as a gateway between the 3G network and other telephone
networks.