What is a GSM ?

Global System for Mobile (GSM) is a second

generation cellular standard developed to cater
voice services and data delivery using digital
modulation.

GSM: History
GSM is developed by Group Special Mobile in 1982
which was an initiative of CEPT ( Conference of
European Post and Telecommunication ).
It replace the incompatible analog system.
Presently the responsibility of GSM standardization
resides with
special mobile group under ETSI
( European telecommunication Standards Institute ).

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Full set of specifications phase-I became available
in 1990.
Under ETSI, GSM is named as Global System for
Mobile
communication .

Today many providers all over the world use GSM

(more than 213
countries in Asia, Africa, Europe,
Australia, America).
More than 1300 million subscribers in world and 83
million subscriber in India.

GSM in World
3%

Figures: March, 2005

Arab World

3%

Asia Pacific
3%

3% (INDIA)

Africa
East Central Asia

4%

37%

Europe
Russia

43%

1%

4%

India
North America
South America

GSM in India
Figures: March 2005

Aircel
4%

Reliance
3%
MTNL
Spice
2%
4%

BPL
6%

Bharti
Bharti
27%

BSNL
Hutch
IDEA
BPL

IDEA
13%

Aircel
Hutch
19%

BSNL
22%

Spice
Reliance
MTNL

GSM Services
Tele-services
Bearer or Data Services
Supplementary services

Tele Services
Telecommunication services that enable voice
communication via mobile phones.
Offered services

- Mobile telephony

- Emergency calling

Bearer Services
Include various data services for information transfer
between GSM and other networks like PSTN, ISDN
etc at rates from 300 to 9600 bps.
Short Message Service (SMS) up to 160 character
alphanumeric data transmission to/from the mobile
terminal.

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Group 3 fax
Voice mailbox

Electronic mail

Supplementary Services
Call related services :
Call Waiting- Notification of an incoming call
while on the handset.
Call Hold- Put a caller on hold to take another
call.
Call Barring- All calls, outgoing calls, or
incoming calls.

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Call Forwarding- Calls can be sent to various
numbers defined by the user
Multi Party Call Conferencing - Link multiple
calls together

GSM Criteria
Good subjective speech quality.
Low terminal and service cost.
Support for international roaming one system for
all of the world.
Ability to support handheld terminals.
Support for range of new services and facilities.
Enhanced Features.
ISDN compatibility.
Enhance privacy.
Security against fraud.

Advantages of GSM
Crisper, cleaner quieter calls
Security against fraud and eavesdropping
International roaming capability in over 100
countries
Improved battery life
Efficient network design for less expensive
system expansion

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Efficient use of spectrum.
Advanced features such as short messaging and caller
ID.
A wide variety of handsets and accessories.
High stability mobile fax and data at up to 9600 baud.
Ease of use with over the air activation, and all
account information is held in a smart card which can
be moved from handset to handset.