GSM,

GPRS
and UMTS..

GSM
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications:
originally from Groupe Spcial Mobile) is the most
popular standard for mobile telephony systems in the
world.
The GSM Association, its promoting industry trade
organization of mobile phone carriers and
manufacturers, estimates that 80% of the global mobile
market uses the standard GSM.
GSM is used by over 3 billion people across more
than 212 countries and territories.

Performance
characteristics of GSM
Communication
mobile, wireless communication; support for voice and data
services

Total mobility
international access,
Worldwide connectivity

High capacity
better frequency efficiency, smaller cells, more customers
per cell

High transmission quality

high audio quality and reliability for wireless, uninterrupted
phone calls at higher speeds (e.g., from cars, trains)

Security functions
access control, authentication

GSM STANDARDS
GSM-900 Standard
The GSM-900 standard is a standard for digital voice transmission in the 900 MHz
band. This so called primary band" includes two sub bands of 25 MHz

GSM-1800 Standard
In GSM-1800, 1800 MHz band was allocated for digital mobile telephone services
which has frequency of 75 MHz. This was three times the bandwidth allocated for GSM900.

GSM-1900 Standard
GSM-1900 is the standard for the 1900MHz band. It includes the same network
component as the GSM-900 or GSM-1800. The band width of this standard is 60 MHz.

GENERATION OF GSM
1st generation:- Analog mobile technologies :- AMPS ,
TACS & NMT.
2nd generation:- digital mobile technologies :- GSM ,
CDMA
2.5generation:- Enhancement of GSM:- GPRS
3rd generation:- Technologies coursed by ITU-IMT

The following table lists the key events in the GSM

evolution:

2.5 g+
2.5 G

UMTS 3G
WCDMA

2G
EDGE
GPRS
GSM

GPRS-Wireless Data Services .

EDGEProvides 3 times the data capacity of GPRS.
3G---Uses WCDMA technologies Over Air interface
(5MHz)

GSM uses paired radio channels

INK
L
P
U

INK
L
WN
O
D
890MHz

915MHz

935MHz

960MHz

Technolog
y

FDMA

(Frequency division Multiple

Access)

TDMA
(Time division Multiple Access)

DIFFERENT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGIES USED IN GSM

FDMA:
In FDMA, signals from various users are assigned different
frequencies. Frequency guard bands are maintained between adjacent
signal spectra to minimize crosstalk between channels.
Advantages of FDMA :
1.
2.

Capacity increase can be obtained by reducing the information bit rate

and using efficient digital codes.
Technological advances required for implementation are simple. A system
can be configured so that improvement in terms of speech code bit rate
reduction could be readily incorporated.
Disadvantages of FDMA
The maximum bit rate per channel is fixed and low, inhibiting the flexibility
in bit-rate capability that is needed for computer file transfers

Frequency multiplex
Separation of the whole spectrum into smaller
frequency bands
A channel gets a certain band of the
k
k
k
k
spectrum for the whole timek
c
Advantages:
no dynamic coordination
necessary
works also for analog signals
Disadvantages:
waste of bandwidth
(if the traffic is
distributedt unevenly)
inflexible
guard spaces
1

k6

TDMA:
In a TDMA system, data from each user is conveyed in time
intervals called Time slots. Several slots make up a frame . Each
slot is made up of a preamble plus information bits addressed to
various stations .the functions of the preamble are to provide
identification and incidental information and to allow synchronization
of the slot at the intended receiver .Guard times are used between
each users transmission to minimize crosstalk between channels.
Advantages of TDMA
1) TDMA permits a flexible bit rate.
2) TDMA offers the opportunity for frame-by-frame monitoring of the
signal strength and bit error rates.
3) TDMA transmits each signal with sufficient guard time between
time slots.

Time multiplex
A channel gets the whole spectrum for a
certain amount of time
Advantages:
only one carrier in the
medium at any time
throughput high even
for many users

Disadvantages:
precise
synchronization
necessary

k1

k2

k3

k4

k5

k6

c
f

Time and Frequency

Multiplex
Combination of both methods
A channel gets a certain frequency band for a
certain amount of time
k1

k2

k3

k4

k5

k6

c
f

Time and Frequency

Multiplex
Example: GSM
Advantages:
Better protection against
tapping
Protection against frequency
k
selective interference
Higher data rates compared
to
c
code multiplex
1

But: precise coordination

required
t

k2

k3

k4

k5

k6

Various Access Method

Cells

Representation of Cells

Ideal cells

Fictitious cells

Cell size and capacity

Cell size determines number of cells available to
cover geographic area and (with frequency
reuse) the total capacity available to all users
Capacity within cell limited by available
bandwidth and operational requirements
Each network operator has to size cells to
handle expected traffic demand

Cell structure
Implements space division multiplex: base station covers a certain
transmission area (cell)
Mobile stations communicate only via the base station
Advantages of cell structures:
higher capacity, higher number of users
less transmission power needed
more robust, decentralized
base station deals with interference, transmission area etc. locally
Problems:
fixed network needed for the base stations
handover (changing from one cell to another) necessary
interference with other cells
Cell sizes from some 100 m in cities to, e.g., 35 km on the country side
(GSM) - even less for higher frequencies

GSM Architecture

Component groups of a
GSM network
The principle component groups of a GSM network are:
The Mobile Station (MS)
This consists of the mobile telephone, fax machine etc. This is the
part of the network that the subscriber will see.

The Base Station System (BSS)

This is the part of the network which provides the radio
interconnection from the MS to the land-based switching equipment.

 The Network Switching System

This consists of the Mobile services Switching Centre (MSC)
and its associated system-control databases and processors
together with the required interfaces. This is the part which provides
for interconnection between the GSM network and the Public
Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

The Operations and

Maintenance System
This enables the network provider to configure and maintain the
network from a central location.

MOBILE SWITCHING CENTER (MSC) :Mobile services switching center (MSC) performs the switching functions for all mobile
stations located in the geographical area covered by its assigned BSSs.
Functions of the MSC include : Management of MSC-BSS signaling Protocol.
Handling location registration and ensuring internetworking between mobile station and
VLR.
Call handling that copes with mobile nature of subscribers.
Exchange of signaling information with other system entities.

HOME LOCATION REGISTER (HLR) :The Home Location Register (HLR) contains the identities of mobile subscribers, their
service parameters, and their location information.
Function of the HLR include: Identity of mobile subscriber
Location information for call routing.
ISDN directory number of mobile station.

VISITOR LOCATION REGISTER (VLR) :The Visitor Location Register (VLR) contains
the subscriber parameters and location information for all mobile subscribers
currently located in the geographical area controlled by that VLR.
Functions of the VLR include :

Identity of mobile subscriber.

Any temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI) allocation.
Location area where the mobile station is registered
Copy of the subscriber data from the HLR.

AUTHENTICATION CENTER (AUC) :Contains subscriber authentication data called authentication key (Ki)
Generates security related parameters needed to authorize service using Ki.
Generates unique data pattern called a cipher key (Kc) needed for encrypting user
speech and data.

AUC Contd
AUC sends RAND to MS .AUC & MS do some calculation based on RAND
,secret key of SIM & A3 algorithm & generate a number.
If result sent by MS is same as AUC Then MS is authenticated.

EQUIPMENT IDENTITY REGISTER (EIR) :The Equipment Identity Register (EIR) is

accessed during the equipment validation procedure when a mobile station
accesses the system .It contains the identity of mobile station equipment
which may be valid, suspect, or known to be fraudulent.
This contains :
White or Valid list list of valid MS equipment identities.
Grey or Monitored list list of suspected mobiles under observation.
Black or prohibited list list of mobiles for which service is barred

OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE CENTER (OMC) :The Operation and maintenance Center
(OMC) is the centralized maintenance and diagnostic heart of the base
station system (BSS). It allows the network provider to operate, administer ,
and monitor the functioning of the BSS.

BASE STATION SYSTEM (BSS) :- (BSC+BTS)

Characteristics of the Base Station System (BSS) are :
The BSS is responsible for communicating with mobile stations in
cell areas.
One BSC controls one or more BTSs and can perform inter-BTS
and intra-BTS handover.
The Transcoder XCDR
The Transcoder is used to compact the signals from the MS so that
they are more efficiently sent over the terrestrial interfaces.

BASE STATION SYSTEM (BSS) :- (BSC+BTS)

The BSS consists of three major hardware components:

1) The Base Transceiver Station BTS

The BTS contains the RF components that provide the air interface for a particular
cell .This is the part of the GSM network which communicates with the MS. The
antenna is included as part of the BTS.

2) The Base Station Controller BSC

The BSC as its name implies provides the control for the BSS. The BSC
communicates directly with the MSC. The BSC may control single or multiple
BTSs.

3) The Transcoder XCDR

The Transcoder (XCDR) is required to convert the speech or data output from the MSC
(64 kbit/s PCM), into the form specified by GSM specifications for transmission over
the
air interface, that is, between the BSS and MS (64 kbit/s to 16 kbit/s and vice versa)

Characteristics of the Base Station System (BSS) are :

The BSS is responsible for communicating with mobile stations in cell areas.
One BSC controls one or more BTSs and can perform inter-BTS and intra-BTS
handover.
- Each PLMN Should have at least one HLR
- One VLR is connected to several MSC ,but one MSC has one VLR

BSS

Mobile Station
MOBILE STATION (MS) :The mobile
station (MS) represents the terminal
equipment used by the wireless subscriber
supported by the GSM Wireless system.
The SIM may be a removable module,
while the equipment identity is not linked to
a particular subscriber.

Functions of a Mobile Station :Radio transmission termination.

Radio Channel Management.
Speech Encoding/Decoding
Radio Link error Protection.
Flow control of data.
Mobility Management.

HandOver

HandOver:
Procedure in which an MS releases a connection with a BTS, and
establishes a connection with a new BTS, while ensuring that the
ongoing call is maintained

Needs two mechanisms: Handover preparation:

detection of cell-border
crossing . Based on radio link quality measurements

Handover execution:

setup of a new channel in a cell,

and tear-down of a previous channel

General Packet Radio

Service (GPRS)

A new Dimension to
Wireless
Communication

Constraints with existing

network
Data Rates too slow about 9.6 kbps
Connection setup time too long
Inefficient resource utilization for bursty traffic
Proves expensive for bursty traffic utilization
No efficient method for packet transfers

 General packet radio service (GPRS) is a packet oriented

mobile data service available to users of the 2G cellular communication
systems (GSM), as well as in the 3G systems.
In 2G systems, GPRS provides data rates of 56-114 kbit/s.
GPRS data transfer is typically charged per megabyte of traffic
transferred, while data communication via traditional circuit switching is
billed per minute of connection time, independent of whether the user
actually is using the capacity or is in an idle state.
GPRS is a best-effort packet switched service, as opposed to circuit
switching, where a certain quality of service (QoS) is guaranteed during
the connection for non-mobile users

Circuit Switched Data

(CSD)
Before GPRS.
A channel is allocated to user for a
duration of connection.
Inefficient use of resources.
Time-based billing.
Deterministic quality of service.
Resources allocated to communication.
Suitable to real-time applications.

While In
GPRS:

Resources are allocated to user only for

the time it takes to send each packet.
A channel may be shared by many users.
User pays by the packet.
Ideal for data traffic.

Comparison
CSD
GPRS
Lower bit rates
(14.4 kbit/s)
Reserved bandwidth

Higher bit rates

(upto 170 kbit/s)
Shared Bandwidth

Fixed access time

Variable Access times

Time-based billing

Traffic Based Billing

 2G cellular systems combined with GPRS are often described

as 2.5G, that is, a technology between the second (2G) and
third (3G) generations of mobile telephony.

It provides moderate speed data transfer, by using unused time

division multiple access (TDMA) channels in, for example, the
GSM system.

Originally there was some thought to extend GPRS to cover

other standards, but instead those networks are being
converted to use the GSM standard, so that GSM is the only
kind of network where GPRS is in use.

GPRS is integrated into GSM Release 97 and newer releases.

Salient Features of GPRS

Important step on the path to 3G
Standardized by ETSI
GPRS is an overlay network over the GSM
Provides Data Packet delivery service
Support for leading internet communication
protocols
Billing based on volume of data transferred
Utilizes existing GSM authentication and
privacy procedures.

Benefits of GPRS
New Data Services
High Speed (Data Rate 14.4 115 kbps)
Efficient use of radio bandwith (Statistical
Multiplexing)
Circuit switching & Packet Switching can be
used in parallel
Constant connectivity

Comparison of GSM &

GPRS
Data Rates
Modulation
Technique
Billing

Type of
Connection

GSM
9.6 Kbps
GMSK

Duration of
connection
Circuit
Switched
Technology

GPRS
14.4 to
115.2 Kbps
GMSK

Amount of
data
transferred
Packet Switched
Technology

UMTS
Universal Mobile
Telecommunications System

 Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) is

one of the third-generation (3G) mobile
telecommunications technologies, which is also being
developed into a 4G technology.
The first deployment of the UMTS is the Release99 (R99)
architecture.
The most common form of UMTS uses W-CDMA (IMT
Direct Spread) as the underlying air interface but the
system also covers TD-CDMA and TD-SCDMA (both IMT
CDMA TDD).

 UMTS, using W-CDMA, supports maximum theoretical

data transfer rates of 21 M bit/s (with HSPA).
Practically, Users can expect a transfer rate of up to 384
kbit/s for R99 handsets, and 7.2 Mbit/s for HSDPA
handsets.
This is still much greater than the 9.6 kbit/s of a single
GSM circuit switched data channel or multiple 9.6 kbit/s
channels in HSCSD (14.4 kbit/s for CDMAOne), andin
competition to other network technologies such as
CDMA2000, PHS or WLANoffers access to the World
Wide Web and other data services on mobile devices.

 Unlike EDGE (IMT Single-Carrier, based on GSM) and CDMA2000

(IMT Multi-Carrier), UMTS requires new base stations and new
frequency allocations. However, it is closely related to GSM/EDGE
as it borrows and builds upon concepts from GSM.
Further, most UMTS handsets also support GSM, allowing seamless
dual-mode operation. Therefore, UMTS is sometimes marketed as 3
GSM, emphasizing the close relationship with GSM and
differentiating it from competing technologies.

UMTS provides several different terrestrial air interfaces, called

UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA).

All air interface options are part of ITU's IMT-2000. In the

currently most popular variant for cellular mobile telephones, WCDMA (IMT Direct Spread) is used.

Thank You..