• Mobile station

Mobile stations (MS), mobile equipment (ME) or as they are most widely
known, cell or mobile phones are the section of a GSM cellular network that
the user sees and operates.
• Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
The Base Station Subsystem (BSS) section of the GSM network architecture
that is fundamentally associated with communicating with the mobiles on
the network. It consists of two elements:
1. Base Transceiver Station (BTS): The BTS used in a GSM network comprises
the radio transmitter receivers, and their associated antennas that transmit
and receive to directly communicate with the mobiles. The BTS is the
defining element for each cell. The BTS communicates with the mobiles and
the interface between the two is known as the Um interface with its
associated protocols.
2. Base Station Controller (BSC): The BSC forms the next stage back into the
GSM network. It controls a group of BTSs, and is often co-located with one
of the BTSs in its group. It manages the radio resources and controls items
such as handover within the group of BTSs, allocates channels and the like.
It communicates with the BTSs over what is termed the Abis interface.
• Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)
The GSM system architecture contains a variety of different elements, and is
often termed the core network. It provides the main control and interfacing
for the whole mobile network. The major elements within the core network
include:
1. Mobile Services Switching Centre (MSC): The main element within the core
network area of the overall GSM network architecture is the Mobile switching
Services Centre (MSC). The MSC acts like a normal switching node within a PSTN or
ISDN, but also provides additional functionality to enable the requirements of a
mobile user to be supported. These include registration, authentication, call location,
inter-MSC handovers and call routing to a mobile subscriber.
2. Home Location Register (HLR): This database contains all the administrative
information about each subscriber along with their last known location. In this way,
the GSM network is able to route calls to the relevant base station for the MS. When
a user switches on their phone, the phone registers with the network and from this it
is possible to determine which BTS it communicates with so that incoming calls can
be routed appropriately. Even when the phone is not active (but switched on) it re-
registers periodically to ensure that the network (HLR) is aware of its latest position.
There is one HLR per network, although it may be distributed across various sub-
centres to for operational reasons.
3. Visitor Location Register (VLR): This contains selected information from
the HLR that enables the selected services for the individual subscriber to be
provided.
4. Equipment Identity Register (EIR): The EIR is the entity that decides
whether a given mobile equipment may be allowed onto the network. Each
mobile equipment has a number known as the International Mobile
Equipment Identity. This number, as mentioned above, is installed in the
equipment and is checked by the network during registration. Dependent
upon the information held in the EIR, the mobile may be allocated one of
three states - allowed onto the network, barred access, or monitored in case
its problems.
5. Authentication Centre (AuC): The AuC is a protected database that
contains the secret key also contained in the user's SIM card. It is used for
authentication and for ciphering on the radio channel.
GSM Channels
a) Traffic channels:
• full-rate channel (TCH/F): Carries user data (speech and data)
half-rate channel (TCH/H): Carries user data (speech and data). Half-rate TCHs double the
capacity of a system effectively by making it possible to transmit two calls in a single channel.

b) Signalling channels:
1. Broadcast channels:
The broadcast channels (BCH) carry only downlink information and are responsible mainly for
synchronization and frequency correction. This is the only channel type enabling point-to-
multipoint communications in which short messages are simultaneously transmitted to several
mobiles.
• BCCH:
Broadcast control channel (BCCH): General information, cell-specific; e.g. local area code,
network operator, access parameters, list of neighbouring cells, etc. The MS receives signals via
the BCCH from many BTSs within the same network and/or different networks.
• FCCH:
Frequency correction channel (FCCH): Downlink only; correction of MS frequencies;
transmission of frequency standard to MS; it is also used for synchronization of an acquisition by
providing the boundaries between timeslots and the position of the first timeslot of a TDMA
frame.
• SCH:
The synchronization channel (SCH): Downlink only; frame synchronization (TDMA frame
number) and identification of base station. The valid reception of one SCH burst will provide the
MS with all the information needed to synchronize with a BTS.
2. Common control channels:
The common control channels (CCCH): A group of uplink and downlink channels
between the MS card and the BTS. These channels are used to convey information from
the network to MSs and provide access to the network.
• PCH:
The paging channel (PCH): Downlink only; the MS is informed by the BTS for incoming
calls via the PCH.
• AGCH:
The access grant channel (AGCH): Downlink only; BTS allocates a TCH or SDCCH to the
MS, thus allowing the MS access to the network.
• RACH:
The random access channel (RACH): Uplink only; allows the MS to request an SDCCH in
response to a page or due to a call; the MS chooses a random time to send on this
channel. This creates a possibility of collisions with transmissions from other MSs.

3. Dedicated control channels:

The dedicated control channels (DCCH): Responsible for e.g. roaming, handovers,
encryption, etc.
• SDCCH:
The stand-alone dedicated control channel (SDCCH): Communications channel between
MS and the BTS; signaling during call setup before a traffic channel (TCH) is allocated.
• SACCH:
The slow associated control channel (SACCH): Transmits continuos measurement
reports (e.g. field strengths) in parallel to operation of a TCH or SDCCH; needed, e.g for
handover decisions; always allocated to TCH or SDCCH; needed for “non-urgent”
procedures, e.g. for radio measurement data, power control (downlinkonly), timing
advance, etc.; always used in parallel to a TCH or SDCCH.
• FACCH:
The fast associated control channel (FACCH): Similar to th SDCCH, but used in parallel to
operation of the TCH; if the data rate of the SACCH is insufficient, “borrowing mode” is
used: Additional bandwidth is borrowed from the TCH; this happens for messages
associated with call establishment authentication of the subscriber, handover decisions,
etc.
GSM Frequencies
 890 MHz 915 MHz 935 MHz 960 MHz

GSM-900 Uplink Downlink

1710 MHz 1785 MHz 1805 MHz 1880 MHz

GSM-1800 Uplink Downlink

• 2G is operating on 900 & 1800 band.

• In 900 Band there are 6 frequencies of 5MHz each,These 6 frequencies of 5MHz are divided into
30 frequencies (Freq 51 to 80) of 200Khz.
• These 30 frequencies are used for the following:-
• Freq 51 to Freq 63 is used for BCCH.
• Freq 64 to Freq 80 is used for TCH.

• In 1800 Band there are 2 Frequencies of 5 MHz each,which are divided into 10 frequencies (539
to 548) of 200 khz.
• All of the above 10 frequencies in 1800 band are used for both TCH and BCCH.
• Downlink:- BTS (Tower) to mobile.
• Uplink:- Mobile to BTS (Tower).
GSM Parameters
• Rxlev - Avg received signal strength of the serving cell measured on all time slot and
subset of time slots.

• Rxqual - Avg received signal quality of the serving cell measured on all time slot and
subset of time slots. It is measured on basis of BER.

• SQI : SQI is a more sophisticated measure which is dedicated to reflecting the quality of
the speech (as opposed to radio environment conditions). This means that when
optimizing the speech quality in your network, SQI is the best criterion to use. SQI is
updated at 0.5 s intervals. It is computed on basis of BER and FER.
18 to 30 – Good
0 to 18 - Bad
• CGI : It stands for the Cell Global Identity which is unique for every sector of the site. It
consists of MCC,MNC,LAC,CI.

Mobile Country Code + Mobile Network Code + Location Area Code +Cell Identity
For Airtel MNC must be 10.

• Cell-ID:-A GSM Cell ID (CID) is a generally unique number used to identify each Base
transceiver station (BTS) or sector of a BTS within a Location area code (LAC) if not
within a GSM network.
Ranges for All Technologies
3G Basics
• Cell I.D – This is the identity or name given to a particular Node B and its cell by the
operator.
• UARFCN – It is the frequency band allotted to the operator. One spectrum bandwidth is
of 5MHz in WCDMA or 3G.
• Cell Name – It is the name given to particular Node B’s by the operator generally along
the lines of the name of the area the Node B is located in.
• Scrambling Code – Scrambling code is a code assigned to a particular cell. There are 512
such codes for the network to differentiate among different Node B’s and these codes
can be repetitive. They are of two types primary and secondary.
• AS – This stands for Active Set. Active Set is the set of Scrambling Code which the U.E is
currently latched on and there can be a maximum of 3 Scrambling codes in Active Set.
• MN – MN Stands for monitored neighbor i.e. the neighbor cell that is detected by the
U.E as a neighbor and is also defined as a neighbor in the network. U.E will initiate a
Handover onto the monitored neighbor in case the monitored neighbor has a stronger
RSCP or EcNo than the AS.
• DN - DN stands for Detected Neighbor and as the name suggests it is the neighbor
detected by the UE but, is not defined in our network . Hence, the U.E does not
handover to the detected neighbor. It can be because of Overshooting of a site,
incomplete neighbor list or in case of a new site. It is very important to optimize and
have no DN’s as they are one of the major reasons of Call drops in 3G.
• CPICH Ec/No – Common Pilot channel Ec/No is the ratio of energy of the chip and the
combined power of all the signals including the pilot itself received by the UE at that
particular point. It is a very important factor for call quality.
• CPICH RSCP – Received Signal Code Power is the level of the signal received by the U.E
from a particular pilot.
• Tx Power – As the name suggests it is the transmitting power of a Mobile Station. Its
value can vary from -50 to 50. The minimum the Tx power of the Mobile station the
better it is for call quality.
• UTRA Carrier RSSI - It is the Received Signal Strength Indicator of the Mobile Station or
the U.E. It tells us the total Power Received by the Mobile Station from all the Pilots
including itself at that particular location.
• SQI - It is the speech Quality Index which is a parameter to rate the voice Quality on
that particular call. It ranges from 0 – 30 with 30 being the best quality.
• RRC State – It tells the current state and channel as in Idle or dedicated.
• RLC DL Throughput – This is the total throughput on the downlink at that particular
point.
• RLC UL Throughput – This is the total throughput on the Uplink at that particular point.
• Pilot Pollution:- when the number of strong cells exceeds the active set size, there is
“pilot pollution” in the area. Typically the active set size is 3, so if there are more than 3
strong cells then there is pilot pollution.
• Mobile station (MS) or UE: The User Equipment or UE is the name given to what was
previous termed the mobile, or cellphone.
• Radio Network Subsystem (RNS): The RNS also known as the UMTS Radio Access
Network, UTRAN, is the equivalent of the previous Base Station Subsystem or BSS in
GSM. It provides and manages the air interface for the overall network.
• Core Network: The core network provides all the central processing and management
for the system. It is the equivalent of the GSM Network Switching Subsystem or NSS.

The 3G UMTS core network architecture is a migration of that used for GSM with further
elements overlaid to enable the additional functionality demanded by UMTS.In view of
the different ways in which data may be carried, the UMTS core network may be split
into two different areas:

• Circuit switched elements: These elements are primarily based on the GSM network
entities and carry data in a circuit switched manner, i.e. a permanent channel for the
duration of the call.
• Packet switched elements: These network entities are designed to carry packet data.
This enables much higher network usage as the capacity can be shared and data is
carried as packets which are routed according to their destination.
 Channels in 3G
The WCDMA Channels are categorised into three types:
• Logical Channels: The logical channels define the way in which the data will be
transferred
• Transport Channels: The 3G transport channels along with the logical channel
again defines the way in which the data is transferred
• Physical channels: The physical channels carry the payload data and govern the
physical characteristics of the signal.
 3G Logical Channels: The 3G logical channels include:
• Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) (downlink). This channel broadcasts
information to UEs relevant to the cell, such as radio channels of neighbouring
cells, etc.
• Paging Control Channel (PCCH) (downlink). This channel is associated with the
PICH and is used for paging messages and notification information.
• Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH) (up and downlinks) This channel is used to
carry dedicated control information in both directions.
• Common Control Channel (CCCH) (up and downlinks). This bi-directional
channel is used to transfer control information.
• Shared Channel Control Channel (SHCCH) (bi-directional). This channel is bi-
directional and only found in the TDD form of WCDMA / UMTS, where it is used
to transport shared channel control information.
• Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH) (up and downlinks). This is a bidirectional
channel used to carry user data or traffic.
• Common Traffic Channel (CTCH) (downlink) A unidirectional channel used to
transfer dedicated user information to a group of UEs.
 3G transport channels include:
• Dedicated Transport Channel (DCH) (up and downlink). This is used to transfer
data to a particular UE. Each UE has its own DCH in each direction.
• Broadcast Channel (BCH) (downlink). This channel broadcasts information to
the UEs in the cell to enable them to identify the network and the cell.
• Forward Access Channel (FACH) (down link). This is channel carries data or
information to the UEs that are registered on the system. There may be more
than one FACH per cell as they may carry packet data.
• Paging Channel (PCH) (downlink). This channel carries messages that alert the
UE to incoming calls, SMS messages, data sessions or required maintenance
such as re-registration.
• Random Access Channel (RACH) (uplink). This channel carries requests for
service from UEs trying to access the system
• Uplink Common Packet Channel (CPCH) (uplink). This channel provides
additional capability beyond that of the RACH and for fast power control.
• Downlink Shared Channel (DSCH) (downlink).This channel can be shared by
several users and is used for data that is "bursty" in nature such as that
obtained from web browsing etc.
 3G physical channels include:
• Primary Common Control Physical Channel (PCCPCH) (downlink). This channel
continuously broadcasts system identification and access control information.
• Secondary Common Control Physical Channel (SCCPCH) (downlink) This channel carries
the Forward Access Channel (FACH) providing control information, and the Paging
Channel (PACH) with messages for UEs that are registered on the network.
• Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) (uplink). This channel enables the UE to
transmit random access bursts in an attempt to access a network.
• Dedicated Physical Data Channel (DPDCH) (up and downlink). This channel is used to
transfer user data.
• Dedicated Physical Control Channel (DPCCH) (up and downlink). This channel carries
control information to and from the UE. In both directions the channel carries pilot bits
and the Transport Format Combination Identifier (TFCI). The downlink channel also
includes the Transmit Power Control and FeedBack Information (FBI) bits.
• Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) (downlink). This channel shares control
information to UEs within the coverage area of the node B.
• Physical Common Packet Channel (PCPCH) This channel is specifically intended to carry
packet data. In operation the UE monitors the system to check if it is busy, and if not it
then transmits a brief access burst. This is retransmitted if no acknowledgement is
gained with a slight increase in power each time. Once the node B acknowledges the
request, the data is transmitted on the channel.
• Synchronisation Channel (SCH) The synchronisation channel is used in allowing UEs to
synchronise with the network.
• Common Pilot Channel (CPICH) This channel is transmitted by every node B so that the
UEs are able estimate the timing for signal demodulation. Additionally they can be used
as a beacon for the UE to determine the best cell with which to communicate.
• Acquisition Indicator Channel (AICH) The AICH is used to inform a UE about the Data
Channel (DCH) it can use to communicate with the node B. This channel assignment
occurs as a result of a successful random access service request from the UE.
• Paging Indication Channel (PICH) This channel provides the information to the UE to be
able to operate its sleep mode to conserve its battery when listening on the Paging
Channel (PCH). As the UE needs to know when to monitor the PCH, data is provided on
the PICH to assign a UE a paging repetition ratio to enable it to determine how often it
needs to 'wake up' and listen to the PCH.
• CPCH Status Indication Channel (CSICH) This channel, which only appears in the
downlink carries the status of the CPCH and may also be used to carry some
intermittent, or "bursty" data. It works in a similar fashion to PICH.
3G Frequencies
• Uplink and Downlink Frequencies in 3G:-

UL:-1920MHz--1980MHz DL:-2110MHz--2170MHz

• 3G is operating on 2100 Band.

• C2 was introduced to increase the capacity of the network.

• There are two separate frequecies (ARFCN) used by Airtel for C1 and C2:-

• 10657 for C1 and 10682 for C2 (Downlink).

• 9707 for C1 and 9732 for C2 (Uplink).
Handovers in 2G & 3G
 Types of GSM handover
Within the GSM system there are four types of handover that can be performed for GSM
only systems:
• Intra-BTS handover: This form of GSM handover occurs if it is required to change the
frequency or slot being used by a mobile because of interference, or other reasons. In
this form of GSM handover, the mobile remains attached to the same base station
transceiver, but changes the channel or slot.
• Inter-BTS Intra BSC handover: This for of GSM handover or GSM handoff occurs when
the mobile moves out of the coverage area of one BTS but into another controlled by the
same BSC. In this instance the BSC is able to perform the handover and it assigns a new
channel and slot to the mobile, before releasing the old BTS from communicating with
the mobile.
• Inter-BSC handover: When the mobile moves out of the range of cells controlled by one
BSC, a more involved form of handover has to be performed, handing over not only from
one BTS to another but one BSC to another. For this the handover is controlled by the
MSC.
• Inter-MSC handover: This form of handover occurs when changing between networks.
The two MSCs involved negotiate to control the handover
 Types of 3G handover

For purely inter W-CDMA technology, there are three basic types of handover:
• Hard handover: This form of handover is essentially the same as that used for 2G
networks where one link is broken and another established.
• Soft handover: This form of handover is a more gradual and the UE communicates
simultaneously with more than one Node B or base station during the handover process.
• Softer handover: Not a full form of UMTS handover, but the UE communicates with
more than one sector managed by the same NodeB.
• UMTS GSM inter RAT handover: 3G to 2G handover is called as IRAT
KPIs need to be checked in 2G
 TCH Drop
• TCH Drop: Reason & Solution
• Drop during conversation is known as TCH drop. It takes place after connect ACK msg on TCH.TCH drop occurring.
• For TCH drop first cross check the BCCH of that cell, hardware issue may be, change RXP and RLT value. Find out there
is any interference ,neighbor defined.
•

Reasons for TCH Drop:

Wrong Parameter Planning.
• BAD HOSR.
• Hardware Fault.
• High TR Fail.
• Overshoot.
• Outage.
• Due to Low Coverage.
• Due to ICM Band(CDMA)
•

Solutions for removal of TCH Drop:

Check Parameter:
Check the BCCH Plan (C/I or C/A), Co-BSIC & Co BCCH.
• Check the Timer T 100(should be 20 ms)
 Check Overshooting:
If a cell is picking call from long distance, Check the sample log according to TA..
• Site Orientation.
• Effective tilt should be check.
• Mount position should be check

• Improve HOSR:
Check the Hopping plan.
• Check the Neighbor Plan
•

Check HW:
Check Alarms on site.
• Check TRXs,Check Slips.
• Check the Hopping plan.
• Check BB2F card., Check VSWR,
• Path imbalance,Connector, Connection,Check TMA
 TCH Blocking
• For Ericsson Vendor.
When TCH is not allocated to the user after SD allocation ,it is TCH Blocking.
• It is the failed call attempts which the MS user can notice.
• It takes place due to lack of TCH Resource.
• Reasons for TCH Blocking:
High Utilization of TCH
• Time slot faulty.
• Lock TRXs.
• HW Problem.
• Solutions for removal of TCH Blocking:
Implement half rate or Dual rate.
• Check FRL & FRU.
• Add another TRX.
• If TRX addition not possible, try to share the traffic of that cell with the neighboring cell
by changing tilt or orientation
 SD Drop
• It occurs between allocation of SD and before TCH allocation. Sometimes SD drop occurs because
queuing is not activated in the system.

If SD drop is high plz look on parameters like- overshooting , shift the SD time slot , may be hardware
issue, interference, change the values of RXP, PMAX, may be issue of uplink or downlink issue in that
cells for UL put a TMA in that cell and for DL provide tilt ,re orient that antenna

If SD drop is high plz look on parameters like-

Overshooting
• Shift the SD time slot
• Hardware issue-Check Alarms.,TRX condition.,Check Path Imbalance.,VSWR of the Cell.,Connector
Connection.
• Some times you will find issues on BCCH TRX.In this case BCCH shift from one to other TRX will reduce
SD drop.
• Interference: Check the BCCH Plan (C/I or C/A). Co-BSIC & Co BCCH. Change the values of RXP PMAX
• It may be uplink or downlink issue in which cells for UL put a TMA in that cell and for DL provide tilt
• Re orient that antenna.
• Use latest ND 111 and MapInfo to find out proper frequency to reduce interference
• High LAPD Utilization:Check LAPD util report from OSS, and define 32 kbps signaling instead of 16kbps
 SD Blocking
• SDCCH is a dedicated channel which is using for LAC updation, Call setup, SMS in idle mode. It works in UL & DL.
• SD blocking means that you are not getting SD resource for the call origination. When MS connects with NW then RACH and AGCH are
provided. After AGCH,SDCCH is provided but if SDCCH is not provided at this time due some problems or due to unavailable of SD by
BSC ,it’s called as SD Blocking. There are no of reasons for that.If such a case arises the customer will not be able to originate any call.
•

Difference Between Blocking and Congestion:

It is very important to know difference between blocking and congestion. Some people think that both are same, but they differ from
each other. If all the SD resources are full and not available for SD assign then its come into congestion. If at a particular time call is
attempted and it fails then it known as Blocking.

Reasons for SD Blocking:

Some of them are-
1. LAC boundary.
2.HW Prob.

Solutions for removal of SD Blocking:

Here are some steps by which we can reduce SD Blocking-

Check the No. of SDCCH channel Available, if less then increase SD channel taking care that there is no TCH Blocking.
• Check LAC boundary, If location update is more then change the LAC of that site and set C2 and HYS.
• Use of Dynamic SDCCH (It is a BSC parameter and will be applied on whole BTS).
• Hardware check / shift SD to new time slot
• Some times BMA and HYS parameters are useful to remove SD Blocking.
 ICM (Band 4 &5)
• Idle Channel Measurement (ICM)
The main purpose of the Idle Channel Measurements is to generate statistics about the uplink
interference on each idle channel (Traffic Channel (TCH) or Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel
(SDCCH)).
Within Idle Channel Measurements there are five interference bands defined, which together cover
the signal strength measurement range. Generally, if an idle channel falls in interference band level
4 or 5, the interference is occurred.

VSWR

• This alarm is mainly due to Antenna connection faulty..ie due to improper

connection of cables etc.
Thank you