Global System of Mobile

Communications (GSM)
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications: originally from Groupe Spécial
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 is
used by over 4.3 billion people across more than 212 countries and territories.

Its ubiquity enables international roaming arrangements between mobile phone operators,
providing subscribers the use of their phones in many parts of the world.

GSM differs from its predecessor technologies in that both signaling and speech channels are
digital, and thus GSM is considered a second generation (2G) mobile phone system. This
also facilitates the wide-spread implementation of data communication applications into the
system.

The ubiquity of implementation of the GSM standard has been an advantage to both
consumers, who may benefit from the ability to roam and switch carriers without replacing
phones, and also to network operators, who can choose equipment from many GSM
equipment vendors.

GSM also pioneered low-cost implementation of the short message service (SMS), also
called text messaging, which has since been supported on other mobile phone standards as
well. The standard includes a worldwide emergency telephone number feature (112).

Newer versions of the standard were backward-compatible with the original GSM system.
For example, Release '97 of the standard added packet data capabilities by means of General
Packet Radio Service (GPRS). Release '99 introduced higher speed data transmission using
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE).

History of GSM
It all started like this…
 In 1880, First Telephone (Photophone) was invented by Alexander Bell.

 In 1921, The first car mounted radio telephone was launched.

 In 1973, first handheld cellular phone was launched by Motorola.

 During the early 1980s, there were analog technologies:

 Advanced Mobile Phone Services (AMPS) in North America.

 Total Access Communications System (TACS) in the UK.

 Nordic Mobile Telephone (NMT) in Nordic countries.

 Each country developed its own system, which caused problems:

 System worked only within the boundaries of each country.

 Mobile equipment manufacturer markets were limited by the

operating system.

 In 1982, the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations

(CEPT) created the Groupe Spécial Mobile (GSM), a digital technology, to develop a
standard for a mobile telephone system that could be used across Europe.

 In 1897, Initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by network operators

representing 13 countries to develop a common cellular telephone system across Europe.
It coverered the following points:

 to coordinate introduction of GSM

 to agree on time scales

 to plan the introduction of services

 to coordinate routing, billing and tariffs

Finally the system created by SINTEF led by Torleiv Maseng was selected

 In 1988, validation and trials were performed.

 In 1989, GSM responsibility was transferred to the European Telecommunications

Standards Institute (ETSI) and phase I of the GSM specifications were published in 1990.

 The first GSM network was launched in 1991 by Radiolinja in Finland with joint
technical infrastructure maintenance from Ericsson.

 By the end of 1993, over a million subscribers were using GSM phone networks being
operated by 70 carriers across 48 countries

Mobile Telephony Standards

First Generation (1G)

 Analog systems

 Implemented in North America

 known as Analog Mobile Phone Systems (AMPS)

 based on circuit-switched technology and designed for voice, not data.

Second Generation (2G)

 based on low-band digital data signaling

 Mostly based on Circuit Switched technology

 These are digital and expand the range of applications to more advanced voice
services.

 not suitable for web browsing and multimedia applications

Transitional Generation (2.5G, 2.75G)

 packet-switching

 Connection to the internet is paid by packets and not by connection time.

 Connection to internet is cheaper and faster [up to 56KBps]

 The service name is GPRS – General Packet Radio Services

Third Generation (3G)

 Permanent web connection at 2Mbps

 Internet, phone and media: 3 in 1

 The standard based on GSM is called UMTS.

 The EDGE standard is the development of GSM towards 3G.

GSM Access Techniques – FDMA and TDMA

 Frequency Division Mu ltiple Access (FDMA)

 the frequency band is divided in slots.

 Each user gets one frequency slot assigned that is used at will.

 It could be compared to AM or FM broadcasting radio where each station has a

frequency assigned.

89 91 93 96
0 25 5 5 25 0
0 MHz
1 2 0
MHz
1 2
Mobile to Base to
Base (MH Mobile
890 890 890 z) 935 935. 935
.2 200 .4 .6 .2 4 .6
200
kHz45M
kHz
Hzand frequency bands of operation
Channel layout

 Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

 the frequency band is not partitioned but users are allowed to use it only in
predefined intervals of time, one at a time.

 Each caller is assigned a specific time slot for transmission.

 Many conversations are multiplexed into a single channel.

 Typical TDMA/ FDMA frame
structure

F
R
A
M
E
Allocated GSM Frequency Bands

GSM 900 MHz

 up: 890~915 MHz

 down: 935~960 MHz
 duplex interval: 45 MHz
 bandwidth: 25 MHz
 frequency interval: 200 KHz

GSM 1800 MHz

 up: 1710-1785 MHz

 down: 1805-1880 MHz
 duplex interval: 95 MHz
 working bandwidth: 75 MHz
 frequency interval: 200 KHz

EGSM 900 MHz

  up: 880~890 MHz
 down: 925~935 MHz
 duplex interval: 45 MHz
 bandwidth: 10 MHz
 frequency interval: 200 KHz

GSM 1900 MHz

 up:1850~1910 MHz
 down:1930~1990 MHz
 duplex interval: 80 MHz
 working bandwidth: 60 MHz
 frequency interval: 200 KHz

Cellular radio network

 GSM is a cellular network, which means that mobile phones connect to it by searching for
cells in the immediate vicinity.

 There are five different cell sizes in a GSM network—macro, micro, pico, femto and
umbrella cells.
 Macro cells can be regarded as cells where the base station antenna is installed on a
mast or a building above average roof top level.
 Micro cells are cells whose antenna height is under average roof top level; they are
typically used in urban areas.
 Picocells are small cells whose coverage diameter is a few dozen metres; they are
mainly used indoors.
 Femtocells are cells designed for use in residential or small business environments
and connect to the service provider’s network via a broadband internet connection.
 Umbrella cells are used to cover shadowed regions of smaller cells and fill in gaps in
coverage between those cells.
 Cellular principles

 CELL is the geographical area covered by a cell site.

 All the receivers (handsets) in this particular area respond to this cell site i.e. they
receives and transmits signal to a particular cell only.
 Frequency reuse – same frequency in many cell sites.
 Cellular expansion – easy to add new Cells.
 Handover – moving between cells
 Roaming between networks
 The power level of a transmitter within a single cell must be limited to reduce the
interference with the neighboring cells.
 Neighboring cells cannot share the same channels
 Different size of patterns: 4,7,12 or 21 cells in one cluster.

 Frequency Reuse Pattern

“4 ´ 3” reuse mode:

one group includes 3 sectors /site ,12 frequency which are distributed to 4 sites. Every site
owns 3 frequency

“3 ´ 3” reuse mode:

one group includes 3 sectors /site ,9 frequency which are distributed to 3 sites. Every site
owns 3 frequency.

 Cell Mode Layout

Omni-directional cell
Adopt omni-directional antenna the overall directional propagation characteristic is the same.

Directional cell
In general, cell with multi-sector is in common use. Every directional cell adopts directional
antenna
 The modulation used in GSM is Gaussian minimum-shift keying (GMSK), a kind of
continuous-phase frequency shift keying. In GMSK, the signal to be modulated onto the
carrier is first smoothed with a Gaussian low-pass filter prior to being fed to a frequency
modulator, which greatly reduces the interference to neighboring channels (adjacent-
channel interference).

Architecture of a GSM Network

A-bis interface
Mobile Station (MS)

 It is portable, vehicle mounted or hand held.

 It is identified by unique IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number.
 It shall display at least last ten received, dialed and missed calls.
 It provides minimum talk time of 1hr 30 min. and standby time of 80 hrs.
 It can be used to send 160 characters long SMS.
 It provides voice and data transmission.
 It has frequency and time synchronization.
 It helps in monitoring of power and signal quality of the surrounding cells.
 It has the provision of location updates even during inactive state.
 It helps in equalization of multipath distortions.

Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

 It encodes, encrypts, multiplexes, modulates and feeds the RF signals to the antenna.
 It has transcoding and rate adaption Functionality.
 It utilizes time and frequency synchronization signals transmission.
 It has 11 power classes from .01 watts to 320 watts.
 It has frequency hopping.
 It has random access detection.
 Uplink radio channel measurements.
 It mainly consists of a set of transceivers (TRX).

Base Station Controller (BSC)

 It is connected to BTS and offloads MSC.

 Radio resource management .
 Inter-cell handover .
 Reallocation of frequencies.
 Power control.
 Time delay measurement of the received signals from MS with respect to BTS clock.
 Performs traffic concentration to reduce the number of lines from BSC to MSC.
 BSC performs call processing
 TRAU are generally located at the site of MSC.
 BSC- BTS configurations as per requirement.
 Data from OMC and can be down loaded to BSC

Network Sub System (NSS)

 Nerve Centre of entire GSM network.

 Manages all.
 call processing.
 subscriber related functions
 Contains
 the core switching component
 a number of databases
 gateways to other networks
 Uses Signalling System Number 7 (SS7)

Mobile Switching Centre (MSC)

 Manages communication between GSM & other network.

 Call setup functions, basic switching are done.
  MSC takes into account the RR allocation in addition to normal exchange functions.
 MSC does gateway function while its customers roams to other network by using
HLR /VLR .
 Paging, specifically call handling .
 Location updation .
 Handover management.
 Billing for all subscribers based in its area.
 Reallocation of frequencies to BTSs in its area to meet heavy demands.
 Echo canceller operation control.
 Signaling interface to databases like HLR, VLR.
 Gateway to SMS between SMS centers and subscribers.
 Handle interworking function while working as GMSC.

GSM Overview

Visitor Location Register (VLR)

 It controls those mobiles roaming in its area.

 VLR reduces the number of queries to HLR
 One VLR may be incharge of one or more LA.
 VLR is updated by HLR on entry of MS its area.
 VLR assigns TMSI which keeps on changing.
 IMSI detach and attach operation
 Data in VLR:
 IMSI & TMSI
 MSISDN
 MSRN.
 Location Area
 Supplementary service parameters
 MS category
  Authentication Key

Home Location Register (HLR)

 Reference store for subscriber’s parameters, numbers, authentication & Encryption

values.
 Current subscriber status and associated VLR.
 Both VLR and HLR can be implemented in the same equipment in an MSC.
 One PLMN may contain one or several HLR.
 Permanent data in HLR
 Data stored is changed only by man-machine.
 IMSI, MS-ISDN number.
 Category of MS ( whether pay phone or not )
 Roaming restriction ( allowed or not ).
 Supplementary services like call forwarding.
 Temporary data in HLR.
 The data changes from call to call & is Dynamic.
 MSRN
 RAND /SRES and Kc
 VLR address, MSC address.
 Messages waiting data used for SMS

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

 Maintains lists of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of all

valid and invalid equipment for the network.
 An IMEI may be invalid if
 Stolen
 not approved for use on the network, possibly due to some defect
 EIR consulted during registration/call setup

Authentication Centre (AUC)

 Protected database
 Stores all algorithms used for authentication Purposes
 Knows which one has been issued to the subscriber (stored on SIM card) provides
HLR or VLR with parameters for completing authentication

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

One of the key features of GSM is the Subscriber Identity Module, commonly known as a
SIM card. The SIM is a detachable smart card containing the user's subscription information
and phone book. This allows the user to retain his or her information after switching
handsets. Alternatively, the user can also change operators while retaining the handset simply
by changing the SIM. Some operators will block this by allowing the phone to use only a
single SIM, or only a SIM issued by them; this practice is known as SIM locking and is
illegal in some countries.

GSM SERVICES

 Services are defined as anything the end user explicitly sees as worth paying for.

 The primary objective of a mobile telephony system is to allow mobile subscribers to

communicate effectively.

 Main type of telecommunication services:

 Basic services:
Available to all subscribers to a mobile network.
e.g. voice telephone calls.

 Supplementary services:
Additional services that are available by subscription
only.
e.g. Call forwarding.

Basic Telecommunication Services

Two main categories:

 Teleservices
 Bearer Services

Teleservices
 Teleservice allows the subscriber to communicate (usually via voice, fax, data or
SMS) with another subscriber.
 It is a complete system including necessary terminal equipment.

Bearer services
  It transports speech and data as digital information within the network between user
interfaces. e.g.- a bearer service associated with the speech telephony teleservice is
the timeslot assigned to a call on a TDMA frame over the air interface

Emergency calls
 The emergency call function enables a subscriber to make an emergency call by
pressing a predefined button or by using the emergency number. (like 112 , 911).

Dual Tone Multi Frequency(DTMF)

 A tone signaling facility which is often used for various control purposes, such as
remote control of answering machines and interacting with automated telephone
services.

SMS Cell Broadcast (SMSCB)

 A text message with a maximum length of 93 characters can be broadcast to all
mobiles within a certain geographic area.
 traffic congestion warnings
 accident reports
 weather announcements and
 advertisements.

Voice mail
 This service is an answering machine within the network that is controlled by the
subscriber.
 The subscriber accesses the mail box using a personal security code.

SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICES

Call forwarding
 ability to forward incoming calls to another telephone number in the following
situations:
 Call forwarding on MS not reachable
 Call forwarding on MS busy
 Call forwarding on no reply
 Call forwarding, unconditional

Barring of outgoing calls

 The subscriber can activate or deactivate this service from the MS with a variety of
options for barring outgoing calls.
  Bar all outgoing calls
 Bar all outgoing international calls
 Bar all outgoing international calls except those directed to the home PLMN.

Barring of incoming calls

 This is desirable because in some cases the called mobile subscriber is charged for
parts of an incoming call (during international roaming)

 Barring of all incoming calls

 Barring of incoming calls when outside home PLMN

Call waiting
 This service notifies the mobile subscriber, usually by an audible tone, for incoming
call.
 The incoming call can be any type of basic service including speech, data or fax.
 There is no notification in the case of an emergency call or SMS.

Call hold
 This supplementary service enables the subscribers to put the basic normal telephony
service on hold in order to set up a new call or accept a waiting call.

Calling line identification services:

 These cover both the presentation and restriction of the calling line identity.
 The presentation part of the service supplies the called party with the ISDN or
MSISDN number of the calling party.
 The restriction service enables calling parties to restrict the presentation of their
number on the MSs of called parties

Closed User Group (CUG)

 The CUG service enables subscriber connected to the PLMN/ISDN and possibly
other networks, to form groups in which access is restricted.
 Example: members of a specific CUG can communicate with each other, but
generally not with users outside the group.

Value Added Services

 Mobile Messaging
 Mobile internet
 Mobile intelligent Network Services

Mobile Messaging
  SMS
 EMS
 MMS
 Instant Messaging
 Streaming

Streaming
Short Message Services (SMS)
 The service allows simple text message consisting of a maximum of 160
alphanumeric characters to be sent to or from an MS.
 If the MS is switched off, or has left the coverage area, the message is stores in a
Short Message Service Center (SMS-C).
 When the mobile is switched on again or has re-entered the network coverage area,
the subscriber is informed that there is a message.

Enhanced Messaging System (EMS)

 EMS can support relatively simple pictures, sounds and animation.

 EMS messages that are sent to devices that do not support it will be displayed as SMS
transmissions.
 It is a 3GPP standard.

MULTIMEDIA MESSAGE SERVICE

(MMS)
 MMS means a multimedia presentation which consists of music, voice, image, text,
video and graphics all synchronized across a common timeline.
 MMS-enabled mobile phones enable subscribers to compose and send messages
with one or more multimedia parts. Mobile phones with built-in or attached cameras,
or with built-in MP3 players are very likely to also have an MMS messaging client --
a software program that interacts with the mobile subscriber to compose, address,
send, receive, and view MMS messages.

SMS MMS

rich content including text,

Text Based Messaging
graphic, photos etc.
 Based upon 3 GPP & WAP
Proprietary Standard
standards.

Store & Forward system Store & Forward system

Uses signaling links MMS uses main data channel.

Instant Messaging

 It enables to communicate with another individual in real time, analogous to a

telephone conversation but using text based communication instead of voice-
based communication.

Streaming
 It enables real time or on demand distribution of audio, video and multimedia
on the internet.
 It is simultaneous transfer of digital media (video,voice and data) so that it is
received as a continuous real-time stream

Mobile internet

 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)

 General packet radio service (GPRS) is a packet oriented mobile data service
available to all users of the 2G cellular communication systems global system for
mobile communications (GSM), as well as in the 3G systems.

 In 2G systems, GPRS provides data rates of 56-114 kbit/second.

 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.

 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. It was originally
standardized by European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), but now
by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

 GPRS was developed as a GSM response to the earlier CDPD and i-mode packet
switched cellular technologies.

Mobile intelligent Network Services

In this age of significant telecommunications competition, mobile network operators
continuously seek new and innovative ways to create differentiation and increase profits. One
of the best ways to do accomplish this is through the delivery of highly personalized services.
One of the most powerful ways to personalize mobile services is based on location.

 Positioning

 One of the most obvious technologies behind LBS is positioning, with the most
widely recognized system being the Global Positioning System (GPS).

 There are however, other means of positioning in addition to GPS. These other
technologies are network based positioning and typically rely on various means of
triangulation of the signal from cell sites serving a mobile phone.

 In addition, the serving cell site can be used as a fix for location of the user.

 Geographic Information Systems

  Geographic data is an important aspect of any location system. Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) provide the tools to provision and administer base map
data such as man made structures (streets, buildings) and terrain (mountains, rivers).

 GIS is also used to manage point-of-interest data such as location of gas stations,
restaurants, nightclubs, etc.

 Finally, GIS information also includes information about the radio frequency
characteristics of the mobile network. This allows the system to determine the serving
cell site of the user.

 Traffic Information
Vertical applications
Its all about Imagination……...