GSM Frequency Spectrum

GSM 900
DL: 935-960 MHz, UL: 890-915 MHz
200 kHz channel spacing 124 channels
ARFCN 1 124
E-GSM
DL: 925-935 MHz, UL: 880-890 MHz
200 kHz channel spacing Additional 50 channels
ARFCN 0, 975 - 1023
GSM 1800
DL: 1805-1880 MHz, UL: 1710-1785 MHz
200 kHz channel spacing 374 channels
ARFCN 512 885
UMTS Band I
1920-1980 and 2110-2170 MHz
Frequency Division Duplex (FDD, W-CDMA) Paired uplink and downlink,
Channel spacing is 5 MHz
Raster is 200 kHz.
Carrier frequencies are designated by a UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel
Number (UARFCN)
UARFCN = 5 * (carrier frequency in MHz)
e.g 1st carrier frequency is 1922.4 MHz (5 MHz 200 kHz/2)
UL: 9612 to 9888
DL: 10562 to 10838
What is frequency reuse?
As the GSM spectrum is limited, frequencies have to be reused to provide enough
capacity
Aim: Minimizing the frequency reuse for providing more capacity
But: More frequencies on air higher interference
Reuse Cluster

Group of cells which do not reuse the same frequency (or frequency group) are said to
belong to a reuse cluster
RCS =

Reuse Cluster Size RCS

B
# TRX / cell

Used if no of TRX per cell is the same.

Average Reuse Cluster Size ARCS

ARCS =

B
# TRX / cell

Used by calculating average no of TRX per cell.

Tradeoff
The lower the ARCS is:
the higher is capacity traffic (more TRX/cell)
The higher interference is
Traffic capacity/inference is always a trade-off.
Example 1
BCCH reuse is always RCS, because we dont need to use an average (always one BCCH
per cell).
Sectorized sites
4 sites per reuse cluster
3 cells per site
REUSE Cluster Size:
4X3 =12
Example 2
Another example of BCCH RCS
Sectorized sites
3 sites per reuse cluster
3 cells per site

REUSE Cluster Size

3X3 = 9
BCCH vs. TCH REUSE
BCCH layer needs a higher REUSE then other layers
TCH layers can be planned with a smaller REUSE
The BCCH carrier has the highest interferer potential because of being on air all the time
with full power (No DTX or PC). If not so then the measurements of the neighbour cells
levels would be useless.
GSM restrictions
Intra site minimum channel spacing > 2
Intra cell minimum channel spacing > 3

Intermodulation
1. When a single frequency (f1) is fed through a device whose output is not a linear
function of its input, harmonics of f1 are generated, i.e. 2f1, 3f1, 4f1, 5f1, etc (no device
is perfect and so harmonics are always generated even at low levels).
2. Now, if two separate frequencies (f1 & f2) exist together in a non-linear device, sum
and difference frequencies are also produced in addition to the harmonics.
3. Since there are harmonics of f1 and f2, then there will be sum and difference products
between all of the harmonics and the fundamentals and between each other.
These are the intermodulation products which are frequency components distinct from
the harmonic components discussed in 1.
4. The harmonies and the intermodulation products extend upward in frequency to
approach infinity, progressively decreasing in amplitude as the frequency increases.
However, we are only really interested in those of practical significance, that is of such a
level that they might deteriorate the quality of our signal beyond an acceptable level.
5. If f1 = 100kHz & f2=101kHz

6. Of all the harmonics and intermodulation components produced, we are often only
interested in those which fall in. the passband of our equipment, those which happen to
be closest to our fundamental frequencies.
The third order components are the closest and also usually the highest in amplitude.
Because of this, they are usually the products of most concern and are those which are
commonly measured and defined in transmitter and receiver performance specifications.
IM Products GSM900
In a GSM 900 system intermodulation products of 3rd and 5th order can cause
interference
To avoid intraband IM inside GSM900 the following frequency separations shall be
avoided: 75/112/113 channels
IM Products GSM1800
In a GSM 1800 system, only intermodulation products of 3rd order can cause
mesasurable interference
Frequency separations to be avoided: 237/238 channels
BSIC allocation
BSIC = NCC (3bits) + BCC (3bits)
The BSIC is to distinguish between Base Stations using the same BCCH frequency

BSIC up to 8*8 = 64 values

In South Africa: Vodacom and TMN use both all 64 BSIC values. They use however
different MCC or MNC to distinguish themselves.