Contents

Chapter (1)
1-1 GSM 1

1-2 CELLULAR RADIO 3

1-3 LESSION INTRODUCTION 5

1-4 GSM REFERENCE MODEL 6

1-5 MOBILE SWITCHING CENTER (MSC) 8

1-6 HOME LOCATION REGISTER 10

1-7 VISITOR LOCATION REGISTER 12

1-8 EQUIPMENT IDENTITY REGISTER 14

1-9 AUTHENTICATION CENTER 16

1-10 MOBILE STATION 20

1-11 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CENTER 21

1-12 THE Um-INTERFACE 23

1-13 LOGICAL CHANNELS 26

1-14 OVERVIEW OF THE GSM 30

1-1- GSM

The first commercial GSM system, called D2, was implemented in

Germany in 1992. CEPT a European organization, began to develop the
Global System for Mobile communications in June 1982. GSM provides
powerful message signaling capabilities that facilitate and enhance roaming,
compared with the first generation analog systems, through automatic
network location detection and registration. Also GSM telephones use smart
cards (the so called SIM or Subscriber Identity Module), that is, credit card
sized devices containing a microprocessor. The serial number and telephone
number are contained there, not in the telephone, making for greater
personal mobility, and better physical security (stealing the phone without
the card will not get you the number).

Although the GSM standard is adopted by more than 80 countries

around the world, other digital standards have been used. The US system,
IS-54, and the Japanese system, JDC, have been designed to be compatible
with each country’s existing analog system. So each AMPS (Advanced
Mobile Phone System) channel could be used either for analog or digital
communication. GSM, however, has been designed from scratch as a fully
digital system, without any compromises for the sake of backward
compatibility (e.g., having to use the existing frequency slots).

GSM was originally designed for use in the 900-MHz band. Later,
frequencies were allocated at 1800 MHz, and a second system, closely
patterned on GSM, was set up there. The latter is called DCS 1800, but it is
essentially GSM. [3]

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 The GSM standard technical specifications are over 5000 pages long
[5]. A large fraction of this material relates to engineering aspects of the
system, especially the design of receivers to handle multipath signal
propagation, and synchronizing transmitters and receivers.

The MSC is essentially an end-office (which is an office that gathers

user channels of a network), as in the telephone system, and is in fact
connected to at least one telephone system end-office. The MSCs can
exchange data with the base station, each other, and the PSTN (Public
Switched Telephone Network) using a packet switching network.

At any instant, each mobile telephone is logically in one specific cell

and under the control of that cell’s base station. When a mobile telephone
leaves a cell, its base station notices the telephone’s signal fading away and
asks all the surrounding base stations how much power they are getting
from that particular mobile telephone. The base station then transfers
ownership to the cell getting the strongest signal, that is, the cell where the
telephone is now located. The telephone is then informed of its new cell,
and if a call is in progress, it will be asked to switch to a new channel
(because the old one is not reused in any of the adjacent cells). This
process is called hand-off or hand-over and take a very short time, too
short for the user to notice (less than 350 msec). Channel assignment is
done by the MSC, which is the nerve center of the system. The base
stations are really just radio relays.

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1-2- CELLULAR RADIO
Cellular radio, basically, is a small-scale, “cellular” version of the
communication linkage provided by large radio-broad casting systems. A
metropolitan area is divided up into smaller units, called cells, that have a
radius of about 3 to 20 km; each cell has its own small radio transceiver
(transmitter-receiver). If necessary, a cell can be further subdivided into
smaller cells. In this way, the honeycomb pattern of cells can repeatedly use
the same range of radio frequencies without interfering with one another, so
long as neighboring cells do not use precisely the same radio channels.
Persons equipped with small mobile phones can use this sytem in the same
way that telephone cells are made using Public Switched Telephone
Networks (PSTNs) [1].

The cells are easier to model as hexagons, but they are normally
roughly circular (the constant signal level contour from an omnidirectional
antenna placed at the center). The cells are all the same size. They are
grouped together in units of seven cells. Each letter indicates a set of
frequencies. Notice that for each frequency-set there is a buffer of a about
two cells wide, where that frequency-set is not reused, providing for good
separation and low interference. In an area where the number of users has
grown to the point where the system is overloaded, the power is reduced
and the overloaded cells are split into smaller cells.

This permits more frequency reuse, at the center of each cell is a base
station (BS) to which all the mobile telephones in the cell transmit. The base
station consists of a computer and transmitter/receiver connected to an
antenna. In a small system, all the base stations are connected to a control
center called an MSC (Mobile Switching Center). In a larger system, several

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MSCs may be needed, all of which can be connected to a second level
MSC, and so on.

Refer to the figure (1-1) in this page

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1-3- LESSION INTRODUCTION
The Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) is the
standared for digital mobile telecommunications developed in the mid-1980s
by the Groupe Special Mobile, a consortium of European manufacturers
and telecommuications authorities. This standard is being deployed in
Europe as well as in many other parts of the world including the Middle
East, Asia/Pacific and elsewhere.

This lesson describes the basic layout of the GSM system

architecture in terms of the major entities involved.

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 1-4- GSM REFERENCE MODEL
The GSM system entities represent groupings of specific wireless
functionality.
• A Public Switching Center (MSC)
• Home Location Register (HLR)
• Visitor Location Register (VLR)
• Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
• Authentication Center (AUC)
• Base Station System (BSS)
- Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
- Base Station Controller (BSC)
• Mobile Station (MS)
• Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC)
• Other Network Elements

Refer to the figure (1-2) on the next page.

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 1-5- MOBILE SWITCHING CENTER (MSC)
Mobile Switching Center (MSC) performs the switching functions for
all mobile stations located in the geographic area covered by its assigned
BSSs. Functions performed include those required to interface with the
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) as well as with the other
MSCs and other system entities, such as the HLR, in the PLMN.

Functions of the MSC include:

• Call handling that copes with mobile nature of subsribers (e.g.
paging)
• Management of required logical radio-link channel during calls.
• Management of MSC-BSS signaling protocol
• Handiling location registration and ensure interworking between
Mobile stain and VLR.
• Control of inter-Bss handovers
• Acting as a gateway MSC to interrogate the HLR
• Exchange of signaling information with other system entities.
• Other normal functions of a local exchange switch in the fixed
network (example: charging)

Refer to the figure (1-3) on the next page.

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 1-6 HOME LOCATION REGISTER
The Home Location Register (HLR) contains the identities of mobile
subsrbers (called international mobile subsciber identities or IMSIs), their
service parameters, and their locatio information. The location information is
stored as a Mobile Station Roaming Number (MSRN) which is a directory
number that the network can use to route calls to the MSC where the mobile
subsriber is located at the time of the call.
• In summary, the HLR contains:
• Identify of mobile subsciber
• ISDN directory number of mobile station.
• Subscription information on teleservices and bearer services.
• Service restrictions (if any)
• Supplementary services
• Location information for call routing.

Refer to the figure (1-4) on the next page.

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 1-7 VISITOR LOCATION REGISTER
The Visitor Location Register (VLR) contains the subscriber
parameters and location information for all mobile subscribers currently
located in the geographical area (i.e. cells) controlled by the that VLR. The
VLR allocates the MSRN and (when required) a Temporary Mobile
Subsriber Identity (TMSI) for secret identification of the mobile subscriber
on the radio link.
• In summary, the VLR contains:
• Identity of mobile subscriber
• Any temporary mobile subsciber identity
• ISDN directory number of mobile
• A directory number to route calls to a roaming station
• Location area where the mobile station is registered
• Copy of the subscriber data from HLR.

Refer to the figure (1-5) on the next page.

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 1-8 EQUIPMENT IDENTITY REGISTER
This database is accessed during the equipment validation procedure
when a mobile accesses the system. It contains the identity of mobile station
equipments (called International Mobile Station Equipment Dentity or IMEI)
which may be valid, suspect or known to be fraudulent.

This contains:
• Valid list-list of valid Ms equipment dentities
• Suspect list-list of mobiles under observation
• Fraudulent list-lsit of mobiles for which service is barred

Refer to the figure (1-6) on the next page.

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 1-9 AUTHENTICATION CENTER
The authentication center:
• Contains subscriber authentication data called Authentication Keys (Ki)
• Generates security related parameters needed to authorize service using
(Ki)
• Generates unique data pattern called a Clipher Key (Kc) needed for
encrypting user speech and data.

Refer to the figure (1-7) on the next page.

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VLR

HLR AUC

Authentication center
Figure (1-7)

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 Vehicular and portable units can be either class I or II, while
handhelds can be class III, IV, or V. Typical vehicular and portable stations
are of power class II or III while the typical handheld is of power class IV.
• The Mobile Stations (MSs) perform the following
• Radio transmission
• Radio channel management
• Terminal capabilities (MTO)
• Speech encoding/decording.
• Radio link error protection
• Flow control of data
• Rate adaptation of user data to the radio link
• Mobility management

Refer to the figure (1-8) on the next page.

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 1-10 MOBILE STATION
The mobile station (MS) represents the terminal equipment used by
the wireless subscriber supported by the GSM wireless system. The MS
has two independent identities:
• Subsciber Identity
• Equipment Identity

A subscriber with an appropriate Subsriber Identity Module (SIM)

can access the system using various mobile equipments. The equipment
identity is not linked to a particular subscriber. Validity checks made on the
MS equipment are performed independent of the authentication checks
made on the MS subscriber information.

• Types of Mobile Stations

• Three basic types of mobile stations are-defined:
• Vehicular stations
• Protable stains
• Handheld stations

Mobile stations can come in five power classes which define the
maximum RF power level that the unit can transmit. Refer to the following
table:
Class Max RF Power (WATTS)
I 20
II 8
III 5
IV 2
V 0.8
Table (1) Mobile station power classes

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1-11 OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CENTER
The Operations and Maintenance Center is the centralized
maintenance and diagositc heart of the PLMN. It allows the network
provider to operate, administer, and monitor the functioning of the sysem
and update equipmetn and subscriber database.

Refer to the figure (1-9) on the next page.

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1-12 THE UM-INTERFACE
One of the most important interfaces is the Um or Air interface. This
interface is throughly specified to achieve a full compatibility between
mobile stations of various manufactureres and networks of different
operators.

FDMA AND TDMA METHODS

To achieve a high spectral efficiency in the cellular network a
combination of FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access) and TDMA
(Time division Multiple Access) is used. The FDMA part invovles the
division by frequency of the 25 MHz bandwidth into 124 carrier frequencies
spaced 200 KHz. One or more frequencies are assigned to each BTS. Each
of these carrier frequencies is then divided in time, using a TDAM scheme
to increase the number of channels per carrier frequency.

Each carrier frequency channel carries eight time-division multiplexed

physical channels. A physical channel is determined by the carrier frequency
(or a number of carrier frequencies and a defined hopping sequence) and
the timeslot number. A mobile station can transmit only during its assigned
timeslot.

UPLINK AND DOWNLINK

In the frequency range specified for the GSM-900 mobile radio
networks, 124 frequency channels with abandwidth of 200 KHz are available
for both the uplink and downlink direction. The frequencies between 890
MHz and 915 MHz and the downlink (BTS to mobile station) uses the
frequenceis between 935 MHz and 960 MHz. The duplex spacing, the
spacing between the uplink and donlink channel, is 45 MHz.

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 DCS-1800 uses a similar scheme. The difference is that for DCS-
1800 The uplink uses the frequencies between 1710 MHz and 1785 MHz
and the downlink the frequenceis between 1805 MHz and 1880 MHz. The
duplex spacing is 95 MHz.

Refer to the figure (1-10) on the next page.

Gsm-900
Uplink band 890-915 MHz
Downlink band 935-960 MHz
Channel spacing 200 kHz
Total # channels 124
Duplex spacing 45 MHz
# time slots 8

Table (1-2)

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 1-13 LOGICAL CHANNELS
One or more logical channels can be transmitted on physical channel.
There are different types of logical channels. The type of logical channel is
determined by the function of the information transmitted over it.
The following types of logical channels are defined:
• Traffic channels (TCH)
• Broadcast channels (BCCH)
• Common control channels (CCCH)
• Dedicated control channels (DCCH)
Note that the first channel type carries speech and data, and the other
types control information (signaling)

Traffic Channels
The traffic channels are used to send speech or data services. There
are two types of traffic channels. They are distinguished by their
transmission rates.

The following traffic channels are provided:

• TCH/F (Traffic Channel Full rate)
The TCH/F carries information at a gross bit rate of 22.8 kbit/s
(after channel coding). The net (or effective bit rate at the TCH/F is
for speech 13 kbit/s and for data 12,6 or 3.6 kbit/s 9 before
channel coding). The transmission rates of the data services allow
services which are compatible to the existing, respectively, 9.6, 4.8
and 2.4 kbit/s PSTN and ISDN services.
• TCH/H (Traffic Channel Half rate)

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 The TCH/H carries information at a gross bit rate of 11.4 kbit/s the
net bit rate at the TCH/H is for speech 5.6 kbit/s and for data 6 or
3.6 kbit/s.
• CBCH (Cell Broadcast Channel)
The CBCH is used for the tranmission of generally accessibel
information (Short Message Service Messages in a cell, which can
be polled by the mobile station.)

Common Control Channels

Common control channels are specified as point-to-multipoint
channels which any operate in one direction of tramsission, either in the
uplink or downlink direction,. The following channels are provided:
• PCH (Paging Channel)
The PCH is USED in the downlink direction for paging the mobile
stations.
• AGCH (assess Grant Channel)
The AGCH is also used in the downlink direction, a logical channel for a
connection is allocated via the AGCH if the mobile station has requested
such a channel via the RACH.
• RACH (Random Access Channel)
The RAC is used in the uplink direction by the mobile stations for
requesting a channel for a connection. It is an access channel that uses
the slotted Aloha access scheme.

A TCH/F or a TCH/H may also be used to send signaling

information (for example call forwarding and short messages). In that case a
small portion of the time slot is used.

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 Broadcast Channels
The information distributed over the broadcast channels helps the
mobile stations to orient themselves in the mobile radio network.

The broadcast channels are point-to-multipoint channels which are

only defined for the downlink direction (BTS to the mobile station). They
are divided into:
• BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel)
Via the BCCH themobile station is information about he system
cofniguration parameters (for example local are identification, cell identity
and neighbor cells). Using this information the mobile stations can
choose the best cell to attached to.
The BCCH carrier must always be present to enable the mobile stations
to find the broadcast channels more easily. This means that the BTS must
send dummy bursts in the remaining seven timeslots of the BCCH
frequency band if there is no other information to transmit.
• FCCH (Frequency Correction Channel)
• To communicate with BTS the mobile station must synchronize to the
BTS. The FCCH transmits a constant frequency shift of the radio
frequency carrier that can be used by the mobile station for frequency
correction.
• SCH (Synchronization Channel)
• The SCH is used to time synchronize the mobile stations. The data on
this channel carries the TDMA frame number and the BSIC (Base Station
Identity code).

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 1-14 OVERVIEW OF THE GSM
INTERFACES
For the connection of the different nodes in the GSM network several
itnerfaces are defined in the GSM specifications. The GSM interfaces
discussed in this lesson are:
• Air interface or Um-interface
The air interface is the interface between the BTS (Base Transceiver
Station) and the MS (Mobile Station). The air interface is required for
supporting:

Universal use of any compatible mobile station in a GSM network.

A maximum spectural efficiency.

• Abis-interface
The Abis-interface is the interface between the BSC (Base Station
Controller) and the BTS. The interface comparises traffic and control
channels. Functions implemented at the Abis-interface are:
- Voice-data traffic exchange
- Signaling exchange between the BSC and the BTS.
- Transporting synchronization information from the BSC to the
BTS.

• A-interface
The A-interface is the interface between the BSC and the MSC.

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 REFERENCE

1. WL-9001
2. GSM 900/DCS-1800
3. System Introduction
4. Student Guide
5. (Lucent Technologies)

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