1

GSM Foundation Course

Course Content
Basic Telephony & Cellular
Principal of Cellular Communication
GSM Features
GSM Network Components
GSM Terrestrial Interfaces
Basic GSM Processes
GSM Air Interface
Radio Interface Optimization, Supplementary services &
Contemporary Networks

ESSAR Telecom
Telecom Service Provisions
GSM
Basic
Internet
ESSAR
GSM Service Provider in Punjab, Delhi,
Rajasthan, U.P (East) & Haryana
Basic Service Provider in the state of Punjab.

Service Industry
Service Provider is not a Equipment
Manufacturer.
The Service Provider has a license to operate in a
geographical boundary (state/circle/ country).
It buys equipment from OEM Suppliers (Vendors).
Installs & commissions the equipment thus
making its own Network.
Provides the desired service to its subscribers.

ESSAR CELLPHONE
Coverage Area

Punjab

Delhi

Haryana
Rajasthan

U.P (East)

ORGANISATION STRUCTURE
PROMOTERS
TECHNICAL
PLANNING
IMPLEMENTATION

SALES

MARKETING
CUSTOMER CARE

OPERATIONS

OPERATIONS SYSTEM SUPPORT

SUPPORT FUNCTIONS

BILLING

HR, ADMIN, ACCOUNTS

IT
ACTIVATIONS

Basic Telephony

Signaling
Traffic
SWITCH / EXCHANGE

Off Hook
Dial Tone
Dialing Digits

Ring

RBT

Off Hook &

Conversation

Conversation

2 Mb E1 (PCM)
0
1st TCH

17th TS
300 - 3400 Hz

Sample Rate 8 kHz

8 bits per sample

16

64 kbps

31
30thTCH

E1 bit stream

15th TCH

Wireless Telephony

MSC

BSC
BTS

BTS

Mobile Subscriber...

Wireless Communication

Alternative means of wireless communication

Walkie - Talkie
Pagers
Trunked private radios

Mobile Phone - the magic technology that enables

everyone to communicate anywhere with anybody.

11

Cellular Communication
A cellular system links Mobile subscribers to Public
Telephone System or to another Mobile subscribers.
It removes the fixed wiring used in a traditional
telephone installation.
Mobile subscriber is able to move around, perhaps
can travel in a vehicle or on foot & still make & receive
call.

Advantage of Cellular Communication

Mobility
Flexibility
Convergence
Greater QOS
Network Expansion
Revenue/Profit

WHAT IS CELLULAR TELEPHONY ?

CONSIDERATIONS FREQUENCY
SUBSCRIBER
DENSITY

Base Station
Base Station
Base Station

COVERAGE
Base Station
Base Station

Base Station

The Cell
Cellular Radio involves dividing a large service area
into regions called cells.
Each cell has the equipment to switch, transmit and
receive calls.
Cells - Reduce the need of High powered transmission
Cells - Conventionally regarded as being hexagonal,
but in reality they are irregularly shaped.
Cell shape is determined by the nature of the
surrounding area e.g. Hills , tall building etc.

The CELL
What is a cell ?
A cell is a certain area
that can be reached
with one transceiver
or
A small collection of
transceivers
on
different channels at a
single base site.

BTS

The hexagonal-shaped communication cells are

artificial & are generated to simplify the planning &
design of a cellular network.

Coverage & Capacity

Coverage
Percentage of the geographical area covered
by cellular service where mobile telephony is
available
Capacity Number of calls that can be handled in a
certain area within a certain period of time.
Capacity can also refer to the probability that
users will be denied access to a system due to
the simple unavailability of radio channels.

Cells

Cell Size
Large Cells

Small Cells

35 Km

Near about 1 KM

Remote Areas

Urban Areas

High Transmission
Power

Low Transmission
Power

Few subscribers

Many Subscribers

MICRO CELL
Below Rooftop
~ Railway Platforms, Airports,
~ Busy Shopping Bazaar etc.
Low Tx Power
~ 1 Watt max.
Limited Coverage
~ 200m - 500m
Hotspot Solution
Special Algorithms for HO

PICO CELLS
Inside offices, Buildings
Very Low Tx Power
~ Less than 1 Watt
Limited Coverage
~ 50 -100m
Capacity Solution
Special Algorithms for HO
Pico Cell

Analog Mobile Telephony

End of 1980s Analog Systems unable to
meet continuing demands
Severely confined spectrum allocations
Interference in multipath fading environment
Incompatibility among various analog systems
Inability to substantially reduce the cost of
mobile terminals and infrastructure required

Digital Mobile Telephony

Spectrum space - most limited and precious
resource
Solution - further multiplex traffic (time
domain)
Can be realized with Digital Techniques only.

Different Standards Worldwide

Till 1982 Cellular Systems were exclusively Analog
Radio Technology.
Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS)
U.S. standard on the 800 MHz Band
Total Access Communication System (TACS)
U.K. standard on 900 MHz band
Nordic Mobile Telephone System (NMT)
Scandinavian standard on the 450 & 900 MHz band

GSM History and Organization

1979
Europe wide frequency band reserved for
Cellular
1982
Groupe Speciale Mobile created within
CEPT
1986

GSM had full time in Paris

1988

ETSI takes over GSM Committee

1990
frozen

The phase 1 GSM Recommendations

1991
GSM Committee renamed Special Mobile
Group and GSM renamed as Global System
for Mobile Communication
1992

GSM is launched for commercial operations

GSM - IN CELLULAR TELEPHONY

Each Cell in the Cellular Network consists of one or
more RF carriers.
An RF carrier is a pair of radio frequencies
One used in upward direction by MS - Uplink
Other used in downward direction by BTS Downlink
The transmit and receive frequencies are
separated by a gap of 45 MHz in GSM of 75 MHz in
DCS.
There are 124 carries in GSM Band. With each carrier
carrying 7 timeslots, only 124 x 7 = 868 calls can be
made!
Frequency Reuse is the solution

Uplink-Downlink

Downlink = 935 to 960 MHz

BTS Tx

dl

MS Rx

Uplink = 890 to 915 MHz

BTS Rx

ul

MS Tx

Frequency & ARFCN

Fdl(n) = Ful + 45 MHz

where n =ARFCN ; 1 n 124

dl= 935 to 960 MHz

ul= 890 to 915 MHz

Ful(n) = 890.0 + (0.2) *n MHz

TDMA & FDMA

7
n+
1

0
3
0

FDMA
200KHz

FR
A
A
M
TD

TD 4.6
M 15
A
m
FR S
A
M
E

Uplink - MS Tx
890MHz to 915MHz
Downlink - BTS Tx
935MHz to 960MHz

GSM Burst & TDMA Frame

FRAME 1
0 1

FRAME 2

GUARD PERIOD

Information
TAIL BITS

GUARD PERIOD
Training sequence

Information
TAIL BITS

Frequency Reuse Pattern

Three types of frequency reuse patterns
7 Cell reuse pattern
4 cell reuse pattern
3 cell reuse pattern

FREQUENCY RE - USE
Frequency Re-use
Two re-use distances

2
7
1
6

3
4

D/R = (3N)1/2

D
Cell Dia = R

7/21 cell cluster

where N is Cluster size

Principal Of Sectorization
Omni Directional Cells
120 degree Sectors
60 Degree sectors
Each Sector in a Site has its own allocation of
Radio Carriers.

Advantage
By frequent reuse of frequency more
capacity can be achieved.

Cell Sectorisation

b2
b1
b3
a2
OMNI CELL
1 ANTENNA

a1

a3

a6

a4
a5
60O CELLS
6 ANTENNAS

120O CELLS
3 ANTENNAS

3 Site Reuse Pattern

c2
c1
b2

c3
a2

b1
b3

a1
a3
Cell Re-use

c1

c2
c3

Cellular 1Planning Steps

Cellular Topology
Cell splitting & Cell Repeat Patterns

3 cluster site

3/9 cell cluster

Sites in the middle

4 cluster site

4/12 cell cluster

GSM Antennas
Directional Antennas
Vertically Polarized.
Collinear Dipole Array with
8 to 12 elements.
Beam Width 45o, 60o, 90o.
High Gain Antennas with
gain of 16 to 18 dbi.
Mechanically/Electrically
Downtiltable.

38

Features of GSM
Compatibility
Noise Robust
Increased Capacity & Flexibility
Use of Standard Open Interfaces
Improved Security & Confidentiality
Cleaner Handovers
Subscriber Identification
ISDN Compatibility
Enhanced Range of Services

Compatibility
With rapid Developments
there was a need for a
common Standard for
Mobile Communication.
With GSM, one could
drive from Germany to
Spain without a Call Drop.
Due to versatility of GSM,
it was adopted by many
countries, even outside
Europe.

Noise Robust
To combat the problems
due to NoiseDigital Interface is used.
Digital Interface
Protect
these
errors
using Error Detection &
Correction Techniques.
Immune to higher levels
of noise and interference
Improvements in Quality
as well as EfficiencyRobust Air Interface.

Increased Capacity and Flexibility

Analogue Air Interface
Every connection requires a
separate RF carrier and thus
RF hardware.
System Expansion
Time Consuming
Costly & Labor Intensive.
Intricate RF Planning.
Digital Interface
8 simultaneous conversations
on one RF carrier.

Standardized Open Interfaces

Low Price
Uses standard interfaces like C7, X.25 etc.
Versatility to choose equipment from different
manufacturer thereby reducing the pricing
monopoly.
Flexibility
Great flexibility in situating Network
components because of Standard Interfaces.
Efficient use of terrestrial links.

Better Security & Confidentiality

High Security risk for Analogue

System operators.
GSM
No Eavesdropping
High speech and data

confidentiality.
Digitized, Encoded and

Encrypted (A8 algorithm)

Subscriber Authentication

(A3 algorithm)

Cleaner Handovers
The mobile measures up to 32 adjacent cells for
Signal Strength (RxLevel)
Signal Quality (RxQual)
updated every 480 mS and sends to BTS
Sophisticated Handover based on
RxLevel
Interference
RxQual
Timing Advance
Power Budget

Handovers

Base Station 2

Base Station 3
Base Station 1

ISDN Compatibility
ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)
Advanced Telecom Network designed to carry
voice and user data over the standard
telephones lines.
2B+D Signalling and information on ISDN line.
The GSM Network is designed to operate within
the ISDN System.
GSM provides features compatible with ISDN.

49

GSM NETWORK ELEMENTS

EC

VLR

PSTN
MSC

HLR
AUC
EIR

IWF

Network Switching System

ME

TRAU

SIM

BSC
BTS

MS

BSS

GSM Network Components

Mobile Station consists of two parts Mobile Equipment (ME)
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
ME

Hardware e.g. Telephone, Fax Machine,

Computer.
SIM

Smart Card which plugs into the ME.

NETCOMP

Mobile Equipment (ME)

ME are of three types Vehicle Mounted
Portable Mobile Unit
Handportable Unit
MEs have distinct features-Classmarks sent in
initial message to Network.
NETCOMP

ME (Classmark Information)
Revision Level
Phase of the GSM specs ME comply with.

RF Power Capability
Max power ME is able to Transmit.

Ciphering Algorithm Used

Presently A5
Phase 2 specifies Algorithms A5/0 to A5/7.

Frequency Capability
SMS Capability

NETCOMP

Mobile Equipment
Class

Power O/p

20 W

8W

5W

2W

0.8 W

Typical
Settings
NETCOMP

SIM

Subscriber Interface Identity

Module

---------------------------

The SIM stores

Subscriber Parameters

Full Size SIM Card

Personal Data for identifying

Subscriber to the Network.
IMSI,, MSISDN, PIN, PUK, Ki,
A3, A8 (for Kc generation)
Space reserved for TMSI & LAI

Small SIM
---------------------------

NETCOMP

SIM - Internal Structure

EEPROM

ROM

Basic Operating System

16 to 24 kB

User Data 16 kB

I/O
8
CPU

RAM

Working Area for CPU

256 to 512 bytes

NETCOMP

SIM(IMSI)
IMSI(International Mobile Subscriber Identity)
Transmitted over Air Interface on initialization
Permanently stored on SIM card
15 digit Decimal
MCC (3)

MNC (2)

MSIC (10)

NETCOMP

SIM (LAI)
LAI (Location Area Identity)

MCC

MNC

LAC

CI

MCC

3 digit number (BCD), two Octets ( A & B)

MNC

2 digit number (BCD), one Octet

LAC

3 digit number (Binary) , two Octets

0-65535
CI

5 digit number (Binary) , two Octets

0-65535
NETCOMP

SIM
MSISDN
10 digit number to which a subscriber is being
called.
PIN (Personal Identification Number)
Four digit PIN
An internal security to Protect the SIM from
illegal use.
Card blocks itself after three wrong entries
PUK (Personal Unblocking Key)
8 digit code to unblock the SIM Card
Ki (Authentication Key), A3 & A8 Algorithms
NETCOMP

SIM (TMSI)
Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity
Periodically changed by the System
Management on instances like location update
etc.
Reason for use of TMSI
To prevent a possible intruder from identifying
GSM users, TMSI is used
Management
Assignment, Administration & Updating is
performed by VLR.
NETCOMP

Transcoder
Converts 64 Kbps PCM circuits from MSC to 16
Kbps BSS circuits.
Each 30 channel 2 Mbps PCM link can carry 120
GSM - specified voice channels.

NETCOMP

Transcoder
NETCOMP

MSC

BSS
30 Channel PCM

1234
XCDR

1 2 3 4
120 GSM TCH

Transcoder Information from FOUR calls

(4x16 KBPS put into ONE 64 KBPS timeslot

Base Station System (BSS)

BSS (Base Station System)

BSC (Base Site Controller)
BTS (Base Transceiver Station)
XCDR (Transcoder)

Network
Switching
System
(NSS)

XCDR

BSC
BTS

BTS

NETCOMP

Base Station System (BSS)

BSC
Controls upto 40 BTS
Conveys information to/from BTS
Connects terrestrial circuits & Air Interface
Channels
Controls handovers between BTSs under itself
BTS
Contains RF Hardware
Limited control functionality
1 - 6 carriers in a BTS Cabinet
7 - 48 simultaneous calls per BTS

BTS

NETCOMP

A BTS Cabinet

INNER VIEW

NETCOMP

OUTER VIEW

BSS Configuration
Collocated BTS
Remote BTS
Daisy Chain BTS
Star Configuration
Loop Configuration
BTS

NETCOMP

Daisy Chain Configuration

BSC

BTS
BTS

All BTS on 1 E1

BTS

NETCOMP

Star Configuration

BTS

BTS

BSC

BTS

BTS
NETCOMP

Loop Configuration

BTS

BTS

BSC

BTS
Loop Configuration

BTS
NETCOMP

Network Switching System(NSS)

NSS (Network Switching System)
MSC (Mobile Switching Centre)
HLR (Home Location Register)
VLR (Visitor Location Register)
EIR (Equipment Identity Register)
AUC (Authentication Centre)
IWF (Interworking Function)

MSC

EC (Echo Canceller)
NETCOMP

MOBILE SWITCHING CENTRE

NETCOMP

GSM Network Component

MSC
Call Switching
Operation & Management Support
Internetwork Interworking
Collects call billing data
Gateway MSC
MSC which provides interface between PSTN &
BSSs in the GSM Network.
NETCOMP

Home Location Register (HLR)

Reference database for the Subscriber profiles Subscriber ID (IMSI & MSISDN)
Current VLR Address
Supplementary Services subscribed
Supplementary Service Information
Subscriber Status (Registered/deregistered)
Authentication Key and AUC functionality
TMSI
MSRN

NETCOMP

Visitor Location Register (VLR)

Temporary Data, which exists as long as the
subscriber is active in a particular Coverage area.
Contains the following Mobile Status (Busy/ Free/ No Answer/etc.)
Location Area Identity (LAI)
TMSI
MSRN (Mobile Station Roaming Number)

NETCOMP

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

Contains Database for validating IMEI
White List (valid ME)
Black List (Stolen ME)
Grey List (Faulty ME)

NETCOMP

Inter Working Function

Provides function to enable the GSM
System to interface with Public/Private Data
Networks.
The basic feature of the IWF are
Rate Conversion
Protocol adaptation
IWF incorporates Modem Bank.

e.g. GSM DTE

IWF

PSTN DTE

Analogue Modem

NETCOMP

Echo Canceller
Echo is apparent only in Mobile - Land
conversation & is generated at the 2 wire to 4
wire interface.
To avoid it, Echo Canceller (EC) is used.
Echo is irritating to MS Subscriber
Total Round Trip delay of 180 ms in the GSM
system
EC is placed on the PSTN side of the Switch
Cancellation up to 68 ms with EC
NETCOMP

Operation & Maintenance Centre

Event & Alarm Management
Fault Management
Performance Management
Configuration Management
Security Management

Operation & Maintenance Centre

o The OMC has access to the (G)MSC, BSC.
o Handles error messages being reported from the
Network
o Controls the traffic load of the BSC, and the BTS.

NETWORK MANAGEMENT CENTRE

o NETWORK MANAGEMENT CENTRE
(NMC)
Offers Hierarchical Regionalised Network
Management of a complete GSM system.

Functionality of the NMC

Monitors Nodes on the Network
Monitors Network Element Statistics
Monitors OMC regions & provides
information to OMC staff
Enables Long Term Planning for
entire Network

MMI RAM>
MMI RAM>
MMI RAM>

NETWORK MANAGEMENT CENTRE

NMC
OMC

OMC
OMC
REGION 2

REGION 3
REGION 1

NETWORK

GSM Terrestrial Interfaces

Broadly classified into two types of interfaces-

Standard Interfaces
2 Mbps Trunks (E1)
Signalling System No. 7 SS7 ( CCS7)
X.25 (Packet Switched Mode)

GSM Interfaces

GSM Interfaces
Um MS

- BTS

Abis

BTS - BSC

BSC - MSC

MSC - VLR

MSC - HLR

VLR - HLR

MSC - MSC

MSC - EIR

VLR - VLR

HLR - AUC

86

Basic Processes
AUTHENTICATION
CIPHERING
REGISTRATION
CALL ESTABLISHMENT
HANDOVER / HANDOFF
ROAMING

AUTHENTICATION ALGORITHM

HLR

NSS

Ki

AUC

AUTH.
ALGORITHMS
A3

SRES

COMPARE

RAND

AIR INTERFACE
MS

SIM
MS

RAND

Ki

AUTH.
ALGORITHMS
A3

SRES

Ciphering
Data protection is required on air interface.

A5 algorithm is used.
A specific key called Ciphering Key (Kc), is
generated from RAND and A8 algorithm.
A8 is on the SIM.

Ki

RAND

A8
Kc

Ciphering

Kc

Kc
Data

A5

Ciphered
Data

A5

Data

ROAMING

PSTN

MSC
HLR
INDIA

ME
MSC
VLR

UK
ME

ROAMING
o The mobile roams to another country (UK) and requests a
Location Update when switched ON.
o The VLR (UK) informs the home HLR (India) of the mobiles
new location (UK).
o The HLR updates its location information and sends the
subscriber information to the VLR (UK).
o The HLR requests the subscriber information be removed
from the VLR (India).
o The VLR (India) acknowledges, and removes the subscriber
information from its database.
o After the mobiles registration is completed in UKs MSC/VLR,
the mobile is able to use network services (MOC, MTC etc.)

Transmission Media
Access Network
Microwave 15 /23 GHz

Backbone Network
Microwave 7 GHz
Optical Fibers
Leased Line( From Dot or any other
service provider on any media)

Access Microwave ( 15 GHz)

14.250 to 14.500 MHz and
14.400 to 15.350 MHz
4 QAM & 16 QAM Modulation
Split Mount Version with Hot
Standby Facility
Bandwidth ranging from 1.25
MHz to 28 MHz depending
upon Data Rate and
Modulation type
4 E1 Radio with 3 spot
frequencies in our case

Backbone Microwave (7 GHz)

7.125 to 7.850 MHz and 7.725 to
8.500 MHz
4 QAM & 16 QAM Modulation
Split Mount Version with hot
standby facility
Bandwidth ranging from 1.25
MHz to 28 MHz depending upon
Data Rate and Modulation type
16 E1 Radio with 1 spot
frequencies in our case

Optical Fiber
Low Losses 0.5 dB/km & High Data Rates
Types of Fiber
Step Index
Graded Index
# Graded Index are better.
Modes of Light in fiber
Mono Mode
Multi Mode
# Mono Mode has less losses than Multi
Mode.

Optical Fiber

Different Possible Combinations

Mono Mode Step Index 10 / 125 m

Mono Mode Graded index

Multi Mode Step Index 100 / 300 m

Multi Mode Graded Index 75 / 130 m

Mono Mode Graded Index would have been

the best but fabrication not possible

140 Mbps OLTE , Mono Mode Step Index in our case

Channels On Air Interface

Physical Channel
Logical Channel
Physical Channel
Physical channel is the medium over which the
information is carried.

Logical Channel
Logical channels consists of the information
carried over the Physical Channel.

TDMA & FDMA

7
n+
1

0
3
0

FDMA
200KHz

FR
A
A
M
TD

TD 4.6
M 15
A
m
FR S
A
M
E

Uplink - MS Tx
890MHz to 915MHz

Downlink - BTS Tx
935MHz to 960MHz

LOGICAL CHANNELS
3

Normal Burst

3
T

57
encrypted

1 26
1
S training S

57
encrypted

3 8.25
T GP

577S

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
577S x 8 = 4.615mS

26 Frame Multi-frame

TDMA Frame

BURST
Time is divided into discrete periods
called Timeslots
The Time Slots are arranged in a sequence
, conventionally numbered 0 to 7.
Each repetition of this sequence is called
a TDMA Frame.
The information content carried in one
time slot is called a burst.

BURST
Information
Main Area where the Speech, Data or Control info is
held
Guard Period
To enable the burst to hit the time slot (0.031ms)
Stealing Flags
2 bits are set when TCH is to stolen by a FACCH
Training Sequence
For estimation of transfer characteristics of physical
media
Tail Bits
Used to indicate beginning and end of the burst.

Five Types of Burst

Normal Burst
Traffic & Control Channels Bi-directional

Frequency Correction Burst

FCCH

Downlink

Synchronization Burst
SCH

Downlink

Dummy Burst
BCCH Carrier

Downlink

Access Burst
RACH

Uplink

GSM Logical Channels

TCH
SACCH
FACCH

Control Channels
BCCH
CCCH
ACCH
DCCH

LOGICAL CHANNELS

01234567012345670123456701234567
TDMA Frame

26 Frame Multi-frame

Frames & Multiframes

Several Logical channels share one time slot.
Individual channels are sequenced, & each
channel gets the time it requires.
Sequence is carried out using Multiframes.
Traffic Channel occupy a 26-frame multiframe
(120 ms)
Control Channel occupy a 51-frame multiframe
(235 ms).

Traffic Channels - TCH

TCH

TCH

TCH / FS

DATA

TCH / HS

9.6

2.4
4.8

SAACH

FACCH

BCCH Channel

CCH
Broadcast Control
Channel - Downlink only

BCCH

Synchronizing Channels

BCCH

SCH

FCH

Channels On Air Interface

BCCH
Transmitted at all times & conveys information
about Cell Timing and Configuration
BCCH, FCCH, SCH

CCCH
Used by BSS & MS when trying to initiate a
connection over the air
RACH, PCH, AGCH, CBCH

Channels On Air Interface

DCCH
Used to convey signaling information during
call setup
SDCCH

ACCH
Used to transmit signaling information when a
call is in progress
FACCH & SACCH

Channels On Air Interface

ACCH
SAACH
Conveys Power Control & Timing Information
in the downlink direction.
RSSI and Quality reports in the uplink
direction.
FACCH
To carry out user authentication and
handovers. It steals the TCH burst and inserts
its own information.

Channels On Air Interface

Acronyms
BCCH

Broadcast Control Channel

CCCH

Common Control Channel

DCCH

Dedicated Control Channel

ACCH

Associated Control Channel

SDCCHStandalone Dedicated Control Channel

RACH

Random Access Channel

PCH

Paging Channel

AGCH

Access Grant Channel

Channels On Air Interface

BCCH
Location Area Identity
List of neighbouring cells, to be monitored
List of frequencies used in the cell
Cell Identity
Power Control Indicator
DTX permitted
Access Control (e.g emergency calls, call
barring)

Channels On Air Interface

Always transmitted at constant power at all
times
Dummy burst are sent to ensure continuity
when no traffic information is sent.

FCCH
Mobile corrects the frequency of its internal
time base by reading this logical channel.
Easily detected by the mobile.
After FCCH, mobile is able to detect SCH
which contains timing information.

Channels On Air Interface

SCH
Carries the information for mobile to
synchronize to the TDMA frame structure &
know the timing of the individual timeslots.
Frame Number & BSIC (Base Station Identity
Code)

CCCH
RACH
Transmitted by the Mobile when it wishes to
gain access to the system

Channels On Air Interface

PCH
Transmitted by the BTS when it wishes to
contact a specific mobile.
AGCH
Transmitted by the BTS to assign dedicated
resources to an MS such as SDCCH
CBCH
To transmit messages to all mobiles within
a cell. CBCH will steal some time of an
SDCCH to do this.

Channel Combinations
Full rate Traffic Channel Combination
TCH8/FACCH + SACCH
Broadcast Channel Combination
BCCH + CCCH
Dedicated Channel Combination

SDCCH8 + SACCH8
Combined Channel Combination
BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH4 + SACCH4

Channel Combinations (Timeslots)

Traffic Channel Combination
TCH8/FACCH +SACCH
Can be on any Time slot

Broadcast Channel Combination

BCCH +CCCH
Can be on Timeslot 0, 2, 4, 6

Dedicated Channel Combination

SDCCH8 + SACCH8
Any Time slot

Combined Channel Combination

BCCH + CCCH +SDCCH4 + SACCH4
Can only be on 0 Timeslot

TCH Multiframe

I
D
L
E

10

15

SACCH

Downlink & Uplink SACCH

20

BCCH/CCCH Multiframe
BCCH/CCCH
In Downlink direction the timeslot (physical
channel) is shared by a different logical
channels.
In the Uplink direction all timeslots are
allocated to RACH.

BCCH/CCCH Multiframe
Downlink to MS

F SBCCH CCCH F S
4 TS

10

CCCH
8 TS

FS

20

CCCH
8 TS

FS

30

CCCH
8 TS

FS

40

CCCH
8 TS

50

Uplink from MS
RR RR RR RRRR RR R R RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR R RR RR RRRR RR RR RR

10

20

30

40

50

Combined Multiframe
BCCH and SDCCH share a common timeslot
Less No. of subscribers support (as only 4
SDCCH)
102 frame structure
Superframes And Hyperframes
1326 TDMA frames (26*51) make a superframe
2048 superframes make one hyperframe, after
which ciphering and frequency hopping
algorithm are restarted.

Combined Multiframe
Downlink to MS
F SBCCH CCCH F S
4 TS
F SBCCH CCCH F S
4 TS

10

CCCH
8 TS

F S D0

D1

FS D2

D3

F S A0

A1

CCCH
8 TS

F S D0

D1

F S D2

D3

F S A2

A3

20

30

40

50

Uplink from MS

D3

RR

A0

A1

RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR R D0

D1

RR D2

D3

RR

A2

A3

RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR RR R D0

D1

RR D2

10

20

30

40

50

SDCCH Multiframe
Downlink to MS
D0

D1

D2

D3

D4

D5

D6

D7

A0

A1

A2

A3

D0

D1

D2

D3

D4

D5

D6

D7

A4

A5

A6

A7

I I I

I I I

10

30

20

40

50

Uplink from MS

A1

A2

A3

I I I

D0

D1

D2

D3

D4

D5

D6

D7

A0

A5

A6

A7

I I I

D0

D1

D2

D3

D4

D5

D6

D7

A4

10

20

30

40

50

Voice Coding
104 kbps

20 mS

Sample Rate 8 kHz

13 bits per Sample

160 Samples
2080 bits

Class II

50 bits

132 bits

78 bits

RPE

Reduction in Data
Speech Encoder selects BlockBlock - 1 : 1, 5, 9 .. Samples
with Most Energy
Block - 2 : 2, 6, 10, Samples

LTP

& so on for Block - 3 & Block - 4.

Divided into 4 Blocks

Class Ib

of 40 Samples each

Class Ia

LPC

Channel Coding
Error Protection And Detection
To protect the logical channel from
transmission errors by the radio path, different
coding schemes are used.
Coding & Interleaving Schemes dependent upon
logical channel to be encoded.
3 Coding Protection schemes
Speech Channel Encoding
Control Channel Encoding
Data Channel Encoding

Speech Channel Coding

Speech Information of 20 ms block is divided
over 8 GSM burst.
260 bits are grouped in three classes depending
upon the intelligible part of speech
After encoding 456 bits block is interleaved

Speech Channel Coding

Class 1a
50 bits

Parity
Check

Class 1b
132 bits

Class 2
78 bits
Tail Bits

50

132

Convolutional
Coding
Convolutional
Code
378
378

7878
456 bits

Control Channel Encoding

Control Channel Encoding
Block of 184 bits received by BTS
Bits are protected by Cyclic Codes of Class
Fire Codes
Adds 40 Parity Bits
4 Tail Bits are added
Convolution Coding is done
O/p from 184 Signalling bits is 456 bits.

Control Channel Coding

184
Coding
40

184

Parity Bits TB

Convolutional Coding
456
456 bits

Data Channel Coding

240

184
Convolutional Coding
488
Punctuate
456

Interleaving
Responsible for Robustness of the GSM air
interface
10 -20 % burst destroyed or corrupted on the air
interface.
Spreads the content of one information block
across several TDMA timeslots.
Two types of Interleaving Diagonal Interleaving
Rectangular Interleaving

DIAGONAL INTERLEAVING

SPEECH
Speech Blocks

EIGHT blocks of 57 bits,

Sent on 8 ALTERNATE timeslots

456 bits

456 bits

0 12345 6 7 01 234 56 7 0 1234 56 7 012345 67

RECTANGULAR INTERLEAVING

CONTROL CHANNEL
Data Blocks

FOUR blocks of 114 bits,

Sent on 4 timeslots
114
Bits
Odd

114
Bits
Even

456 bits

114
Bits
Odd

114
Bits
Even

0 12345 6 7 01 234 56 7 0 1234 56 7 012345 67

Interleaving
Interleaving Depths
Speech - 8 blocks
Control - 4 blocks
Data - 22 blocks
Speech & Data blocks are diagonally interleaved
Control block is rectagularly interleaved

Interleaving

TRAU Frame Type

Number of GSM
Burst Spread Over

Speech

Control

Data

22

TRAU = Transcoder Rate Adaption Unit

MOBILE TO LAND

PSTN

BTS

BSC

MSC

Multiple Point of Interconnect

CITY A
E
N
O
B
K
AC
B
z
C
H
G
FI
C
7
AF
FI
R
AF
IT
TR
PO

SS
B

CITY B

BSS TRAFIC

POI TRAFIC

Call Scenarios
Mobile to Mobile
Intra-city
Inter-city
Mobile to Land
Intra-city
Inter-city
Land to Mobile
Intra-city
Inter-city

Mobile To Land Sequence

MS
1
2

CHANNEL REQUEST
DCCH ASSIGN

BSS

RACH
AGCH

SIGNALLING LINK
ESTABLISHED

REQUEST FOR SERVICE

AUTHENTICATION

SET CIPHER MODE

SET-UP

EQUIPMENT ID
REQUEST

MSC

SDCCH

CR

CC

SDCCH
Call Info

VLR

HLR

PSTN EIR

COMPLELTE CALL
CALL PROCEEDING

ASSIGNMENT COMMAND
ASSIGNMENT COMPLELTE
INITIAL & FINAL ADDRESS
(IFAM)

MS

BSS

MSC

VLR

HLR PSTN

EIR

SDCCH
SDCCH

(circuit)

(channel)
FAACH
(TCH)

ASSIGNMENT COMPLETE
(ACM)
10 ALTERING
MS HEARS RINGTONE
FROM LAND PHONE

FACCH

Hello!

ANSWER(ANS)
11 CONNECT

RING TONE
STOPS

FACCH
FACCH

CONNECT ACKNOWLEDGE

TCH

BILLING STARTS

Land to Mobile Sequence

Initial & Final Address Msg.
(IFAM)

MS

BSS

MSC

VLR

MSISDN

Send Routing Information

IMSI

Routing Information Ack

MSRN

Send Info for I/c Call Setup

Paging Request
Channel Request
DCCH Assign

MSISDN

MSRN

INITIAL & FINAL ADDRESS

(IFAM)

PAGE

HLR GMSC PSTN

MSRN
LAI &
TMSI

PCH
TMSI
RACH

TMSI

AGCH

Signalling Link Established

SDCCH

Page Response

SDCCH
TMSI

TMSI &
status

Status

Land to Mobile Sequence

MS

BSS

MSC

VLR

HLR GMSC PSTN

Complete Call

TMSI
SETUP

SDCCH

CALL Confirmation

SDCCH

ADDRESS COMPLETE

<SDCCH>

Assignment Command

Channel

Assignment Complete
Alert

Connect

Ring Tone
at MS
Subscriber
Picks Up

Connect ACK

ANSWER

RingTone at
Land Phone
Circuit

FACCH
FACCH
TCH

Ringing Stops at
Land Phone

FACCH

BILLING STARTS
FACCH
TCH
Hello

Mobile Initiated Call Clearing

MS
1

DISCONNECT
PSTN RELEASE
MOBILE RELEASE

BSS
FACCH

FACCH

PSTN RELEASE
COMPLETE
MOBILE RELEASE
COMPLETE

FACCH

MS -MSC Signalling
Released
3

CLEAR COMMAND
CHANNEL RELEASE

DISC
UA
CLEAR COMPLETE

RLSD
RELEASE COMPLETE

FACCH
FACCH
FACCH

MSC

VLR

HLR

PSTN

Inter-BSS Handover Sequence

MS
1

Periodic Measurement
Reports

Handover Required

Handover Request

Handover Req Ack

Handover Command

Information Interchange

Handover Complete

Clear Command

Periodic Measurements
Reports

BSS

BSS

MSC

SAACH

TMSI Cct.
Code
HO ref No.
FACCH
HO Ref No.
FACCH

SAACH

HLR

PSTN

Radio Interface Optimization

Transmission Timing
Power Control
VAD and DTX
Multipath Fading
Equalization
Diversity
Frequency Hopping

THREE TIMESLOT OFFSET

3 TS
Offset

Mobile Rx

Mobile Tx

TIMING ADVANCE

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5

BURST arrives
LATE

BURST sent
early

T = 3.69S to 233S
Cell Radius = 35km

BURST arrives
IN TIME

6 7

Power Control
In steps of 2dB
Enhances Battery Life
Reduces Interference
13 dBm (min)

33 dBm (max)

Cell Radius = 35km

Dis-Continuos Transmission

0 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

VAD - Voice Activity Detection

MS identifies presence/ absence of speech
Generates Comfort noise

DTX - Dis-Continuous Transmission

MS does not TX during silence period

MULTI-PATH PROPAGATION

DIVERSITY

Diversity Receiver

Approx. 10 Wavelengths
3.3 meters

FREQUENCY HOPPING

FN

FREQUENCY

F4
F3
F2
F1
F0
TIME

FREQUENCY HOPPING
Mobile Activity

Rx1

Rx2

Mobile Rx
0

Tx1

Tx2

Mobile Tx
6

MONITORING Other Cell

Speech Services
Telephony (13 kbps full rate)
Emergency Call (with/without SIM card in the
Mobile Station)
Short Message Services (SMS)
Point to Point (128 Byte Max.)
Cell Broadcast(75 bytes Max.)
Dual Personal and Business Numbers.
Allows calls to be made and billed, either to
business or personal numbers.

Data Services (Bearer Services)

Data rates supported as of today are

2.4 Kbps
4.8 Kbps
9.6 Kbps

Supplementary Service - Call Waiting

Call in Progress

PSTN Phone

M
r
e
h
t
o
n
A

al
C
e
obil

g
n
i
t
i
a
W
t
ep
K
.
ls

...

Supplementary Services - Call Hold

1. Call in Progress
2. Put on Hold

3. Calls another Mobile

Supplementary Services Call Forwarding

Voice Mail
System

Divert if
All Calls
PSTN
Phone

Another
Mobile

Busy
Not Reachable
No Answer

Incoming Call

Supplementary Services
Calling Line Identification
Present
Absent
Connect Line Identification
Present
Absent
Closed User Group - CUG
Only incoming
Only outgoing
Operator Controlled Barring

Voice Mail System

ANSWERING MACHINE

Voice Mail System

MSC

Short Message Service

SMSC

MSC
BTS

Short Message Service

SMSC

MSC

Point to Point

Point to Multipoint

BTS

PRE - PAID SYSTEM

SIM BASED
Data on SIM
Decrements with use
Over the air charging !!??
NETWORK BASED
Data secure on with the network
Over the air re-charging
Features
Inquiry
Warnings ..

171

SEPARATE GSM & WLL INFRASTRUCTER

CDMA BTS

PSTN

FIXED LINE SWITCH

CDMA BSC
CDMA BTS

GSM BTS

MSC

DUAL BAND / MODE

HANDEST

GSM BSC
GSM BTS

SEPARATE GSM & WLL INFRASTRUCTER

CDMA
Coverage

GSM
Coverage

Call Drop.
Toggle to GSM

GSM

CDMA

GSM + CDMA
On WLL

Still on GSM.
Toggle to WLL

DUAL BAND / MODE

HANDEST

GSM

GSM

Every individual is a WLL subscriber

under any and only one CDMA BTS
and is a regular subscriber for the rest
of the GSM network in the whole of
Punjab.
The subscriber also has the advantage
of roaming within & outside the
country.

COMMON GSM & CDMA INFRASTRUCTER

A - INTERFACE

CDMA BSC

PSTN

CDMA BTS

MSC

DUAL BAND / MODE

HANDEST

A - INTERFACE

GSM BTS
GSM BSC

IRRIDIUM
BTS in the Sky
LEO ~1400km
Inter Satellite Links - 22.55GHz to 23.55GHz
L-Band (1616MHz to 1626.5 MHz)
Band Width - 10.5MHz
Use TDM/FDMA scheme
World-Wide Coverage
60+ Now Operational
Small Hand held terminals
Dual Mobiles under development