SS7 SIGNALLING IN GSM

1
Signalling

Objectives
At the end of the module the student is able to:
– Define the term signalling
– Describe the SS7 protocol stack and its functions
– Identify the SS7 protocol stacks implemented in each GSM network element
(BSC, MSC and HLR)

2
Signalling in the old days

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3
Signalling operations

subscriber A / subscriber B /
telephone A exchange 1 exchange 2 Telephone B
1. service request
2. dial tone
3. provide telephone number

4. number analysis &

resource reservation
5. address information

6. number analysis &

resource reservation
7. set-up message
8. set-up confirmation

9. ringing

11. address complete 10. alert message

message
12. ringing tone

14. connect message 13. connect message

15. Conversation

4
Signalling system implementation

• Set of standard messages

• Many ways of implementation
• Evolution of multiple systems
• Problems in compatibility
• Development of Channel Associated Signalling
– Good for low traffic only
– Bottleneck and waste of bandwidth
• Development of SS7
– High capacity
– Signalling in the absence of a call possible

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Signalling Points and Signalling Transfer Points

SS7
exchange 3
Independent,
SP packet-
oriented
signalling
network

STP

SP SP

exchange 1 exchange 1

SP Signalling Point
STP Signalling Transfer Point
6
Message bearers and managers

7
SS7 - MTP

Layer 3 Signalling Message Handling

Message
Transfer Layer 2 Data Link Control
Part (MTP)

Layer 1 Physical Connections

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SS7 - MTP / TUP / ISUP

MSC PSTN exchange

SP SP

TUP TUP
Call Control
NUP messages NUP

ISUP ISUP
Transport of signalling
Layer 3 messages within one network Layer 3

Data link

MTP
MTP

Data link Layer 2 Layer 2‘

Layer 2 control control Layer 2‘
Physical Physical
Layer 1 connections Layer 1 Layer 1‘ connections Layer 1‘

STP

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Virtual connections

Virtual
Connection using
“Connection
Oriented”
SCCP
A
MTP
Originating
Signalling B
Point Signalling MTP
Transfer
Point Destination
Signalling Point
Signalling
Transfer Point MTP
Signalling
Transfer
Point

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SS7 - SCCP

Exchange Offers following services to higher layers: Exchange

• non-call related signalling via networks of
SP different operators SP
• connection-orientated network service

Call Control
e.g. ISUP messages e.g. ISUP

Signalling Connection &

SCCP Control Part SCCP

Transport of signalling
Layer 3 messages within one network Layer 3

Data link

MTP
MTP

Data link Layer 2 Layer 2‘

Layer 2 control control Layer 2‘
Physical Physical
Layer 1 connections Layer 1 Layer 1‘ connections Layer 1‘

STP

11
Summary SS7 protocols - part 1

• MTP is the message transfer part. It is responsible for transferring

messages from one network element to another within the same network.
It consists of three sublayers.
• TUP is the user part of the messages brought by the MTP. These
messages deal with setting up, supervising and clearing the call
connections. It has two variations, NUP and ISUP.
• SCCP is the signalling connection control part. Its main function is to
provide virtual connections and connectionless signalling.

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SS7 - BSSAP

BSC Used to MSC

• exchange requests and responses between
BSC and MSC
• encapsulate messages to be exchanged
transparently between MS and MSC

Control
BSSAP messages BSSAP

Signalling Connection &

Control Part
SCCP SCCP

Transport of signalling
messages within one network
Layer 3 Layer 3

Data link

MTP
MTP

Layer 2 control Layer 2

Physical
Layer 1 connections Layer 1

BSSAP Base Station Subsystem Application part

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SS7 - MAP and TCAP

Non-call-related requests and

Secretary function for higher layer, e.g. responses, e.g. GMSC interrogation
when the higher layer transaction for the MSRN.
consists of a set of messages, which
have to be exchanged between the peer HLR
GMSC entities in an orderly way.

Mobile
MAP Application Part MAP

Transaction Capabilities
TCAP Application Part TCAP

SCCP Signalling Connection & SCCP

Control Part
Transport of signalling
Layer 3 messages within one network Layer 3

Data link

MTP
MTP

Layer 2 control Layer 2

Physical
Layer 1 connections Layer 1

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Summary of SS7 protocols - part 2

• BSSAP
Base Station Subsystem Application Part
Protocol layer responsible for communicating GSM specific messages
between the MSC and the BSC, and the MSC and the MS.

• MAP
Mobile Application Part
A GSM specific protocol for non call related applications between NSS
elements.

• TCAP
Transaction Capabilities and Application Part
Protocol layer responsible for providing service to MAP by handling the
MAP transaction messages between multiple elements.

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Protocol stack in the MSC

MAP
BSSAP TUP
TCAP
NUP
ISUP
SCCP

MTP

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Signalling in GSM
MS MSC HLR
BTS BSC
CM CM
MAP

MM MM

RR BSSAPP BSSAP TUP

NUP
RR TCAP ISUS

RR‘ BTSM BTSM SCCP SCCP

LAPDm LAPDm LAPD LAPD

MTP‘ MTP‘
Um Abis A External
TDMA TDMA exchange
L1 L1
FDMA FDMA

CM Connection Management BTSM Base Transceiver Station Management

MM Mobility Management BSSAP BSS Application Part
RR Radio Resource Management SCCP Signalling Connection Control Part
LAPDm Link Protocol MTP Message Transfer Part
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Summary of SS7 - part 1

• Signalling is the transfer of information between subscriber interface points

and the network, and between different network elements to help establish
a call.
• Signalling information is interchanged as standard sets of messages, and
was developed and standardised into the present SS7 system.
• GSM networks need non call related signalling, which is possible with SS7.
• The SS7 used in PSTN networks is not sufficient to fulfil the signalling
requirements of GSM networks, thus new GSM protocols specific were
developed.

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Summary of SS7 - part 2

• MTP is the basis of SS7, and it is responsible for transferring signalling

messages from one element to another within the same signalling network.
• TUP/ISUP are the user parts of MTP that handle call control.
• SCCP is needed for virtual connections and connectionless signalling
• BSSAP is used for signalling between MSC - BSC and MSC - MS.
• MAP is needed for signalling between NSS elements.

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Review Questions to
”Introduction to SS7
Signalling“

20
Review

1. Which of the following is not a signalling function?

a) To analyse the dialled digits.
b) To digitise the user's speech before transmission.
c) To make speech path connections.
d) To inform the user of the progress of the call.

2.  Which of the following was a drawback of CAS signalling?

a) It supported only call related signalling.
b) It required one signalling channel for every PCM line.
c) It was not possible to have many different signalling
messages.
d) All of the above.

21
Review

3. Which of the following are advantages of SS7 over CAS signalling?

a) It can send call set-up messages.

b) One signalling channel can support 10 000 traffic
channels.
c) It can support non-call-related signalling.
d) All of the above.
4. Which of the following is not a need for SS7 signalling?

a) The need to supervise a call.

b) The need to make circuit reservations.
c) The need to clear connections when the call is over.
d) The need to transfer charging information.

22
Review

5. Which of the following signalling requirements is specific to GSM networks

only?

a) The ability to reserve circuits in the outgoing direction.

b) The ability of one signalling channel to handle calls in other
physically different cables. GSM and
c) The ability to transport service dependent messages acrossintelligent
network
switching exchanges. solutions
d) The ability to perform non-call-related signalling procedures. . (IN)

6. Which of the following is not a need for SS7 signalling?

a) MTP, SCCP.
b) MTP, ISUP.
c) MTP, TUP.
d) MTP, SCCP, TCAP, MAP.
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Review

7. Which of the following SS7 protocols is specific to GSM networks

only?

a) MAP.
b) ISUP.
c) SCCP.
d) MTP.

8. Which pair of network elements in the GSM network does not both
have SS7?
a) MSC, HLR.
b) BSC, HLR.
c) MSC, BSC.
d) BTS, HLR.

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