GSM Signaling

• Defines signaling between MS and Network

• All signaling are based on OSI model
• MSC uses C7 signaling to BSC, HLR, VLR, etc.,
• Air interface uses LAP-Dm& Abis uses LAP-D
• Signaling channels are integrated in the air
interface as BCCH, SDCCH, PCH, AGCH, SACCH,
FACCH
 Logical Channels
• Broadcast Channels (BCH)
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)
Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)
Synchronization Channel (SCH)
Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
Common Control Channels (CCCH)
Paging Channel (PCH)
Random Access Channel (RACH)
Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
Standalone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)
Associated Control Channel (ACCH)
Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
 BCCH - Broadcast Control Channel
• BTS to MS (DOWNLINK )
• parameters needed to identify the network
and gain access.
• parameters include the Location Area Code
(LAC), the Mobile Network Code (MNC), the
frequencies of neighboring cells, and access
parameters.
 FCCH - Frequency Correction
Channel
• BTS to MS (DOWNLINK)
• Channel is used by the MS as a frequency
reference.
• Channel contains frequency correction bursts
 SCH - Synchronization Channel
• BTS to MS (DOWNLINK)
• Channel is used by the MS to learn the Base
Station Information Code (BSIC) as well as the
TDMA frame number (FN).
• lets the MS know what TDMA frame they are
on within the hyperframe
 CBCH - Cell Broadcast Channel
• BTS to MS (DOWNLINK)
• This channel is not truly its own type of logical
channel.
• The CBCH is for point-to-omnipoint messages.
• The CBCH isnt allocated a slot for itself, it is
assigned to an SDCCH.
• The mobile will not acknowledge any of the
messages.
 PCH - Paging Channel
• BTS to MS (DOWNLINK)
• This channel is used to inform the MS that it
has incoming traffic.
• The traffic could be a voice call, SMS, or some
other form of traffic
RACH - Random Access Channel
• MS – BTS (UPLINK)
• This channel is used by a MS to request an
initial dedicated channel from the BTS.
• This would be the first transmission made by a
MS to access the network and request radio
resources.
 AGCH - Access Grant Channel
• BTS to MS (DOWNLINK)
• This channel is used by a BTS to notify the MS
of the assignement of an initial SDCCH for
initial signaling.
 SDCCH –Standalone Dedicated
Control Channel

• UPLINK/DOWNLINK

• Channel is used for signalling and call setup

between the MS and the BTS.
 FACCH - Fast Associated Control
Channel

• UPLINK/DOWNLINK
• Channel is used for control requirements such
as handoffs.
• The FAACH is a burst-stealing channel, it steals
a Timeslot from a Traffic Channel (TCH).
 SACCH - Slow Associated Control
Channel

• UPLINK/DOWNLINK
• This channel is a continuous stream channel
that is used for control and supervisory signals
associated with the traffic channels.
 TCH - Traffic Channels
• Carry two types of information to and from the user:
Encoded Speech & Data
Encoded Speech - Encoded speech is voice audio that
is converted into digital form and compressed.
Full Rate Speech TCH (TCH/FS) - 13 kb/s
Half Rate Speech TCH (TCH/HS) - 5.6 kb/s
Data - Data refers to user data such as text messages,
picture messages, internet browsing, etc.
It includes pretty much everything except speech.
 Signal channel mapping
• Normally the first two timeslots are allocated to signalling channels.
Remember that Control Channel are composed of 51 TDMA frames. On a time slot
Within the multiframe, the 51 TDMA frames are divided up and allocated to the
various logical channels.

• channel combinations allowed in GSM.

FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH

BCCH + CCCH

FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4 + SACCH/C4

SDCCH/8 + SACCH/C8
 FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH

• Downlink

• Uplink
 BCCH + CCCH
• Downlink

• Uplink
 FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4 + SACCH/C4

• in one multiframe, SACCH0 and SACCH1

would be transmitted, and in the next
multiframe, SACCH2 and SACCH3 would be
transmitted.
• Downlink
 FCCH + SCH + BCCH + CCCH + SDCCH/4 + SACCH/C4

• The uplink is transmitted 15 TDMA frames behind the

downlink. the BTS might send an authentication request to
the MS on SDCCH0 (downlink) TDMA frames 22-25. The MS
then reply on SDCCH0 (uplink) which immediately follows it
on TDMA frames 37-40.
• Uplink
 SDCCH/8 + SACCH/C8
• the SACCH that is associated with an SDCCH is only transmitted every
other multiframe.

• Downlink

• Uplink
 ARFCN Mapping
• CCH Multiframes have 51 frames and TCH Multiframes only have 26.
Sequences will synchronize every superframe

TS0

TS1

TS2

TS3

TS4

TS5

TS6

TS7
Frame Structure in GSM