GSM and GPRS Overview

What is GSM?

Global System for Mobile communications European standard (CEPT/ETSI)
Services Subsystem interfaces Protocol architecture

First & most successful digital cellular system (2G) Implemented mainly in Europe and Asia Pacific Services:
Voice Circuit switched data SMS

Components of a GSM network

Network Switching Subsystem (NSS) Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) Network databases Base Station Subsystem (BSS) Base Transceiver Station (BTS) Base Station Controller (BSC) Transcoder (TC) Network Management Subsystem (NMS) Operations and Maintenance Centre (OMC) Mobile Station (MS) Mobile Equipment (ME) Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

GSM Public Land Mobile Network

Functions of NSS
A ir A
M SC
VL R

M SC

VL R

HLR

O& M

Elements: MSC, VLR, HLR, AC, EIR Functions:

Call Control: Identifying the subscribers, call establishment, clearing Charging: Collecting charging information for billing Mobility Management: Maintaining information about the subscribers Signalling (towards BSS, other networks, between NSS elements) Subscriber data and security handling in the HLR and VLR Location Management: Locating a subscriber for mobile terminated calls

Functions of BSS
BS C
TC

BT S BT S

BS C
TC

BT S

Elements:

Base Station Controller (BSC), Base Transceiver Station (BTS), Transcoder (TC)

Functions:
Radio path control, BTS and TC control, synchronisation with MSC Air and A interface signalling, connection establishment MS - NSS Mobility management, speech transcoding Collection of statistical data

Network Management Subsystem

App. Servers
HLR/AC/EIR MSC/VLR

Database and Communications Servers

Router

NetAct
TCSM

BSC

GSM Network
Data Communications Network (DCN)

Tasks of NMS: Fault management Configuration management Performance management

Nokia GSM network architecture

FDD and TDD

FDMA and TDMA

Circuit switched vs. Packet switched

Circuit switched

Packet switched

Circuit switched vs. Packet switched

GSM and Packet Orientated Services

Internet service as perceived from the subscribers

Data service offered by a PSTN-operator

Access to requested Packet Data Networks

GPRS Enabled increased data rates

Increased radio interface efficiency

Operator Type 1

Internet

Mobile Access Operator

Operator acts as transparent bit-pipe

Limited differentiation possibilities: price, bit rate, availability, etc. The ISPs control the end-customers through actual services and content access Small risks for the operator: low cost, small revenue opportunity

WWW

ISP or content provider

Operator Type 2

Corporations

Full-Service Operator
Content providers

Internet

Operator adds value by offering services with value to the end-user

Opportunity to differentiate: customer loyalty new customers and
revenue streams brand recognition

Multimedia Service Center SMS, HSCSD, GPRS, 3rd generation

Higher risk, new competencies required