GSM Architecture

BSS Rao

GSM Faculty

GSM Architecture
1. What is GSM?
2.History of GSm
3.NE s in GSM
4.Physical connectivity
5.Interfaces

GSM
Global Mobile System
A digital mobile system enabled for more
sophisticated services

History of GSM
GSM began in 1982
GSM was a European wide project from
beginning
GSM used in more than 130 countries
Originated from 1G ->2G->2.5G->3G
3G version is named as UMTS
3G Network provide higher capacity than
the older generations

Subsystems in GSM
BSS
NSS
NMS

Base Station Subsystem

Network Switching Subsystem
Network Management Subsystem

BSS
BTS
BSC
TC

(Base Tranceiver Station)

(Base Station Controller)
(Transcoder )

NSS
GMSC(Gateway Mobile services switching
Centre)
MSC (Mobile Services switching centre)
VLR (Visitor Location Register)
HLR (Home Location Register)
AC (Authentication centre)
EIR (Equipment Identity Register)

NMS
OMC R( R for Radio)
OMC S( S for Switch)

Functions of BSS

Managing Radio Network

Radio Path control
Synchronization
Mobility management
Speech transcoding

Functions of NSS

Call control
Charging
Signaling
Subscriber data handling
Mobility management

Functions of NMS
Monitoring network
gives info. in the form of reports

Mobile Station
Mobile Phone is called MS
ME + SIM= MS

MS
Operator issues SIM card when user joins
Serial no. of the mobile Instrument is IMEI
(International Mobile equipment identity)
IMEI is unique number in universe

SIM
SIM means Subscriber Identity Module
Data contained in the SIM Card is
1. IMSI of the subscriber
2. Location area identity of the subscriber
3. List of missed calls , Received calls and
List of SMSs etc.
4. List of operators available in the location
area of the subscriber

BTS Functions
Synchronization of signals of transmission
Radio resources management

BSC Functions
Control BTSs connected to it
Performs Inter BTS Handovers

TC Function
Conversion of 64kbps to 16kbps and vice
versa
Used to compact the signals.
Also used to reduce the data rate at which
traffic is transmitted over air interface

Necessity of TC
The 64kbps information if transmitted on
the air interface without modification would
occupy an excessive amount of
bandwidth.
Therefore the required bandwidth is
reduced to 16Kbps.

MSC Functions
Call Control
Routing of call
Billing

VLR
Maintains subscriber information who are
currently in its service area.
Gives current location of the subscriber
Temporary Database

HLR
Permanent Register of the subscribers
maintains facilities given to subscriber

AC
Verifies SIM cards
Authentication of SIM is done using
authentication triplets

EIR
Used for security purposes
Checks IMEI
Contains 3 Lists ( White LIST
GREY LIST
Black LIST )

Black List
List consisting of Stolen mobile
Instruments Serial nos ie., IMEIs

Network Architecture

BSNL

1 MSC=16 BSC
1 BSC=1024 TRU

OSS

HLR

B
T
S

PSTN
ISDN
B
T
S

TC TC

BSC
BSC

MSC VLR

A Interface
B
T
S

Air interface

Data
Networks

A-bis interface
MSC VLR
14

GMSC
GMSC: Call connections between PLMNs ,
routed to a GMSC.The GMSC contains the
Inter working functions to make these
connections

Interfaces

MS to BTS
BTS to BSC
BSC to TC
TC to MSC
MSC to VLR
MSC to HLR
HLR to VLR

( Air interface)
( Abis Interface)
( Ater interface)
( A Interface)
( B Interface)
( C Interface)
( D Interface)

Interfaces
MSC to other MSC ( E interface)
MSC to EIR ( F Interface)
VLR to other VLR ( G Interface)

THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS

OF THE GSM NETWORK