GSM

An O & M overview

Manish Das
Deputy General Manager (CMTS)
Calcutta Telephones

Dimapur 10-07-2006
10-07-2006 Manish Das, DGM(CMTS), Kolkata
GSM GPRS Network Architecture
BSS … Base Station Subsystem
BSC … Base Station Controller
BTS … Base Transceiver Stations
BTS
BSS
NSS
NSS … Network & Switching Subsystem
VLR … Visitor Location Register
HLR … Home Location Register
AUC … Authentication Center
EIR … Equipment Identity Center
MSC … Mobile Switching Center
VLR
HLR

Backhaul AUC
EIR
BSC Internet

MSC GGSN

BTS
MSC Transit
Net

BSC SGSN
Transit
Net GSN … GPRS Support Node
SGSN … Serving GSN
GGSN … Gateway GSN
BASE STATION SUB-SYSTEM
Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
/ Base Station

Responsible for communication to and from
Mobile sets via air interface

BTS comprises radio transmission and reception
devices

BTS separates the speech and control signaling
associated with a Mobile set and sends them to
the BSC on separate channels
Base Station Controller (BSC)

Monitor and Control several base stations

 Frequency administration, control of BTSs

Responsible for all the radio interface
management
 Channel allocation and release, handover
management

BSC is the interface between MSC and BTS
 BSC is connected on one side to several BTSs
and on the other side to the MSC
 RF Interface

Also known as Air Interface

10-07-2006 Manish Das, DGM(CMTS), Kolkata

Air Interface

Radio Transmission Techniques

 FDMA
 TDMA
 CDMA
FDMA

Frequency

Channel

Time
TDMA

Frequency Time Slot

Channel

Time
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
CDMA

Frequency

Code

Time
Code 1
Code 2
Code 3
Frequency Spectrum in GSM
The Frequency Spectrum
960MHz Time Slot
959.8MHz Down Link
124
123
… 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

200KHz …
TDMA Frame
…
2
1
935.2MHz Data Burst, 156.25 bit periods = 15/26 msec = 576.9µsec
935MHz

915MHz
914.8MHz
124 Up Link
123 Delay
45MHz
Separation …
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
200KHz …
… TDMA Frame
2
1
890.2MHz
890MHz

FDMA
UP / Down-Link

Down-link: the transmission path from Base

Station to Mobile Station

Up-link: the transmission path from Mobile

Station to Base Station
Channels

Physical Channels
 Associated with frequency bands, time slots, codes
 Physical channels transfer bits from one network element
to another

Logical Channels
 Distinguished by the nature of carried information and the
way to assemble bits into data units
 Three types

one-to-one: traffic channels between a BTS and a MS

one-to-many: synchronization signals from BTS to MSs in a
cell

many-to-one: from MSs to the same BTS
Logical Channel List

Traffic TCH/F: Full-rate Traffic Channel Two-way

channels TCH/H: Half-rate Traffic Channel
(TCH)
FCCH: Frequency correction
BCH SCH: Synchronization
BCCH: Broadcast control
Base-to-
Signaling PCH: Paging mobile
CCCH
channel AGCH: Access grant
RACH: Random access
SDCCH: Stand-alone dedicated control
DCCH
SACCH: Slow associated control
Two-way
FACCH: Fast associated control
Control Channels

Broadcast Channels (BCH)
 Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)
 Synchronization Channel (SCH)
 Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)

Common Control Channels (CCCH)
 Paging Channel (PCH)
 Random Access Channel (RACH)
 Access Grant Channel (AGCH)

Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)
 Stand alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)
 Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
 Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
 Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
Broadcast Channels (BCH)

To help the Mobile set (Mobile Handset)

measures
 to turn to a BTS
 to listen for the cell information

to start roaming, waiting for calls to arrive, making calls
 Because BTSs are not synchronized with each
other, every time a Mobile set decides to camp to
another cell, its FCCH, SCH, and BCCH must be
read.
Frequency Correction Channel
(FCCH)

Provide Mobile set with the frequency
reference of the system
 To enable the Mobile Handset (Mobile set) to
synchronize with the frequency

Transmission properties
 Transmit on the down-link
 Point to multi-point.
Synchronization Channel (SCH)

Mobile set synchronize with the structure within
the located cell
 Mobile set can receive information from the proper time
slots on the TDMA structure

To ensure a GSM BTS is chose
 The Base Station Identity Code (BSIC) can only be
decoded by a GSM BTS

Transmission properties
 Transmit on down-link
 Point to multi-point.
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)

BTS broadcast cell information to Mobile
set
 LAI ( Location Area Identity), to start roaming,
waiting for calls to arrive, making calls
 maximum output power allowed in the cell
 information about BCCH carriers for the
neighboring cells

Mobile set will perform measurement to BTS

Transmission properties
 Transmit on down-link
 Point to multi-point
Common Control Channels (CCCH)

CCCH support the establishment of a

dedicated communication path (dedicated
channel) between the Mobile set and the BTS

Three types of CCCH
 Paging Channel (PCH)
 Random Access Channel (RACH)
 Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
 Paging Channel (PCH)

Used by BTS to page particular Mobile set in
the cell
 Mobile set actively listen to PCH to check contact
info within certain time
 Contact could be incoming call or short message

Contact info on PCH include
 IMSI (Mobile set’s identity number), or
 TMSI (temporary number)

Transmission properties
 Transmit on down-link
 point to point
Random Access Channel (RACH)

Used by Mobile set to request a dedicated
channel for call setup
 Shared by any Mobile set attempts to access
the network
 Channel request message contains the reason
for the access attempt

Transmission properties
 Transmit on up-link
 Point to pint.
Access Grant Channel (AGCH)

The network assigns a signaling channel
via AGCH
 A Stand alone Dedicated Control Channel
(SDCCH) is assigned

Transmission properties
 Transmit on down-link
 Point to point
Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)

DCCH are used for transferring nonuser

information between the network and the Mobile
set
 Messages on DCCH Including

channel maintenance

mobility management

radio resource management

Four kinds of DCCH
 Stand alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)
 Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
 Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
 Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
Stand alone Dedicated Control
Channel (SDCCH)

Transfer signaling information between the
BTS and the Mobile set

Typically used for location updating prior to
use of a traffic channel

Transmission properties
 Bidirectional channel, transmit on both up and
down-link
 Point to point.
Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)

To carry Short Message Service Cell
Broadcast (SMSCB)

Use the same physical channel as SDCCH

Transmission properties
 Transmit on down-link
 Point to multi-point
Slow Associated Control Channel
(SACCH)

Carries control and measurement parameters
along with routine data necessary to maintain a
radio link between the Mobile set and the BTS
 On the uplink, MS sends averaged measurements
(signal strength and quality) of current and neighboring
BCCH
 On downlink, MS receives information about
transmitting power to use and an instruction with time
advance/retard

Transmission properties
 Bidirection channel, transmit on both up and down link
 Point to point
Fast Associated Control Channel
(FACCH)

An FACCH is used over a TCH where it
steals time slots from a TCH
 a 20 ms segment of speech is stolen to carry
handover signaling information

Appears on demand
 Traffic Channels (TCH)

TCH transport user information (speech/data)

TCH are bidirectional dedicated channels
between the network and the Mobile set
Geographical Network Structure

Location Units
 Cell
 Location Area (LA)
 MSC/VLR Service Area
 PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) Service Area
 GSM Service Area
Location Information --
GSM Service Area Hierarchy
GSM Service Area

PLMN Service Area

(one per operator)

MSC/VLR

Location Area

Cell
Cell Characteristics

The Basic Union In The System

 defined as the area where radio coverage is given
by one base station.

Addressed by Cell Global Identity (CGI)

A cell has one or several frequencies,
depending on traffic load.
 Frequencies are reused, but not used in
neighboring cells due to interference.
ID-Numbers

CGI = MCC + MNC + LAC + CI
 CGI Cell Global Identity
 CI Cell Identity

BSIC = NCC + BCC
 BSIC Base Station Identity Code
 NCC Network Color Code (3bits)
 BCC Base Station Color Code (3bits)
Location Registry

Registration Message Flow

 Inter-LA movement

In the same MSC
 Inter-MSC movement

In the same GSM Operator
 Inter-VLR movement
 Mobile call scenario….

Mobile terminating call

10-07-2006 Manish Das, DGM(CMTS), Kolkata

 GPRS

10-07-2006 Manish Das, DGM(CMTS), Kolkata

 VLR LEGEND
PLMN
PSTN MSC
Existing GSM Core Network elements
ISDN A New GPRS elements and interfaces
User data & signaling
Gs Signaling only
SGSN
of a HLR EIR SMSC
different SIM
PLMN Gp Ater Mobile
Gc Gr Gf TCU BSC BTS Station
Gd Base Abis Base
Station Transceiver Mobile
Controller Station Eqpm’t
PSPDN PCUSN
GGSN Gn SGSN Gb Agprs
Gi
FRAME RELAY Um
IP or X.25 Interface

Gb between SGSN-PCUSN uses Frame Relay protocols

Gn between SGSN-GGSN uses IP routing, GPRS Tunnel
Protocol

Gr between SGSN-HLR is an extension of MAP

Gi between GGSN and PDNs uses IP and X.25

Gd between SGSN-SMSC delivers SMS messages using MAP

Gc between GGSN-HLR is optional, uses MAP

Gs between SGSN-MSC/VLR is optional, uses BSSMAP
GPRS Architecture - Components

New components introduced for GPRS services:

 SGSN (Serving GPRS Support Node)
 GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node)
 IP-based backbone network

Old components in GSM upgraded for GPRS
services:
 HLR
 MSC/VLR
 Mobile Station
Salient Features

High Data Rates up to 172 kpbs – an order of

magnitude higher than GSM

The setup time is negligible – less than a
second

Resource utilization as per requirements – air
interface is assigned temporarily on per-
packet basis

Hosts can remain “always on”
GPRS Coding Schemes

GPRS defines four coding
schemes

Only CS-1 is mandatory for the RLC
CS-1 RLC Data
BTS Header

≤ 160 Data Bits (depends on size RLC header)

All coding schemes are
RLC
mandatory for the MS CS-2 Header
RLC Data

The higher the coding scheme, ≤ 240 Data Bits (depends on size RLC header)
the higher the throughput RLC
RLC Data
CS-3 Header

The higher the throughput, the
≤ 288 Data Bits (depends on size RLC header)
lower protection against errors RLC
CS-4 RLC Data

Encoded 456 bits interleaved Header

over 4 TDMA bursts ≤ 400 Data Bits (depends on size RLC header)

1 TS 2 TS 3 TS 4 TS 8 TS
CS-1 9.05 kbps 18.1 kbps 27.15 kbps 36.2 kbps 72.4 kbps
CS-2 13.4 kbps 26.8 kbps 40.2 kbps 53.6 kbps 107.2 kbps
CS-3 15.6 kbps 31.2 kbps 46.8 kbps 62.4 kbps 124.8 kbps
CS-4 21.4 kbps 42.8 kbps 64.2 kbps 85.6 kbps 171.2 kbps
Typical Data Call Scenario

BTS BSC MSC

SGSN GPRS
Register

GGSN
PSPDN

User LAN
Router
GPRS Mobile Station Classes
Class GSM and GPRS GSM or GPRS GSM Only
Type Simultaneously Sequentially GPRS Only
Class A Yes Yes Yes
Class B No Yes Yes
Class C No No Yes

Class A supports simultaneous circuit and packet switched

Class B supports packet and circuit switched sequentially

Currently only Class B mobiles being developed

Class C does not support parallel operation

Operates in either packet or circuit mode only

Low cost unit available for mass market deployment
EDGE

Enhanced Data rate for Global Evolution

GSM/GPRS-Network Enhancement

Data rate comparable to UMTS Network
(384 kBit/s and more)

Based on GSM Multiplexmethod (TDMA/FDMA)

Changing GSM Modulation from GPSK to 8PSK
EDGE Features
Introduce new methods at the physical layer
 new form of modulation: 8PSK(phrase Shift Keying)

introduced as a complement to GMSK (Gaussian Filter
Minimum Shift Keying)

8PSK: use 8 phrases to carry signals
 High radio interface data rates (up to 384kbps)
EDGE Features cont.

Provides an evolutionary migration path from

GPRS to UMTS
 Only one EDGE transceiver unit need to be added to
each cell.
 Software upgrades to BSC and Base Stations can
be carried out remotely.
 Higher layer protocols (GGSN, SGSN) stay the
same
 Can be introduced smoothly in GPRS(doesn’t
require any new elements)
Applications….

Web browsing

Email

File Transfer

Banking Transactions

Stock Market Updates

News

Online Video clips/ sports clippings

Gaming

Multimedia Greetings card exchange

Polyphonic ring tone download

Weather & Traffic reports
Network Monitoring
and
Troubleshooting
Network monitoring

Routine HW check

Call test

Customers complaints

Traffic report study

Drive test and remedial actions
Common Problems and Causes
•BTS Power Settings
No Coverage •Antenna Problem
•BTS Site

•RF Coverage
•Interference
Poor Speech Quality - Co, Adjacent and Multipath
& Drop Calls •Transcoder and Switching Equipment's
•Handover Discrepancies
•Link Imbalance

•RF Coverage
•Resource Unavailability
Blocked Calls •Cell Traffic Loading
•RF Coverage
•Interference
•Link Imbalance
Troubleshooting Problems

• Blocked Calls
• Poor Quality and Drop calls
• Abnormal Handovers
• Interference
Blocked Call
Troubleshooting
 Blocked Call Analysis
1 3

Channel Request Channel Request

RACH .
: Imm Assignment
RACH
max_retrans Service Request
NO RESPONSE FROM N/W
ACCESS FAILURE ! Signalling
:
Signalling
2
NO TCH ASSIGNMENT
Channel Request Mobile Returns To Idle
RACH TCH BLOCKED !
Imm Assign Reject

SDCCH BLOCKED !
Blocked Call – Cause troubleshooting

Access Failures
- CCCH Overload at the Base Station
- Uplink Interference at the Base Station
- Low Rxlev at the Base Station
- Base Station TRX decoder malfunctioning
- Downlink Low Rxlev ( Coverage Hole )
- Downlink Interference
- Excess Cell Range
 Blocked Call Analysis
SDCCH Congestion Cause

Location Updates
- Use OMC Statistics
- Drive Test of optimizing Location Areas

Interference
- OMC statistics for “Idle Channel Interference”
- Uplink Interference Measurements

Heavy Traffic
- OMC traffic statistics
- Call Setup time verification
- CCCH control parameters
 Blocked Call
TCH Blocked - Causes
•Interference
-- Idle Channel Interference reports from OMC
--Uplink Interference measurements

•Heavy Traffic
-- TCH Holding time and attempts traffic statistics
-- Time Slot testing.

Solutions To Blocked Calls

Optimize coverage
Optimize Cell loading
Interference management
Channel configurations
Optimize neighbors
Dropped Call
Troubleshooting
Drop Calls Analysis
1 2

Channel Request Channel Request

Imm Assignment Imm Assignment

Service Request Service Request

Signalling SDCCH Signalling

: :
Signalling Speech
TCH
RLT = 0 ; DROPS RLT = 0 ; DROPS
SDCCH DROP ! TCH DROP !

3 SDCCH / TCH

Handover Command

Hand Access

Handover Failure

HANDOVER FAILURE DROP !

 Dropped Call Analysis

SDCCH Drops - Causes
 Coverage
 Interference & Multipath
 BTS performance

TCH Drops - Causes

 Coverage
 Interference & Multipath
 BTS performance

Handover Failure - Causes

 Threshold parameters
 Missing neighbors
 Poor Quality
•Poor Speech Quality could be due to
•Patchy Coverage ( holes)
•No Target cell for Handover
•Echo , Audio holes, Voice Clipping
•Interference ---:
•Co-channel
•Adjacent channel
•External
•Multipath
•Noise
 Speech Quality Parameters
RxQUAL

FER

Echo and distortion

Audio holes

Voice Clipping
Traffic report analysis
Any Question ? ?
Thank You