Module 01

Introduction to EDGE

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Notes

Objectives
At the completion of this module the student is able to:
Theory:
Describe the benefits for 2G GSM/EDGE network operators and end
users
Describe the different services in EDGE phase 1 and 2
Explain EGPRS modulation and coding schemes
Describe EGPRS link quality control

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Differences to be examined in the exercises at the end.

Content

Introduction
Benefits of EDGE
Services
EGPRS Key Factors

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Flexi EDGE BTS Operation, Administration and Maintenance / July 2008

 Introduction
Benefits of EDGE
Services
EGPRS Key Factors

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Introduction
Smooth transformation GSM to EDGE
Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) will enhance data capabilities
by GSM networks towards 3G Services.
With new modulation, EDGE increases the Air interface data throughput three-fold
compared to todays GSM
Benefits of EDGE include, for example, the following:
migration path to wireless multimedia services
movement to third generation applications
flexibility in pricing due to lower costs for data capacity in high-speed data
applications
fast network implementation
optimised network investment
flexible, demand-based deployment of data capacity
improved service quality and end user satisfaction
lower tariffs, resulting from more efficient networks

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Introduction
Required Network Changes
EDGE technology is introduced on the existing GSM network and does not compromise
network performance and quality.

EDGE support requires minimum hardware changes for existing networks. Only
GSM/EDGE TRX Radio Frequency (RF) and Baseband units need to be installed all
other units stay the same. GSM/EDGE and GSM TRXs can co-exist, or operators can
create a configuration using all-EDGE components.

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Introduction
GSM Evolution towards EDGE
After implementation of EDGE, a cell
typically can include two types of tranceiver:
standard GSM and EDGE transceiver.
Each physical channel or time slot used for
cell traffic could be one of at least for
channel types:
GSM
GPRS
EGPRS

The Enhanced General Packet Radio

Service support high-rate packet data
across varying channel condition, and using
several Modulation and Coding Scheme,
which vary from 8.8 kbit/s to 59.2 kbit/s in
the radio interface.
The EDGE solution includes EGPRS ,
which reside on top of the packet-switched
data service GPRS.

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 Introduction

Benefits of EDGE
Services
EGPRS Key Factors

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Benefits of EDGE
Benefit of EDGE for End User
EDGE brings many benefits to end users :
Increased data capacity makes new features available, such as: improved
quality and higher data throughput
New multimedia also be reachable
Higher data speed make enable for applications: web browsing, E-mail,
Chats, News Network games, E-commerce, and digital photo post card.
Enabling WAP based services with UDP as transmission

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Benefits of EDGE
Benefit of EDGE for GSM Operators
EDGE brings many benefits also to operators :
Improves operators competitivenes in packet-data services segments.
Offers the most cost-effective means to provide 3G services within
existing spectrum
Full revenue potential through incorporating international roaming in a
convinient and cost-effective manner

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 Introduction
Benefits of EDGE

Services
EGPRS Key Factors

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Services
Services on EDGE evolution phase
EDGE Evolution phase 1 (Release 99)
Completed by early 2000 and includes

EDGE Evolution phase 2

Provides following services and features:
Introduction of real time packet services such
as VoIP and Video over IP

ECSD and EGPRS sevices.

Provides following services and features:

Handover for packet switched connection t

enable real time services

Enhanced AMR or Hi-Fi speech codecs

EGPRS at 8.8 59.2 kbit/s in up to 8 radio

time slots

The target should be that the EDGE service

Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS) 1 9

Link Adaptation combined with Incremental
Redudancy (LA/IR)

2G

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set will match well with WCDMA, which allow

seamless roaming between the radio
technology.

3G

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 Introduction
Benefits of EDGE
Services

EGPRS Key Factors

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EGPRS Key Factors

Introduction
Unlike GSM circuit switched data, GPRS uses packet switched connection for data
transfer.

With GMSK modulation, data rate per radio time slot can reach 21.4 kbit/s.
EGPRS uses the new modulation in the air interface, 8-PSK, which gives up to
59.2 kbit/s.

EGPRS will be built on top of GPRS using:

9 different Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS) that process user bit rates 8.8
59.2 kbit/s on the air interface and bundling up to 8 radio time slots.

Link Quality Control that has been designed around two fundamental Link Adaptation
(LA) and Incremental Redundancy (IR)

SGSN

BSC

data
BSC
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coding

Radio interface block (1392 bits in 8-PSK)

BTS

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EGPRS Key Factors

GPRS and EDGE Coding Schemes

CS1

9.05

CS2

13.4

CS3

15.6

CS4

21.4

EDGE
MCS

Modulation

Code Rate

Family

GMSK

0.53

8.8 kbit/s

GMSK

0.66

11.2 kbit/s

GMSK

0.8

14.8 kbit/s

GMSK

17.6 kbit/s

8PSK

0.37

22.4 kbit/s

8PSK

0.49

29.6 kbit/s

8PSK

0.76

44.8 kbit/s

8PSK

0.92

54.4 kbit/s

8PSK

59.2 kbit/s

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Error
Correction

Nokia GPRS
in BSS S11
Start from
BSS S11 with
EDAP

Data Rate
per TSL (kbit/s)

Data

Coding
Scheme

GPRS

More Data
=
Less Error
Correction

User Rate

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EGPRS Key Factors

GMSK

GMSK and 8-PSK modulation

GSM and GPRS using GMSK modulation which 0, 0
a phase modulation that represents a serial bit
streamas sliding phase shift of the RF carrier

0, 1

1, 0

1, 1

MSK = minimum shift keying

EGPRS (EDGE) using 8-PSK modulation which

data rate per time slot will triple due to three bits
per modulated symbol
0, 0, 0

Modulation
Symbol rate
Payload/burst
Gross rate/ time slot
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EDGE
8-PSK, 3bit/sym
270.833 ksps
346 bits
69.2 kbps

GPRS
GMSK. 1bit/sym
270.833 ksps
114 bits
22.8 kbps

0, 1, 0

8-PSK
0, 1, 1

0, 0, 1

1, 1, 1

1, 0, 1

1, 1, 0
1, 0, 0

Flexi EDGE BTS Operation, Administration and Maintenance / July 2008

Refer to S11 Documentation:

Descriptions\ Feature Descriptions\ Data IP-Multimedia\ (E)GPRS in
BSC\ GPRS radio connection control
The idea behind increasing the data rates is the introduction of 8-PSK (Phase Shift
Keying), a linear higher order modulation in addition to the existing GMSK (Gaussian
Minimum Shift Keying). An 8-PSK signal is able to carry three bits per modulated
symbol over the radio path, while a GMSK signal carries only one bit per symbol. The
carrier symbol rate (270.833 ksps) of standard GSM is kept the same for 8-PSK, and
the burst length is identical to the current GMSK using the same 200 k carrier
spacing. With multi-slot reservation, EDGE offers an evolution path for GSM to
support medium rate multimedia applications. The user can send more data per radio
time slot with the same amount of air time used and operators do not need to invest
in another frequency band and license to offer higher data rate services like mobile
multimedia.

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EGPRS Key Factors

Link Quality Control

EGPRS Link Quality Control has been

designed around two fundamental
mechanism:
1. Link Adaptation (LA) mechanism,
means adapting the protection of
the sent information according to
the link quality condition.
2. Incremental Redudancy (IR)
mechanism, means when a
reception failure occurs, this
process is used for incrementally
obtaining the correct data block
protection
When talking about EGPRS IR, it is
assumed to combined Link Adaptation
(LA) and Incremental Redudancy (IR)

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Example of link adaptation

process:
MCS is changed from MCS-7
to MCS-5 due to poor link
quality

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