GSM

Global System for Mobiles

GSM CHANNELS

By: Mrs. Shweta Shah

1
Multiple access schemes With
GSM
 The radio transmission in GSM networks
is based on digital technology. Digital
transmission in GSM is implemented
using two methods known as Frequency
Division Multiple Access (FDMA) and
Time Division Multiple Access
(TDMA).
Concept of TDMA and FDMA used in GSM
along with SDMA using cellular structure
 Frequency Division Multiple Access
(FDMA) refers to the fact that each
Base Transceiver Station is allocated
different radio frequency channels.
Mobile phones in adjacent cells (or in
the same cell) can operate at the same
time, but are separated according to
frequency.
 Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) divides
one radio frequency channel into consecutive
periods of time, each one called a "TDMA frame".
 Each TDMA frame contains eight shorter periods of
time known as "timeslots".
 Time is divided into discrete periods called
“timeslots”. The timeslots are arranged in
sequence and are conventionally numbered 0
to 7. Each repetition of this sequence is called
a “TDMA frame”.
 The information carried in one timeslot is called
a “burst”.
 Each MS telephone call occupies one timeslot
(0–7) within the frame until the call is
terminated, or a handover occurs.
 For such a system to work correctly,
synchronization and timing has to be maintain
correctly.
 GSM-900 calculations:
-Forward link (BS to mobile)-- 960 MHz – 935 MHz = 25 MHz
-Reverse link (Mobile to BS)- 915 MHz – 890 MHz = 25 MHz

Total available bandwidth 25 MHz

-Total number of channels =   125
Per channel bandwidth 200 kHz
- ARFCN = 0 to 124

-Per channel 8 time slots assigned and

-channel data rate is 270.833 kbps
-effective channel transmission rate =270.833/8 = 33.854 kbps
-In GSM with overhead user data is actually sent at 24.7 kbps
instead of 33.854 kbps
-Signaling bit duration = 1/270.833 =3.692 s
8
Transmission through air interface
 The principle of air interface can be understand by
an example of an army which has to moved from
one place to another and a group of vehicles is set
aside to do the job.

 Each vehicle has eight seats and therefore only

eight people can be carried in each vehicle. One
officer and seven soldiers are allocated to each
vehicle.

 There are different types of people in army,

soldiers and officers. This could be referred to as
“logical” differences as their functions are
different.
 To move them form one place to
another, a “physical” connection is
employed, that is, the vehicle and seats.
 The physical channel is the medium over
which the information is carried, in the
case of a terrestrial interface this would
be a cable.
 The logical channels consist of the
information carried over the physical
channel.
 Physical and Logical Channels

 The TDMA frame can be compared to the vehicle in our

example.

 Each TDMA frame contains eight shorter periods of time

known as "timeslots". These timeslots can be compared
to the seats in the vehicle.

 The TDMA timeslots are called "physical channels", as

they are used to physically move information from one
place to another.

 The radio carrier signal between the mobile station and

the BTS is divided into a continuous stream of timeslots,
which in turn are transmitted in a continuous stream of
TDMA frames - like a long line of vehicles with eight seats
in each.
 The contents of the physical channels - that is, the
soldiers and officers traveling in the eight seats of the
vehicle, according to their roles, are called "logical
channels".

 For such a system to work correctly, the timing of the

transmissions to and from the mobiles is critical. The MS
or Base Station must transmit the information related to
one call at exactly the right moment, or the timeslot will
be missed. The information carried in one timeslot is
called a “burst”.

 In the example of the army, the soldiers are one type of

logical channel and the officers are other types of logical
channels, and they exercise some kind of control
depending on their responsibilities. In GSM, the logical
channels can be divided into two types:
 dedicated channels
 common channels.
Hierarchy of Logical channels
 Logical channels
 There are 12 different types of logical channels, which are
mapped into physical channels in the radio path.
 Logical channels comprise of common channels and
dedicated channels.
 Common channels are those that are used for
broadcasting different information to MS and for setting up
signalling channels between the MSC/VLR and the mobile
station.
 Over the radio path, different types of signalling channels are
used between the MS and the BTS, BSC and the MSC/VLR.
 All these signalling channels are called dedicated control
channels.
 Traffic channels are also dedicated channels, as each
channel is dedicated to only one user to carry speech or
data.
 LOGICAL CHANNELS

TRAFFIC SIGNALLING

FULL RATE HALF RATE

Bm 22.8 Kb/S Lm 11.4 Kb/S
BROADCAST COMMON CONTROL DEDICATED CONTROL

FCCH SCH BCCH

RACH
PCH AGCH
FCCH -- FREQUENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL
SCH -- SYNCHRONISATION CHANNEL
BCCH -- BROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL
PCH -- PAGING CHANNEL
RACH -- RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL SDCCH SACCH FACCH
AGCH -- ACCESS GRANTED CHANNEL
SDCCH -- STAND ALONE DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL DOWN LINK ONLY
SACCH -- SLOW ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL BOTH UP &
FACCH -- FAST ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL UPLINK ONLY DOWNLINKS
TDMA frames with common and
dedicated channels
 Different logical channels are placed in different timeslots
depending on whether they are common channels used by
several MS (blue above) or if they are dedicated to a certain
MS in connection with a call (yellow above).

 The common and dedicated channels are grouped in different

multiframes.

 The common channels are grouped in a 51 TDMA frame

order, and

 The dedicated channels are grouped in a 26 TDMA frame

order.
 By multiplying 51 with 26, we can conclude that any TDMA
frame number will occur simultaneously in both multiframes
every 1326 TDMA frames (which corresponds to 6.12
seconds). Such cycles are called superframes.
20
 21

Relationship of All Time Segments

Control Channel Multiframe

 Control Channel Multiframe

composed of 51 TDMA frames
duration = 235.4 ms

22
 Traffic Channel Multiframe
composed of 26 TDMA frames
duration = 120 ms

23
Traffic Channel and Control Channel Multiframes

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 Superframe
 A Superframe is composed of multiple Multiframes.

Again, there is a superframe for Control Channels and one for

Traffic Channels.

Control Channel Superframe

composed of 26 Control Channel (CCH) multiframes (each CCH
multiframe has 51 TDMA frames)
duration = 6.12 seconds

Traffic Channel Superframe

composed of 51 Traffic Channel (TCH) multiframes (each TCH)
multiframe has 26 TDMA frames)
duration = 6.12 seconds

Each superframe, whether it is a CCH or TCH frame, consists of

1326 TDMA frames (51 * 26)
*Note: The CCH and TCH frame sequences will synchronize
every superframe.
25
Hyperframe
 A hyperframe is composed of 2048 superframes.
duration = 3h 28m 53s 76ms (12,533.76
seconds) consists of 2,715,548 TDMA frames

26
GSM burst
 The GSM burst, or transmission can fulfil a variety of
functions.
 Some GSM bursts are used for carrying data while others
are used for control information.
 As a result of this a number of different types of GSM
burst are defined.

 Normal burst uplink and downlink

 Synchronisation burst downlink
 Frequency correction burst downlink
 Random Access (Shortened Burst)
uplink
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28
GSM normal burst
 This GSM burst is used for the standard
communications between the base station
and the mobile, and typically transfers the
digitised voice data.
 The structure of the normal GSM burst is
exactly defined and follows a common format.
It contains data that provides a number of
different functions:

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 3 tail bits: These tail bits at the start of the GSM burst give
time for the transmitter to ramp up its power
 57 data bits: used to carry information (contains the
digitised voice data) although on occasions it may be
replaced with signalling information in the form of the Fast
Associated Control CHannel (FACCH).
 The type of data is indicated by the flag that follows the data field
 1 bit flag: This bit within the GSM burst indicates the type
of data in the previous field.
 26 bits training sequence: used as a timing reference and
for equalisation.
 There is a total of eight different bit sequences that may be used, each
26 bits long.
 The same sequence is used in each GSM slot, but nearby base stations
using the same radio frequency channels will use different ones, and
this enables the mobile to differentiate between the various cells using
the same frequency.

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 1 bit flag Again this flag indicates the type of data in
the data field.
 57 data bits Again, this block of data within the GSM
burst is used for carrying data.
 3 tail bits These final bits within the GSM burst are used
to enable the transmitter power to ramp down. They are
often called final tail bits, or just tail bits.
 8.25 bits guard time At the end of the GSM burst there
is a guard period. This is introduced to prevent
transmitted bursts from different mobiles overlapping.
As a result of their differing distances from the base
station.

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GSM synchronisation burst
 The purpose of this form of GSM burst is to provide
synchronisation for the mobiles on the network.
 3 tail bits: Again, these tail bits at the start of the GSM burst
give time for the transmitter to ramp up its power
 39 bits of information:
 64 bits of a Long Training Sequence:
 39 bits Information:
 3 tail bits Again these are to enable the transmitter power to
ramp down.
 8.25 bits guard time: to act as a guard interval.

32
GSM frequency correction
burst
 With the information in the burst all set to zeros, the
burst essentially consists of a constant frequency carrier
with no phase alteration.
 3 tail bits: Again, these tail bits at the start of the GSM
burst give time for the transmitter to ramp up its power.
 142 bits all set to zero:
 3 tail bits Again these are to enable the transmitter
power to ramp down.
 8.25 bits guard time: to act as a guard interval.

33
GSM random access burst
 This form of GSM burst used when accessing
the network and it is shortened in terms of the
data carried, having a much longer guard
period.
 This GSM burst structure is used to ensure that
it fits in the time slot regardless of any severe
timing problems that may exist.
 Once the mobile has accessed the network and
timing has been aligned, then there is no
requirement for the long guard period.

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 7 tail bits: The increased number of tail bits is included
to provide additional margin when accessing the
network.
 41 training bits:
 36 data bits:
 3 tail bits Again these are to enable the transmitter
power to ramp down.
 69.25 bits guard time: The additional guard time,
filling the remaining time of the GSM burst provides for
large timing differences.

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 Bursts and Frames
1 TDMA frame = 8 timeslots 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 timeslot = 156.25 bit durations (15/26 =~ 0.577 ms)

(1 bit duration 48/13 =~ 3.69 micro sec)
TB flag Training sequence 26flag Encrypted bits 57 TB GP TB: Tail bits
Normal Burst (NB) Encrypted bits 57
3 1 1 3 8.25 GP: Guard period

Frequency correction TB TB GP
burst (FB) Fixed bits 142
3 3 8.25

Synchronization TB Encrypted bits 39 Synchronization sequence 64 Encrypted bits 39 TB GP

burst (SB) 3 3 8.25

TB
Access burst (AB) Synchronization sequence Encrypted bits 36 TB GP 68.25
3
41 3

Dummy burst (DB) TB TB GP

Mixed bits 58 Training sequence 26 Mixed bits 58
3 3 8.25
 Traffic Channels (TCH)
 The traffic channel carries speech or data information.
The different types of traffic channel are listed below:
Full rate
TCH/FS: Speech (13 kbit/s net, 22.8 kbit/s gross)
TCH/EFR: Speech (12.2 kbit/s net, 22.8 kbit/s gross)
TCH/F9.6: 9.6 kbit/s – data
TCH/F4.8: 4.8 kbit/s – data
TCH/F2.4 2.4 kbit/s – data
Half rate
TCH/HS: speech (6.5 kbit/s net, 11.4 kbit/s gross)
TCH/H4.8 4.8 kbit/s – data
TCH/H2.4 2.4 kbit/s – data

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39
TCH Full Rate/Half Rate
 User data is contained within one TS
per frame
 Half Rate : Sampled at a rate half
than Full Rate,Mapped onto the same
time slot but it sent into alternate
frames
 TCH/FS, TCH/F 9.6, TCH/F 4.8, TCH/F
2.4
 Speech channel Digitized 13 KBPS
 After channel coding 22.8 KBPS
 Traffic Channel (TCH)
 Traffic channels are logical channels that transfer user
speech or data, which can be either in the form of half
rate traffic (5.6 Kbits/s) or full rate traffic (13
Kbits/s). Another form of traffic channel is the
Enhanced Full Rate (EFR) traffic channel.
 The speech coding in EFR is still done at 13 Kbits/s, but
the coding mechanism is different than that used for
normal full rate traffic.
 EFR coding gives better speech quality at the same bit
rate than normal full rate.
 Traffic channels can transmit both speech and data and
are bi-directional channels.
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Control channels

44
45
46
Broadcast group
 Base stations can use several TXs, but there is always
only one TX that can carry common channels.
 They are downlink point-to-multipoint channels.
 They contain general information about the
network and the broadcasting cell.
 There are three types of broadcast channels:

1. Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)

2. Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)
3. Synchronisation Channel (SCH)
 Broadcast Control Channel
(BCCH)
 Broadcast information for,
 the network, e.g. for describing the current control channel
structure.
 a MSs present cell and
 The surrounding cells.
 It is transmitted continuously as its signal strength is
measured by all MSs on surrounding cells.
 The information carried on the BCCH is monitored by the
MS periodically (at least every 30 secs), when it is
switched on and not in a call.
 The BCCH is a point-to-multipoint channel (BS-to-MS).
 It also broadcasts a list of channels that are currently in
use within the cell.
 The BCCH is transmitted at constant power at all times,
and its signal strength is measured by all MS which may
seek to use it. “Dummy” bursts are transmitted to ensure
continuity when there is no BCCH carrier traffic.
 Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH) – Carries the following
information:
1. Location Area Identity (LAI).
2. List of neighboring cells which should be monitored by the MS.
3. List of frequencies used in the cell.
4. Cell identity.
5. Power control indicator.
6. DTX permitted.
7. Access control (for example, emergency calls, call barring).
8. CBCH description.
 Frequency Correction Channel
(FCCH)
 This is transmitted frequently on the BCCH timeslot and
allows the mobile to synchronize its own frequency to
that of the transmitting base site.

 The FCCH may only be sent during timeslot 0 on the

BCCH carrier frequency and therefore it acts as a flag to
the mobile to identify Timeslot 0.

 The MS scans for this signal after it has been switched

on, since it has no information as to which frequency to
use.
 Synchronisation Channel (SCH)
 The SCH carries the information to enable the MS to
synchronize to the TDMA frame structure and know the timing
of the individual timeslots. The following parameters are sent:
– Frame number.
– Base Site Identity Code (BSIC).

 The BSIC is needed to identify that the frequency

strength being measured by the mobile station is coming
from a particular base station.
 The MS will monitor BCCH information from surrounding cells
and store the information from the best six cells. The SCH
information on these cells is also stored so that the MS may
quickly resynchronize when it enters a new cell.
52
Common control channels
(CCCH) group
 Common control channels comprise the second set of
logical channels.
 They are used to set up a point to point connection.
 The CCCHs are of two main types:
 The forward common channels are used for paging to inform a
mobile of an incoming call, responding to channel requests, and
broadcasting bulletin board information.
 The return common channel is a random access channel used
by the mobile to request channel resources before timing information
is conveyed by the BSs.
 The Common Control Channel is responsible for transferring
control information between all mobiles and the BTS. This
is necessary for the implementation of “call origination” and
“call paging” functions.

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 There are three types of common control channels:

1. Paging Channel (PCH)

2. Random Access Channel (RACH)
3. Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
4. Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)

54
Paging Channel (PCH)
 downlink channel
 broadcast by all the BTSs of a location area in the case of
a mobile terminated call.
 The PCH transmits IMSI of the target subscriber
which is with a request for acknowledgement form the
mobile on RACH.
 used for “cell broadcast” (ASCII text messages to all
MSs in form of SMS)
 Used by the BTS to page MS, (paging can be
performed by an IMSI, TMSI or IMEI).

55
Random Access Channel
(RACH)
 only uplink and the first point to point channel in
the common control channels.
 It is used by the mobile station in order to initiate
a transaction, or as a response to a PCH.
 RACH is used by MSs to gain access to the system.
 Main functions are access requests,
response to call announcement, location
update, etc.
 It is used by subscriber unit to acknowledge a
page form the PCH and also to originate a call
by mobile.
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 Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
 The AGCH is the answer to the RACH.
 It is used to assign a mobile Stand-alone Dedicated
Control Channel (SDCCH).
 It is a downlink, point to point channel.
 It is the final CCCH message sent by the BS before a
subscriber is moved off the control channel and will
move to the dedicated channel in order to proceed with
either a call setup, response to a paging message,
Location Area Update or Short Message Service.
 The PCH and AGCH are never used at the same time.

57
Cell Broadcast Channel
(CBCH)
 This channel is used to transmit
messages to be broadcast to all MSs
within a cell.

 The CBCH uses a dedicated control

channel to send its messages,
however it is considered a common
channel because the messages can be
received by all mobiles in the cell.
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 Active MSs must frequently monitor
both BCCH and CCCH. The CCCH will
be transmitted on the RF carrier with
the BCCH.

59
60
 Dedicated control channels
(DCCH)
 The dedicated channels are of two main types:
 those used for signaling, and
 those used for traffic.
 The signaling channels are used for
 maintenance of the call and
 for enabling call set up,
 providing facilities such as handover when the call is in
progress, and finally terminating the call.
 The traffic channels handle the actual payload.

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 Dedicated control channels
(DCCH)
 Dedicated control channels compose the third group of
logical channels.
 The dedicated channels are:
1. Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel
(SDCCH)
2. Associated Control Channel (ACCH)
1. Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
2. Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
 They are used for call set-up, sending measurement
reports and handover.
 They are all bi-directional and point to point channels.

62
 Stand-alone Dedicated
Control Channel (SDCCH)
 It is used for signaling exchanges, e.g. during call setup,
registration / location updates.
 The SDCCH carries signaling data following the connection
of MS with the BS and just before a TCH assignment is
issued by the BS.
 It ensures that the mobile and BS remain connected while the
base station and MSC verify the subscriber unit and then it
allocates resources for the mobile.
 It can be considered as an intermediate temporary
channel accepting a newly completed call from the BCH.
 It holds the traffic while waiting for the base station to
allocate a TCH channel. The SDCCH is used to send
authentication and alert messages.
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 Slow Associated Control
Channel (SACCH)
 An SACCH is associated with each SDCCH and TCH.
 It transmits measurement reports and is also used for
power control, time alignment and in some cases for
transmitting short messages.
 On the forward link, SACCH is used to send slow but
regularly changing control information to the mobile e.g.
transmit power level instructions, specific timing advance
instructions for each user on the ARFCN.
 On the reverse link, SACCH carries information about the
received signal strength and quality of the TCH and also
the BCH measurement resulting from neighboring cells. The
SACCH is transmitted in 13th frame (also in 26th frame when
half rate traffic is used) of every speech /dedicated control
channel multiframe.
64
 Fast Associated Control
Channel (FACCH)
 The FACCH is transmitted instead of a TCH. The
FACCH ‘‘steals” the TCH burst and inserts its own
information.
 The FACCH is used to carry out user
authentication, handovers and immediate
assignment.

65
 Channel combinations
 The different logical channel types mentioned are grouped
into what are called channel combinations.

 Full Rate Traffic Channel Combination – TCH/FACCH +

SACCH
 Broadcast Channel Combination – BCCH + CCCH
 Dedicated Channel Combination – SDCCH + SACCH
 Combined Channel Combination -
BCCH+CCCH+SDCCH+SACCH
 Select the channel with
Power On Scan Channels, highest RF level among
monitor RF levels the control channels

Scan the channel for the

FCCH

Select the channel with NO

next highest Rf level from Is
the control list. FCCH detected?
YES

Scan channel for SCH

NO
Is
SCH detected?
YES

Read data from BCCH

and determine is it BCCH?

From the channel data NO Is

update the control channel the current BCCH
list channel included? YES

Camp on BCCH and

start decoding
Example: Incoming Call Setup

MS  BSS/MSC ------ Paging request (PCH)

MS  BSS/MSC------ Channel request (RACH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Immediate Assignment (AGCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Paging Response (SDCCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Authentication Request (SDCCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Authentication Response (SDCCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Cipher Mode Command (SDCCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Cipher Mode Compl. (SDCCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Setup (SDCCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Call Confirmation (SDCCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Assignment Command (SDCCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Assignment Compl. (FACCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Alert (FACCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Connect (FACCH)
MS  BSS/MSC ------ Connect Acknowledge (FACCH)
MS BSS/MSC ------ Data (TCH)
 A practical approach:
 Suppose a subscriber switches on his mobile
phone and receives a call. This simple act
of switching on the phone involves the
following steps:

1. The mobile scans all the radio frequencies

and measures them.
2. It selects the frequency with the best quality
and tunes to it.
3. With the help of a synchronization signal in a
TDMA frame, the mobile synchronizes itself
to the network.
 The synchronization information required by this process is
broadcast by the network and analyzed by the mobile.
 Registration and authentication are the next steps and
they consist of the following operations:

1. A point to point connection must be set up. The mobile

station makes a request for a channel to establish the
connection.
2. The network acknowledges the request and allocates a
channel. The mobile receives and reads this information.
3. The mobile then moves to the allocated (dedicated)
channel for further transactions with the network. The
next steps are registration and authentication.
Initiation of a call
 Once the subscriber is registered in the network and
the authentication is successful, calls can be set up.
 In the case of a mobile terminated call, the subscriber
has to be paged. This process is like this:

1. The network sends a paging message to all the BTS

within the Location Area (LA) where the subscriber
is registered.
2. The mobile station answers the paging message by
sending a service/channel request.
3. The network acknowledges this request and again an
authentication is needed.
4. A dedicated signalling channel is assigned in order to
transmit the data related to the call. A traffic channel
is assigned for the conversation.
 During the conversation, the mobile measures the
signal strength of adjacent carriers and sends
measurement reports to the Base Station Controller
(BSC).
 A channel must be dedicated also for this
function.
 This is a simplified description of the process, but it
conveys the idea that there are many functions
involved in the air interface to enable a mobile user to
have conversation.
 Each one of these functions requires a separate
"logical channel", as the data contents are different.
Some of them are uplink, others are downlink and
some are bi-directional.
Mobile to Land Sequence Steps
Land to Mobile Sequence
MS Initiated Call Clearing
Sequence
Call completion from the called side
 Mobility Management Messages

Message name Transmitted by

AUTHENTICATION REQUEST Base
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE Mobile
AUTHENTICATION REJECT Base
IDENTITY REQUEST Base
IDENTITY RESPONSE Mobile
TSMI REALLOCATION COMMAND Base
LOCATION UPDATING REQUET Mobile
LOCATION UPDATING ACCEPT Base
LOCATION UPDATING REJECT Base
IMSI DETACH REQUEST Mobile
CM SERVICE REQUEST Mobile
CM RE-ESTABLISHMENT REQUEST Mobile
MM-STATUS Mobile/Base
Call management messages
Message name Transmitted by
Starting a call
SETUP Mobile/base
EMERGENCY SETUP mobile
CALL PROCEEDING base
PROGRESS base
CALL CONFIRMED mobile
ALERTING mobile/base
CONNECT mobile/base
During a call
START DTMF Mobile
STOP DTMF mobile
MODIFY mobile/base
USER INFORMATION mobile/base
Ending a call
DISCONNECT Mobile/base
RELEASE mobile/base
RELEASE COMPLET mobile/base
Abnormal conditions
STATUS Mobile/base
STATUS ENQUIRY mobile/base
CONGESTION CONROL mobile/base
 Radio Resources Management Messages
Message name Logical channel Transmitted by
SYNC CHANNEL INFORMATION SCH Base
SYSTEM INFORMATION (TYPE 1,2,3,4,5) BCCH Base
SYSTEM INFORMATION (TYPE 6) SACCH Base
CHANNEL REQUEST RACH Mobile
PAGING REQUEST (TYPE 1,2.3) PCH Base
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT AGCH Base
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT EXTENDED AGCH Base
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT REJECT AGCH Base
ASSIGNMENT COMMAND FACCH Base
ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENT FACCH Base
PAGING RESPONSE SDCCH Mobile
MERSUREMENT REPORT SACCH Mobile
HANDOVER COMMAND FACCH Base
HANDOVER ACCESS TCH Mobile
PHYSICAL INFORMATION FACCH Base
HANDOVER COMPLETE FACCH Mobile
CIPHERING MODE FACCH Base
CHANNEL RELEASE FACCH Base
PARTIAL RELEASE FACCH Base
FREQUENCY REDEFINITION SACCH Base
FACCH
CLASSMARK CHANGE SACCH Mobile
FACCH
CHANNEL MODE MODIFY FACCH Base
RR STATUS FACCH Mobile/base
SACCH
 Message sequence and system operations for registration
of a terminal in a visited service area
Prior Prior Serving Serving Serving
MSC VLR HLR VLR MSC Base
Registration info
Store info
REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION INVOKE
Store info
REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION INVOKE
Change info
REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION RESULT

REGISTRATION NOTIFICATION RESULT

REGISTRATION CANCELLATION INVOKE
remove info
REGISTRATION CANCELLATION RESULT

REGISTRATION CANCELLATION INVOKE

remove info QUALIFICATION REQUEST INVOKE
REGISTRATION CANCELLATION RESULT
QUALIFICATION REQUEST RESULT

PROFILE REQUEST INVOKE

PROFILE REQUEST RESULT

Store info
 Location-Updating Procedure
Mobile Base Logical Channel
station station
Carrier sine wave
FCCH
SYNC CHANNEL INFORMATION SCH
SYSTEM INFORMATION TYPE3 BCCH
CHANNEL REQUEST
RACH
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
AGCH
LOCATION UPDATING REQUEST
SDCCH
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST
SDCCH
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE SDCCH
CIPHERING MODE COMMAND SDCCH
CIPHERING MODE ACK SDCCH
LOCATION UPDATING ACCEPT
SDCCH
TMSI ALLOCATION COMPLETE
SDCCH
CHANNEL RELEASE
SDCCH
 Call Deliver to MH
Mobile Base
station station Logical Channel
Carrier sine wave
FCCH
SYNC CHANNEL INFORMATION SCH
SYSTEM INFORMATION BCCH
PAGING REQUEST PCH
CHANNEL REQUEST
RACH
IMMEDIATE ASSIGNMENT
AGCH
PAGING RESPONSE
SDCCH
AUTHENTICATION REQUEST SDCCH
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE SDCCH
CIPHERING MODE SDCCH
CIPHERING MODE ACK
SDCCH
SETUP
SDCCH
CALL CONFIRMED
SDCCH
ALERTING SDCCH
CONNECT SDCCH
ASSIGNMENT COMMAND SDCCH
ASSIGNMENT ACK SDCCH
CONNECT ACK
FACCH
conversation
TCH
conversation
TCH
conversation FACCH
DISCONNECT FACCH
RELEASE FACCH
RELEASE COMPLETE
FACCH
CHANNEL RELEASE
Mobile-Assisted Handover
Mobile Base Logical
station station Channel
conversation TCH
conversation TCH
MEASUREMENT REPORT SACCH
conversation TCH
conversation TCH
conversation TCH
MEASUREMENT REPORT SACCH
conversation TCH
HANDOVER COMMAND FACCH
HANDOVER ACCESS new TCH
HANDOVER ACCESS TCH
HANDOVER ACCESS TCH
PHYSICAL INFORMATION TCH
HANDOVER COMPLETE
conversation FACCH
TCH
conversation
TCH
MEASUREMENT REPORT
SACCH
conversation TCH
conversation TCH
conversation TCH
MEASUREMENT REPORT SACCH
conversation TCH
GSM terrestrial
interfaces

By: Mrs. Shweta Shah

• Each GSM component is designed to
communicate over an interface specified by
the GSM standards.
• This provides flexibility and enables a
system operator to adopt system
components from different manufacturers.
• For example Motorola BSS equipment may
be coupled with a Nokia NSS.
• Each interface within the GSM system has a
specified name associated with it.
• This table illustrates the names of all the
interfaces specified by GSM.
• It comprise all the connections between the GSM
system entities, while the Um, or air – interface is
not included since it belongs to radio interface
 This diagram shows the GSM system
with the 2Mbps interfaces, which are
highlighted.
 These interfaces carry traffic from the
PSTN to the MSC, between MSCs,
from an MSC to a BSC and from a
BSC to remotely sited BTSs.
 These links are also used between the
MSC and IWF.
GSM
Handover Sequences
Handover
 Maintaining the traffic connection with a
moving subscriber is made possible with
the help of the handover function.
 The basic concept is simple: when the
subscriber moves from the coverage area
of one cell to another, a new connection
with the target cell has to be set up and
the connection with the old cell has to be
released.
 There are two reasons for performing a
handover:
1. Handover due to measurements
occurs when the quality or the strength
of the radio signal falls below certain
parameters specified in the BSC.
2. Handover due to traffic reasons
occurs when the traffic capacity of a cell
has reached its maximum or is
approaching it.
 The decision to perform a handover is
always made by the BSC that is
currently serving the subscriber,
except for the handover for traffic
reasons. In the latter case the MSC
makes the decision.
 There are four different types of
handover
 Intra cell - Intra BSC handover
 Inter cell - Intra BSC handover
 Inter cell - Inter BSC handover
Intra cell - Intra BSC
handover
 The smallest of the handovers is the intra cell
handover where the subscriber is handed over to
another traffic channel (generally in another
frequency) within the same cell. In this case
the BSC controlling the cell makes the decision to
perform handover.
Inter cell - Intra BSC
handover
 The subscriber moves from cell 1 to cell 2. In
this case the handover process is controlled by
BSC. The traffic connection with cell 1 is
released when the connection with cell 2 is set
up successfully.
Inter cell - Inter BSC
handover / Inter BSC –
Intra MSC
 The subscriber moves from cell 2 to
cell 3, which is served by another
BSC. In this case the handover
process is carried out by the MSC,
but, the decision to make the
handover is still done by the first
BSC.
 The connection with the first BSC
(and BTS) is released when the
connection with the new BSC (and
BTS) is set up successfully.
Inter MSC handover
 The subscriber moves from a cell
controlled by one MSC/VLR to a cell in
the domain of another MSC/VLR.
HANDOVER: I) MS moves out of range of BTS or antenna
II) Load balancing

1 2 3 4 MS
MS MS
MS

BTS BTS BTS BTS

BSC BSC BSC

1. Intra cell MSC MSC

2. Inter cell - Intra BSC

3. Inter BSC – Intra MSC
4. Inter MSC
Future Of GSM
 2nd Generation
 GSM -9.6 Kbps (data rate)

 2.5 Generation ( Future of GSM)

 HSCSD (High Speed ckt Switched data)
 Data rate : 76.8 Kbps (9.6 x 8 kbps)
 GPRS (General Packet Radio service)
 Data rate: 14.4 - 115.2 Kbps
 EDGE (Enhanced data rate for GSM Evolution)
 Data rate: 547.2 Kbps (max)
 3 Generation
 WCDMA(Wide band CDMA)
 Data rate : 0.348 – 2.0 Mbps