IMR_TEC_GSM Version 1.

Technical Note on GSM

INDIA MOBILITY RESEARCH

TECHNICAL NOTE ON GSM

IMR

Page 1
 Keywords

IMR

Postal address
246 Udyog Vihar,Phase IV, Gurgaon
India Pin :

Contact
Name :
Email :
xxx.yyy@indiamobility.com

Internet
http://www.indiamobility.com

Doc Status:Draft 1 Approved By:

Released on:

Warning: This Hardcopy of the document is a controlled copy only when signed by an authorized signatory in red
ink.
Please use Red Ink only.
Issued to: _________________________
Signature and Date

IMR

Page 2
 Copyright Notification

No part may be reproduced except as authorized by written permission.

The copyright and the foregoing restriction extend to reproduction in
all media.

© 2004, India Mobility Research Pvt Limited

All rights reserved.

IMR

Page 3
Disclaimers
The information contained in this document is the proprietary and exclusive property of India Mobility
Research Pvt. Ltd. except as otherwise indicated. No part of this document, in whole or in part, may be
reproduced, stored, transmitted, or used for design purposes without the prior written permission of India
Mobility Research Pvt. Ltd. .
The information contained in this document is subject to change without notice.
The information in this document is provided for informational purposes only. India Mobility Research Pvt.
Ltd. specifically disclaims all warranties, express or limited, including, but not limited, to the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, except as provided for in a separate
software license agreement.

Privacy Information
This document may contain information of a sensitive nature. This information should not be given to
persons other than those who are involved in the Project Name project or who will become involved during
the lifecycle

Trademarks

Document Owner
The primary contact for questions regarding this document is:
Author: Karthigeyan Reddy
Project Name
Phone:
Email:

Contribution From:
This document has been prepared with contributions from following:
1.

IMR

Page 4
 IMR

Page 5
 Version History

Document history
Version 1.0 Aug, 2005 First Version.

IMR

Page 6
 Table of Contents
1 Overview of GSM.............................................................................................................8
1.1 History.......................................................................................................................8
1.2 Analog to Digital transmission...................................................................................9
1.3 Cellular Systems........................................................................................................9
1.3.1 Types of Cells....................................................................................................11
2 GSM Services ...............................................................................................................12
2.1 Phase 1.....................................................................................................................12
2.2 Phase 2.....................................................................................................................14
2.3 Phase 2+ ..................................................................................................................16
3 GSM Architecture...........................................................................................................18
3.1 GSM Network Elements..........................................................................................19
3.1.1 Mobile Station...................................................................................................19
3.1.2 The Base Station System (BSS)........................................................................19
3.1.3 Network Switching System...............................................................................19
3.2 GSM Interfaces........................................................................................................23
3.2.1 A........................................................................................................................24
3.2.2 Abis...................................................................................................................24
3.2.3 B........................................................................................................................24
3.2.4 C........................................................................................................................24
3.2.5 D........................................................................................................................24
3.2.6 E........................................................................................................................25
3.2.7 F........................................................................................................................25
3.2.8 G........................................................................................................................26
3.2.9 H........................................................................................................................26

IMR

Page 7
 3.2.10 Um..................................................................................................................26
3.3 GSM Protocol Stack................................................................................................27
3.4 Channels...................................................................................................................29
3.4.1 Logical Channels..............................................................................................30
3.4.2 Physical Channels.............................................................................................33
4 GSM System parameters................................................................................................35

1 Overview of GSM
1.1 History

In the early 1980s, analog cellular telephone systems were experiencing rapid growth in
Europe, particularly in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom, but also in France and
Germany. Each country developed its own system, which was incompatible with
everyone else's in equipment and operation. This was an undesirable situation, because
not only was the mobile equipment limited to operation within national boundaries, but
there was also a very limited market for each type of equipment, so economies of scale
and the subsequent savings could not be realized.

To solve this problem, in 1982 the Conference of European Posts and Telegraphs (CEPT)
formed a study group called the Groupe Spécial Mobile (GSM) to study and develop
second generation digital mobile telephone systems. In 1989, GSM responsibility was
transferred to the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI), and phase I of
the GSM specifications were published in 1990. The standardized system had to meet
certain criterias:

• Spectrum efficiency
• International roaming

IMR

Page 8
 • Low mobile and base stations costs
• Good subjective voice quality
• Compatibility with other systems such as ISDN (Integrated Services Digital
Network)
• Ability to support new services

The first GSM network based on this standard started its operation in Finland in 1991.
Since then GSM had become popular and today GSM is the fastest growing
communication technology of all time and it accounts for the 75% of the world’s digital
mobile market.

1.2 Analog to Digital transmission

The move from 1st generation to the 2nd generation essentially signifies the switch from
the analog to digital systems. Digital transmission has a number of advantages over
analog transmission:

• It economizes bandwidth.
• Signal manipulation is possible by signal processing
• It can maintain superior quality of voice transmission over long distances.
• It requires lower average transmitter power.
• It enables smaller and less expensive individual receivers and transmitters.
• It offers voice privacy.
• It can be easily adapted to the transmission of data as well as voice
communication.

The 1st generation mobile systems were based on FDMA (Analog) and the second
generation systems were based on TDMA (Digital). GSM incorporates a FDMA-TDMA
hybrid.

1.3 Cellular Systems

The operation of a cellular system relies on two fundamental resources

• Power

IMR

Page 9
 • Frequency spectrum.

For a viable cellular system efficient use of these resources is required.

Cellular systems in general are interference limited systems. To cover a large geographic
area with a limited amount of spectrum, reuse of frequency is required. Frequency reuse
is a concept whereby large number of low powered transmitters sharing the same
frequency spectrum is used to cover a cellular coverage area.

To implement this concept the entire coverage area is divided into cells and the
transmitters are placed at the center of the cell. The cells are modeled in a hexagonal
shape. The assumed shape is purely for theoretical study. The frequency band allocated
to the system is distributed over a group of cells and this distribution is repeated over the
covering area. Frequencies used in a cell will be reused several cells away. The distance
between the cells using the same frequency must be sufficient to avoid interference. This
distance is called reuse distance (D). It is given by D= R√(3K) where R is the radius of
the cell and K is the cluster size. A cluster is the group of cells which divide the
frequency spectrum among themselves and cluster size is the number of cells in a cluster.
It follows the formula K= (i+j)2 –ij , where i,j= 1,2,3,…n. A typical cluster can contain
4,7,12 or 21 cells.

The concept of frequency reuse facilitates high capacity, high quality of service and low
cost.

Ideal cells Fictitious cells

Figure 1: Representation of Cells

IMR

Page 10
1.3.1 Types of Cells

The cell size determines the number of cells available to cover geographic area and the
total capacity available to all users. Based on the size of cells, the cells are classified as

• Macro cells
• Micro cells
• Pico cells
• Umbrella cells.

The coverage area of each cell is different in different environments. Macro cells can be
regarded as cells where the base station antenna is installed in a mast or a building above
average roof top level. Micro cells are cells whose antenna height is under average roof
top level; they are typically used in urban areas. Pico cells are small cells whose diameter
is a few dozen meters; they are mainly used indoors. On the other hand, umbrella cells
are used to cover shadowed regions of smaller cells and fill in gaps in coverage between
those cells.

• Advantages of cell structures:

– higher capacity, higher number of users
– less transmission power needed
– more robust, decentralized
– base station deals with interference, transmission area etc. locally

• Disadvantages:
– fixed network needed for the base stations
– handover (changing from one cell to another) necessary
– interference with other cells

IMR

Page 11
2 GSM Services
GSM services can be classified as teleservices, bearer services, and supplementary
services.

• Teleservices: These are services that people use directly like talking on the phone.
• Bearer services: These are services that become useful only if some kind of
contraption of software is added on the phone. Internet surfing is an example of
an application that uses bearer services.
• Supplementary services: This is an inherent feature of a network to which a phone
is connected. Putting a call on hold is an example of supplementary services.

The standardization of GSM took place in phases: Phase 1 (1991), Phase 2 (October
1995), and Phase 2+.

2.1 Phase 1

More features were specified in Phase 1 than actually being implemented. Phase 1
concentrated on providing more basic services like voice communication and Short
Message Service (SMS). List of features available in Phase 1 is given in Table 1.

Table 1: Features covered by Phase 1

Service Category Service Comment
Teleservices Telephony Full-rate speech at 13 Kbps
Emergency Calls “112” defined as a GSM –
wide number to a local
emergency service
Short message service Alphanumeric message

IMR

Page 12
 (SMS) - point to point exchange between two
individual users via a
dedicated service center
Short message service Alphanumeric information
(SMS) – Cell broadcast to all mobile stations within
one cell or area but not
during a speech.
Videotext access
Teletext transmission
Facsimile alternate speech
and facsimile Group 3
Automatic facsimile
Group 3

Bearer Services Asynchronous data 300, 1200, 1200/75, 2400,

4800, 9600 bps transparent/
nontransparent
Synchronous data 2400, 4800, 9600 bps,
transparent
Asynchronous PAD access 300, 1200, 1200/75, 2400,
4800, 9600 bps transparent/
nontransparent
Synchronous packet data 2400, 4800, 9600 bps,
duplex 2400 bps T/NT transparent / nontransparent
Alternate speech/data
Speech followed by data

Supplementary Services Call forwarding (CF) All calls, calls when a

Call barring (CB)
subscriber is busy, not
reachable, or not available
All outgoing calls, all
outgoing international calls,
all outgoing international
calls except those to the
home country, all incoming
calls, all incoming calls

IMR

Page 13
 when roaming

2.2 Phase 2

As the industry caught up with the Phase 1 specification, the appetite and demand for
advanced features grew. Phase 2 added the Half-rate and Enhanced full rate speech codec.
Phase 2 also added new mechanisms to the network infrastructure to handle the radio
resource, location management, call control and higher level functions throughout the
network. The Phase 2 enhancement is presented in Table 2.

Table 2: Features covered by GSM Phase 2

Service Category Service Comment
Teleservices Half-rate speech codec Optional implementation,
(HR) implying the use of dual

IMR

Page 14
 rate (half and full rate) in
one phone
Enhanced full-rate speech Optional implementation,
codec (EFR) implying the use of dual
rate (enhanced full rate and
full rate) in one phone

Supplementary Services Calling line identificationPresentation and restriction

(CLI) of displaying the caller’s ID
Connected linePresentation and restriction
identification (COL) of displaying the called ID
Call waiting (CW) During an active call, the
subscriber will be informed
about another incoming call
(offered together with call
hold)
Call hold (CH) Put one call on hold in order
to answer/originate another
call (offered together with
call waiting)
Multiparty communication Up to five ongoing calls can
(MPTY) be joined to a multiparty
communication
Closed user group (CUG) Similar to a feature known
from trunking services
Advice of charge (AoC) On-line charge information
Unstructured supplementary Allows operator-defined
services data (USSD) individual services
Operator-determined Enables the operator to
barring (ODB) restrict certain features from
individual subscribers

IMR

Page 15
2.3 Phase 2+
It includes all additional features specified for GSM after October 1995 (the freezing of
Phase 2 standard). The first release in Phase 2+ is the Release 96. It included special
additions like communications applications and GSM for railway operations. SMS
support for Arabian and Asian languages were introduced. The data rates were also
enhanced to 64 kbps with the addition of High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD).
The features introduced in Release 96 are presented in Table 3.

Table 3: Features covered by Release 96 of GSM Phase 2+

Service Category Service Comment
Teleservices Voice group service (VGS) Voice group call service
(VGCS) and voice
broadcast services (VBS),
both defined for UIC
applications
Extension to the SMS Allowing UCS2 with 16-bit
alphabet character representation
Second SMS cell broadcast Increasing capacity for cell
channel broadcast services (CBS)

Bearer Services High-speed circuit-switched Combination of up to eight

data (HSCSD) time slots for a single link
Packet data on signaling Reusing signaling resources
channels (PDS) for packet data traffic
14.4 Kbps user data rate

Supplementary Services Explicit call transfer (ECT)

Enhanced multilevel Priority for certain calls

precedence and preemption defined for UIC
service (eMLPP)- Phase 1 applications

SIM Features Barred dialing numbers Bars certain numbers from

(BDN) being called
ME personalization Allows restriction of phone

IMR

Page 16
 usage to particular SIM
cards (subsidy protection)
Service dialing numbers Preprogrammed service
(SDN) numbers on the SIM,
protected from erasure by
subscriber
SIM application toolkit Vehicle for operators to
define their own value
added services

Network Features Network identity and time Simple “download” of

zone (NITZ) network – related
information and data to the
MS
CAMEL – Phase 1 IN features for roaming
GSM subscribers
Radio local loop (RLL) GSM extension for fixed
networks
Support of optimal routing Reduced charging due to
(SOR) optimized routing

IMR

Page 17
3 GSM Architecture

Access Network Core Network

IMR

Page 18
 Figure 2: GSM Architecture

3.1 GSM Network Elements

The GSM network elements can be broadly classified as

• MS (Mobile Station)
• BSS (Base Station System)
• NSS (Network Switching System)
3.1.1 Mobile Station

The mobile station consists of the physical equipment used by a PLMN subscriber; it
comprises the Mobile Equipment (ME) and the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). The
ME comprises the Mobile Termination (MT) which, depending on the application and
services, may support various combinations of Terminal Adapter (TA) and Terminal
Equipment (TE) functional groups.

3.1.2 The Base Station System (BSS)

The Base Station System (BSS) is the system of base station equipments (transceivers,
controllers, etc...) which is viewed by the MSC through a single A-interface as being the
entity responsible for communicating with Mobile Stations in a certain area. Similarly, in
PLMNs supporting GPRS, the BSS also has an interface to an SGSN. The radio
equipment of a BSS may support one or more cells. A BSS may consist of one or more
base stations. Where an Abis-interface is implemented. The BSS consists of one Base
Station Controller (BSC) and one or more Base Transceiver Station (BTS). A Base
Station Controller (BSC) is a network component in the PLMN with the functions for
control of one or more BTS. A Base Transceiver Station (BTS) is a network component
which serves one cell.

3.1.3 Network Switching System

The Network Switching System (NSS) is also called as the core network. It comprises of
• MSC (Mobile Switching Center)

IMR

Page 19
 • GMSC (Gateway Mobile Switching Center)
• HLR (Home Location Register)
• VLR (Visitor Location Register)
• AuC (Authentication Center)
• EIR (Equipment Identity Register)
• IWF (Internetworking Function)

3.1.3.1 The Mobile-services Switching Centre (MSC)

The Mobile-services Switching Centre is an exchange which performs all the switching
and signaling functions for mobile stations located in a geographical area designated as
the MSC area. The main difference between a MSC and an exchange in a fixed network
is that the MSC has to take into account the impact of the allocation of radio resources
and the mobile nature of the subscribers and in addition has to perform location
registration and handover.

3.1.3.2 The Gateway MSC (GMSC)

If a network, delivering a call to the PLMN cannot interrogate the HLR, the call is routed
to an MSC. This MSC will interrogate the appropriate HLR and then route the call to the
MSC where the mobile station is located. The MSC which performs the routing function
to the actual location of the MS is called the Gateway MSC (GMSC). The acceptance of
an interrogation to an HLR is the decision of the operator. The choice of which MSCs can
act as Gateway MSCs is for the operator to decide (i.e. all MSCs or some designated
MSCs).

3.1.3.3 The Home Location Register (HLR)

This functional entity is a data base in charge of the management of mobile subscribers. A
PLMN may contain one or several HLRs: it depends on the number of mobile
subscribers, on the capacity of the equipment and on the organization of the network. The
HLR contains the subscription information and some location information enabling the
charging and routing of calls towards the MSC where the MS is registered (e.g. the MS
Roaming Number, the VLR Number, the MSC Number, the Local MS Identity). If GPRS
is supported HLR additionally contains location information enabling the charging and
routing of messages in the SGSN where the MS is currently registered (e.g. the SGSN
Number). Different types of identity are attached to each mobile subscription and are
stored in the HLR. If GPRS is not supported the following identities are stored:

IMR

Page 20
 • the International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI)
• one or more Mobile Station International ISDN number(s) (MSISDN)
if GPRS is supported, the following identities are stored

• the International Mobile Station Identity (IMSI)

• one or more Mobile Station International ISDN number(s) (MSISDN)

• zero or more Packet Data Protocol (PDP) address(es).

There is always at least one identity, apart from the IMSI, attached to each mobile
subscription and stored in the HLR. The IMSI or, the MSISDN may be used as a key to
access the information in the database for a mobile subscription. The data base contains
other information such as:

• teleservices and bearer services subscription information

• service restrictions (e.g. roaming limitation) - a list of all the group IDs a
service subscriber is entitled to use to establish voice group or broadcast calls
• supplementary services; the HLR contains the parameters attached to these services
and, if GPRS is supported

• information about if a GGSN is allowed to dynamically allocate PDP addresses for

a subscriber.

3.1.3.4 The Visitor Location Register (VLR)

A mobile station roaming in an MSC area is controlled by the Visitor Location Register in
charge of this area. When a Mobile Station (MS) enters a new location area it starts a
registration procedure. The MSC in charge of that area notices this registration and
transfers to the Visitor Location Register, the identity of the location area where the MS is
situated. If this MS is no yet registered, the VLR and the HLR exchange information to
allow the proper handling of calls involving the MS. A VLR may be in charge of one or
several MSC areas. The VLR contains also the information needed to handle the calls set-
up or received by the MSs registered in its data base (for some supplementary services

IMR

Page 21
the VLR may have to obtain additional information from the HLR) the following
elements are included:

- the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI);

- the Mobile Station International ISDN number (MSISDN);
- the Mobile Station Roaming Number (MSRN)
- the Temporary Mobile Station Identity (TMSI), if applicable;
- the Local Mobile Station Identity (LMSI), if used;
- the location area where the mobile station has been registered.
• the identity of the SGSN where the MS has been registered. Only applicable to
PLMNs supporting GPRS and which have a Gs interface between MSC/VLR and
SGSN
- the last known location and the initial location of the MS;
The VLR also contains supplementary service parameters attached to the mobile
subscriber and received from the HLR.

3.1.3.5 The Authentication Centre (AuC)

The Authentication Centre (AuC) is associated with an HLR, and stores an identity key
for each mobile subscriber registered with the associated HLR. This key is used to
generate:

• data which are used to authenticate the International Mobile Subscriber

Identity (IMSI)
• a key used to cipher communication over the radio path between the mobile
station and the network.

3.1.3.6 The Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

This functional entity contains one or several databases which store(s) the IMEIs used in
the GSM system. The mobile equipment may be classified as "white listed", "grey listed"
and "black listed" and therefore may be stored in three separate lists. An IMEI may also

IMR

Page 22
be unknown to the EIR. An EIR shall as a minimum contain a "white list" (Equipment
classified as "white listed").

3.1.3.7 Internetworking Function (IWF)

Internetworking function is used to interconnect the PLMN (Public Land Mobile

Network) with the PSDN (Packet Switched Data Network) and PSTN (Public Switched
Telephone Network). This element is not part of the GSM architecture.

3.2 GSM Interfaces

IMR

Page 23
 Figure 3: GSM Interfaces

3.2.1 A

The A interface between the MSC and its BSS. It is used to carry information concerning,
BSS management, call handling, mobility management.

3.2.2 Abis

When the BSS consists of a Base Station Controller (BSC) and one or more Base
Transceiver Stations (BTS), this interface is used between the BSC and BTS to support
the services offered to the GSM users and subscribers. The interface also allows control
of the radio equipment and radio frequency allocation in the BTS.

3.2.3 B

The VLR is the location and management data base for the mobile subscribers roaming in
the area controlled by the associated MSC(s). Whenever the MSC needs data related to a
given mobile station currently located in its area, it interrogates the VLR. When a mobile
station initiates a location updating procedure with an MSC, the MSC informs its VLR
which stores the relevant information. This procedure occurs whenever an MS roams to
another location area. Also, when a subscriber activates a specific supplementary service
or modifies some data attached to a service, the MSC informs (via the VLR) the HLR
which stores these modifications and updates the VLR if required.
This interface is internal to the MSC/VLR.

3.2.4 C

The Gateway MSC must interrogate the HLR of the required subscriber to obtain routing
information for a call or a short message directed to that subscriber. Signaling on this
interface uses the Mobile Application Part (MAP), which in turn uses the services of
Transaction Capabilities.

3.2.5 D

IMR

Page 24
This interface is used to exchange the data related to the location of the mobile station
and to the management of the subscriber. The main service provided to the mobile
subscriber is the capability to set up or to receive calls within the whole service area. To
support this, the location registers have to exchange data. The VLR informs the HLR of
the location of a mobile station managed by the latter and provides it (either at location
updating or at call set-up) with the roaming number of that station. The HLR sends to the
VLR all the data needed to support the service to the mobile subscriber. The HLR then
instructs the previous VLR to cancel the location registration of this subscriber.
Exchanges of data may occur when the mobile subscriber requires a particular service,
when he wants to change some data attached to his subscription or when some parameters
of the subscription are modified by administrative means. Signaling on this interface uses
the Mobile Application Part (MAP), which in turn uses the services of Transaction
Capabilities.

3.2.6 E

When a mobile station moves from one MSC area to another during a call, a handover
procedure has to be performed in order to continue the communication. For that purpose
the MSCs have to exchange data to initiate and then to realise the operation. After the
handover operation has been completed, the MSCs will exchange information to transfer
A-interface signaling as necessary. When a short message is to be transferred between a
Mobile Station and Short Message Service Centre (SC), in either direction, this interface
is used to transfer the message between the MSC serving the Mobile Station and the
MSC which acts as the interface to the SC. Signaling on this interface uses the Mobile
Application Part (MAP), which in turn uses the services of Transaction Capabilities.

3.2.7 F

This interface is used between MSC and EIR to exchange data, in order that the EIR can
verify the status of the IMEI retrieved from the Mobile Station. Signaling on this
interface uses the Mobile Application Part (MAP), which in turn uses the services of
Transaction Capabilities.

IMR

Page 25
3.2.8 G

When a mobile subscriber moves from a VLR area to another Location Registration
procedure will happen. This procedure may include the retrieval of the IMSI and
authentication parameters from the old VLR. Signaling on this interface uses the Mobile
Application Part (MAP), which in turn uses the services of Transaction Capabilities.

3.2.9 H

When an HLR receives a request for authentication and ciphering data for a Mobile
Subscriber and it does not hold the requested data, the HLR requests the data from the
AuC. The protocol used to transfer the data over this interface is not standardised.

3.2.10 Um

Um is the air interface used for exchanges between a MS and a BSS. LAPDm, a modified
version of the ISDN LAPD, is used for signaling.

IMR

Page 26
3.3 GSM Protocol Stack

Figure 4: GSM Protocol Stack

The signaling protocol in GSM is structured into three general layers depending on the
interface, as shown in Figure 4. Layer 1 is the physical layer, which uses the channel
structures discussed above over the air interface. Layer 2 is the data link layer. Across the
Um interface, the data link layer is a modified version of the LAPD protocol used in
ISDN, called LAPDm. Across the A interface, the Message Transfer Part layer 2 of
Signaling System Number 7 is used. Layer 3 of the GSM signaling protocol is itself
divided into 3 sub layers – Radio Resources (RR), Mobility Management (MM),
Connection Management (CM).

The CM, MM and RR layers together correspond to layer three in the ISO OSI protocol
suite. The layer two is composed of LAPD and LAPDm. Customarily, the lower three

IMR

Page 27
layers terminate in the same node. Not so in GSM, where the functionality is spread over
distinct functional entities with standardized interfaces between them. For instance, the
RR part of layer three is spread over the MS, BTS, BSC, and MSC.

• CM: The Communication Management (CM) layer consists of setting up calls at

the user’s request. Its functions are divided in three: Call control, which manages
the circuit oriented services; Supplementary services management, which allows
modifications and checking of the supplementary services configuration; Short
Message Services, which provides point-to-point short message services.

• MM: The Mobility Management (MM) layer is in charge of maintaining the

location data, in addition to the authentication and ciphering procedures.

• RR: The Radio Resource (RR) Management layer is in charge of establishing and
maintaining a stable uninterrupted communications path between the MSC and
MS over which signaling and user data can be conveyed. Handovers are part of
the RR layers responsibility. Most of the functions are controlled by the BSC,
BTS, and MS, though some are performed by the MSC (in particular for inter-
MSC handovers.).

• LAPDm: The layer two protocol is provided for by LAPDm over the air-
interface. This protocol is a modified version of the LAPD (Link Access Protocol
for the ISDN D-channel) protocol. The main modifications are due to the tight
synchronisation required in TDMA and bit error protection mechanism required
over the air-interface (and in GSM handled by layer 1), making the corresponding
functionality of the LAPD protocol redundant (and thus wasteful over the air-
interface). The LAPD frame flags are replaced by a length indicator, and the FEC
field is removed.

• LAPD: This is the ISDN LAPD protocol (Link Access Protocol for the ISDN D-
channel) providing error-free transmission between the BSC and MSC.

• BSSAP: The Base Station System Application Part (BSSAP) is split into two
parts, the BSSMAP and the DTAP (not shown in the above figure). The message
exchanges are handled by SS7. Messages which are not transparent to the BSC
are carried by the Base Station System Management Application Part (BSSMAP),

IMR

Page 28
 which supports all of the procedures between the MSC and the BSS that require
interpretation and processing of information related to single calls, and resource
management. The messages between the MSC and MS which are transparent to
the BSC (MM and CM messages) are catered for by the Direct Transfer
Application Part (DTAP).

• SCCP: The Signaling Connection Control Part (SCCP) from SS7.

• MTP: The Message Transport Part (MTP) of SS7

3.4 Channels

Two types of channels are involved in GSM – Physical channels and Logical Channels.
GSM distinguishes between physical channels (the timeslot) and logical channels (the
information carried by the physical channels). Several recurring timeslots on a carrier
constitute a physical channel, which are used by different logical channels to transfer
information - both user data and signaling.

IMR

Page 29
 LOGICAL CHANNELS

TRAFFIC SIGNALLING

FULL RATE HALF RATE

B m 22.8 Kb/S Lm 11.4 Kb/S
B ROADCAST COMMON CONTROL DE DICATED CONTROL

FCCH SCH B CCH

RACH
PCH AG CH
FCCH -- FREQ UENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL
SCH -- S YNCHRONISATION CHANNEL
B CCH -- B ROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL
PCH -- PAG ING CHANNEL
RACH -- RANDO M ACCESS CHANNEL SDCCH SACCH FACCH
AG CH -- ACCESS G RANTED CHANNEL
SDCCH -- STAND ALONE DE DICATED CONTROL CHANNEL DOWN LINK ONL Y
SACCH -- SLO W ASSOCIATE D CONTROL CHANNEL B OTH UP &
FACCH -- FAST ASS OCIATED CONTRO L CHANNEL UPLINK ONL Y DO WNLINKS

Figure 5: Logical Channels

3.4.1 Logical Channels

Logical channels include traffic channels and signaling channel. The traffic channel is
used for transfer of voice or data and the control channel is used to register units, set up
calls and monitor call progress. GSM can use two types of traffic channels

• TCH/FS (full rate)

• TCH/HS (half rate)

GSM has three types of control channels BCH (Broadcast Channel), CCCH (Common
Control Channel), DCCH (Dedicated Control Channel).

• BCH enables a subscriber unit to synchronize with the network (only downlink).

IMR

Page 30
  BCCH: Broadcast control channel (BCCH) is a base to mobile
channel which provides general information about the network, the
cell in which the mobile is currently located and the adjacent cells

 SCH: Synchronization channel (SCH) is a base to mobile channel

which carries information for frame synchronization and identification
of the base station transceiver

 FCCH: Frequency correction channel (FCCH) is a base to mobile

channel which provides information for carrier synchronization
• CCCH is used for subscriber unit registration and call set up. (both up link and
downlink).

 RACH: Random Access Channel is used by the MS to access

requests, response to call announcement, location update, etc.

 AGCH: Acknowledge channel requests from MS and allocate a

SDCCH.

 PCH: Paging channel is used by the MS terminating call

announcement.
• DCCH takes over one subscriber unit which have been assigned a dedicated
channel. They transfer control messages during the conversation (both up link and
down link).
 SDCCH (Stand- alone dedicated control channel): Exchange of
signaling information between the MS and BTS when no TCH is
active

 SACCH (Slow Associated control channel): Transmission of

signaling data during a connection (One SACCH TS every 120ms)

 FACCH (Fast Associated control channel): Transmission of

signaling data during a connection (used only if necessary)

IMR

Page 31
The logical channels used in the process of location update and call establishment is
given in Figure 6 and Figure 7.

Figure 6: Location update from the mobile

IMR

Page 32
 Figure 7: Mobile terminating call

3.4.2 Physical Channels

IMR

Page 33
 GSM - TDMA/FDMA
935-960 MH z
124 channels (200 kH z)
downlink

cy
en
u
890-915 MH z

eq
124 channels (200 kH z)
fr uplink
higher GSM frame structures
time

GSM TDMA frame

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
4.615 ms

GSM time-slot (normal burst)

guard guard
space tail user data S Trainin g S user data tail space
3 bits 57 bits 1 26 bits 1 57 bits 3
546.5 µs
577 µs

Figure 8 : GSM Physical Channel

Physical channels are all the available TSs of a BTS, whereas every TS corresponds to a
physical channel. Logical channels are piggybacked on the physical channels

In GSM, a 25 Mhz frequency band is divided, using a FDMA scheme, into 124 carrier
frequencies spaced one from each other by a 200 khz frequency band. Normally a 25
Mhz frequency band can provide 125 carrier frequencies but the first carrier frequency is
used as a guard band between GSM and other services working on lower frequencies.
Each carrier frequency is then divided in time using a TDMA scheme. This scheme splits
the radio channel, with a width of 200 khz, into 8 bursts. A burst is the unit of time in a
TDMA system, and it lasts approximately 0.577 ms. A TDMA frame is formed with 8
bursts and lasts, consequently, 4.615 ms. Each of the eight bursts, that form a TDMA
frame, are then assigned to a single user.

To overcome the effect of multipath fading and alleviate channel eves dropping GSM
uses the concept of frequency hopping. The frequency hopping used in GSM is slow

IMR

Page 34
frequency hopping whereby a frequency is changed for every TDMA frame. Figure 9
shows the GSM frame hierarchy and how the logical channels are mapped onto a frame.

HIERARCHY OF FRAMES
1 HYPER FRAME = 2048 SUPERFRAMES = 2 715 648 TDMA FRAMES ( 3 H 28 MIN 53 S 760 MS )

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 2043 2044 2045 2046 2047

TRAFFIC CHANNELS 1 SUPER FRAME = 1326 TDMA FRAMES ( 6.12 S )

LEFT (OR) RIGHT
1 SUPER FRAME = 51 MULTI FRAMES

0 1 2 3 4 48 49 50 SIGNALLING CHANNELS

1 SUPER FRAME = 26 MULTI FRAMES

0 1 2 24 25
1 MULTIFRAME = 26 TDMA FRAMES ( 120 ms )

0 1 2 3 24 25
1 MULTI FRAME = 51 TDMA FRAMES (235 .4 ms )
0 1 2 3 4 48 49 50

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0
(4.615ms) TDMA FRAME NO.
0 1
1 TIME SLOT = 156.25 BITS
( 0.577 ms) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0
(4.615 ms)
1 2 3 4 155 156 0 1
1 bit =36.9 micro sec

Figure 9: GSM frame hierarchy

4 GSM System parameters

A GSM network can operate in anyone of these frequency bands - 800, 900, 1800, 1900
MHz. For the operation two frequency bands, of 25 Mhz each is needed. One for uplink
and the other for downlink. The 25 Mhz bandwidth is divided into 125 channels of
200khz each. With this breakup the maximum achievable data rate on a single GSM data
channel is 9.6 Kbps. However, the data rates can be enhanced using HSCSD or with the
implementation of EDGE. Some important system parameters of a typical GSM network
are presented in Table 4.

Multiple Access Method TDMA / FDMA

Uplink frequencies (MHz) 933-960 (basic GSM)
Downlink frequencies (MHz) 890-915 (basic GSM)
Duplexing FDD

IMR

Page 35
Channel spacing, kHz 200
Modulation GMSK
Portable TX power, maximum / average (mW) 1000 / 125
Power control, handset and BSS Yes
Speech coding and rate (kbps) RPE-LTP / 13
Speech Channels per RF channel: 8
Channel rate (kbps) 270.833
Channel coding Rate 1/2 convolutional
Frame duration (ms) 4.615
Table 4 : GSM parameters

IMR

Page 36