International Roaming for GSM

Kwangwoon Univ. Network Computing lab 2003. 04. 15 (meruru98@nate.com)

Wireless and Mobile Network Architectures

Introduction
GSM supports roaming services that allow a subscrib er in a GSM network to receive mobile telephony serv ice when the user visits a different GSM network

GSM networks are within the same country GSM networks are located in different countries

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Introduction
International roaming issue from the customers perspective

John is a subscriber of GSM service in Korea Suppose that he travels from Korea to Japan ,which have a GSM roaming agreement

John
Jenny

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Three scenarios for call delivery to John

Scenarios #1

If a person in Korea call John

The caller is charged for a local GSM call John is charged for an international call from Korea to Japan

Scenarios #2

If the caller is from a third country (say, Hong Kong)

The caller is charged for an international call from Hong Kong to Korea John is charged for an international call from Korea to Japan

Scenarios #3

If the caller is in Japan

international call This scenario is in fact a special case of scenario 2, and is referred to as tromboning

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International GSM Call Setup

The call delivery procedure to a GSM roamer is basically the same as the procedure described in Chapter 9, except that two international switch centers (ISCs) are involved in the voice path. ISCs offer interworking functions between the national networks and the international network The call path of every international call is composed of three segments:
one in origination country another in the international network the third in the destination country

These circuit segments are interconnected by two ISCs:

one in the origination country the other in the destination country

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International call setup procedure (Step 1)

JAPAN
1.3

GMSC D

ISC C (Korea)

1.2

ISC B (Japan)
1.1

HLR E

Korea

Switch A interprets the ISCA, the first portion of ISC C interprets the prefix Jenny first dials ISCA Based dialed digits, it the on country code, VLR of the remaining digits, and (international switch center ISC B routes the callan identifies the call as to F access code), CC (country sets up the voice trunk to international call, then sets Koreas MSC G ISC C code), Johns MSISDN GMSC D up the call using the IAM message to Japan ISC

Switch A

1 4 7 *

2 5 8 8

3 6 9 #

John
Radio tower

Jenny
Kwangwoon Univ.

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International call setup procedure (Step 2 ~ 6)

JAPAN
1.3

GMSC D 6.1
2 5 4.3

ISC C (Korea)

1.2 3.2 4.2 6.2

ISC B (Japan)
1.1 3.3 4.1

3.1

6.3

Switch A

HLR E Step 6 Step 2. Step 5 Based3and 4 Step on the MSRN, GMSC D GMSC D queries The MSRN is HLR E queries uses the IAM returned to obtain HLR E GMSC message toF up VLR set the MSRN D the trunk to MSC G
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Korea
MSC G

VLR F
1

6.3
1 4 7 * 2 5 8 8 3 6 9 #

John

6.3
Radio tower

Jenny
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Wireless and Mobile Network Architectures

Reducing the International Call Delivery Cost

To avoid unnecessary international trunk setups, an IAM message should not travel across country boundaries before the destination is known Four solutions that follow this guideline

A basic restriction is that we should not introduce any new message types to the GSM MAP protocol defined in GSM specification 09.02. The solutions utilize only existing messages with the prefix MAP_ In the first three solutions, we utilize the concept of roamer location cache (RLC) In solution 4, we introduce a special dialing code that leads the call to the GMSC of the visited GSM system
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RLC
The RLC in a visited system maintains a database containing the records of all international roamers who are presently in that visited system

From the perspective of a VLR in the visited system, RLC functions as the HLR of a roamer From the perspective of the HLR in the home system of the roamer, RLC serves as the VLR in a visited system

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Solution 1 (Registration)
JAPAN ISC C (Korea)
3 5

ISC B (Japan) RLC

HLR

VLR MSC
1 1 1
Radio tower

Korea

Step 2. 5. Step 4. Step 3. The RLC VLR sends At the same time, ISC B MAP_RESTORE_DAT MAP_UPDATE_LOCA Step 1. ISC B duplicates the message ATION to the MSISDN ,HLR roamers : roamer and forwards it to the The , HLR. MS registers to the RLC. MAP_INSERT_SUBSC The message is VLR RLC creates a record to RIBER_DATA Korean forwarded to : HLR store the IMSI and MSISDN (ISCBusual ISC C) as VLR/MSC address

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Wireless and Mobile Network Architectures

Solution 1 (Call delivery)

PSTN Switch A
1
1 2 4 5 7 8 * 8 3 6 9 #

ISC B (Japan) RLC

4 3

Jenny

VLR
4

MSC
Radio tower

Step 1. Step 2. Jenny first dials the ISCA code, the CC code, then Step 3. CC code Step 4. John's MSISDNISC B RLC Table John entry By using the MSRN, ISC VLR A B routes the IAM MSRN (ISCA+CC) message to John . ISC B IAM MSISDN RLC ISC B (IAM message)

John
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Solution 1 (Advantage & Disadvantage)

Advantage

Only ISC B needs to be modified Other network elements, such as the VLR and HLR, remain the same

Disadvantage

Most ISCs are not equipped with the GSM MAP protocol (not be able to interpret the GSM MAP message) ISCs typically belong to an international telephone carrier different from that of the GSM service provider

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Wireless and Mobile Network Architectures

Solution 2 (Registration)
JAPAN
ISC C (Korea)
3 4

ISC B (Japan)
4

RLC
3 4
2

Switch D Step 2. Step 4. VLR international Step 3. roamer , Step 1. MAP_UPDATE_LOCATI , RLC sends the RLC ON RLC MAP_UPDATE_LOCATI The MS registers to the MAP_RESTORE_DATA ON message to the VLR RLC creates a record to roamer roamers HLR store the IMSI and MSISDN VLR/MSC address
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HLR

Korea

MSC A
1 1

VLR

Radio tower

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Wireless and Mobile Network Architectures

Solution 2 (Call delivery)

PSTN Switch A
1
1 2 4 5 7 8 * 8 3 6 9 #

Switch D RLC
4

Step 1. Step 2. 3. The steps Stepthe same as are 4. those for solution 1. RLC Table John entry Switch D IAM By using the MSRN, ISC VLR MSISDN B routes the IAM Except that Jenny dials MSRN RLC message to of Switch D the number John . instead of the country code

Jenny

VLR
4

MSC
Radio tower

John
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Solution 2 (Advantage & Disadvantage)

Advantage

The modifications are made only within the GSM network

Disadvantage

Extra modifications to the VLR The caller must dial the number of Switch D, then the MSISDN Dialing process id different from the ordinary international call dialing procedure Sophisticated billing procedure

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Wireless and Mobile Network Architectures

Solution 3 (Registration)
JAPAN
ISC C (Korea)
2 4

ISC B (Japan)
2

RLC
3

Switch D

extrator
HLR Step 2. 3. Step 4.

Korea

MSC A
1 1

VLR

The VLR Step 1. HLR sends foreign country , MAP_UPDATE_LOCATI location update RLC ONroamers to the The the to MS registers HLR. MAP_RESTORE_DATA RLC creates a record to VLR roamer store the IMSI and HLR MSISDN VLR/MSC ISC B address
Kwangwoon Univ.

Radio tower

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Solution 3 (Advantage & Disadvantage)

Advantage

It is transparent to the VLR

Disadvantage

A new network component (i.e., the extractor)

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Wireless and Mobile Network Architectures

Solution 4
Dial NDC1+IRAC+CC+NDC2+SN

NDC1 : NDC or mobile network access code to the visited GSM system IRAC : international roamer access code CC : country code of the home country NDC2 : NDC of the home GSM system SN : subscriber number for the roamer

PSTN routes the call to a GMSC of the visited GSM system (NDC1) GMSC international roaming call (IRAC) HLR CC+NDC2+SN MSISDN Signaling path between the GMSC and the HLR already exists The GMSC query the HLR to obtain the MSRN GMSC MSC call , MS

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Wireless and Mobile Network Architectures

1 PSTN GMSC

5 HLR 2 6

4 VLR 3

MSC
1 2 4 5 7 8 * 8 3 6 9 #

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Wireless and Mobile Network Architectures

Solution 4
GMSC is a general-purpose switching system roamer HLR MSC Advantage

GSM call delivery procedure is not modified No new elements are required Cost-effective (no new network elements)

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