GSM MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

PART - I : Brief History

PART - II :

Cellular Concepts

PART - III : GSM Architecture

PART - IV : Call Scenarios

PART - V : Billing

GSM MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS

PART - I : Brief History

PART - II :

Cellular Concepts

PART - III : GSM Architecture

PART - IV : Call Scenerios

PART - V : Billing

Brief History

PART - I :

A Brief History

MOBILE COMMUNICATION

REVOLUTION IN TELECOM.

. MOBILE COMMUNICATION IS A VERY RAPIDLY

GROWING AND A POPULAR SERVICE.

APPROXIMATELY 50 FOLD INCREASE IN LAST 10 YEARS

IT ALLOWS TO COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE WITH ANYBODY WHILE ON MOVE (PHONES FOR THE PEOPLE , NOT FOR THE PLACES) PROVIDES VOICE , FAX, DATA

History
First mobile service started in 1946 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Improved form:
analog, cellular mobile

1980s

Limitations:
Severely confined spectrum allocation difficult multi-path fading environment limited network capacity & higher costs incompatibility among various systems

MOBILE COMMUNICATION
WIRELESS GENERATIONS

1 G (AMPS, TACS) -analog (cellular revolution) - only mobile voice services 2 G (GSM, CDMA) - breaking digital barrier - mostly for voice services & data delivery possible 3 G - Voice & data ( breaking data barrier) - Mainly for data services where voice services will also be possible

Cellular Concepts

MOBILE COMMUNICATION
OBJECTIVES
Any time Anywhere Mobility & Roaming High capacity & subs. density Efficient use of radio spectrum Seamless Network Architecture Low cost Innovative Services Standard Interfaces

Fundamental problems
. Radio range, or coverage . no. of channels, or voice circuits.

. Full, seamless service coverage Large no. of subscribers in the range of millions

CELLULAR

CONCEPTS

RADIO IN LOCAL LOOP

Propagation loss L in dbs Transmit power PT and antenna gain GT Voice Channels Or control channels Lines to MSC/BSC Operating distance d Planned cell radius R Cell radio range - radius R max Site noise MS

CELLULAR

CONCEPTS

WHAT IS A CELL ?
Area covered by a base station transmitter having a number of RF channels is called a cell Each cell covers a a limited number of mobile subscribers within the cell boundaries ( Coverage area of the cell) Typical Cell Radius : Approximately: 25 Km (Start up) 1 Km (Mature)

CELLULAR

Cellular Coverage

CONCEPTS

Coverage zone is divided into cells served by transmitters using towers. Each transmitter is assigned a portion of the available channels. After a sufficient distance, the same channels are re-used to increase spectrum efficiency

CELLULAR CONCEPTS
A CLUSTER OF CELLS
2 7 3
GIVEN FREQUENCY RESOURCE

1
6 5 4

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

CELLULAR CONCEPTS

Cellular Principle
SIMULTANEOUS RE USE OF SAME FREQUENCIES AT DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS SERVES MORE COVERAGE AREA REQUIRES LESS RF BW TO COVER A GIVEN AREA FREQ. REUSE INTRODUCES INTERFERENCE COMPROMISE BETWEEN SPEECH QUALITY & SYSTEM CAPACITY

Network and switching subsystem

NSS is the main component of the public mobile network GSM switching, mobility management, interconnection to other networks, system control Components Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC) controls all connections via a separated network to/from a mobile terminal within the domain of the MSC - several BSC can belong to a MSC Databases (important: scalability, high capacity, low delay) Home Location Register (HLR) central master database containing user data, permanent and semi-permanent data of all subscribers assigned to the HLR (one provider can have several HLRs) Visitor Location Register (VLR) local database for a subset of user data, including data about all user currently in the domain of the VLR

Operation subsystem
The OSS (Operation Subsystem) enables centralized operation, management, and maintenance of all GSM subsystems Components
Authentication Center (AUC)
generates user specific authentication parameters on request of a VLR authentication parameters used for authentication of mobile terminals and encryption of user data on the air interface within the GSM system

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

registers GSM mobile stations and user rights stolen or malfunctioning mobile stations can be locked and sometimes even localized

Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC)

different control capabilities for the radio subsystem and the network subsystem

Mobile Handset
TEMPORARY DATA
- Temporary Subscriber Identity - Current Location - Ciphering Data

PERMANENT DATA
Permanent Subscriber Identity Key/Algorithm for Authentication.

Provides access to the GSM n/w Consists of Mobile equipment (ME) Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

The GSM Radio Interface

AIR INTERFACE
BASE TRANSCEIVER STATION

NLI DOW

NK

-9 935

Hz 60 M

MOBILE
Hz 5M 1 9

0 89 LI UP NK

The GSM Network Architecture

Time division multiple access-TDMA 124 radio carriers, inter carrier spacing 200khz. 890 to 915mhz mobile to base - UPLINK 935 to 960mhz base to mobile DOWNLINK 8 channels/carrier

GSM uses paired radio channels

890MHz

915MHz

935MHz

960MHz

124

124

Access Mechanism

FDMA, TDMA, CDMA

Frequency multiplex
Separation of the whole spectrum into smaller frequency bands A channel gets a certain band of the spectrum for the whole time k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 Advantages: c no dynamic coordination necessary works also for analog signals Disadvantages: waste of bandwidth if the traffic is distributed unevenly t inflexible guard spaces

k6

 A channel gets the whole spectrum for a certain amount of time Advantages:
only one carrier in the medium at any time throughput high even for many users

Time multiplex

k1 c

k2

k3

k4

k5

k6

Disadvantages:
precise synchronization necessary

Time and Frequency Multiplex

Combination of both methods A channel gets a certain frequency band for a certain amount of time
k1 c f k2 k3 k4 k5 k6

 Example: GSM Advantages:

Time and Frequency Multiplex

Better protection against tapping Protection against frequency selective interference Higher data rates compared to c code multiplex

k1

k2

k3

k4

k5

k6

But: precise coordination required

t

 GSM combines FDM and TDM: bandwidth is subdivided into channels of 200khz, shared by up to eight stations, assigning slots for transmission on demand.

Code Multiplex

k1 k2 k3 k4 k5 k6

Each channel has a unique code All channels use the same spectrum at the same time Advantages: Bandwidth efficient No coordination and synchronization necessary Good protection against interference and tapping Disadvantages: Lower user data rates More complex signal regeneration Implemented using spread spectrum technology

Various Access Method

Cells

Capacity & Spectrum Utilization Solution

The need: Optimum spectrum usage More capacity High quality of service Low cost
Network capacity at required QoS with conventional frequency plan Out of Capacity!!! Subscriber growth Time

I wish I could

increase capacity without adding NEW BTS!

What can I do?

Representation of Cells

Ideal cells

Fictitious cells

Cell size and capacity

Cell size determines number of cells available to cover geographic area and (with frequency reuse) the total capacity available to all users Capacity within cell limited by available bandwidth and operational requirements Each network operator has to size cells to handle expected traffic demand

Cell structure
Implements space division multiplex: base station covers a certain transmission area (cell) Mobile stations communicate only via the base station 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 Problems: fixed network needed for the base stations handover (changing from one cell to another) necessary interference with other cells Cell sizes from some 100 m in cities to, e.g., 35 km on the country side (GSM) - even less for higher frequencies

Capacity of a Cellular System

Frequency Re-Use Distance The K factor or the cluster size Cellular coverage or Signal to interference ratio Sectoring

The K factor and Frequency Re-Use Distance

7 6 K= i2 + ij + j2 5 j 7 6 5 1 3 2 i D 1 3 R K = 22 + 2*1 + 12 K=4+2+1 K=7 2

4
D = 3K * R Frequency re-use distance is based on the cluster size K
D = 4.58R

The cluster size is specified in terms of the offset of the center of a cluster from the center of the adjacent cluster

The Frequency Re-Use for K = 4

K = i2 + ij + j2
K = 22 + 2*0 + 02 D K=4+0+0 K=4

D = 3K * R
D = 3.46R

R i

The Cell Structure for K = 7

7 6 1 5 7 6 1 5 4 3 2 4 2 6 1 3 1 7 2 2

7
6 1 5 4 3 5 4 2 6 1 7

5
4 2

Cell Structure for K = 4

1 4 1 4 3 1 4 3 2 4 3 2 4 3 1 2 2 1 4 1 2 4 3 3 1 2 2

Cell Structure for K = 12

9 8 2 7 1 6 9 4 5 9 3 12 6

10
11

8
2 7 1

10
11 3 12 4 5

8
2 7 1 6 5

10
11 3 12 4

8
2 7 1 6

10 11 3 12 4

Increasing cellular system capacity

Cell sectoring
Directional antennas subdivide cell into 3 or 6 sectors Might also increase cell capacity by factor of 3 or 6

Increasing cellular system capacity

Cell splitting
Decrease transmission power in base and mobile Results in more and smaller cells Reuse frequencies in non-contiguous cell groups Example: cell radius leads 4 fold capacity increase

Tri-Sector antenna for a cell

Cell Distribution in a Network

Rural Highway Suburb Town

Optimum use of frequency spectrum

Operator bandwidth of 7.2MHz (36 freq of 200 kHz) TDMA 8 traffic channels per carrier K factor = 12 What are the number of traffic channels available within its area for these three cases
Without cell splitting With 72 cells With 246 cells

Re-use of the frequency

One Cell = 288 traffic channels 8 X 36 = 288

72 Cell = 1728 traffic channels 8 X (72/12 X 36) = 1728 246 Cell = 5904 traffic channels

Concept of TDMA Frames and Channels

c f

GSM combines FDM and TDM: bandwidth is subdivided into channels of 200khz, shared by up to eight stations, assigning slots for transmission on
demand.

LOGICAL CHANNELS

TRAFFIC

SIGNALLING

FULL RATE Bm 22.8 Kb/S

HALF RATE Lm 11.4 Kb/S BROADCAST COMMON CONTROL DEDICATED CONTROL

FCCH

SCH

BCCH PCH RACH AGCH

FCCH -- FREQUENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL SCH -- SYNCHRONISATION CHANNEL BCCH -- BROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL PCH -- PAGING CHANNEL RACH -- RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL AGCH -- ACCESS GRANTED CHANNEL SDCCH -- STAND ALONE DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL SACCH -- SLOW ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL FACCH -- FAST ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL

SDCCH

SACCH

FACCH

DOWN LINK ONLY UPLINK ONLY BOTH UP & DOWNLINKS

Broadcast Channel - BCH

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 Frequency correction channel (FCCH) is a base to mobile channel which provides information for carrier synchronization Synchronization channel (SCH) is a base to mobile channel which carries information for frame synchronization and identification of the base station transceiver

Common Control Channel - CCH

Paging channel (PCH) is a base to mobile channel used to alert a mobile to a call originating from the network Random access channel (RACH) is a mobile to base channel used to request for dedicated resources Access grant channel (AGCH) is a base to mobile which is used to assign dedicated resources (SDCCH or TCH)

Dedicated Control Channel DCCH

Stand-alone dedicated control channel (SDCCH) is a bi-directional channel allocated to a specific mobile for exchange of location update information and call set up information

Dedicated Control Channel DCCH

Slow associated control channel (SACCH) is a bi-directional channel used for exchanging control information between base and a mobile during the progress of a call set up procedure. The SACCH is associated with a particular traffic channel or stand alone dedicated control channel Fast associated control channel (FACCH) is a bi-directional channel which is used for exchange of time critical information between mobile and base station during the progress of a call. The FACCH transmits control information by stealing capacity from the associated TCH

CELLULAR

CONCEPTS

FREQUENCY REUSE PATTERN

4/12

7/21

CELLULAR CONCEPTS
RF Channel Allocation for GSM 890 25 MHz
0

915
1 2

935 25 MHz
0 1 Base to Mobile

960
2

Mobile to Base
890.2
890.4 890.6
(MHz)

935.2

935.4

935.6

200 kHz

45MHz

200 kHz

Channel layout and frequency bands of operation

CELLULAR CONCEPTS
Start Up Cells With Larger Diameter Mature Cells With Smaller Diameters

Cells in city centre Smaller diameters

Cells in Sub-urban areas Larger diameters

Cellular Concepts
CELLULAR ENVIRONMENT: Counter-measures Techniques for QUALTY and INTERFERENCE Control

Power Control Discontinuous Transmission Other Techniques

GSM NETWORK PLANNING PROCESS - I

Service Area Estimation of traffic demand Available frequency resources. Evolving an optimum coverage scheme of placing the cells over the entire service area so as to provide complete mobility to the subscribers.

GSM NETWORK PLANNING PROCESS- II

Traffic demand estimation -Population distribution -Car usage distribution -Income level distribution -Land usage distribution -Telephone usage distribution.

GSM Architecture

Network Architecture
OSS
HLR

(
PSTN ISDN

B T S B T S

BSC BSC

MSC VLR

Data Networks

B T S

Air interface

MSC VLR
60

GSM Mobile Identification Numbers

IMEI MSISDN IMSI MSRN

61

GSM Functions of Mobile Station

Voice and data transmission Frequency and time synchronization Monitoring of power and signal quality of the surrounding cells Provision of location updates even during inactive state 160 characters long SMS
62

FUNCTION OF BTS
BTS mainly consists of a set of transceivers (TRX). Can accommodate 1 to 7 TRX per Sector Random access detection Uplink radio channel measurements

63

FUNCTIONS OF BSC
Intermediate connectivity between BTS and MSC Radio resource management Inter-cell handover Reallocation of frequencies Power control

64

MSC ( MOBILE SWITCHING CENTRE)

Call setup functions, basic switching are done Manages communication between GSM & other network MSC takes into account the RR allocation in addition to normal exchange functions MSC does gateway function while its customers roams to other network by using HLR /VLR
65

VISITOR LOCATION REGISTER (VLR)

It controls those mobiles roaming in its area. VLR reduces the number of queries to HLR VLR is updated by HLR on entry of MS its area.

66

Home Location Register(HLR)

Reference store for subscribers parameters, numbers, authentication & Encryption values. Current subscriber status and associated VLR. One operator may contain one or several HLR.
67

Functions Of OMC
functions
-O&M data function

-Configuration management --Fault report and alarm handling

-Performance supervision/management
-Storage of system software and data -Support GUI for operation and Maintenance
68

Call Scenarios

Network Attachment Process

MS

Switch -on
Measure strongest RF channel

PLMN Selection

Cell Selection

fails Limited service

Location Update ( Register its presence to the network. )

Idle-Mode

Location update from the mobile

Mobile looks for BCCH after switching on RACH send channel request AGCH receive SDCCH SDCCH request for location updating SDCCH authenticate SDCCH authenticate response SDCCH switch to cipher mode SDCCH cipher mode acknowledge SDCCH allocate TMSI SDCCH acknowledge new TMSI SDCCH switch idle update mode

Call establishment from a mobile

Mobile looks for BCCH after switching on RACH send channel request AGCH receive SDCCH

SDCCH send call establishment request

SDCCH do the authentication and TMSI allocation SDCCH send the setup message and desired number

SDCCH require traffic channel assignment

FACCH switch to traffic channel and send ack (steal bits) FACCH receive alert signal ringing sound FACCH receive connect message FACCH acknowledge connect message and use TCH TCH conversation continues

Call establishment to a mobile

Mobile looks for BCCH after switching on Mobile receives paging message on PCH Generate Channel Request on RACH Receive signaling channel SDCCH on AGCH Answer paging message on SDCCH Receive authentication request on SDCCH

Authenticate on SDCCH
Receive setup message on SDCCH Receive traffic channel assignment on SDCCH

FACCH switch to traffic channel and send ack (steal bits)

Receive alert signal and generate ringing on FACCH Receive connect message on FACCH

FACCH acknowledge connect message and switch to TCH

1. Delhi PSTN Subscriber Dials Kolkata Mobile in Kolkata.

TANDEM

HLR
MSISDN LE ND TAX ND MSISDN MSISDN GMSC MSC/VLR ND

CA
MSISDN TAX CA SRI MSRN

HLR GMSC MSC/VLR CA

CA Page(TMSI) MS
9881098300

2. Delhi PSTN Subscriber Dials Delhi Mobile in Kolkata.

HLR TAX CA CA MSRN Page(TMSI) HLR MSRN ND TAX ND GMSC MSC/VLR CA ND MS
9810098200

MSRN

GMSC MSC/VLR ND

SRI
MSRN PRN to MSC/VLR CA ACK from MSC/VLR CA (MSRN)

MSISDN MSISDN LE

MSISDN

TANDEM

3. Kolkata Mobile Dials Delhi Mobile in Kolkata.

HLR CA MSISDN TAX CA MSISDN MSRN GMSC MSC CA Subs. data check ACK VLR ND MS
9810098600

MS

9881098600

MSISDN CA ND TAX ND MSRN MSRN

Page(TMSI) HLR GMSC MSC/VLR ND SRI MSRN PRN to MSC/VLR CA

MSISDN

ACK from MSC/VLR CA (MSRN)

Billing Platform

B&CCS A convergent Billing Platform

-An integrated customer care, billing, Fraud Security & complaint Management platform -Provides electronic versions of bills to the customers over the Internet. - Convergent billing, Single window -Accurate invoicing of Call - Discounting schemes to the subscribers - Roaming Support - To Support cross-product discounting

Sample Process Flow

Reporting Tool

9
12 12
Billing/Rating Web Based Self Care

External Print Vendor

11 10
External Payment Interfaces

Order Management

2 Customer Care

Usage Mediation

Network Provisioning

4 7

Mobile Network

MOBILE COMMUNICATION
THIRD GENERATION (3 G ) STANDARD INTERNATIONAL MOBILE TELECOM 2000. ( IMT-2000) ITUs VISION FOR THIRD GENERATION MOBILE SYSTEM SINGLE UNIFIED STANDARD (Data & Multimedia Services) ANYWHERE, ANYTIME COMMUNICATION ACROSS NETWORKS, ACROSS TECHNOLOGIES, SEAMLESS OPERATION USING A SMALL POCKET TERMINAL WORLDWIDE. HIGH SPEED ACCESS 384 KB/S & 2MB/S FAST WIRELESS ACCESS TO INTERNET FULL MOTION VIDEOPHONE TERRESTRIAL & SATELLITE COMPONENTS

THANK YOU