GSM Technology

GSM Technology Seminar Report ‘03
INTRODUCTION
The development of GSM started in 1982 when a study group ‘Group

Special Mobile’ was formed during Conference of European Posts and
Telegraphs (CEPT) this group was to develop a Pan-European public
cellular system in the 900 MHz range. Some of the basic criteria for their
proposed system were:
• Good subjective speech quality

• ISDN compatibility
• Spectral efficiency
• Support for international roaming
• Support for range of new services and facilities
In 1989, GSM responsibility was transferred to European

Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) and commercial service was
started in mid 1991. Although GSM was standardized in Europe, now it is
operational in other continents also. The acronym GSM now aptly stands
for Global System for Mobile Communication.
CELLULAR CONCEPT
Cellular radio was devised in order to make better use of limited

resource of Radio Spectrum. Each Megahertz of spectrum will only support
a comparatively a small number of simultaneous conversations and the
same frequency must be reused many times in order to meet the capacity
needed for national or regional service. Cellular radio achieves this by
creating a honeycomb of cells over the region and assigning frequencies and
Dept. of CSE 1 MESCE Kuttippuram

power levels in such away that the same frequency can be reused for
different conversation two or three cells away.
Although most of the countries in Europe had their own analogue

cellular system, they were not compatible with each other. So with the
development in Political, Commercial and Industrial areas there arose a
necessity for uniformity in cellular communication.

SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
The functional architecture of a GSM system can be broadly classified

into
• Mobile Station (MS)
• Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
• Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)
• Operation Subsystem (OSS)
The MS and the BSS communicate via the Um interface or radio link.
The BSS communicates with Mobile Service Switching Center across the A
interface.
MOBILE STATION
This may be a standalone piece of equipment for certain services or

support the connection of external terminals. The MS consists of the Mobile
Equipment (ME) and a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).
The ME is uniquely identified by the International Mobile Equipment

Identity (IMEI), but it need not be personally assigned to one subscriber,
The SIM which is a smart card provides personal mobility and the user can
access the subscriber services. The subscriber can operate on any terminal
just by inserting the SIM card in that GSM terminal. SIM card contains the
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) used to identify the
subscriber to the system, a secret key for authentication and other security
information’s. SIM card may be protected against unauthorized use by a
password.

BASE STATIONSUBSYSTEM
The BSS is composed of three parts, Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

and U3ase Station Controller (BSC). These two communicate across the
standardized Abis interface. The third part is Transcoder and Rate
Adaptation Unit (TRAU).
Base Transceiver Station:
This provides the GSM radio coverage within a cell. It comprises of

radio transmitting and receiving equipment and associated signal processing
units. This complements the radio features of ME.
Base Station Controller
This manages the radio resources for one or more BTS’s. It handles
radio channel set-up, Handovers and frequency hopping. Handovers
between BTS’s belonging to different BSC’s however can involve MSC’s
but are still managed by the original serving BSC. It controls the
transmission of information about Local Area Codes (LAC), signaling
channel configuration and information’s about neighboring cells.



Transcoder and Rate Adaptation Unit.

This is responsible for transcoding between GSM encoded speech at I
3KPS and fixed network speech at 64KPS. Similarly it performs rate
adaptation of GSM data services. Although it is a part of BSS, it is located
at MSC Sites. This is to benefit from the lower rate coding and cosequent
saving in transmission costs.
NETWORK AND SWITCHING SUBSYSTEM
NSS in GSM uses an Intelligent Network (The central component of

NSS is the Mobile Service Switching Center (MSC). It is supported by
Interworking functions (JWF), Home Location Register (HLR), Visitor
Location Register (VLR), Gateway MSC (GMSC) and Signal Transfer
Point (STP).
Mobile Service Switching Center
It acts like a switching node and additionally provides all the

functionality needed to handle a mobile subscriber such as registration,
authentication, location updating. Handovers and call routing to a roaming
subscribe. These functions are provided in conjunction with several
functional entities. An MSC controls several BSC’s.
Inter Working Function, (IWF)
A gateway for MSC to interface with external networks for

communications with users outside GSM. The role of IWF depends upon
the type of user data and the network to which it interfaces.
Home Location Register (HLR,)

It consists of a computer without switching capabilities. It is a
database, which contains subscriber information related to the subscriber’s
current locations but not the actual location. HLR has two divisions
Authentication Center (AuC) and Equipment Identity Register (EIR). The
AuC manages the security data for subscriber authentication. The EIR
database carrying information about certain ME’s. The security procedure is
discussed later.
Visitor Location Register VLR,).
It links to one or more MSC’s, temporarily storing subscription data

currently served by its corresponding MSC. VLR holds more current
subscriber location than l—ILR. Although VLR is an independent unit, it is
always implemented together with the MSC.
Gateway MSC GMSC)
In order to set-up a requested call, the call is initially routed to a

GMSC which finds the correct HLR.GMSC has an interface with external
network for gatewaying and the network operates the full signaling system 7
(SS7) between NSS Machines.
Signaling Transfer Point
It acts as a standalone node to optimize the cost of the signaling

transport among MSC/VLR, GMSC and HLR>
OPERATING SUBSYSTEM
There are three area of OSS

• Network operation and maintenance function. •
• Subscription management including charging and billing.
• Mobile Equipment and Management.

LAYER MODELLING
• Transmission
• Radio resource management
• Mobility management
• Communication management
• Operation, administration and maintenance

RADIO LINK ASPECTS
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which manages

Allocation of radio spectrum has allocated the bands 890-915MHz for the
uplink (MS To BS) and 960MHz for the downlink (BS To MS) for mobile
networks.

MULTIPLE ACCESS AND CHANNEL STRUCTURE
Due to the scarcity of radio spectrum, a method must be devised to

divide bandwidth among as many users as possible. GSM uses a
combination of FDMA TDMA. FDMA part involves the division by
frequency of the 25M1-lz bandwidth into carrier frequencies of 200KHz
bandwidth. One or more carrier frequencies is then divided in time using
TDMA scheme.

TRAFFIC CHANNELS
This is also called physical channel. This is used to carry speech and
data traffic: They are of Three kinds
• TCH/F (full rate): Transmits the speech code of 13 KBPS or Three
data mode 12,6 and 3.6 1KBPS.
• TCIH/H(half rate):Transmits the speech code of 7 1KBPS or Two
data modes 6 3.6 1KBPS
• TCI-118( 1/8th rate): Used for low rate signaling channels, Common
channels and channels. They are also called Stand Alone Dedicated Control
Channel(SDCCH)

CELL SELECTION
Using the best cell from an MS depends on three factors

• The level of signal received by the MS.
• The maximum transmission power of the MS.
• Two parameters P1 and P2 specified by the cell
C1 = A-max (B, 0)
A = received level average-P 1
B = P2-Max RF power of the MS.
P1 = A value between —110 and —48dBm
P2 = A value between 13 and 43dBm
Call selection algorithm is as follows
• The SIM must be inserted
• The strongest Cl is chosen by obtaining Cl from the candidate
cells. All cells must not be barred from service

MOBILITY MANAGEMENT
This layer handles the functions that arise from the mobility of the
subscribers as well as the authentication and security aspects.
LOCATION UPDATING
The mobile phone receives constantly information send by the

network. This information includes identification of the area where the
mobile is currently located. In order to keep track of its location, the mobile
stores the ID of the area in which it is currently registered. Every time the
network broadcasts the ID of the area, the mobile compares this,
information to the area ID stored in its memory. When the two ID’s are no
longer the same, the mobile sends the network a request, i.e. Registration
inquiry to the area it has entered. The network receives the request and
registers the mobile in the new area, a new VLR. Simultaneously, a
subscriber HLR is informed about the new location and the data of the
subscriber is cleared from the previous VLR.
AUTHENTICATION AND SECURITY
Authentication involves two functional entities: -SIM and AuC.Each

subscriber is given a secret key, one copy of which is stored in SIM card
and the other in AuC. During Authentication, the AUC, a 128 bit random
number RANI) that is send o lie Mobile. Both mobile and the AuC then
uses the RAND in conjunction with the subscribers secret key and a
ciphering algorithm cal lcd A3, to generate a 32 bit long signal response
(SRES) that is send back to AuC.lf both numbers match the subscriber is
authenticated.


COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
This layer is responsible for call control, supplementary service

management and short message service management.
CALL CONTROL
Call control functions set up calls, maintain calls and release calls.
CALL ROUTING
The directory number dialed to reach a mobile subscriber is called the

mobile subscriber ISDN (MSISDN) which is defined by E.164 numbering
plan. This number includes country code and national destination code,
which identifies the subscriber’s operator. The first few digits of the
remaining subscriber number may identify the subscriber’s HLR.
An incoming mobile terminating call is directed to the GMSC. GMSC

contains a table linking MSISDN to their corresponding HLR. The GMSC
queries the called subscriber’s HLR for a Mobile Station Roaming Number
(MSRN). The HLR typically stores only the SS7 address of the subscriber’s
current VLR and so HLR queries the current VLR, which will temporarily
allocate an MSRN from its pool for the call. This MSRN is returned to the
HLR and back to GMSE, which can then route the call to the new MSC. At
the new MSC the IMISI corresponding to the MSRN is looked up and the
mobile is paged in its current location area.

SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICE MANAGEMENT
GSM provides services like call waiting, call forwarding and

automatic canceling. SSM is a point to point management service.
SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE
SMS allows alphanumeric text messages to be sent to and from a

mobile phone via a service center using SACCH. The size of the single
short message is limited to 160 characters. The received short messages are
normally stored in SIM.
• The two functions of SMS are

• Mobile originating short message.
• Mobile terminating short message.



STRENGTHS OF GSM
• Compatibility with ISDN using rate adaptation box.

• Use of SIM cards.
• Control of transmission power.
• Frequency hopping.
• Discontinuous transmission.
• Mobile assisted handover.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY GSM
Basic service supported by GSM is telephony. The speech is digitized

and then transmitted. There is also an emergency service. Data services
offered by GSM are- Data transfer at 9.6KBPS, ISDN, PSPDN, CSPDN,
group3 facsimile and short message service.
In addition to voice calls, GSM networks also provide many other

services, and we are familiar with most of them. There’s the ubiquitous
SMS-the capability to send short text messages from one phone to another.
There are the data services, which exploit GSM’s digital nature. This allows
one to access the Internet from a GSM phone, and many service providers
are offering this service. You can send email from the handset and lots
more. One limitation of GSM is that currently it has a maximum data
transfer rate of only 9 kbps but new development like HSCSD (high-speed
circuit switched data) and GPRS (general packet-switched radio) are
pushing this up quite a bit.

CONCLUSION
This report has given a overview of GSM is the first approach at the
true Personal Communication ‘Systems (PCS). The SIM card is a novel
approach that implements the personal and terminal mobility. Together with
international roaming and support for various services GSM comes close to
fulfilling the requirements of PCS. GSM is being used for the next
generation of mobile telecommunication technology the Universal Mobile
Telecommunication Systems (UMTS). The GSM network Functions,
system architecture and protocols are spread over a large number of GSM
documents.

REFERENCES
• William C.Y.Lee, “Mobile Cellular Telecommunications” 2nd

Edition, Mc Graw Hill Publication
• R.C.V.Macario, “Modern Personal Radio Systems” IEEE
Telecommunication Series
• John Scourious, “Overview of USM Cellular Systems” University of
Waterloo
• Electronics and Communication Engineering Journal Jan/Feb 1989
Vol.1, No: 1, pp7-13
• IEEE Communication Magazine April 1993 Vol.3 1, No: 4,
pp92-100

CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
o CELLULAR CONCEPT
• SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
o MOBILE STATION
o BASE STATION StJBSYSTEM
 BASE TRANCEIVER STATION
 BASE STATION CONTROLLER
 TRANSCODER AND RATE ADAPTATION UNIT
o NETWORK AND SWITCHING SUBSYSTEM
 MOBILE SERVICE SWITCHING CENTER(MSC)
 INTER WORKING FUNCTION(IWF)
 HOME LOCATION REGISTER(HLR)
 VISITOR LOCATION REGIOSTER(VLR)
 GATEWAY MSC(GMSC)
 SIGNALLING TRANSFER POINT(STP)
o OPERATION SUBSYSTEM
• LAYER MODELLING
• RADIO LINK ASPECTS
• MULTIPLE ACCESS AND CHANNEL STRUCTURE
• TRAFFIC CHANNELS
• CELL SELECTION
• MOBILITY MANAGEMENT
o LOCATION UPDATING
o AUTHENTICATION AND SECURITY

• COMMUNICATION MANAGEMENT
o CALL CONTROL
o CALL ROUTING
o SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICE MANAGEMENT
o SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE
• STRENGTHS OF GSM
• SERVICES PROVIDED FOR GSM
• CONCLUSION
• REFERENCES

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I express my sincere thanks to Prof. M.N Agnisarman Namboothiri

(Head of the Department, Computer Science and Engineering, MESCE),
Ms. Bushara.M.K. (Staff incharge), and Ms. Sangeetha (Lecturer, CSE)
for their kind co-operation for presenting the seminar.
I also extend my sincere thanks to all other members of the faculty of

Computer Science and Engineering Department and my friends for their co-
operation and encouragement.

ABSTRACT
GSM, the Global System for Mobile Communication is a digital

cellular communications systems which has rapidly gained world-wide
acceptance, although it was initially developed in Europe. In addition to
digital transmission, GSM incorporate many advanced services and features
including ISDN compatibility and world-wide roaming in other GSM
networks.
GSM comprises the CEPT defined standardization of services,

functional and subsystem interfaces and protocol architecture based on the
use of world-wide standards produced by CCITT and CCIR for a Pan-
European digital land mobile system.
The advanced services and architecture of GSM have made it a model

for third generation cellular systems such as UMTS.
This report will give an overview of the GSM system architecture,

radio transmission aspects, signaling functional architecture, network
aspects and services offered by GSM.

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GSM Technology Seminar Report ‘03

The development of GSM started in 1982 when a study group ‘Group

• Good subjective speech quality

In 1989, GSM responsibility was transferred to European

Cellular radio was devised in order to make better use of limited

Dept. of CSE 1 MESCE Kuttippuram

Although most of the countries in Europe had their own analogue

Dept. of CSE 2 MESCE Kuttippuram

The functional architecture of a GSM system can be broadly classified

This may be a standalone piece of equipment for certain services or

The ME is uniquely identified by the International Mobile Equipment

Dept. of CSE 3 MESCE Kuttippuram

The BSS is composed of three parts, Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

Base Transceiver Station:

This provides the GSM radio coverage within a cell. It comprises of

Base Station Controller

Dept. of CSE 4 MESCE Kuttippuram

Dept. of CSE 5 MESCE Kuttippuram

Dept. of CSE 6 MESCE Kuttippuram

Transcoder and Rate Adaptation Unit.

Dept. of CSE 7 MESCE Kuttippuram

NETWORK AND SWITCHING SUBSYSTEM

NSS in GSM uses an Intelligent Network (The central component of

Mobile Service Switching Center

It acts like a switching node and additionally provides all the

Inter Working Function, (IWF)

A gateway for MSC to interface with external networks for

Home Location Register (HLR,)

Dept. of CSE 8 MESCE Kuttippuram

Visitor Location Register VLR,).

It links to one or more MSC’s, temporarily storing subscription data

Gateway MSC GMSC)

In order to set-up a requested call, the call is initially routed to a

Signaling Transfer Point

It acts as a standalone node to optimize the cost of the signaling

Dept. of CSE 9 MESCE Kuttippuram

Dept. of CSE 10 MESCE Kuttippuram

Dept. of CSE 11 MESCE Kuttippuram

RADIO LINK ASPECTS

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which manages

Dept. of CSE 12 MESCE Kuttippuram

MULTIPLE ACCESS AND CHANNEL STRUCTURE

Due to the scarcity of radio spectrum, a method must be devised to

Dept. of CSE 13 MESCE Kuttippuram

Dept. of CSE 14 MESCE Kuttippuram

Using the best cell from an MS depends on three factors

Dept. of CSE 15 MESCE Kuttippuram

The mobile phone receives constantly information send by the

AUTHENTICATION AND SECURITY

Authentication involves two functional entities: -SIM and AuC.Each

Dept. of CSE 16 MESCE Kuttippuram

Dept. of CSE 17 MESCE Kuttippuram

This layer is responsible for call control, supplementary service

The directory number dialed to reach a mobile subscriber is called the

An incoming mobile terminating call is directed to the GMSC. GMSC

Dept. of CSE 18 MESCE Kuttippuram

SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICE MANAGEMENT

GSM provides services like call waiting, call forwarding and

SHORT MESSAGE SERVICE