GSM Introduction and Overview to

Architecture

Presented by
Khurram Naveed

What is covered in this Presentation

• Introduction to GSM
• Channels on the Air Interface
• Architecture of GSM
• Some Basic call procedures
• Basic Services offered by GSM
• Future Technologies

Page 1
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 Section 1

Introduction to GSM

Before GSM: Mobile Telephony Milestones

Electric transmission 1010 10 10

(Graham Bell) Digital Technology
(1st digital switch)

• • •
———
• • •

1st wireless
transmissions 1st analog cellular
(Marconi) network

1010 10 10

1st public mobile 1st GSM communication

telephone (digital cellular network)

Page 2
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 Analog Cellular Systems Around the World

1981 NMT 1979 AMPS

Dedicated developments
The Nordic Solution 800 MHz
Now 18 Millions Subscribers Now 25 Millions
450 MHz and 900 MHz Subscribers
1985 1986
RADIOCOM 2000 C.450
NORWAY, DENMARK 1985 TACS in UK FRANCE GERMANY
FINLAND, SWEDEN, 800 and 900 MHz 400 MHz 450 MHz
FRANCE (450 MHz) 900 MHz
Japan
• NTT cellular (1979)
• JTACS (1988)

What is GSM
• GSM stands for Global System For Mobile
Communication
• It has been agreed upon and formulated by
European Telecommunication Standard Institute
(ETSI).
• Within ETSI ,special Workgroups called SMG are
responsible for maintaining this standard.

Page 3
3
 GSM Benefits
Advantages of the GSM standard Digital Advantages

Technology low cost

Worldwide market $

High resistance
Open system to interferences

Transmission data rate

Roaming

Transmission Security

Development of the GSM Standard

End 1999: 220 millions of subscribers
370 networks in 137 countries

Countries without GSM Network(s)

2005: Between 700 million and 1 billion expected.

Page 4
4
 Section 2

Architecture

Architecture of GSM
• GSM/DCS system consists of 3 sub-sytems
1.Switching Subsystem
2.Radio Subsystem
3.Operation and Maintenance Subsystem.

Page 5
5
Page 6
6
 Network Over view
BTS NSS PSTN
BSS

BSC MSC

MS

OMC-R OMC-S
OSS

BSS Architecture

MSC
Radio
TCU Interface
A Interface
BTS
NSS

Ater Interface
Public Telephone Network

Abis Interface MS
OMC-R BSC

Radio
Interface

OMN Interface

Sun
StorEdge A5 0 0 0

BSS
MS

Page 7
7
 Capabilities of a BTS
Traffic Features at the radio interface

Reception Signal processing

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

Transmission
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Coding Ciphering
Speech Interleaving
00 00 Q
2 2 - 90° + 90°
0 1
10 10
4 4
01 01
7 7 I
A MESSAGES IS 11 11
PENDING. PLEASE
CONTACT NBR 3 3 GMSK
452 587 65

Demodulation Modulation

Call clearing
Power
Control Measurement
preprocessing
Frequency Handover
Data hopping
Short messages Coupling system L1M (Call sustaining)

BTS Connection Modes

Air
interface
CHAIN
Abis Connection
interface
(single multi-drop)

C
BS

STAR
Connection

LOOP
Connection

MS (full multi-drop)

Page 8
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 BSC Functions
• 1 - Basic Functions
Radio Call Processing

BTS
MSC
BTS

Routing
BTS

BTS

Traffic Concentration SMS-CB

Management

CAUTION: CRASH
Radio ON E12 HIGHWAY
Resources
Management

NSS Architecture

AuC EIR
PSTN

BSC

MSC
BSC

VLR HLR

MSC

Page 9
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 Switching Subsystem
• Also called Network Subsystem also referred as
CORE
• Responsible for end to end switching operation
between subscriber that might be of same
PLMN,other PLMN or PSTN.
• Modular Architecture

Switching Subsystem Continued

Major Components
• MSC-It acts like a normal switching node of the
PSTN or ISDN, and in addition provides all the
functionality needed to handle a mobile
subscriber, such as registration, authentication,
location updating, handovers, and call routing to a
roaming subscriber

Page 10
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 Switching Subsystem Continued
• HLR: The HLR contains all the administrative information
of each subscriber registered in the corresponding GSM
network, along with the current location of the mobile.
• VLR: Visitor Location Register contains selected
administrative information from the HLR, necessary for
call control and provision of the subscribed services, for
each mobile currently located in the geographical area
controlled by the VLR

Switching Subsystem Continued

• EIR: The Equipment Identity Register (EIR) is a database
that contains a list of all valid mobile equipment on the
network, where each mobile station is identified by its
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)
• AC: Authentication Centre provides information regarding
registration of a SIM card to a proper PLMN.
Authentication Center is a protected database that stores
a copy of the secret key stored in each subscriber's SIM
card, which is used for authentication and ciphering of
the radio channel

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 Current Network Diagram

GSM Specific Functional Principles

• 1.Authentication
• 2.MOC (Mobile to Landline)

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 Section 3

Services

Teleservices
• 1 - Telephony Hello
Speaking

Originated
call 1

Speaking

Hello
Terminated
call 1

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 Teleservices
• 2 - Emergency Call

Global GSM Mobility Emergency

Card 112
The Smart Card to use

GSM

Do not require a SIM-Card

while "112" is invoked

Teleservices
• 3 - Short Message Cell Broadcast

Information
Provider A

Information
Provider B

GSM Network

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 Teleservices
Alternate Speech and Fax:

• 5 - Fax

Automatic fax:

Teleservices
• 6 - User's Data Call Features Teleservices
Fax G3, SMS
Teleservices
voice

Cable that
bears data

Data / Fax
kit adaptation
Embodied
bearer
treatments for
radio transmission

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15
 Teleservices
• 7 - Voice Messaging
Please leave
a message
Busy after the tone

Forward 1
to voice
mail box

Voice mail
box
GSM
network

You have
3 voices
messages...
Voice
message
Retrieving the voice
messages
server

Warming up...

Supplementary Services
• 1 - Line Identification
Calling Party Called Party
CoLP CLIP
CLIR CoLR
 Calling Line Identification

presentation (CLIP)

restriction (CLIR)

Cnted line Calling line

0609173957 0609225831
Connected Line Identification
presentation (CoLP)

restriction (CoLR)

 Calling Name Presentation

(CNAP)

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 Supplementary Services
• 2 - Call Transfer and Call Forwarding

 unconditional (CFU)

 on busy (CFB)

 on no reply (CFNRy)

 on not reachable (CFNRc)

1 2

Supplementary Services
• 3 - Waiting / Hold and Multi Party
WAIT HOLD

1 2 1 2

Waiting / Hold:

1
Multi Party: 1

Max = 5 persons

2 2

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 Supplementary Services
• 4 - Call Barring
 Outgoing (BAOC)

 Outgoing international (BOIC)

 Outgoing international
except home PLMN country (BOIC-exHC)

 Incoming (BAIC)

 Incoming when roaming outside

(BIC-Roam)

Supplementary Services
• 5 - Call Completion (CCBS)

NEW! Unable to place

BUSY a call. Speaking Speaking
...
1 2

Reinitiate This call in state

the call
Ring !
Ring ! 1

Idle

Call is HELLO
SPEAKING established
1

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 Supplementary Services
Advice of Charge Information (AoCI)

• 6 - Advice of Charge
information on progress
of the cost of the call

Advice of Charge Charging (AoCC)

Insert a
SIM credit Card
Completion of call
need charging

Intelligent Network Services

• Main IN Services:
IN and CAMEL
 Personal Number
 Virtual Private Network (VPN)
 Sponsored Cell & Call
 Prepaid Calling
 Location Inquiry
 Geo Zone

The aim of the CAMEL (Customized Application for Mobile network Enhanced
Logic) is to provide GSM network operators with the ability to create specific
services in their home network, and export these services to their subscribers
when roaming outside the home network.
CAMEL introduces the ability to provide location dependent IN type of services
to mobiles subscribers.

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 IN Services: Virtual Private Network
Closed User Group

X X
Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

25 c/min
5696

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

c
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
o+

Location & Time *

4197 Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

** 0 #
7PRS8TUV9 WXY

dependant screening 4GHI 5JKL 6MNO

1 2ABC3DEF

Corporate Numbering Plan

4446 Wireline Access
25 c/min Lower rate for on-net calls
4197 25 c/min
5696

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

4446
Location & Time
c
dependant routing 1
4
7
2
5
8
3
6
9 Speed Dialing
London
o+
*

Bristol 50 c/min 924 63256

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

IN Services: Prepaid Calling

RANK1ONE
5542 1139 1464 228 99494
VALID DATES
6/91
SCOOBY DOO
6/99
Your account
balance
is $ 24.50
Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Account status
enquiry and
Multiple recharging options notification

 Multiple Tariff Plans

 Tariffs using fixed charge, CC, NC, distance, time & day, roaming
charges...

 Possible language selection by subscriber

Flexible features for easy

 Bulk account loading for easy provisioning
service packaging

Page 20
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 IN Services: Sponsored Cell & Call
Calls from this
location are

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

sponsored. Today, up to 50 % off
Today buy one on handbags !
dinner at Bellini’s on Sponsors can
Keith Street, near the
cinemas, and get one target specific
free!
customers
by sponsoring
some of their Sponsors can also change their
calls... announcements on the phone

...made from

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

specified

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Your next two minute calling
locations is brought to you free today by
The leather Shop located on
Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

at predefined first level of the Central

Shopping Centre.
times of day Come and visit us
Today, up to 50 % off on
handbags !
Service can be offered via access
code or through subscription

IN Services: Location Inquiry

The closest restaurants are:
The Wind Jammer
on 132 Flinton Street
Sea food
Phone 55 1968 Promotional
press 1 to connect Informations:
Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom
The Palace call #15
on 11 Bourke Street
Chinese food
Phone 55 0407
press 2 to connect

The closest restaurants are:

The Tower, Tower Hill,
Phone 56 4589,
Press 1 to connect
The Anchor
Today’s special at
Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

St Catherine Dock
Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Phonce 56 2548 The Anchor is Maine

Press 2 to connect lobster soup

Be the first ten caller and

get a free cocktail !

Cell dependent information Possible customization of announcement

Direct connection to advertisers directly by the advertiser

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 IN Services: Geo Zone
• 1 - Outgoing Calls

This call is being

made outside of your
home zone.

Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom Wait to complete it or

Copyright ©
1996
N orthern
Telec om
hang-up now.
Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Wide Area
Office Zone Cellular Home Zone
Notification of current
15 c/min 50 c/min 10 c/min zone before call set-up:

Specific rates applied to calls made from Home/Office zone • when in home/office zone
and/or
• when out of zones
Multiple zones can be defined

Different rates applied to calls made from specific locations

IN Services: Geo Zone

Calling theCalls
• 2 - Incoming “fixed” number You are going to be
charged 5 c/min for
this call.

When you are at home, When you are away from home, Wait to accept it or
you are called directly you decide if the call is routed to: hang-up now.
Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Voice mail
Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

OR Copyright © 1996 Northern Telecom

Notification of current
zone before incoming
With Notification call is connected:
Your Caller pays when in home/office zone
Your Caller pays Your Caller pays fixed line rate
fixed line rate and/or
fixed line rate You pay the • when out of zones
You pay nothing You pay nothing “forwarding leg”

Fixed network service with built-in mobility

Page 22
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 Section 4

Future Technologies

Explosive Growth in Wireless Data

1998
Data 70%
Data 4%

Voice 30%

Voice 96%
2005

Page 23
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 Increasing GSM Data Rates
video
photo report clip
UMTS

video
E/GPRS web photo report clip

video
e-mail web photo report clip
ISDN

video
PSTN e-mail web photo report clip

video
e-mail web photo report clip
GSM

0 10 sec 1 min 10 min 1 hour

Transmission Time

Page 24
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From “The Last Lecture” by Randy Pausch
• Brick walls are there to show us our dedication
• Don’t bail, the best gold is at the bottom of the barrel of
crap
• Get a feedback loop & listen to it
• Show Gratitude
• Don’t complain; just work harder
• Be good at something; it makes you valuable
• Find the best in everybody
• Be prepared; luck is where preparation meets
opportunity

Page 25
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• Bibliography / References:

• Introduction to GSM – by Nortel

• SY-1 by Nortel
• The Business Case for LTE by Gerry Collins (Nortel) UMTS Forum Seminar,2007

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