GSM

Radio Overview

Prepared by:
Nidal Zarifeh

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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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1- Multiple access techniques

1. FDMA.
(Freq Division Multiple Access).

2. TDMA.
(Time Division Multiple Access).

3. CDMA.
(Code Division Multiple Access).

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 1- Multiple access techniques

FDMA

Strength
Channel

f1 f2 f3
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 1- Multiple access techniques

TDMA
Strength
Time Slot

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1- Multiple access techniques

CDMA
Strength

Frequency
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1- Multiple access techniques

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 1- Multiple access techniques

GSM techniques
Frequency TDMA Frame
(8 Time slots)
called physical Ch.
CH 124
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

CH 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

CH 2 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

CH 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Time
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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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2- GSM Frequencies

GSM & Frequencies:

Uplink
Downlink BTS

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2- GSM Frequencies

• GSM 900 (Global Mobile System).

• DCS 1800 (Digital Communication System).

• PCS 1900 (Personal Communication System).

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2- GSM Frequencies

Uplink GSM 900 Downlink

20MHz
890 915 935 960
200k
25 MHz / 200 KHz = 125 Frequency Channel
200 KHz
890.2 890.6 Uplink
1 2 3 4 121 122 123 124

890 890.4 915 F (MHz)

Duplex spacing=45MHz
935.2 935.6 Downlink
1 2 3 4 121 122 123 124

935 935.4 960 F (MHz)

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 2- GSM Frequencies

DCS 1800
Uplink Downlink

20MHz
1710 1785 1805 1885
200k

75 MHz / 200 KHz = 375 Frequency Channel

Duplex spacing=95 MHz

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2- GSM Frequencies

Syriatel Band:

• GSM 900: 3~35. (35-3)*200KHz

= 6.4 MHz

• DCS1800: 762~791. (791-762)*200KHz

= 5.8 MHz

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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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3-Antennas principles

A single element effects the pattern of a bread ring.

In order to direct the signal to the destination close

to the surface of the earth, the bread ring is
required to be pressed flat.

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3-Antennas principles
Gain of Antenna

• Gain is defined as the ratio of the square of the

field intensity effected by a certain antenna and
that by an ideal radiating unit, with the input
power given.

• Gain generally has to do with the radiation pattern

of the antenna, that is, the narrower the main
beam, and the smaller the back beam and side
beam, the higher the gain.

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3-Antennas principles

The polarization of antennas:

V-Polarization H-Polarization

+ 45°Polarization - 45°Polarization

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3-Antennas principles
Dual Polarized antennas
Two antennas is integrated, effecting two waves independent of each other.

V/H Cross (+/- 45°)

Dual polarization Dual polarization

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3-Antennas principles

Diagram of side lobe

Back Front
radiated radiated
power power

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3-Antennas principles

Down tilt:
Antennas are tilted to direct the beam to the
ground.

No tilt Mechanical tilt Electrical tilt

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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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4- Transmission Problems

1. Path Loss:

• Occurs when the received signal becomes weaker

and weaker due to increasing distance between MS
and BTS.

• The path loss problem leads to a dropped call .

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4- Transmission Problems

2. Shadowing:
• Occurs when there are
physical obstacles
including hills and
buildings between the BTS
and the MS.

• The obstacles create a

shadowing effect which
can decrease the received
signal strength.

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4- Transmission Problems
3. Multipath Fading:

I. Rayleigh Fading:

• This occurs when a signal takes

more than one path between the
MS and BTS antennas.

• The received signal is the sum of

many identical signals that differ
only in phase.

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4- Transmission Problems

II. Time Dispersion:

• The reflected signal comes from

an object far away from the Rx
antenna.

• Time dispersion causes Inter-

Symbol Interference (ISI) where
consecutive symbols (bits)
interfere with each other making
it difficult for the receiver to
determine which symbol is the
correct one.

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4- Transmission Problems

4. Time Alignment:
• This problem occurs when
part of the information
transmitted by an MS does
not arrive within the
allocated time slot.
• Instead, that part may
arrive during the next time
slot, and may interfere
with information from
another MS using that
other time slot.
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4- Transmission Problems

5. Channel interference:

• Co-channel interference (C/I):

fII= fI

• Adjacent channel interference (C/A):

fII= fI ± 200KHz

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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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5- Radio Solutions

1) Frequency Hopping.

2) Antenna Diversity.

3) Equalization.

4) Timing Advance.

5) Interleaving.

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5- Radio Solutions

1) Frequency Hopping:
• It’s used to average the effect of Rayleigh
fading.

• Every TDMA must change its frequency using

Freq
List a defined list.
f3

f2

f1

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Time
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5- Radio Solutions

2) Antenna Diversity:

• It’s used to average the effect of Rayleigh

fading.

• The cell transceiver will use two receiving

antennas instead of one. They will be separated
by a distance of about (10*λ), and they will
receive radio signals independently, so they will
be affected differently by the fading dips and
the better signal received will then be selected.

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5- Radio Solutions

2) Antenna Diversity:

Received Signal Strength

Distance

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5- Radio Solutions

3) Equalization:

• It’s used to decrease the effect of Time

dispersion.

• Comparing received signal with proper signal

(Patterns).

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5- Radio Solutions

Received
Data T* Data
Bits

Equalization VITERBI
Choose xxx so that the
Correlator Compare difference between T
and T* is the minimum

Probable
received
bit pattern
xxx T xxx Channel
Model

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5- Radio Solutions

4)Timing Advance:

• It’s used to decrease the effect of Time

alignment.

• Earlier transmission:
0 ~ 63 bit time
0 ~ 233 µs

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5- Radio Solutions
5) Interleaving:
Data 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3

Interleaving

0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3

1 1 1
Air Interface

0 0 0 0 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3

De-Interleaving

0 2 3 0 2 3 0 2 3 0 1 2 3

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Break !!

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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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6- GSM Radio Stages

Modulation & Burst 7

Transmission Formatting
8
Ciphering / 6
Encryption

Interleaving 5
BTS
Channel Coding 4

Speech Coding 3

1
A/D Converter Segmentation 2
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6- GSM Radio Stages

1. A/D Converter:
I. Sampling: 8000 sample/sec.

II. Quantization: 213 = 8192 Level.

III. PCM coding: 13 bit/sample.

8000 * 13 = 104 kbit/s

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6- GSM Radio Stages

A/D Converter

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

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6- GSM Radio Stages

• If one frequency will be used for 8 calls,

then the bit rate will be:
8 x 104 kbit/s = 832 kbit/s

• This will not fit in the 200 KHz channel

allocated for one frequency.
Speech Coding to reduce the rate.

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6- GSM Radio Stages

2. Segmentation:
• 20 msec is segmented for each frame.

160 sample in 20 ms = 1 Segment

1 2 3 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

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6- GSM Radio Stages

3. Speech coding:

• Instead of using 13 bits per sample as in A/D

conversion, GSM speech coding uses 260 bits
to encode one segment.
• This calculates as 260 bits / 20 ms = 13 kb/s.
• Providing a speech quality which is acceptable
for mobile telephony and comparable with wire
line PSTN phones.

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6- GSM Radio Stages

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6- GSM Radio Stages

• 20 msec 260 bits.

260 * 50 = 13 k bit/s for one Subscriber.

• 13 * 8 = 104 kbit/s for 8 subscriber (TDMA Frame)

which is relevant for 200 KHz/Channel.

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6- GSM Radio Stages
Adds three parity bits that will
result in 53 bits. These three
4. Channel coding: bits are used to detect errors in
a received message

Error Detect Error correct

50 Very
Block 53 bit 378
Important bit
Coding Convol- bit 456 bit
20
utional
ms
132 Important bit Coding
1:2
260 4 tail bit
Bits added by the convolutional
bit coder enable the correction of
errors when the message is
received.
78 Not so Important bit

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6- GSM Radio Stages

5. Interleaving:
•We’ve had 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
456 bit /Frame. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

• Two Levels
25 26 27 28 .. .. .. ..
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

of interleaving. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

57 Bits
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
[level 1] .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

“Intra segment
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440
interleaving” 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448
449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456

8 Groups 49/100
6- GSM Radio Stages

[Level 2] 1A T 5D
2A T 6D
3A T 7D
4A T 8D

1B T 5A

Inter 2B T 6A

segment
3B T 7A
4B T 8A

interleaving 1C T 5B
2C T 6B
3C T 7B
4C T 8B

1D T 5C
2D T 6C
3D T 7C
4D T 8C

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6- GSM Radio Stages

6. Ciphering and Encryption:

• The purpose of ciphering is to encode the burst
so that it cannot be interpreted by any other
device than the intended receiver.
• The ciphering algorithm in GSM is called “A5”.
• It does not add bits to the burst.
• The output to the ciphering process : 456 bits
per20 ms.
• Ciphering depends on “Kc” & “Frame No”.

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6- GSM Radio Stages

7. Burst Formatting:
• Every transmission from an MS/BTS must
include some extra information.

• The process of burst formatting is to add these

bits (along with some others such as tail bits) to
the basic speech/data being sent.

• Burst formatting adds a total of 136 bits per

block of 20 ms(456 bit ), bringing the overall
total to 592.
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6- GSM Radio Stages

• Now, the 592 bits will be sent on 4 bursts, each

containing:
(2 x 57) + (136 / 4) = 148 bits/Burst
• However, each time slot on a TDMA frame is
0.577 ms long.
• This provides enough time for 156.25 bits to be
transmitted (each bit takes 3.7 µs).
• The rest of the space, 8.25 bit times, is empty
and is called the Guard Period (GP).

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6- GSM Radio Stages

• The output of burst formatting is a burst of

156.25 bits or 625 bits per 20 ms.

• The overall bit rate for GSM can be calculated:

156.25/0.577= 270.9 kbit/s.

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6- GSM Radio Stages

7. Modulation & Transmission:

• GSM uses the “GMSK” modulation.
• GMSK “Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying ” is
combined of PSK2 and FSK4 modulations.

¾i=“1” φi = φi-1 + 90o

fi = f1

¾i=“0” φi = φi-1 - 90o

fi = f2
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6- GSM Radio Stages

• The frequencies f1and f2 are given by:

f1 = fc + Rb/4
f2 = fc - Rb/4

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6- GSM Radio Stages

Modulation & Burst 7

Transmission Formatting
8
Ciphering / 6
Encryption

Interleaving 5
BTS
Channel Coding 4

Speech Coding 3

1
A/D Converter Segmentation 2
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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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 7- Introduction to GSM System

Mobile Station
Switching System SS AUC Base Transceiver Station
Base Station Controller
Mobile services Switching Center
VLR HLR EIR

Other Networks
GMSC MSC

Base Station System BSS

OMC
BSC

Visitor Location Register

Home Location Register
BTS AUthentication Center
MS Equipment Identity Register
Operation and Maintenance Center

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7- Introduction to GSM System
Gateway to other networks

Interfaces used in GSM System

AC
(Air Interface)
Um Abis A Sub A C
MS BTS TRAU MSC HLR
BSC
RC E D
O B
T T MSC VLR

LMT LMT
F G

EIR VLR

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7- Introduction to GSM System

CELL :

• A cell is the basic unit of a

cellular system and is
defined as the area of radio
coverage given by one BS
antenna system.

• Each cell is assigned a

unique number called Cell CELL
Global Identity (CGI).

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7- Introduction to GSM System
LOCATION AREA (LA):

• (LA) is defined as a group of

cells. Within the network
a subscriber’s location is
known by the LA which they
are in.

• When an MS crosses
a boundary from a cell ( LA )
belonging to one LA into
a cell belonging to another
LA, it must report its new
location to the network.

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7- Introduction to GSM System

MSC SERVICE AREA

• An MSC service area is

made up of a number of
LAs.

• controlled by one MSC.

MSC SERVICE AREA

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7- Introduction to GSM System
Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) service area

• PLMN is consist of a group of MSC service area.

• The largest geographical service area served by one network

operator.

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Break !!

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7- Introduction to GSM System
SUBSCRIBER-RELATED IDENTITIES

Mobile Station ISDN number (MSISDN)

+963 93 345678

CC : Country Code

NDC : National Destination Code

SN : Subscriber Number

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7- Introduction to GSM System
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)

417 01 ???????

MCC : Mobile Country Code

MNC : Mobile Network Code

MSIN : Mobile Station Identification Number

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7- Introduction to GSM System
Mobile Station Roaming Number (MSRN)

+963 93 ???????

Note:

In this case, SN is the address to servicing MSC/VLR.

SN = Servicing Node

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7- Introduction to GSM System
Location Area Identity (LAI)

1. Paging, which is used to inform the MSC of the LA in which

the MS is currently situated.

2. Location updating of mobile subscribers

LAC : Location Area Code

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7- Introduction to GSM System
Cell Global Identity (CGI)

CGI is used for identifying individual cells within a LA.

It’s achieved by adding a Cell Identity (CI) to the LAI

components.

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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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 8- Logical Channels

Logical Channels

Control Channels Traffic Channels

BCH CCCH DCCH

Half Full
Rate Rate
FCCH SCH BCCH PCH RACH AGCH SDCCH SACCH FACCH

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8- Logical Channels
FCCH : Frequency Correction CHannel

Transmits a carrier Identifies BCCH carrier

frequency. by the carrier frequency
and synchronizes with
the frequency.

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8- Logical Channels
SCH : Synchronization CHannel

Transmits information Synchronizes with the frame

about the TDMA frame structure within a particular
structure in a cell cell, and ensures that the chosen
(e.g. frame number) BTS is a GSM BTS - BSIC can
and the BTS identity only be decoded by an MS if
Code (BSIC). the BTS belongs to a GSM
network.

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8- Logical Channels
BCCH : Broadcast Control CHannel

Broadcasts cell information Receives LAI for Location

Location Area Identity (LAI), Update procedure.
maximum output power Sets its output power level
allowed in the cell and based on the information
the identity of BCCH received on the BCCH.
carriers for neighboring Also, MS stores
cells. a list of BCCH carriers will be
an assistant in
efficient handover.
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8- Logical Channels
PCH : Paging CHannel

Transmits a paging
At certain time intervals
message to indicate an
the MS listens to the PCH.
incoming call or short
message. The paging
If it identifies its own
message contains the
mobile subscriber identity
identity number of the
number on the PCH, it will
mobile subscriber that the
respond.
network wishes to contact.

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8- Logical Channels
RACH : Random Access CHannel

Receives request from MS Answers paging message

for a signaling channel on the RACH by requesting
(to be used for call set-up). a signaling channel.

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8- Logical Channels
AGCH : Access Grant CHannel

Assigns a signaling channel Receives signaling channel

SDCCH to the MS. assignment SDCCH.

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8- Logical Channels
SDCCH : Stand alone Dedicated Control CHannel

The call set-up procedure Call set-up is performed.

is performed in idle mode. The MS receives a
TCH assignment information
The BSC assigns a TCH. (carrier and time slot).

SDCCH is also used to

transmit text messages,
SMS.

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8- Logical Channels
CBCH : Cell Broadcast CHannel

Uses this logical channel to MS receives cell broadcast

transmit short message messages.
service cell broadcast.

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8- Logical Channels
SACCH : Slow Associated Control CHannel

Instructs the MS Sends average measurements

the transmitting power on its own BTS (signal strength
to use and and quality) and neighboring
gives instructions on timing BTS’s (signal strength). The
advance (TA). MS continues to use SACCH
for this purpose during a call.

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8- Logical Channels
FACCH : Fast Associated Control CHannel

Transmits handover Transmits necessary handover

information. information in access burst

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8- Logical Channels
TCH

Once call set-up procedures have been completed

on the control physical channel, the MS tunes to
a traffic physical channel.

There are two types of TCH:

1- Full rate.

2- Half rate.

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8- Logical Channels
Full rate

Transmits full rate speech (13 kbits/s).

A full rate TCH occupies one physical
channel.

Half rate

Transmits half rate speech (6.5 kbits/s).

Two half rate TCH’s can share one physical
channel, thus doubling the capacity of a cell.

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 8- Logical Channels
Practical Example

IMSI

HLR
MSISDN MSRN-Request PCH
AGCH
AGCH
MSRN MSRN
SDCCH
SDCCH
VLR VLR RACH
RACH
MSC MSRN MSC

BSC BSC

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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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9- Mobiles Status
Notifying HLR, VLR
Changing cell
of new LA
(moving) in idle mode
(reselection) Location
Roaming
Attached but not Update
in conversation Idle
Paging
Attached
MSC notifies MS
that it has a call

Active Handover

Detached

Attached and in Call is passed from

conversation (Traffic) cell to another
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9- Handover

Introduction to HO:
•Handovers are caused by moving of an active MS, or
by changes of radio and traffic conditions in the
network.

•Some handovers are imperative and others are

optional.

•Every handover has three main phases:

1.Decision / Trigger Conditions.
2.Target Cell List Generation.
3.Handover Execution.
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9- Handover

HO Types:
• Different types of handover can be distinguished
with respect to the changed region: a cell, a BSS
area or an MSC area.

1. Intra-cell Handover.
2. Intra-BSS Handover (Inter-cell HO).
3. Intra-MSC Handover.
4. Inter-MSC Handover.

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9- Handover

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9- Handover

HO Measurements:

ƒ DL Level serving cell.

ƒ DL Quality serving cell. MS
ƒ DL Level neighbor cells.

ƒ UL Level.
ƒ UL Quality.
BTS
ƒ Timing advance.
ƒ Traffic load.

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9- Handover

HO Causes:

1. HO due to Received Quality (Imperative).

2. HO due to Received Level (Imperative).
3. HO due to MS-BTS Distance (Imperative).
4. HO due to Power Budget (Optional).
5. HO due to BSS Radio resources "Traffic HO”
(Optional).

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 GSM: Radio Overview
1. Multiple Access Techniques.
2. GSM Frequencies.
3. Antennas principles.
4. Radio Transmission Problems.
5. Radio Solutions.
6. GSM Stages.
7. Introduction to GSM System.
8. Logical Channels.
9. Mobile Status & Handover.
10. Radio Additional Features.
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10- Additional Features

• Frequency Hopping
• Hierarchical Structure
• Discontinuous Transmission.
• Power Control

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10- Additional Features

Frequency Hopping:

• Every TDMA must change its frequency using a

defined list.

Freq
List
f3

f2

f1

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Time

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10- Additional Features

Hierarchical Structure:

Hierarchical Cell Structure

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10- Additional Features

Hierarchical:

Cell Priority
Lower High
Middle Medium
Upper Low

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10- Additional Features

Discontinuous Transmission (DTX):

•Transmitters are switched on only for those frames

containing useful information.
• DTX depends on algorithms which are implemented in the
VAD (Voice Activity Detection) function.

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10- Additional Features

Power Control:
•Adapting the transmit power of MS and BTS to the
reception conditions.

•There are two advantages of power control:

¾ Reduction of the average power consumption

(especially in the MS).

¾ Reduction of the interference experienced

by co-channel (for adjacent) channel users.

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Q/A

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