Presented By: Arpita Kumari 1705231017

Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow
Wireless and Mobile Communication

Unit - 5
GSM System for Mobile Telecommunication
Presented by :
Arpita Kumari
1705231017
Contents
• Introduction
• Evolution
• GSM Technology
• GSM Architecture
• GSM Network Areas
• Working
• GSM Specifications
• Advantages
• Limitations
• Reference
Introduction
GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication. It is a digital cellular technology
used for transmitting mobile voice and data services.
When the Global System for Mobile Communications was first introduced in Europe in 1991,
these 2G networks created faster, more secure wireless connections. For the first time, voice
communications became encoded into digital signals before being transmitted through the
network.
GSM reigned for years as the world’s most widely used standard for mobile communications.
But today, 2G networks are significantly slower than other cellular networks, and in several
countries 2G networks are being switched off.
GSM played a foundational role in modern cellular communications. And while some operators
are transitioning to newer networks, this technology is still immensely popular for its global
availability and extremely low-cost connectivity.
Evolution
The concept of GSM emerged from a cell-based mobile radio system at Bell Laboratories in the
early 1970s.
In the early 1980s, most telephone systems were analog rather than digital, like today’s newer
systems. One challenge facing analog systems was the inability to handle the growing capacity
needs in a cost-efficient manner. As a result, digital technology was welcomed.
Throughout the evolution of cellular telecommunications, various systems have been developed
without the benefit of standardized specifications.
This presented many problems directly related to compatibility, especially with the
development of digital radio technology. The GSM standard is intended to address to these
problems.
GSM
GSM is the most widely accepted standard in telecommunications and it is implemented
globally.
GSM is a circuit-switched system that divides each 200 kHz channel into eight 25 kHz time-
slots. GSM operates on the mobile communication bands 900 MHz and 1800 MHz in most
parts of the world.
GSM owns a market share of more than 70% of the world's digital cellular subscribers.
GSM makes use of narrowband Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technique for
transmitting signals.
 GSM was developed using digital technology. It has an ability to carry 64 kbps to 120 Mbps of
data rates. Presently GSM supports more than one billion mobile subscribers in more than 190
countries throughout the world.
GSM provides basic to advanced voice and data services including roaming service. Roaming is
the ability to use your GSM phone number in another GSM network.
GSM Architecture
The GSM network can be broadly divided into:
1. The Mobile Station (MS)
2. The Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
3. The Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)
4. The Operation Support Subsystem (OSS)

1. The Mobile Station (MS)
A mobile station communicates across the air interface with a base station transceiver in the
same cell in which the mobile subscriber unit is located. The MS consists of the physical
equipment, such as the radio transceiver, display and digital signal processors, and the SIM card.
It provides the air interface to the user in GSM networks.
2. The Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
The BSS is composed of two parts:
i. The Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
ii. The Base Station Controller (BSC)
The radio components of a BSS may consist of four to seven or nine cells. A BSS may have one
or more base stations. The BSS uses the A-bis interface between the BTS and the BSC. A separate
high-speed line (T1 or E1) is then connected from the BSS to the Mobile MSC.
i. The Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
The BTS houses the radio transceivers that define a cell and handles the radio link protocols with
the MS. The BTS corresponds to the transceivers and antennas used in each cell of the network. A
BTS is usually placed in the center of a cell. Its transmitting power defines the size of a cell. Each
BTS has between 1 and 16 transceivers, depending on the density of users in the cell. Each BTS
serves as a single cell.
ii. The Base Station Controller (BSC)
The BSC manages the radio resources for one or more BTS. It handles radio channel setup,
frequency hopping, and handovers. The BSC is the connection between the mobile and the MSC.
The BSC also translates the 13 Kbps voice channel used over the radio link to the standard 64
Kbps channel used by the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSDN) or ISDN.
3. The Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)

The Network switching system (NSS), the main part of which is the Mobile Switching Center
(MSC), performs the switching of calls between the mobile and other fixed or mobile network
users, as well as the management of mobile services such as authentication.
The switching system includes the following functional elements:
• Home Location Register (HLR)
• Mobile Services Switching Centre(MSC)
• Visitor Location Register (VLR)
• Authentication Centre (AUC)
• Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
4. The Operation Support Subsystem (OSS)
The operations and maintenance center (OMC) is connected to all equipment in
the switching system and to the BSC. The implementation of OMC is called the
operation and support system (OSS). Some of the OMC functions:
• Administration and commercial operation (subscription, end terminals, charging,
and statistics).
• Security Management.
• Network configuration, Operation, and Performance Management. 
• Maintenance Tasks.
A simple pictorial view of the GSM architecture is given below:
GSM Network Areas
The GSM network is made up of geographic areas. As shown in figure these areas include cells,
location areas(LAs), MSC/VLR service areas, and public land mobile network(PLMN) areas. In a
GSM network, the following areas are defined:
• Cell
• Location Areas
• MSC/VLR Service Area
• PLMN
Working
• How GSM communication works?
Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) uses a combination of Time
Division Multiple Access (TDMA) and Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA).
Frequency Division Multiple Access: It involves dividing a frequency band into multiple
bands such that each sub-divided frequency band is allotted to a single subscriber.
FDMA in GSM divides the 25MHz bandwidth into 124 carrier frequencies each spaced
200 KHz apart. Each base station is allotted one or more carrier frequencies.
Time Division Multiple Access: It involves allotting same frequency channel to different
subscribers by dividing the frequency band into multiple time slots. Each user gets
his/her own timeslot, allowing multiple stations to share same transmission space.
For GSM, each sub divided carrier frequency is divided into different time slots using
TDMA technique. Each TDMA frame lasts for 4.164 milliseconds (ms) and contains 8
time slots. Each time slot or a physical channel within this frame lasts for 577
microseconds and data is transmitted in the time slot in form of bursts.
GSM Specifications
The requirements for different Personal Communication Services (PCS) systems differ for each
PCS network. Vital characteristics of the GSM specification are listed below:
• Modulation
The GSM uses Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation method.
• Access Methods
In this process, the FDMA part divides the frequency of the total 25 MHz bandwidth into 124
carrier frequencies of 200 kHz bandwidth.
• Transmission Rate
The total symbol rate for GSM at 1 bit per symbol in GMSK produces nearly 270
symbols/second. The gross transmission rate of a timeslot is 22.8 Kbps. GSM is a digital system
with an over-the-air bit rate of 270 kbps.
• Frequency Band
The uplink frequency range specified for GSM is 933 - 960 MHz (basic 900 MHz band only).
The downlink frequency band 890 - 915 MHz (basic 900 MHz band only).
• Channel Spacing
Channel spacing indicates the spacing between adjacent carrier frequencies. For GSM, it is 200
kHz.
• Speech Coding
For speech coding or processing, GSM uses Linear Predictive Coding (LPC). This tool
compresses the bit rate and gives an estimate of the speech parameters. When the audio signal
passes through a filter, it mimics the vocal tract. Here, the speech is encoded at 13 kbps.
• Duplex Distance
Duplex distance is the space between the uplink and downlink frequencies. The duplex distance
for GSM is 80 MHz, where each channel has two frequencies that are 80 MHz apart.
Advantages
• More suitable network with robust features.
• No roaming charges on International calls.
• Worldwide connectivity and extensive coverage.
• The phone works based on the SIM card so that it is easy to change the different
varieties of phones by users.
• GSM signals don't have any deterioration.
• Easy to integrate GSM with other wireless technology such as LTE.
• Because of the pulse nature of transmission talk time is generally high.
Limitations
The following are some disadvantages of GSM:
• Electronic interference. Because GSM uses a pulse-transmission technology, it is known to
interfere with electronics like hearing aids. This is why certain places like airports, gas stations
and hospitals require mobile phones be turned off.
• Bandwidth lag. When using GSM technologies, multiple users access the same bandwidth,
sometimes resulting in considerable latency as more users join the network.
• Limited rate of data transfer. GSM offers a somewhat limited data transfer rate.
• Repeaters. GSM technologies require carriers to install repeaters to increase coverage.

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Institute of Engineering and Technology, Lucknow

Wireless and Mobile Communication

GSM System for Mobile Telecommunication

The GSM network can be broadly divided into:

1. The Mobile Station (MS)

2. The Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

3. The Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)

4. The Operation Support Subsystem (OSS)

3. The Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)

• MSC/VLR Service Area

• Limited rate of data transfer. GSM offers a somewhat limited data transfer rate.

• Repeaters. GSM technologies require carriers to install repeaters to increase coverage.

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