GSM Introduction and Overview to

Architecture
Presented by
Syed Intisar Haider

Compiled By: Syed Intisar Haider

What is covered in this Presentation

Introduction to GSM
Channels on the Air Interface
Architecture of GSM
Some Basic call procedures

Section 1

Introduction to GSM

Compiled By: Syed Intisar Haider

Before GSM: Mobile Telephony Milestones

10101010

Electric transmission
(Graham Bell)

Digital Technology
(1st digital switch)

1st wireless
transmissions
(Marconi)

1st analog cellular

network

10101010

1st public mobile

telephone

1st GSM communication

(digital cellular network)
Compiled By: Syed Intisar Haider

Analog Cellular Systems Around the World

1981 NMT
The Nordic Solution
Now 18 Millions Subscribers

450 MHz and 900 MHz

NORWAY, DENMARK
FINLAND, SWEDEN,
FRANCE (450 MHz)

1979 AMPS
800 MHz
Now 25 Millions
Subscribers

1985 TACS in UK
800 and 900 MHz

Dedicated developments

1985
1986
RADIOCOM 2000
C.450
FRANCE
GERMANY
400 MHz
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.

Compiled By: Syed Intisar Haider

GSM Benefits
Advantages of the GSM standard

Worldwide market

Digital Advantages

Open system

Technology low cost

High resistance
to interferences

Transmission data rate

Roaming

Transmission Security

Compiled By: Syed Intisar Haider

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.

Network Over view

BTS

NSS

BSS

BSC

MSC

MS

OMC-S

OMC-R

OSS

PSTN

BSS Architecture
MSC
A Interface

Radio
Interface

TCU
BTS

NSS

Ater Interface
Public Telephone Network

MS

Abis Interface

BSC

OMC-R

Radio
Interface
OMN Interface

Sun
StorEdge A5000

BSS

MS

Capabilities of a BTS
Features at the radio interface

Traffic
Reception

Signal processing
DDDDDDDD
12345678

DDDDDDDD
1234 56 78

Transmission
Coding

Ciphering

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Interleaving

Speech

A MESSAGES IS
PENDING. PLEASE
CONTACT NBR
452 587 65

00
2

00
2

10
4

10
4

01
7

01
7

11
3

11
3

GMSK

- 90

Demodulation

+ 90

Modulation
Call clearing
Power
Control

Data

Short messages

Frequency
hopping
Coupling system

Measurement
preprocessing
Handover

L1M (Call sustaining)

BSC Functions

1 - Basic Functions

Radio Call Processing

BTS

MSC

BTS
Routing

BTS
BTS

Traffic Concentration

Radio
Resources
Management

BTS Connection Modes

Air
interface
CHAIN
Connection

Abis
interface

(single multi-drop)
BS

STAR
Connection

LOOP
Connection

MS

(full multi-drop)

NSS Architecture

EIR

AuC

BSC

MSC
BSC

VLR

HLR

MSC

PSTN

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

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

Switching Subsystem Continued

IN: IN stand for Intelligent network, An Intelligent Network (IN) is a technology that allows
network operators to provide unique services to their subscriber base. It is intended for fixed
as well as mobile telecom networks. It allows operators to differentiate themselves by
providing value-added services in addition to the standard telecom services such as PSTN,
ISDN and GSM services on mobile phones.
Televoting
Call screening
Telephone number portability
Toll free calls / Free phone
Prepaid calling
Account card calling
Virtual private networks (e.g. : Family group calling)
Centrex service (Virtual PBX)
Mass-calling service
Reverse charging
Home Area Discount
Premium Rate calls
Call distribution based on various criteria associated with the call
Location Based Routing
Time based routing

Call transfer

Switching Subsystem Continued

A Signal Transfer Point (STP) is a router that relays SS7 messages between signaling
end-points (SEPs) and other signaling transfer points (STPs).
Typical SEPs include service switching points (SSPs) - MSC and service control points
(SCPs) -IN.

Current Network Diagram

Core Architecture in Modern GSM networks

Section 3

Basic Call Flows

GSM Basic Call Flows

MOC (Mobile to Landline)
Authentication

 Bibliography / References:

Introduction to GSM by Nortel

CP02 By Motorola
Celebrating 20 Years of GSM by NSN
Wikipedia