BTS

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BSS
 The Base Station System (BSS) is responsible
for all the radio related functions in the
system, such as:
 Radio communication with the mobile units
 Handover of calls in progress between cells
 Management of all radio network resources
and cell configuration data.
 BSS – Base Station Subsystem

A BSS consists of the following elements:

• One or more BTSs (base transceiver station)

• One BSC (base station controller)

• One TRAU (transcoding rate and adaptation

unit).

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BTS–Base Transceiver Station
 BTS provides physical connection of an MS to
the network in the form of Air Interface.
 On the other side BTS connected to BSC thru
Abis-interface.
 Cabinet size is reduced substantially from
1991 to current.
 Functionality and basic structure largely
unchanged.
 A BTS cabinet can have up to 16 TRX (GSM
recommendation)

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BTS Block Diagram

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 Architecture – Transmitter
/Receiver Module
• TRX – Most important module of BTS from
signal processing point of view

• Consists of a low frequency part for signal

processing and a high frequency part for
modulation/demodulation.

• Both parts are connected by a separate or

integrated Frequency hopping unit.
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 BTS - TRX

• All other parts of BTS are associated with TRX

and perform auxiliary or admin tasks.

• A TRX with integrated hopping serves the

following tasks:

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 Tasks of a TRX With Integrated Frequency
Hopping
Functi on LF HF

Channel codi ng and dec odi ng #

In terl eav in g and or de ri ng again #

Encr ypt ion and dec ry pti on (ci ph eri ng) #

Slow frequ en cy hoppin g #

Burs t form atti ng #

TRAU fr ame for ma ttin g and convers ion

in direct ion to/fr om the BS C, setu p
of the
LAPD con nec ti on to the BS C #

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 TRX
Fu nct ion LF HF

GMS K modul atio n o f all d ownl ink d ata # #

GMS K demo dulatio n of al l rece ived MS # #

si gnals

Cre atio n a nd trans missi on o f the b road cast # #

co mmo n co ntro l c hannel (BCCH)
on channe l 0 o f the BC CH-TRX

Mea sure ment o f sig nal s treng th and q ual ity # #

fo r a cti ve co nnectio ns

Interfere nce mea sur ements # #

(id le chan nel measur ements) on f ree channel s
and forw ard in g of the re sul ts to the BSC

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 Operations and Maintenance Module

 O&M module consists of one central unit for

administering all other parts of BTS.
 Connected directly to BSC with a specially
assigned O&M channel.
 Ensures commands from BSC/MSc are
processed directly into the BTS and report
results.

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 O&M Module
 Typically contains system and operation
software for TRX (can be upgraded/reloaded
without consulting BSC).

 O&M module provides a human-machine

interface (HMI), which allows for local
control of the BTS.

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 Clock Module
 Part of O&M module – clock generation and
distribution.
 Reference clock is derived from PCM signal
on the Abis- Interface.
 BTS Internal clock generation mandatory.
 Especially needed during testing in
standalone environment (without connection
to BSC or PCM clock unavailable due to link
failure).
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Clock Module
 Cost Saving because of deriving clock from
PCM signal, much cheaper clock generators
can be used.
 Less maintenance –synchronize with the clock
coming from the PCM link.
 Clock deviations to be considered especially in
call handling (handover situations)
 Precision of 0.05 parts per million. All TRX of
a BTS to use same clock signal.

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 Input and Output Filters
 I/P and O/P filters are used to limit
bandwidth of received and transmitted
signals.
 Input filter is non adjustable wideband filter
that lets pass all 900(or 1800/1900)
frequencies in uplink direction.
 In contrast, remote controllable filters or
wideband filters are used for downlink
direction that limits the bandwidth of
output signal to 200khz. 14
BTS - Standard configuration

 Different BTS configurations, depending on

the load, have to be considered to provide
optimum radio coverage of an area.
 All BTS are assigned a unique Cell Identity
CIs
 A number of BTS form a Location area [LA].
 Figure shows location areas with 1, 3 and 5
BTSs.

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Standard Configuration

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Location Area Identity (LAI)
 The Location Area Identity (LAI) is a temporary
network identity, which is also required for routing.
 The LAI contains the following:

 LAC Location Area Code, the maximum length of LAC

is 16 bits, enabling 65,536 different location areas to
be defined in one PLMN

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Cell Global Identity (CGI)
 The Cell Global Identity (CGI) is used for
identifying individual cells within a LA.
 Cell identification is achieved by adding a Cell
Identity (CI) to the LAI components.
 The CI has a maximum length of 16 bits.
 The CGI consists of:

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Umbrella Configuration

 One BTS with high transmission power and an antenna

installed high above the ground that serves as an
“umbrella” for a number of BTSs with low transmission
power and small diameters.
 Such configuration appears to make no sense at first,
because the frequency of umbrella cell cannot be reused
in all the cells of that area due to interference.
 The umbrella cell configuration still has its merits in
certain situations and therefore result in relief from load
and an improvement of the network.

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Umbrella Configuration

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Sectorized BTS
 Configuration in which BTSs antennas cover
only an area of 120 or 180 degrees.
 this configuration is used mostly in highly
populated areas.
 Sectorization provides frequency reuse and
reduces reuse distance.

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 Frequ ency H opp in g can be of two types
 Baseband hopping: this involves hopping
between frequencies on different transceivers
in a cell
 Synthesizer hopping: this involves hopping
from frequency to frequency on the same
transceiver in a cell

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BTS Functions
 Radio resources
 Signal processing
 Signaling link management
 Synchronization
 Local maintenance handling

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Radio Resources
 An BTS’s main function is to provide
connection with the MSs over the air
interface. This includes the following tasks:
 Conf ig ura tion and sys tem sta rt: site
configuration involves loading of software
from the BSC and setting parameters prior to
system startup, including:
 Transmitter and receiver frequencies
 Maximum output power
 Base Station Identity Code (BSIC)

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Radio Resources contd..,
 Ra di o tra nsmi ssi on: to transmit several
frequencies using the same antenna.
 Transmission power is controlled from the
BSC.
 Ra di o rec ept ion: in addition to reception of
traffic on the physical channels, a primary
BTS function the detection of channel
requests from MSs (e.g. when a call is being
made).
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Signal Processing
 An BTS is responsible for the processing
of signals before transmission and after
reception. This includes:
 Ciphering & deciphering using the
ciphering key
 Channel coding, decoding, interleaving,
de-interleaving
 Modulation & Demodulation

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BTS Functions contd..,
 Si gna ling Lin k Ma na gement
 An BTS manages the signaling link between
the BSC and MS, applying the appropriate
protocols to the information being sent.
 Syn chr onizat ion
 Timing information is extracted from the
PCM-links from the BSC and is sent to a
timing module within the BTS.

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BTS Functions contd..,
 Local Mai nt enan ce H and li ng
 An BTS enables operation and maintenance
functions to be carried out locally at the BTS
site, without BSC connection.
 In this way, field technicians can maintain
BTS equipment and software on site.

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