GSM System Architecture

OMC ISC

PLMN & International PSTN

BTS BSC

GMSC

BTS BSC

MSC VLR HLR

BTS

EIR AC

MS

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RSS components
OMC ISC

PLMN & International PSTN

BTS BSC

GMSC

BTS BSC

MSC VLR HLR

BTS

EIR AC

MS

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SSS components
OMC ISC

PLMN & International PSTN

BTS BSC

GMSC

BTS BSC

MSC VLR HLR

BTS

EIR AC

MS

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OMS components
OMC ISC

PLMN & International PSTN

BTS BSC

GMSC

BTS BSC

MSC VLR HLR

BTS

EIR AC

MS

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The GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)

Radio Sub System (RSS, BSS) Switching Sub System (SSS) PSTN

MSC

VLR

BTS

BSC

BTS

A Abis
BSC MSC VLR PSTN Switch

A C,D

Um

BTS

PSTN Switch EIR

HLR

AC

MS

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Network Elements in the GSM PLMN - MSC

The tasks of the Mobile Switching Center (MSC)

MSC

Provision of the BSSAP Interface Functionality to the BSS (A-Interface) Provision of the MAP Interface Functionality to access the GSM specific Information Registers VLR, HLR, EIR and MSC Handling for all Mobile Specific Call Setup tasks for Mobile Originating Call Setup (MOC) Interrogation and Mobile Terminating Call Setup (MTC) Mobile To Mobile Call Setup (MMC) Call Setup Handling for several Supplementary Service Functions Control of the Handover Setup Function Provision of the Interface Functions to the PSTN. The MSC is the Interworking Point between the MAP based PLMN and the PSTN. It is integrated in the PSTN network with the usual protocols (e.g. ISUP, TUP, MFCR2,..) and behaves like any other PSTN exchange The MSC where the Mobile Station is booked in, is called the Visited MSC The MSC where the Interrogation task for the Mobile Terminating call is performed, is called the Gateway MSC.
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Network Elements in the GSM PLMN - HLR

The tasks of the Home Location Register (HLR)

HLR

The HLR contains all permanent and (relevant) temporary subscriber data for all mobile subscribers permanently registered in the HLR. Permanent data for a subscriber is: The numbers IMSI and MSISDN(s) All subscribed Tele & Bearer Services All provisioned and subscribed Supplementary Services Other subscriber related permanent data (e.g. Service Classmark for IN) Temporary data of a subscriber is: The actual location of the subscriber (which PLMN, which VLR) The activation status and data for the Supplementary Services (e.g. The Forwarded To Number) The HLR is accessed by the MAP procedures based on SCCP & TCAP The subscribers are inserted into the HLR with the related MML command CR MSUB
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Network Elements in the GSM PLMN - VLR

The tasks of the Visitor Location Register (VLR)

VLR

For the visiting subscribers the VLR contains a copy of their subscriber data. This data is downloaded from the HLR during the Location Update procedure. The VLR is responsible for the MSRN number management for the visiting subscribers, during the Mobile Terminating Call Setup The VLR is responsible for the assignment of the TMSI (Temporary Mobile Station Identity) to the visiting subscribers To access the subscriber data the numbers IMSI, MSRN and the TMSI are used In SIEMENS D900 the MSC and VLR are always co-located within one hardware entity.

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Network Elements in the GSM PLMN - EIR

The tasks of the Equipment Identification Register (EIR)

EIR

Management of the White List. The White List contains the IMEI ranges of the ME released by the manufacturers Management of the Black List. It contains all equipment identities belonging to equipment needed to be barred. Management of the Grey List. It contains equipment identities (IMEI) belonging to equipment not working properly. Equipment on the Grey List are not barred, but reported to the O&M for further processing.

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Network Elements in the GSM PLMN - AC

The tasks of the Authentication Center (AC)

AC

The AC is a functional entity which is used for security related functions Management of the secret authentication key (Ki) per subscriber. Management of the authentication vectors RAND and SRES per call. Management of the encryption key Kc, used by the switching subsystem for signaling and user data security. For dynamic reasons, the AC is always co-located with the HLR within one hardware entity.

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Numbering and Adressing in the GSM PLMN (IMSI) The International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) MCC MNC MSIN

MCC Mobile Country Code acc. CCITT E.212 (3 digits) MNC Mobile Network Code (2 digits) MSIN Mobile Subscriber Identification Number (10 digits) The IMSI is used to unique identification of the GSM mobile subscribers in all PLMNs. The IMSI is not a dialable number, nor it is known to the holder of the SIM card. It is permanently stored in the SIM card, in HLR and in AC. It is temporarily stored in VLR. The IMSI is the main Index to the Subscriber Data Records in HLR and AC Registers. Example: Germany D2 MCC= 262, MNC= 02

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Numbering and Adressing in the GSM PLMN (MSISDN) The Mobile Station ISDN Number (MSISDN) CC CC NDC SN NDC SN

Country Code acc. CCITT E.164 (1-3 digits) National Destination Code (1-3 digits) Subscriber Number (6-7 digits)

The MSISDN a number according to CCITT E.164. It is the number to be dialed to reach a GSM mobile subscriber. It is assigned to an IMSI by database update in HLR. It is not stored in the SIM card. Within the same country, the MSISDN is dialed as NP NDC SN. In some PLMNs it is sufficient to dial only the SN in PLMN internal calls (e.g. D2) The NDC is used to route mobile terminated calls the PLMN of the mobile subsriber. One or more NDCs can be assigned to a PLMN. Example: Germany D2 CC= 49, NDC= 172

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Numbering and Adressing in the GSM PLMN (IMEI)

The International Mobile Equipment Identity Number (IMEI) TAC TAC FAC SNR FAC SNR

Type Approval Code (6 digits) Final Assembly Code (2 digits). Identifies the final manufacturer. Serial Number (6 digits). Unique within the TAC+FAC

The IMEI is the number which is used to identify the Mobile Equipment and shall help to prohibit stealing Mobile Equipment. The IMEI is stored in EIR and can be assigned to a Blacklist, Greylist or a Whitelist. The IMEI is independent from IMSI and MSISDN.

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Numbering and Adressing in the GSM PLMN (MSRN) The Mobile Station Roaming Number (MSRN) CC CC NDC
MSCID

NDC

MSCID

digits

digits

Country Code acc. CCITT E.164 (1-3 digits) National Destination Code (1-3 digits) Unique number, to address the MSC/VLR created the number temporarily created and assigned to to each MTC

The MSRN a number according to CCITT E.164. It is temporarily created in VLR during the Mobile Terminating Call Setup to route the call from the GMSC to the VMSC. Even it is a normal ISDN number, the dialing of the MSRN by a subscriber is prohibited.

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Hand-over
BSC BTS 1

MSC A

BSC

MSC B

BTS 2

BTS 3 BSC

Inter-cell Intra-MSC

BTS 4

Inter-MSC

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