System Information Messages

Sandesh Dhagle
09.May.2005
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System Info message Types

Eight types of system information messages. System info message type 2 and 5 have 2 sub types i.e. 2bis, 2ter & 5bis, 5ter. System info messages can be logically grouped into two type, Idle mode and active mode. In Idle mode the system info messages are transmitted on BCCH while in active mode the system info messages are transmitted on downlink SACCH.

09.May.2005

System Info Message Types

Type 1: Cell channel description, RACH control (Only used during Frequency hopping). Type 2: Neighbor Cell description, NCC permitted, RACH control. 2 bis: Neighbor cell description (extension), RACH control, 2 ter: Additional multiband information, Neighbor cell description (other band). Type 3: Location area identity, Cell identity, Cell options, Cell selection, RACH control. Type 4: Location area identity, Cell selection, RACH control, CBCH control & description. Type 5: Neighbor Cell description. 5 bis: Neighbor cell description (extension). 5 ter: Additional multiband information, Neighbor cell description (other band). Type 6: Location area identity, Cell identity, Cell options, NCC permitted. Type 7: System info 7 rest octets Type 8: System info 8 rest octets
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System Info message 1

Transmitted only when frequency hopping is used. Tells SD location, frequency Band and Frequency. Cell Channel Description:
For 900 MHz CA-NO:- 0 = 900 MHz, 1 = EGSM, 2 = 1800 MHz (3bits) CA-ARFCN:- 124 bit Number for absolute frequency. For 1800/1900 MHz First part indicates format & second part indicates the frequency used (encoded).

RACH Control Parameters:

ACC:- Access Control Class. (MS priority class), 16 bits. EC:- Emergency Calls permitted, 1 Bit. CB:- Cell barred. RE:- Call Re-establishment allowed. MAXRET:- Max n. of Channel request retransmission allowed. TX:- No. of slots to spread RACH retransmission
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09.May.2005

System Info message 2

List of BCCH frequencies in cell. Permitted NCC. Neighbor Cell Description:
For 900 MHz

BA-NO:- BCCH allocation Number. BA-IND:- BCCH allocation Sequence No.(0=No change, 1 = change) BA ARFCN:- 124 Bit frequency.
For 1800/1900 MHz

FORMAT-ID:- Indicates the format of the element. EXT-IND:- Extension( 2bis) indicator. BA-IND:- Frequency used (encoded). RACH Control Parameters: ACC:- Access Control Class. (MS priority class), 16 bits. EC:- Emergency Calls permitted, 1 Bit. CB:- Cell barred. RE:- Call Re-establishment allowed. MAXRET:- Max n. of Channel request retransmission allowed. TX:- No. of slots to spread RACH retransmission
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09.May.2005

System Info message 2bis & 2ter

Type 2bis: System info message type 2bis is sent optionally on BCCH.
Neighbor Cell Description (Extension) RACH Control Parameters.

Type 2ter: System info message type 2ter is sent optionally on BCCH.
Additional Multiband information. Neighbor Cell description (Other Band). RACH Control Parameters.

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System Info message 3

Cell Selection and Reselection. Location Update, paging, Cell Option. Location Area Identity: MCC:Mobile Country Code. MNC:Mobile Network Code. LAC:Location Area Code. (16 bits, Max 65535 LACs) Cell Identity: 16 bit CI or Cell ID, 65535 Max. Cell Channel description ATT:- Attach / Detach allowed. CCCH_CONF:- Basic Physical Channels used (Comb/Non-Comb). AGBLK:- No of CCCH Blocks reserved for AGCH. MFRMS:- No of 51 Multiframe periods for transmission of Paging request message in same paging group. T3212:- Periodic location update timer. ( 0 = Disabled) Cell Options: DTX:Discontinuous Transmission. PWRC:- Power Control Enabled. RLT:Radio Link Timeout
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09.May.2005

System Info message 3 Cont.

Cell Selection: RXP:- Rx Level Access min. MS TX MAX CCH:- Maximum power that can be used by MS for accessing cell.
For 900 MHz:- 0 31 Indicates 39 5 dBm in step of 2. For 1800 MHz:- 0 28 Indicates 30 0 dBm in step of 2.

CELL RESELCT HYSTERESIS: ACS:- Additional reselect indicator (set to 0). NECI:- New Establishment cause, Included in Channel request message on RACH. RACH Control Parameters: SI 3 Rest Octets: 2TI:- 2ter available. ECSC:- Early class mark sending. PI:- C2 present/Absent. CBQ:- Cell Bar Qualify. CELL RESELECT OFFSET:- C2 (0-63 corresponds to 0-126 dB in step of 2). TEMPORARY OFFSET:- 0-6 indicates 0 -60 dB in step of 10 dB, 7 as infinity. PENALTY TIME:- 0 30 indicates 20 620 sec (step 20sec), 31 indicates ignore Temporary Offset.
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09.May.2005

System Info message 4

Cell Selection and Reselection, RACH Control, Cell Broadcast. CBCH: Channel Type:- Channel & Sub Channel Type. TN:Timeslot Number. TSC:Training Sequence code. H:Hopping Enabled/Disabled. Channel Selector: H=0
Sec = ARFCN

H=1
MO, MS & HSN are used.

MAC:- Mobile allocation RF Channel. (Frequencies used for Hopping). SI 4 Rest Octets: Cell Reselect Parameters.
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System Info message 5

List of BCCH frequencies in cell. Neighbor Cell Description:
For 900 MHz

BA-NO:- BCCH allocation Number. BA-IND:- BCCH allocation Sequence No.(0=No change, 1 = change) BA ARFCN:- 124 Bit frequency.
For 1800/1900 MHz

FORMAT-ID:- Indicates the format of the element. EXT-IND:- Extension( 5bis) indicator. BA-IND:- Frequency used (encoded). RACH Control Parameters: ACC:- Access Control Class. (MS priority class), 16 bits. EC:- Emergency Calls permitted, 1 Bit. CB:- Cell barred. RE:- Call Re-establishment allowed. MAXRET:- Max n. of Channel request retransmission allowed. TX:- No. of slots to spread RACH retransmission
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09.May.2005

System Info message 5bis & 5ter

Type 5bis: System info message type 5bis is sent optionally on BCCH.
Neighbor Cell Description (Extension) RACH Control Parameters.

Type 5ter: System info message type 5ter is sent optionally on BCCH.
Additional Multiband information. Neighbor Cell description (Other Band). RACH Control Parameters.

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System Info message 6

When in active mode, the MS needs to know if the LAI changes. In case the LAI changes the MS must perform location updating when the call is released. If the MS changes between cells (within the location area) where RLINKT or DTX conditions differ the new cell options must be reported to the MS.
Location Area Identity: MCC:Mobile Country Code. MNC:Mobile Network Code. LAC:Location Area Code. (16 bits, Max 65535 LACs) Cell Identity: 16 bit CI or Cell ID, 65535 Max. Cell Options: DTX:Discontinuous Transmission. PWRC:- Power Control Enabled. RLT:Radio Link Timeout

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System Info message 7 & 8

TYPE 7
System information type 7 is optional and is sent on BCCH extended if system information type 4 does not contain all information needed for cell reselection.

SI 7 Rest Octets
System information type 7 rest octets have the same format as the system information type 4 rest octets.

TYPE 8
System information type 8 is optionally sent on BCCH extended if system information type 4 does not contain all information needed for cell reselection.

SI 8 Rest Octets
System information type 8 rest octets have the same format as the system information type 4 rest octets.
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