System Information Overview:

System information (SYS INFO) contains network parameters sent to MS through Um interface
network identity parameters:
o CGI=LAI+CI
o LAI= MCC+MNC+LAC
o BSIC=NCC+BCC

CGI: Cell global identity
MCC: Mobile Country Code (EX:002(Egypt))
o international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)
o Location area identity (LAI).
o Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI)
MNC: Mobile Network Code (EX: 010 (Vodafone)).
LAC: Location Area Code
o (The whole area covered by each GSM PLMN is divided into
different location areas LACs).
o LAC contain of LAIs (Location Area Indication) of MSs.
CI : Cell Identity

BSIC :base station identity code:
o The code is needed because it is possible that mobile stations
receive the broadcast channel of more than one base station on
the same frequency. This is due to frequency re-use in a cellular
network
o As long as base stations use different frequencies for their
broadcasting channel, there is no problem in using the same Base
Station Identity Code
NCC: Network Color Code
BCC: Base station Color Code





Signal Strength
The first and arguably most important consideration in radio link management is signal strength. In
GSM (and most other RF communications) the standard measure of signal strength is dBm (decibels in
milliwatts). The term received signal strength indicator (RSSI) is often used but in GSM the term
received-signal level (RXLEV) is preferred. The distinction is that the term RSSI was generally used on
analog networks and RXLEV is used on digital networks. On this website RSSI will be used for general
reference to signal strength and RXLEV for the actual value that is passed over the network.
RXLEV
RXLEV is a number from 0 to 63 that corresponds to a dBm value range. 0 represents the weakest
signal and 63 the strongest.

RSSI below -110 dBm are generally considered unreadable in GSM. RSSI in the area of -50 dBm are
rarely seen and would indicate that the MS is right next to the BTS. The main factor that affects RSSI is
distance from the tower. However, other factors such as terrain, elevation, and large objects such as
buildings can dampen signal strength.
RXQUAL
Although a strong RSSI is desirable, it does not guarantee a quality signal. RXQUAL is a value that
represents the quality of the received signal. The MS determines the Bit Error Rate (BER) of the signal
and reports it back to the network. The BER is simply a percentage of the number of bits it receives
that did not pass error checking. The bits may have been garbled along the RF path or lost due to
fading or interference. The higher the BER the lower the signal quality. RXQUAL is given as a number
from 0 to 7 and represents a percentage range of BER.

Cell Selection and Reselection
Cell selection refers to the initial registration that a MS will make with a network. This normally only
occurs when the phone powers up or when the MS roams from one network to another.
Cell reselection refers to the process of a MS choosing a new cell to monitor once it has already
registered and is camped on a cell. It is important to distinguish that selection and reselection are
done by the MS itself and not governed by the network. The network would only be responsible for
this function when the MS is in a Traffic Channel (TCH). When the MS reselects a new cell it will not
inform the network that it has done so unless that new cell is in a new Location Area (LA).
There are many parameters involved in selection and reselection of a new cell. The MS must ensure it
is getting the best signal and the network must ensure that the MS does not cause unneeded strain
on the network by switching cells when unnecessary or undesired.
C1
C1 is the path-loss parameter that is used to determine the strongest cell for selection. The MS will
calculate a C1 for each tower it can see and select the cell tower with the highest C1. The C1 uses the
following parameters for calculation:


The formula for calculating C1 is given as:
C1 = (A) - Max(B,0)
where:
A = (RXLEV - RLAM)
B = MS Transmit Power Max CCH -Max RF Output of MS
At first this may seem complicated but if we examine the various parameters and how they affect the
C1 score then it becomes more clear.
A - This value is merely a dB value for the difference between what RSSI is required to select that cell
and what signal strength the MS sees the tower at. If the RLAM is -110dB and the MS sees the tower
at -90dB then the value of A is 20dB. The higher the value of A the higher the C1 and the more
attractive this tower will be to the MS.
B - Just because a MS can receive a tower's signal does not mean that the MS has enough power to
reach that tower. The tower tells the MS what maximum power level that the MS may use to transmit
to that tower. If the phone is capable of transmitting at this power than there is no problem.
However, what if the phone can not transmit at that power level? The signal from the MS may not
have enough power to reach the tower. Any lack in transmitting power of the MS must be taken into
account when calculating C1. B is essentially the value of this difference. Let's say a cell tower requires
the MS to be able to transmit at a 30dB power level but this MS is only capable of transmitting at
26dB. In this case the value of B would be 4dB. This value is subtracted from the value of A which has
the result of lowering the value of C1. If the MS is capable of transmitting at the required power or
higher then B will be zero and no adjustments to C1 will be made.
In summary, the two main factors in determining C1 are the strength of the received signal and the
transmission power the MS is capable of. C1 alone is only used for cell selection. When a MS is already
camped on a cell and it wants to move to another cell it will reselect it. Cell reselection uses a
different criteria C2.
C2
C2 is the parameter used for cell reselection. Once a MS is camped on a cell it will continuously
monitor the strength of neighbor cells. Every BCCH sends out a BCCH Allocation (BA) List. This is a list
of neighbor cells (ARFCNs) that the MS must monitor while camped on a particular cell. The MS will
monitor these ARFCNs for signal strength and only reselect a cell that is on this list. The MS will
calculate a C2 value for each cell on the BA list. The cell tower with the highest C2 wins and the MS
will move to that cell and camp on it. Keep in mind the C2 is calculated by the MS and the MS decides
which cell tower to camp on. The cell that the MS camps on is known as the serving cell. As long as
the losing cell and the gaining cell are both in the same Location Area the MS will not notify the
network that is is selecting a new cell. The MS only needs to notify the network if it is reselecting the
cell that is in a new location area in which case it will do a location update.
The C2 is calculated using the following parameters:

The formula for calculating C2 is:
C2 = C1 + CRO - (Temp_Offset * H(T-PT))
H = 1 if the MS has been monitoring a particular cell for less than the penalty time.
H(x) =1 if x<0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H = 0 if the MS has been monitoring the particular cell for longer than the penalty time.
H = 0 if the particular cell is the serving cell (the one the MS is currently camped on).
H(x) =0 if x0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C2=C1-CRO (PT = 31)
Let's look at an example to see how the temporary offset works. The following chart shows two
example cell towers and values for C1 and C2 parameters. The time progresses as the MS moves away
from cell A and towards cell B. For sake of simplicity, we are assuming that the MS can transmit at the
max power allowed and that neither cell is using CRO.

0 seconds - The MS is camped on cell A. The MS calculates the C2 value as 38. Since the RXLEV for cell
B is not above the RLAM the C1 (and C2) are below 0. A MS will not select a cell with a C1 below 0 and
it will not reselect a cell with a C2 below 0.
10 seconds - The RXLEV for cell B meets the minimum threshold (RLAM). The MS starts a timer as
soon as it puts it on its strongest neighbor list. The penalty time for cell B is 40 seconds, so for the first
40 seconds that cell B is on the strongest neighbor list it will apply the temporary offset to the C2
value. After including the offset, the C2 for cell B is -20 dBm.
20 seconds - The C2 for cell A continues to drop as the C2 for cell B continues to rise. With a C2 of 25,
cell A is still the most attractive.
30 seconds - Cell A drops to a C2 of 21 and cell B has a C2 of -5.
40 seconds - Cell A drops to a C2 of 18. Cell B rises to a C2 of 3. Notice here that if it were not for the
temporary offset, the C2 for cell B would be at 23. At this point the MS would normally reselect cell B.
However, due to the temporary offset, cell A is still the most attractive.
50 seconds - At this point the penalty time for cell B has expired and the temporary offset is no longer
applied. The C2 for cell B raises from 3 to 27. The C2 for cell B wins over the C2 for cell A and the MS
reselects cell B.
The temporary offset would be used if the network wanted to discourage mobile stations from
reselecting a cell as soon as the MS saw it. This is commonly found in pico-cells. This forces a MS to be
in the area of the cell for a certain period before reselecting it. It prevents mobile stations that just
happen to be passing by from reselecting the cell. In order to reselect the cell, the MS must be in the
area for a certain period of time or be close enough that the RXLEV overcomes the negative offset
value.
PI (Cell Reselect Parameters Indication):
Sent on the broadcast channel of the cell. It is an indication to the existence of Cell Reselect Offset
(CRO), Temporary Offset (TO) and Penalty Time (PT).
This parameter is to inform MS whether C2 is used as the standard for cell reselection.
The minimum interval between cell reselections caused by C2 parameter is 15s to avoid too frequent
cell reselection.
If PI=Yes, C2 is used for cell reselection standard;
If PI=No, C1 is used for cell reselection.


Cell Reselection Offset (CRO):
CRO is a value from 0 to 63. Each step represents a 2 dBm step (0 to 126 dBm). This value is added to
C1. A higher CRO value will make the cell tower more attractive to the MS. The higher the CRO, the
more attractive the cell will be. The network might assign a CRO value to a cell if the network wanted
to encourage mobile stations to utilize that cell. The network might want to do this in order to reduce
the load on other cells during times of high traffic volume or to force MS's to a certain band.
Neighbor List:
The neighbor list is a list of the 6 strongest cells that the MS can see. The RXLEV for these cells is
transmitted in a measurement report from the MS to the BTS on the SACCH whenever the MS has
been allocated an SDCCH or a TCH. The BSC and MSC use these measurements to determine if the MS
needs to move to a different cell. Whenever a cell is in an active SDCCH or TCH the network will
always manage the handoff. The MS will only move from one cell to another by itself when it is in idle
mode.
Cell Reselection Hysteresis (CRH):
When a MS reselects a new cell it does not need to notify the network unless that new cell is in a
different Location Area. When a MS moves into a new location area it must do a location update
which generates signal messaging between the BTS, BSC, MSC, VLR, and HLR. If a MS is located along
the border of two location areas then it will see cells in both location areas. A MS along the borderline
might reselect a cell in one location area and then a few minutes later reselect a cell in the other
location area and continuously bounce back and forth between location areas generating too much
signaling overhead and putting strain on the network.
In order to mitigate this problem the CRH is used. It is a value that is similar to the temporary offset
value of C2. CRH is applied to C2 when the desired cell is in a different location area. This results in
making the cell in this different location area less desirable to the MS. The MS must move close
enough to the new location area to overcome the offset thus ensuring the MS is truly close enough to
the new location area to warrant a location update. Once the MS reselects the cell in the new location
area it will perform a location update. The MS will then apply the CRH value to all cells it sees in the
old location area which will make them less attractive to the MS and ensure the MS does not
continually bounce back and forth between two location areas.
Cell Bar Access (CBA):
Cell Bar Access is a single bit (0 or 1) value sent down on the BCCH. If CBA is set to 1 then MS's are not
allowed to select that cell. If the value is set to 0 then MS's may select it. CBA would be used on
umbrella cells in order to prevent MS's from selecting it. The umbrella cell would be reserved for
when the network needs to manage high levels of traffic. This gives the network total control of
access to the umbrella cell.

Cell Bar Qualifier (CBQ):
This value is similar to the CBA but it applies to reselection. A cell that has CBQ set to 1 does not allow
MS's to reselect it. CBQ set to 0 allows normal access to that cell.

CBQ CBA
Cell selection
priority
Cell reselection
priority
Comments
NO YES Normal Normal
NO NO Prohibited Prohibited
Permit access in HO
only
YES YES Low Normal
YES NO Low Normal