GSM Services

Telecommunications
MSc in Software Development

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 1

 Introduction
• Services in GSM can be distinguished into four
classes
– Bearer Services
– Teleservices
– Supplementary Services
– Value-added Services

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 2

 Bearer Services and Teleservices
• Bearer Services
– Provide lower layer access (GSM layers 1-3)
– Classified by demands bearer service makes on network
– In order to provide end-to-end bearer GSM must connect to other
networks
• PSTN, ISDN, PSPDN, CSPDN
• Teleservices
– Provide the service visible to the user
– Require support by higher layers

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 3

 GSM Bearer Services

• Bearer Services
• Transparent bearer service
• Non-transparent bearer service
– variable time delay and throughput based on signal quality
• Data circuit-switched, duplex-asynchronous
• Data circuit-switched, duplex-synchronous
• Cicruit-switched access to PAD
• Data Packet-switched, Duplex-Synchronous

Bearer services use two different types of lower layer capabilities. The first is transparent
data transfer where the bearer provides a bit pipe through which data is transmitted. The
end applications have to make sure that data transmission is error free. The GSM radio
interface only provides forward error correction (FEC) but no ARQ scheme. The
retransmission necessary to achieve error free data transmission is within the
responsibility of the end application. The second type is non-transparent data
transmission. In this case the GSM radio interface provides an ARQ mechanism to
provide error free transmission of data. The ARQ scheme in use on the GSM radio
interface is the Radio Link Protocol (RLP) scheme. RLP procides flow control and
retransmission of erroneous frames. Both bearer types implement an information transfer
mode that is either circuit-switched or packet-switched
The GSM bearer services provide different types of information transfer capabilities.
Four categories are defined:
• Unrestricted Digital Information (UDI) allows data transmission directly into a digital
network (ISDN) without conversion into an analogue signal and then back into a digital
signal again at higher rates than possible in an analogue PSTN.
• Speech information which goes through one of the GSM speech codecs.
• Group 3 facsimile according to the respective ITU specification
• 3.1kHz audio allows digital data transmission over an analogue line (PSTN).
GSM bearer services provide always point-to-point connections with either synchronous
or asynchronous data transmission.

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 4

 GSM Bearer Services
Bearer Bearer Service Access Access Rate Information QoS Attribute
Service Name Structure Transfer
Number Capability
20 Asynchronous Asynch Several (3.1KHz Several (3.1KHz Several (3.1KHz
General Bearer Audio, V.110, Audio, V.110, Audio, V.110,
Service V.120, X.31) V.120, X.31) V.120, X.31)
21 Asynchronous Asynch 300 bps UDI or 3.1kHz T or NT
300 bps
22 Asynchronous Asynch 1.2 kbps UDI or 3.1kHz T or NT
1.2 kbps
23 Asynchronous Asynch 1200/75 bps UDI or 3.1kHz T or NT
1200/75 bps
24 Asynchronous Asynch 2.4 kbps UDI or 3.1kHz T or NT
2.4 kbps
25 Asynchronous Asynch 4.8 kbps UDI or 3.1kHz T or NT
4.8 kbps
26 Asynchronous Asynch 9.6 kbps UDI or 3.1kHz T or NT
9.6 kbps
30 Synchronous General Synch Several (3.1KHz Several (3.1KHz Several (3.1KHz
Bearer Service Audio, V.110, Audio, V.110, Audio, V.110,
V.120, X.31) V.120, X.31) V.120, X.31)
31 Synchronous Synch 1.2 kbps UDI or 3.1kHz T
1.2 kbps
32 Synchronous Synch 2.4 kbps UDI or 3.1kHz T or NT
2.4 kbps
33 Synchronous Synch 4.8 kbps UDI or 3.1kHz T or NT
4.8 kbps
34 Synchronous Synch 9.6 kbps UDI or 3.1kHz T or NT
9.6 kbps

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 5

 GSM Bearer Services
40 General PAD Access Synch Several (3.1KHz Several (3.1KHz Several (3.1KHz
Bearer Service Audio, V.110, Audio, V.110, Audio, V.110,
V.120, X.31) V.120, X.31) V.120, X.31)
41 PAD Access 300 bps Asynch 300 bps UDI T or NT
42 PAD Access Asynch 1.2 kbps UDI T or NT
1.2 kbps
43 PAD Access Asynch 1200/75 bps UDI T or NT
1200/75 bps
44 PAD Access Asynch 2.4 kbps UDI T or NT
2.4 kbps
45 PAD Access Asynch 4.8 kbps UDI T or NT
4.8 kbps
46 PAD Access Asynch 9.6 kbps UDI T or NT
9.6 kbps
50 General Packet Synch Several (3.1KHz Several (3.1KHz Several (3.1KHz
Access Bearer Audio, V.110, Audio, V.110, Audio, V.110,
Service V.120, X.31) V.120, X.31) V.120, X.31)
51 Packet Access Synch 2.4 kbps UDI NT
2.4 kbps
52 Packet Access Synch 4.8 kbps UDI NT
4.8 kbps
53 Packet Access Synch 9.6 kbps UDI NT
9.6 kbps
61 Alternate Speech/
Data
70 GPRS Asynch Variable UDI T or NT
81 Speech Followed by
Data

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 6

 Rate Adaptation for GSM Traffic
Channels
• Rate adaptation is three level process according to ITU-T
• RA 0 - asynchronous input to synchronous output of 2n ·
300bits/s
• RA 1 - multiplexing of synchronous data onto intermediate 8
or 16kbit/s output stream
• RA 1’ - modification for GSM that produces intermediate
rates of 12, 6, and 3.6kbit/s. Adaptation achieved through
removal of synchronisation pattern and control information
and redundant bits (3.6kb/s).
• RA 2 - Forms data stream of 64kbit/s through bit stuffing,
only used in base station

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 7

 Rate Adaptation for Transparent Data
Bearer

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 8

 Rate Adaptation for Non-transparent Data
Bearer

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 9

 GSM Teleservices
• The current GSM network (Phase 2) provides
essentially the following teleservices
– Speech for telephony, emergency calls, group calls and
voice broadcast services at
• Full rate (13kb/s), Half rate (6.5kb/s), Enhanced full rate
(12.2kb/s)
– Three videotex access profiles
– Group 3 Facsimile according to ITU-T recommendation
T.30
– Access to electronic mail
– Short Message Service for messages up to 160 characters
• SM-MT point-to-point, SM-MO point-to-point, SM-CB

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 10

 GSM Teleservices
Dominant Category of Teleservice Individual Teleservice
Attribute

Type of User No Name No Name

Information

Speech 1 Speech 11 Telephony

Transmission 12 Emergency Calls

Short Message 2 Short Message 21 Short Message MT/PP

Service 22 Short Message MO/PP
23 Short Message Cell Broadcast

Facsimile 6 Facsimile 61 Alternate speech and facsmilie group 3

Transmission 62 Automatic facsimile group 3

Speech 9 Voice Group 91 Voice Group Call Service

Service 92 Voice Broadcast Service

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 11

 GSM FAX Implemetation

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 12

 Network Support for GSM FAX Service

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 13

 Supplementary Services in GSM

• Supplementary services supplement bearer and

teleservices
• Supplementary Services are devided into
– Call-related SS
– Call-independent or non-call related SS
– Unstructured SS
• Offerings of SS depend on which ones the network
can technically handle and/or the operator wants to
provide to subscribers

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 14

 Network Elements Involved with
Supplementary Services Provision

OMC AUC

VLR HLR SMS

Centre

MSC B C
Gateway
E MSC

MSC D
PSTN/
ISDN

VLR

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 15

 Call Independent Supplemetary Services
• Call Forwarding (call offering) SS
– call forwarding unconditional (CFU)
– call forwarding on mobile subscriber busy (CFB)
– call forwarding on no reply (CFNRy)
– call forwarding on not reachable (CFNRc)
• Call Barring (call restriction) SS
– barring of all outgoing calls (BOAC)
– barring of outgoing international call
– barring of outgoing international calls except those to
HPLMN
– barring of all incoming calls
– barring of incoming calls when roaming

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 16

 Call-Independent Supplementary Services
• Line identification SS
– calling line identification representation (CLIP)
– calling line identification restriction (CLIR)
– connected line identification presentation (COLP)
– connected line identification restriction (COLR)

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 17

 Call Forwarding

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 18

 CLIP/CLIR

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 19

 Call-Related Supplentary Services
• Call Completion SS
– Call Waiting (CW)
– Call Holding (CH)
• Multiplarty Communication (MPTY) SS

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 20

 Call Waiting

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 21

 Multiparty Call

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 22

 Other Supplementary Services
• Advice of Charge (AoC) SS
– Advice of Charge Information
– Advice of Charge Charging
• Closed User Group (CUG) SS

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 23

 Implementation of Supplementary Services
• Implementation through a user interface menu
Structure
• Implementation through defined control strings

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 24

 Supplementary Service Codes

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 25

 Support for Value-added Services - USSD

• Unstructurer Supplementary Service Data (USSD)

• Allows implementation of proprietary supplementary
services by an operator
• USSD sends strings of data to the network
• String format:
Cc [Cc][Cc] 1 X[Y][* any number of any characters]#
where Cc is either * or # and X,Y is a number between 0
and 9 and [] indicates an optional character.

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 26

 Short Message Service
• Transmission of short numeric or alphanumeric
messages onto a user’s mobile phone
• Two types of SMS
– point-to-point SMS
– point-to-omnipoint or cell broadcast SMS

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 27

 Short Message Service Concept

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 28

 Point-to-Point SMS
• Similar to traditional paging service
– similar to Euromessage or ERMES
– difference is two-way messaging
• Two types of messages
– Short Message Mobile Terminating (SM-MT)
– Short Message Mobile Originating (SM-MO)
• Four classes are defined for point-to-point short
messages
– class 0 to class 3

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 29

 Cell Broadcast Short Messages
• Message broadcast within a cell similar to RDS system in car
radios
• Messages are received only in certain areas and only by a
certain user group subscribed to the service
• Information broadcast includes traffic information, weather
data, charging rates, or other location sensitive data
• CB-SM is 82 byte in length with standard 7 bit character set
yields 93 characters
• Messages are sent in so called channels from which a user can
select
• Messages are physically transmitted in the CBCH, which
takes the space of one SDCCH on the BCCH frequency

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 30

 GSM Phase 2+ Supplementary Services

• Advanced Speech Call Items

– In response to demands by UIC and PMR/PAMR
services
• Other Advanced Supplementary Services
– to provide the same range of SS available in fixed
networks

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 31

 Advanced Speech Call Items

• Instigated by International Railway Union (Union

des Chemins de Fer (UIC))
• Developed to provide train radio control
• Three new supplemntary services are being provided
– Voice Broadcast Service (VBS)
– Voice Group Call Service (VGCS)
– Enhanced Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-Emption
(eMLPP)

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 32

 Concept for Expanded Voice Services

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 33

 Voice Broadcast Service
• Allows MS to send messages to listeners
• Listeners are other MSs, which receive the voice broadcast
• The identity of the addressed MSs is stored in the Group Call
Register (GCR) and MSC receives MS IDs and cell locations
upon set up of a VBS
• Notification of voice broadcast transmission is sent in
notification common control channel (NCCH)
• Transmitting MS performs handover during movement while
listeners stop to receive broadcast if they move into a cell
where the voice broadcast cannot be transmitted

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 34

 Call Setup for VBS

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 35

 Voice Group Call Service
• Service that allows fixed network or MSs to set up group call
channel for transmission and reception among group call
members
• After message transmission transition to listener mode
• Addressee group
– MS that are members group and located in predfiend geographical area
– Fixed group of fixed network terminals
• Broadcast call explicitely ended by initiator
• After interruption in transmission for certain length of time
due to interference or inactivity network terminates group call
→ requires VAD

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 36

 Priority Control Service - eMLPP
• Derived from Multi-Level Precedence and pre-
emption scheme of SS7
• Seven priority classes
• eMLPP is used to pre-empt calls of lower priority in
order to make network resources available to higher
priority call
• Two highest priority used for network administration
and available only locally (in one MSC area)
• MS priority class negotiated with provider and stored
in SIM card

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 37

 eMLPP Priority Levels

Priority Set-up Pre- Examples Comments

level time emption
Class A < 1.2sec Yes VBS/VGCS emergency Highest priority
applications
Class B < 5sec Yes Operators calls

Class 0 < 5sec Yes TS12 Emergency calls

Class 1 < 10sec Yes Premium rate calls

Class 2 < 10sec No Standard rate calls

Class 3 < 10sec No Default for no eMLPP Standard priority

subscription
Class 4 < 10sec No Low tariff calls Lowest priority

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 38

 GSM Phase 2+ Supplementary Services
• Call deflection
• Call forwarding enhancements
• Call transfer
– Explicit call transfer and Single-step call transfer
• Direct subscriber access and direct subscriber access restriction
→ overrides call forwarding/barring
• Malicious call identification
• Mobile access hunting
• Support for private numbering plan
• Multiple subscriber profile (up to 4 subscriptions)
• User-to-user signalling (during active phone call)

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 39

 Other GSM Phase 2+ Services
• New Phase 2+ services currently being implemented/
developed (bearer and teleservices)
– Customised Applications for Mobile network Enhanced
Logic (CAMEL)
– Packet Data in Signalling Channels (PDS)
– High-speed circuit-switched data services (HSCSD)
– General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
– Enhanced Data-rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)

© Dr. D H Pesch, CIT, 2000 40