Global System for Mobile

communications (GSM)
EEE-345: Telecommunication Systems
Engineering
Outline

 History
 GSM Family Radio Band Spectrum
 Basic network overview
 GSM call flow
Before GSM: Mobile Telephony
Milestones
The Application of the Radio Spectrum
GSM Family Radio Band Spectrum
GSM Benefits
Basic Network Overview
 List the 3 sub-systems of a GSM
network and their interfaces.

 List the different equipment in each

GSM sub-system.
Traffic/Signaling
Network Overview
Mobile Station
BSS Architecture
Base Transceiver Stations
(BTS)
Base Station Controller (BSC)
System architecture: radio
subsystem
radio network and switching
subsystem subsystem  Components
MS MS  MS (Mobile Station)
 BSS (Base Station Subsystem):
consisting of
Um  BTS (Base Transceiver Station):
sender and receiver
BTS Abis
 BSC (Base Station Controller):
BSC MSC controlling several transceivers
BTS

 Interfaces
 Um : radio interface
 Abis : standardized, open interface
with 16 kbit/s user channels
A
BTS  A: standardized, open interface
BSC MSC with 64 kbit/s user channels
BTS
BSS
NSS Architecture
 GSM call flow…
 Typical call scenario…
Assume subscriber A, (denoted by sub A)
calls another subscriber (sub B).
 GSM call flow… 2.3.
1.
4.
5.BTS
Sub
BSC
BSC
6.7.Trunk
MSC
request
parameters
setup
target
When
sends
Asends
finds
relays
traces
terminates,
parameters
BTS
to
established
Call
itsto
the
the
the
which
the
the
serving
its
call
the
call
call
serving
to its
BSC
target
BTS.
parent BSC.
isbetween
serving
MSC MSC generates
sub
sub BA and
MSC billing
sub B info.
3 4

BSC
BSC

2 5

BTS BTS
1
6

Sub A
Outgoing call
Post-paid VS pre-paid?
 Pre-paid subscription a popular alternative.
 On average, 80% subscriber base pre-paid.
 A more intelligent switching mechanism required
for providing pre-paid services.

Solution: Intelligent Networks (IN).

 Pre-paid call flow….
5 6.5.SCP
SCP
4. MSCchecks
returns the
askscall
for
balance
setup of the calling
PERMISSION
parameters from
to
6
subscriber
MSC.the SCP andto connect
SCP 4 determines
the call. whether
MSC the call is to be
3 connected or not and
7 for how long.

BSC BSC

2 8

BTS BTS

1
9
Incoming call
GSM Specifications
 Frequency band
 Duplex distance
 Channel separation
 Modulation
 Access method
 Speech coder
GSM Subscriber Services
 Dual-Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF)
 Short Messaging Services (SMS)
 Cell Broadcast
 Voice mail
 Fax mail
 Call forwarding
 Barring of outgoing or incoming calls
 Call hold and waiting
 Conference call
GSM: overview
OMC, EIR,
AUC
HLR
GMSC
fixed network
NSS

VLR MSC MSC

VLR

BSC Visitor Location Register

(VLR)
home location register
BSC (HLR)
A Gateway Mobile Switching
Centre provides an edge
function within a PLMN
BSS (Public Land Mobile
Network)
GMSC

authentication center (AUC)

equipment identity register
(EIR)
The operations and
maintenance center (OMC)