General Packet Radio Service

(GPRS)

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

CSE,MAIT
Contents
1. Introduction to GPRS 4. Special issues
• What is GPRS ? • SMS
• GPRS characteristics • Charging
• Applications • O&M
2. GPRS architecture • Supplementary services
• Network elements • QoS
3. GPRS Operations • Performance
• Radio interface 5. GPRS business view
resource reservation • What must be invested…
• Security operations • How to make money with
• Connecting to GPRS GPRS
• Data transfer • Users' benefits of GPRS
• Mobility management • Business model
• Interworking with GSM 6. GPRS specifications
services

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 Salient Features of GPRS
• Important step on the path to 3G
• Standardized by ETSI
• GPRS is an overlay network over the GSM
• Provides Data Packet delivery service
• Support for leading internet communication protocols
• Billing based on volume of data transferred
• Utilizes existing GSM authentication and privacy
procedures.

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 High Data Rate

• GPRS uses radio channel i.e. 200 kHz wide

• Radio channel carries digital data stream of 271 kbps
• This rate is divided into 8 time slots each carrying 34 kbps per
time slot
• Data rate 14 kbps per time slot achieved after corrections
• GPRS can combine upto 8 time slots giving data rate of 114
kbps

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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Introduction to GPRS
1.1. What is GPRS ?
1.2. GPRS access interfaces and reference points
1.3. How is GPRS seen by external networks and
GPRS users
1.4. Air interface resources
1.5. GPRS characteristics
1.6. Applications

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 What is GPRS ?
• Part of GSM phase 2+
• General Packet Radio Service
• General -> not restricted to GSM use (DECT ?, 3rd generation systems ?)
• Packet Radio -> enables packet mode communication over air
• Service, not System -> existing BSS (partially also NSS) infrastructure is used
• Requires many new network elements into NSS
• Provides connections to external packet data networks (Internet,
X.25)
• Main benefits
• Resources are reserved only when needed and charged accordingly
• Connection setup times are reduced
• Enables new service opportunities
ETEC 405: Wireless Communications
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GPRS access interfaces and reference points

R reference point Um Gi reference point

PDNs or
TE MT GPRS network 1 other networks

MS Gp

GPRS network 2

• GPRS provides packet switched connections from

MS to packet data networks (PDN)
• Different operator’s GPRS networks are connected
through Gp interface
ETEC 405: Wireless Communications
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ARCHITECTURE

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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GPRS characteristics
GPRS uses packet switched resource allocation
• resources allocated only when data is to be sent/received
Flexible channel allocation
• one to eight time slots
• available resources shared by active users
• up and down link channels reserved separately
• GPRS and circuit switched GSM services can use same time slots alternatively
Traffic characteristics suitable for GPRS
• Intermittent, bursty data transmissions
• Frequent transmissions of small volumes of data
• Infrequent transmission of larger volumes of data

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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Applications
• Standard data network protocol based
• IP based applications
• WWW, FTP, Telnet, ...
• Any conventional TCP/IP based applications
• X.25 based applications
• Packet Assembly/Disassembly (PAD) type approach
• GPRS specific protocol based
• Point-to-point applications
• Toll road system, UIC train control system
• Point-to-multipoint applications
• Weather info, road traffic info, news, fleet management
• SMS delivery (GPRS as a bearer for SMS)

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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GPRS architecture
. Interfaces, reference points and network elements
. Functional view on GPRS
. Subscription of GPRS service
. New network elements
. GGSN
. SGSN
. Other elements
. GPRS backbones
. GPRS Mobile classes
. MS multislot capabilities

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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Interfaces, reference points and network elements
SMS-GMSC
SMS-IWMSC SM-SC

MAP-H MAP-C
Gd
MSC/VLR HLR
MAP-D
Gs Gc
A
Gb Gr Gi
TE MT BSS SGSN GGSN PDN TE
Gn
R Um Gp MAP-F
EIR
GGSN

Other PLMN

Signalling Interface
Signalling and Data Transfer Interface
ETEC 405: Wireless Communications
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Functional view on GPRS
BTS BSC Packet
Um network
PSTN
R/S

MSC
SMS-GMSC
Gb HLR/AuC
Gs Gr Gd
Gr Gd
Serving GPRS Packet Corporate 1
Support Node Gs SS7
network
(SGSN) Gn Network Server
EIR
Border GPRS
Gateway (BG) Intra-PLMN INFRASTRUCTURE MAP-F
Packet
Inter-PLMN backbone
network
Backbone network Router
Local
network Gp (IP based) Gateway GPRS Firewall area
Support Node Data
Packet
Firewall Point-To- network
(GGSN) network
network
Multipoint Gn (Internet)
Service Gi.IP
Corporate 2
Center Server
(PTM SC) Gi.X.25
Data
Packet
Firewall
network
network
(X.25)
Router
Local
area
network
ETEC 405: Wireless Communications
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. Gateway GPRS Support Node
GGSN
•Typically located at one of the MSC sites
•One (or few) per operator
•Main functions
• Interface to external data networks
• Resembles to a data network router
• Forwards end user data to right SGSN
• Routes mobile originated packets to right destination
• Filters end user traffic
• Collects charging information for data network usage
• Data packets are not sent to MS unless the user has activated the PDP address

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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Serving GPRS Support Node
SGSN
•Functionally connected with BSC, physically can be at MSC or BSC site
•One for few BSCs or one (or few) per every BSC
•One SGSN can support BSCs of several MSC sites

• Main functions
• Authenticates GPRS mobiles
• Handles mobile’s registration in GPRS network
• Handles mobile’s mobility management
• Relays MO and MT data traffic
• TCP/IP header compression, V.42bis data compression, error control MS- SGSN
(ARQ)
• Collect charging information of air interface usage

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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. Other elements
BG (Border Gateway)
• (Not defined within GPRS)
• Routes packets from SGSN/GGSN of one operator to a SGSN/GGSN of an
other operator
• Provides protection against intruders from external networks
DNS (Domain Name Server)
• Translates addresses from ggsn1.oper1.fi -format to 123.45.67.89 format
(i.e. as used in Internet)
Charging Gateway
• Collects charging information from SGSNs and GGSNs
PTM-SC (Point to Multipoint -Service Center)
• PTM Multicast (PTM-M): Downlink broadcast; no subscription; no
ciphering
• PTM Group call (PTM-G): Closed or open groups; Down/up -link; ciphered
• Geographical area limitation
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GPRS backbones
Enables communication between GPRS Support Nodes
Based on private IP network
• IPv6 is the ultimate protocol
• IPV4 can be used as an intermediate solution
Intra-PLMN backbone
• Connects GPRS Support Nodes of one operator
• Operator decides the network architecture
• LAN, point-to-point links, ATM, ISDN, ...
Inter-PLMN backbone
• Connects GPRS operators via BGs
• Provides international GPRS roaming
• Operators decide the backbone in the roaming agreement

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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GPRS mobile types
Class A:
• Simultaneous GPRS and conventional GSM operation
• Supports simultaneous circuit switched and GPRS data transfer
Class B:
• Can be attached to both GPRS and conventional GSM services
simultaneously
• Can listen circuit switched and GPRS pages (via GPRS)
• Supports either circuit switched calls or GPRS data transfer but
not simultaneous communication
Class C:
• Alternatively attached in GPRS or conventional GSM
• No simultaneous operation
• ‘GPRS only’ mobiles also possible (e.g. for telemetric
applications)

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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GPRS Multi Slot capabilities
MS RX 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1

5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
1-slot MS TX

Monitor

MS RX 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1

2-slot MS TX 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Monitor

MS RX 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0 1
3-8 -slot MS TX 5 6 7 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Monitor

3 slots: 4th slot: 5th slot:

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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GPRS Terminals
• Class A
• MS supports simultaneous operation of GPRS
and GSM services
• Class B
• MS able to register with the n/w for both GPRS
& GSM services simultaneously. It can only use
one of the two services at a given time.
• Class C
- MS can attach for either GPRS or GSM
services

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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GPRS Network Elements
GPRS Architecture is same as GSM except few
hardware modifications :
▪ GPRS includes GSNs
➢ SGSN : Serving GPRS Support Node
➢ GGSN : Gateway GPRS Support Node
▪ GPRS Register

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 GSM SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
PSTN
ISDN
PDN
BSC
MS BTS
MSC/VLR

GMSC

BTS BSC

MS

BTS EIR
AUC
MS HLR
ETEC 405: Wireless Communications
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 GPRS SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
Other
GPRS
PLMN

SMS-GMSC Gd
SMS-INMSC SGSN Gp

GGSN

Gb Gn
GGSN
Gf
BTS BSC Gr
Gs PDN
Gc Gi

BTS
EIR
MS HLR+GPRS
D Register
ETEC 405: Wireless Communications
CSE,MAIT MSC/VLR
Interfaces
• Gb – Connects BSC with SGSN
• Gn – SGSN – SGSN/GGSN (in the same
network)
• Gp – SGSN –GGSN (in different networks)
• Gf – For equipment querying at registering
time
• Gi – Connects PLMN with external Packet
Data Networks (PDNs)
• Gr – To exchange User profile between HLR
& SGSN
• Gs – To exchange Database between SGSN
& MSC
• Gd – Interface between SMS & GPRS
ETEC 405: Wireless Communications
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SGSN – Serving GPRS Support Node
• Delivers data packets to mobile stations & vice-
versa

• Detect and Register new GPRS MS in its serving

area

• Packet Routing, Transfer & Mobility Management

• Authentication, Maintaining user profiles

• Its location register stores location info. & user

profiles

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 GGSN – Gateway GPRS Support Node
• Interfaces GPRS backbone network & external packet data
networks
• Converts the GPRS packets from SGSN to the PDP format
• Converts PDP addresses change to GSM addresses of the
destination user
• Stores the current SGSN address and profile of the user in its
location register

• Performs authentication

• Many-to- many relations among SGSNs & GGSNs

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 GPRS Register

• GPRS Register is integrated with GSM-HLR.

• Maintains the GPRS subscriber data and Routing information.
• Stores current SGSN address

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 GPRS BACKBONE NETWORK

BSC
BSC
BTS BTS
MS
inter-PLMN

PLMN1 GPRS backbone

Gn SGSN Gp
Gp Gn SGSN
Border
intra-PLMN Border
gateway intra-PLMN
GPRS backbone gateway
GPRS backbone
Gn Gn
Gn
PLMN2
Gi
Gi
GGSN
GGSN
External Packet
Data Network (PDN)
SGSN Host
ETEC 405: Wireless Communications Router
CSE,MAIT LAN
Protocol Stack

Application

IP / X.25 IP / X.25

SNDCP SNDCP GTP GTP

LLC UDP/ UDP/
LLC LLC TCP
TCP
RLC RLC BSSGP BSSGP IP IP
MAC MAC Frame Frame L2 L2
Relay Relay

GSM RF GSM RF L1bis L1bis L1 L1

MS BSS (PCU) SGSN GGSN Gi

Um Gb Gn

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 SNDCP - Sub Network Dependent
Convergence Protocol
• Used to transfer data packets between SGSN and MS

• Multiplexing of several connections of network layer onto one

logical connection of underlying LLC layer

• Compression and decompression of user data and header

information

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Data Link layer
• Divided into two sub layers :

• LLC layer (between MS-SGSN)

• RLC/MAC (between MS-BSS)

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LLC-Logical Link Control
• Establishes highly reliable logical link between MS & its
assigned SGSN

• Works either in acknowledged or unacknowledged modes

• Data confidentiality is ensured by ciphering functions

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 RLC/MAC Layer
▪ Radio Link Control(RLC)
▪ Establish a reliable link between MS & BSS
▪ Segmentation and reassembly of LLC frames into RLC data blocks

▪ Medium Access Control(MAC)

▪ Controls access attempts of an MS on radio channels shared by
several MSs
▪ Employs algos. for contention resolution, multiuser multiplexing on
PDTCH

▪ Both ack and unack. Modes of operation are supported in RLC/MAC

layer

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 Physical Layer
• Divided into two sub layers :
• Physical Link Layer (PLL)
• Physical RF Layer (RFL)

• PLL – Provides a physical channel between MS and BSS

• Channel coding, interleaving, detection of physical link
congestion

• RFL - Operates below PLL

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BSSGP-(BSS GPRS Application Protocol)

• Delivers routing & Quality of Service related

information between BSS and SGSN

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GTP – GPRS Tunneling Protocol
• GTP tunnels user data packets and related signaling
information between GSNs
• Signaling is used to create, modify and delete tunnels
• Defined both at Gn and Gp interface
• Below GTP, TCP or UDP are employed to transport the GTP
Packets within backbone network

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 Inter working with IP networks

• GPRS n/w can be interconnected with an IP-

based packet data network
• GPRS supports both IPv4 and IPv6
• GPRS n/w looks like IP sub network and
GGSN looks like a IP router
• DHCP, DNS servers are installed

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 Quality of Service
• Precedence class (1,2,3)
• Delay class (1-4)
• Reliability class
• Peak throughput class; and
• Mean throughput class.

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 Reliability Class
• Data reliability is defined in terms of the residual error rates for the
following cases (see GSM 02.60):
• Probability of data loss
• Probability of data delivered out of sequence
• Probability of duplicate data delivery
• Probability of corrupted data

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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 Throughput classes
Peak Throughput Class Peak Throughput in octets per second
1 Up to 1 000 (8 kbit/s).
2 Up to 2 000 (16 kbit/s).
3 Up to 4 000 (32 kbit/s).
4 Up to 8 000 (64 kbit/s).
5 Up to 16 000 (128 kbit/s).
6 Up to 32 000 (256 kbit/s).
7 Up to 64 000 (512 kbit/s).
8 Up to 128 000 (1 024 kbit/s).
9 Up to 256 000 (2 048 kbit/s).

Mean Throughput Class Mean Throughput in octets per hour

1 Best effort.
2 100 (~0.22 bit/s).
3 200 (~0.44 bit/s).
4 500 (~1.11 bit/s).
5 1 000 (~2.2 bit/s).
6 2 000 (~4.4 bit/s).
7 5 000 (~11.1 bit/s).
8 10 000 (~22 bit/s).
9 20 000 (~44 bit/s).
10 50 000 (~111 bit/s).
11 100 000 (~0.22 kbit/s).
12 200 000 (~0.44 kbit/s).
13 500 000 (~1.11 kbit/s).
14 1 000 000 (~2.2 kbit/s).
15 2 000 000 (~4.4 kbit/s).
16 5 000 000 (~11.1 kbit/s).
17 10 000 000 (~22 kbit/s).
18 20 000 000 (~44 kbit/s).
19 50 000 000 (~111 kbit/s).

ETEC 405: Wireless Communications

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