SENG42283 – Mobile

Networks
Cellular Networks

Sadeepa Sepala
sadeepa.sepala@gmail.com
GSM Networks - Power Control
■ Power Control enables the mobile station and/or the BTS to increase
or decrease the transmission power on a per-radio link basis. Power
Control is separately performed for the uplink and downlink. In both
cases the BSC is responsible for initiating Power Control; the mobile
station and the BTS adopt transmit power according to the BSC
Power Control commands

■ Measurements
○ Strength of the signal being received (in dBm)
○ Quality of the signal being received (in bit error rate).
■ The mobile station measures periodically the performance of the downlink,
and sends the measurements in the SACCH (Slow Associated Control
Channel) via the serving BTS to the BSC every SACCH multi-frame. This
corresponds to the transmission of data every 104 TDMA frames or 480
ms. The base station measures the quality of the uplink. Also, it transfers
the measurements in the SACCH to the BSC every 480 ms
GSM Networks - Power Control

■ When the BSC notices that

the signal strength of a
particular radio link measured
on the uplink becomes below
the lower pre-defined
threshold because the mobile
station moves away from the
BTS, it sends a Power
Control command to the
mobile station to increase its
transmit power
(MS_TXPWR) by a pre-
defined step (typically 2 dB).
GSM Networks - Handover

■ Handover is the process of automatically switching a call in

progress from one traffic channel to another to neutralize the
adverse effects of user movements. The switch can be made
either to a TCH within the same cell or in another cell. Note
that the handover process will normally only be started if
power control is not helpful anymore.
■ Measurements : To decide if a handover should be
performed, the BSC receives measurement data about the
performance of the air-interface from its serving BTSs and
mobile stations. The BSC uses the same measurements as
those used in the power control process.
○ Downlink - Signal strength of the 6 best neighboring BTS
downlink control channels (candidate list).
○ Uplink - Distance between the serving BTS and the mobile
station (in meters).
GSM Networks - Handover

■ It is the responsibility of the serving BSC to analyze the

measurement reports from the mobile station and to decide
when a handover should be performed. If it is determined that
there is a better BTS to serve the call, the serving BSC
initiates the handover procedure.
GSM Networks - Handover Types
GSM Networks - Handover Types

■ Intra BSS, Intra Cell: For this type of handover, the mobile
station is handed over to a different radio channel within the
same cell area
■ Intra BSS, Inter Cell: The mobile station moves from one cell
area to another cell area Controlled by same BSC. At some
point in time, BSC will determine that the base station
responsible for new cell area can better serve the call. Since the
candidate BTS is also connected to same BSC, the handover
can be coordinated by same BSC without the involvement of
MSC
GSM Networks - Handover Types

■ Inter BSS, Intra MSC: The mobile station moves from cell
area to cell area controlled by different BSCs connected to
same MSC. At some point in time, Serving BSC will determine
from the signal strength measurement reports that the BTS/
BSC responsible for new cell area can better serve the call and
will request MSC to arrange the handover to the candidate base
station.
■ Intra BSS, Inter MSC: The mobile station moves from cell
area to cell area controlled by different BSCs connected to
different MSCs. Serving BSC will ask its MSC to coordinate
the handover. This MSC will determine that it has no base
stations under its control responsible for the identified cell area.
MSC then needs to determine which neighboring MSC is
responsible for the cell area and will ask it to receive a
handover
GSM Networks - Handover Procedure
GSM Networks - Handover

■ MS unaware of handover
■ The GSM specifications do not describe the handover between
cells of different PLMNs
■ GSM does not specify when to handover, OEMs have the
freedom to choose.
○ Power Budget handover
○ Distance Handover
○ Signal Level and quality handover
○ Traffic Handover
GSM Networks - Handover Performance

■ Call blocking probability – probability of a new call being

blocked

■ Call dropping probability – probability that a call is

terminated due to a handoff

■ Call completion probability – probability that an admitted

call is not dropped before it terminate.

■ Probability of unsuccessful handoff – probability that a

handoff is executed while the reception conditions are
inadequate
GSM Networks - Handover Performance

■ Handoff blocking probability – probability that a

handoff cannot be successfully completed
■ Handoff probability – probability that a handoff
occurs before call termination
■ Rate of handoff – number of handoffs per unit
time
■ Interruption duration – duration of time during a
handoff in which a mobile is not connected to
either base station
■ Handoff delay – distance the mobile moves from
the point at which the handoff should occur to
the point at which it does occur.
GSM Networks - GPRS
GSM Networks - GPRS

■ Added Packet Data Switching and gateway nodes

○ SGSN – Serving GPRS support Node
Performs packet routing, mobility management,, authentication and ciphering to and from all
GPRS subscribers located in the SGSN service area.
○ GGSN – Gateway GPRS support node
Gateway to external IP Network
Handle accounting functions, IP allocation, routing PDUs to connected attached GPRS users
○ Hardware Upgrade to BSC
PCU – Packet Control unit :Set up , supervise and disconnect packet switched calls.
Also supports cell change, radio resource configuration, and channel assignment
■ Data Rate is depend on
○ The coding scheme
4 coding schemes CS-1 to CS4
Coding scheme is changed based on the distance between base station and the Mobile Device
○ Number of TDMA time slots assigned by the operator
GSM Networks - GPRS

■ Added Packet Data Switching and gateway nodes

○ SGSN – Serving GPRS support Node
Performs packet routing, mobility management,, authentication and ciphering to and from all
GPRS subscribers located in the SGSN service area.
○ GGSN – Gateway GPRS support node
Gateway to external IP Network
Handle accounting functions, IP allocation, routing PDUs to connected attached GPRS users
○ Hardware Upgrade to BSC
PCU – Packet Control unit :Set up , supervise and disconnect packet switched calls.
Also supports cell change, radio resource configuration, and channel assignment
■ Data Rate is depend on
○ The coding scheme
4 coding schemes CS-1 to CS4
Coding scheme is changed based on the distance between base station and the Mobile Device
○ Number of TDMA time slots assigned by the operator
Thank You !