GSM – GLOBAL SYSTEM FOR

MOBILE COMMUNICATION

Jose Rico B. Abito

BSEE 401
Global system for mobile
communication (GSM)

• The Global System for Mobile Communications

(GSM) is a standard developed by the European
Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) to
describe the protocols for second-generation (2G)
digital cellular networks used by mobile devices
such as mobile phones and tablets. It was first
deployed in Finland in December 1991.
• Supports voice & data services
• Uses TDMA, digital modulation
GSM Specification

Uplink = 890-915 MHz

Downlink = 935-960 MHz
Transfer Rate = 9.6 Kbps
No. of carriers = 124
Modulation = GMSK ( Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying)
Time Slot =8
GSM Architecture
GSM Architecture

• Mobile Station (MS)

Mobile Equipment (ME)
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)
• Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
Base Station Controller (BSC)
• Network Subsystem
Mobile Switching Center (MSC)
Home Location Register (HLR)
Visitor Location Register (VLR)
Authentication Center (AUC)
Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
GSM Architecture
Mobile Station (MS)

The Mobile Station is made up of two entities:

1. Mobile Equipment (ME)

2. Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

GSM Architecture
Mobile Station (MS) contd.

Mobile Equipment

• Produced by many different manufacturers

• Must obtain approval from the standardization
body
• Uniquely identified by an IMEI (International
Mobile Equipment Identity)
GSM Architecture
Mobile Station (MS) contd.

Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)

• Smart card containing the International Mobile

Subscriber Identity (IMSI)
• Allows user to send and receive calls and receive other
subscribed services
• Encoded network identification details
• Protected by a password or PIN
• Can be moved from phone to phone – contains key
information to activate the phone
GSM Architecture
Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

Base Station Subsystem is composed of two parts

that communicate across the standardized Abis
interface allowing operation between components
made by different suppliers

1. Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

2. Base Station Controller (BSC)

GSM Architecture
Base Station Subsystem (BSS) contd.
Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

• Houses the radio transceivers that define a cell

• Sends & receives signals from MS
• Handles radio-link protocols with the Mobile Station
• Speech and data transmissions from the MS are
recorded
System Architecture
Base Station Subsystem (BSS) contd.

Base Station Controller (BSC)

• Manages Resources for BTS

• Handles call set up
• Location update
• Handover from one BTS to another
GSM Architecture
Network Subsystem

Mobile Switching Center (MSC)

• Switch speech and data connections between:

Base Station Controllers
Mobile Switching Centers
GSM-networks
Other external networks
• Heart of the network
• Three main jobs:
1) connects calls from sender to receiver
2) collects details of the calls made and received
3) supervises operation of the rest of the network components
GSM Architecture
Network Subsystem contd.

• Home Location Registers (HLR)

- contains administrative information of each subscriber
- current location of the mobile
• Visitor Location Registers (VLR)
- contains selected administrative information from the HLR
- authenticates the user
- tracks which customers have the phone on and ready to
receive a call
- periodically updates the database on which phones are
turned on and ready to receive calls
System Architecture
Network Subsystem contd.

• Authentication Center (AUC)

- mainly used for security
- data storage location and functional part of the network

• Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

- Database that is used to track handsets using the IMEI
(International Mobile Equipment Identity)
GSM Architecture

User Tower Equipment Center Telephone

Networks

MS BTS BSC MSC PSTN

ISDN
Basic Features Provided by GSM

• Call Waiting
- Notification of an incoming call while on the handset
• Call Hold
- Put a caller on hold to take another call
• Call Barring
- Prevent All calls, outgoing calls, or incoming calls
• Call Forwarding
- Calls can be sent to various numbers defined by the user
• Multi Party Call Conferencing
- Link multiple calls together
Advanced Features Provided by
GSM

• Calling Line ID
- incoming telephone number displayed
• Alternate Line Service
- one for personal calls
- one for business calls
• Closed User Group
- call by dialing last for numbers
• Advice of Charge
- tally of actual costs of phone calls
• Fax & Data
- Virtual Office / Professional Office
• Roaming
- services and features can follow customer from market to market
Advantages of GSM

• Crisper, cleaner quieter calls

• Security against fraud and eavesdropping
• International roaming capability in over 100 countries
• Improved battery life
• Efficient network design for less expensive system expansion
• Efficient use of spectrum
• Advanced features such as short messaging and caller ID
• A wide variety of handsets and accessories
• High stability mobile fax and data
• Ease of use with over the air activation, and all account information
is held in a smart card which can be moved from handset to
handset
Disadvantages of GSM

• Bandwidth Lag
• Causes Electronic Interference
• Fixed maximum cellsite