BSNL Certification in

Mobile Communication

REGIONAL TELECOM TRAINING CENTRE,

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
 After attending this session
1. The students will have a broad understanding of GSM
network architecture, Building Blocks of Radio and Core
Network, Concept of Coverage Area etc.

2. Students will be able to understand the important

features of GPRS/EDGE as well as the network
architecture of GPRS.

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INTRODUCTION TO GSM
 GSM stands for Global System For Mobile
Communication.
 GSM is a 2G digital mobile communication technology.

 GSM technology is optimized for voice.

 GSM operates at either the 900 MHz or 1,800 MHz

frequency band.
 The GSM is a circuit-switched system that divides each
200 kHz channel into eight time-slots. (TDMA)

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WHY GSM?

 Improved spectrum efficiency.

 International roaming.

 Low-cost mobile sets and base stations (BSs)

 High-quality speech

 Compatibility with Integrated Services Digital Network

(ISDN) and other telephone company services.
 Support for new services.

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GSM FEATURES

 Multiple access technology –FDMA/TDMA

 Duplex technique - FDD

 Uplink frequency band 890 - 915 MHz

 Downlink frequency band 933 -960 MHz

 Channel spacing 200KHz

 Modulation -GMSK

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GSM NETWORK
The two main building blocks of GSM system are
Radio Equipment

Core Equipment

Radio equipment facilitates subscriber access to GSM

network and services in a wireless mode.
Core Equipment consists of Mobile switch and databases
like HLR and VLR to keep record of subscriber data. It is
also responsible for call handling, billing and other
important functions.

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GSM NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

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THE SUBSYSTEMS IN GSM NETWORK

 Mobile Station (MS)

 Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

 Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)

 Operation & Support Subsystem (OSS)

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MOBILE STATION
 MS is a combination of GSM Handset and a SIM card.
 GSM handset is technically known as Mobile Equipment
(ME) and is identified by a unique number known as
IMEI.
 SIM has a unique identity known as IMSI.

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BASE STATION SUBSYSTEM (BSS)
 The BSS is a set of Base Station equipment, namely BTS
& BSC, responsible for communicating with MSs in a
certain area.
 A BTS (Base Transceiver Station) comprises radio
transmission and reception devices, including the
antennas.
 BSC (Base Station Controller) controls the radio
functions of GSM system.

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NETWORK SWITCHING SUBSYSTEMS (NSS)
 The NSS (Network Switching Subsystem) consists of main switch
(Exchange) as well as some databases, needed for subscriber data
and mobility management.
 MSC (Mobile Switching Center) is the main unit of NSS.
 MSC does call set up and release, mobility management etc.
 MSC maintains a temporary database called VLR(Visitor Location
Register).
 HLR (Home Location Register) is the main data base of the GSM
system.
 AuC (Authentication Centre) is a database of NSS to be used to
authenticate a SIM (subscriber) in to the network.
 EIR is another database that stores the IMEI (International Mobile
Equipment Identity) numbers for all registered MS units. 13
OPERATION AND SUPPORT SUBSYSTEM
(OSS)
 The OSS is a server used to monitor the network
performance.
 The OSS is connected to all the BSCs and MSCs in the
network of an LSA in a LAN/ WAN.
 An OMC (Operation & Maintenance Centre) is
established through OSS which monitors the network
round the clock.

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GSM NETWORK STRUCTURE
 In the GSM system, the network is divided into the
following partitioned areas.
 Cell (BTS Coverage Area)

 Location Area (LA)

 PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) service area;

 GSM service area

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GSM NETWORK STRUCTURE

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 GPRS
 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a mobile data
service available to users of GSM mobile phones.
 It is often described as "2.5G", that is, a technology
between the second (2G) and third (3G) generations of
mobile telephony.
 It provides moderate speed data transfer, by using
unused TDMA channels in the GSM network.
 It is a packet switched service which supports Internet
based services as well as other VAS.

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GPRS NETWORK ARCHITECTURE

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GPRS NETWORK ELEMENTS

 SGSN(Serving GPRS Support Node)

 GGSN(Gateway GPRS Support Node)

 Firewall

 Border Gateway

 Charging Gateway

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BENEFITS OF GPRS
 Enables use of packet based air interface, which allows
better spectral efficiency.
 Supports data rates of about 115 Kbps, which is greater
than the traditional 9.6 Kbps rate available in a circuit-
switched connection.
 Supports larger message lengths than Short Message
Services (SMS).
 Supports virtual private network (VPN)/Internet service
provider (ISP) corporate site access.

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 EDGE
 EDGE stands for Enhanced Data rates for GSM
Evolution.
 EDGE is an enhancement of the GSM radio access
technology to provide faster bit rates for data
applications, both circuit and packet-switched. 
 General Packet Radio Service can offer a data rate of 115
kbit/s whereas EDGE can increase this to 384 kbit/s
 It is often treated as a 2.75G technology.

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SUMMARY

 GSM is a cellular radio technology optimized for voice.

 GSM network comprises BSS & NSS

 BTS,BSC form the elements of BSS

 MSC,VLR,HLR,AuC,EIR form the elements of NSS.

 GPRS technology provides access to data services .

 Supports a bit rate of Kbps

 EDGE provides better data rate than GPRS .

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REVIEW
1. Name the various Subsystems of GSM Network.
2. Name the unit responsible for extending coverage in a
Cell.
3. Name the various coverage areas of GSM Network.
4. Name the components of BSS?
5. Name the different databases in NSS?
6. GPRS is a ---------------------------------------switched
network for handling data. (Circuit switched, Packet
switched)

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ASSIGNMENT

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FURTHER READING

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THANK YOU

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