GSM A-interface

Presented by
Sohaib Tahir
LCC Pakistan
 Contents

What we’ll learn through the presentation

•The overview of GSM architecture and generic Interfaces
•Features of A-interface
•Overview of signaling system used on A-interface
•The Parts and function of SS7 used on A-interface
•The overall Functioning between MSC and BSC through A-
interface
 GSM Architecture: Interfaces

A-bis Ater
BTS BSC TRC

A Interface

M
S Um
Interface MSC
 What is A-interface
Interface between BSC/TRC and MSC or between TRC
and MSC.
Open Interface, vendor independent, conforms to ITU-
TS recommendations.
Uses HDB3 line coding
Supports two configurations
 PCM30 configuration having bit rate of 2.048Mbps
 PCM24 configuration having bit rate of 1.5 Mbps
PCM30 Configuration
Frame Alignment Procedures
 SS7 Protocol Stack
•SS7 protocol is used for transferring signaling information
over A interface
 BSSAP
Base Station Subsystem Application part (BSSAP) is
responsible for Standard GSM signaling
 between BSC and MSC
 and also between MSC and MS.
Uses one signaling connection for each active MS.
BSSAP is split into two subparts
1. Direct Transfer Application Part (DTAP)
2. Base Station System Management Application
Part(BSSMAP)
Logical differences between BSSMAP,
DTAP and Initial MS messages
 DTAP
deals with procedures that take place logically between the MS and
MSC. The BSS does not interpret the DTAP information, it simply
repackages it and sends it to the MS over the Um Interface.
Examples
Location Update, MS originated and terminated Calls, Short Message
Service, User Supplementary Service registration, activation,
deactivation and erasure

Used for
Sending Connection Management (CM) messages between MS and
MSC
Sending Mobility Management (MM) messages between the MSC and
MS.
 BSSMAP
deals with procedures that take place logically
between the BSS and MSC,
Examples
Trunk Maintenance, Ciphering, Handover, Voice/Data
Trunk Assignment

BSSMAP uses both the connection oriented (CO) and the

connectionless signaling (CL) services of SCCP.
Complete Picture...
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