GPRS Overview

Introduction

› General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) is a feature that

makes it possible to send packet data over the GSM
network

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 2

Network Overview
SMS-GMSC
Gd SMS-IWMSC
Abis A (MAP)
(MAP)
BTS BSC MSC/VLR
HLR

Gb Gs IP
Gr (MAP)
Gi (IP) Network

SGSN GGSN
Gb - Interface between SGSN and BSC
Gb - Interface between SGSN and BSC
(Frame Relay) Gn Gn
(Frame Relay)
Gi - Reference point between GPRS and Other
Gi - Reference point between GPRS and
external packet data network
external packet data network PLMN
Gs - Interface between SGSN and MSC
Gs - Interface between SGSN and MSC Backbone
Gr - Interface between SGSN and HLR
Gr - Interface between SGSN and HLR
Gn - Interface between two GSN within the
Network Gp (IP)
Gn - Interface between two GSN within the
same PLMN
same PLMN
Gp - Interface between two GSN in different
Gp - Interface between two GSN in different
PLMN
PLMN
Traffic & Signaling
Gf - Interface between SGSN and EIR Signaling
Gf - Interface between SGSN and EIR
Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 3
Interfaces with SGSN

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 4

GPRS Interface description
Gf interface Connects the SGSN to the Equipment Identity
Register (EIR) using narrowband SS7, broadband
SS7, or SS7 over IP for International Mobile
Equipment Identity (IMEI) check, allowing protection
against theft of the MS hardware.
Gn interface Connects the SGSN to other SGSNs and to GGSNs
within the same Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)
using IP over Ethernet or Asynchronous Transfer
Mode (ATM), allowing exchange of signaling and
payload.
Gom interface Connects the SGSN to Operation and Maintenance
(O&M) networks through IP over Ethernet or ATM,
making it possible for an operator to communicate
with the SGSN. The Bp and Ga interfaces are
included in Gom interface.

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 5

GPRS Interface description
Gp interface Connects the SGSN to SGSNs and GGSNs in other
PLMNs using IP over Ethernet or ATM, allowing MSs
to roam between PLMNs.
Gr interface Connects the SGSN to the Home Location Register
(HLR) using narrowband SS7, broadband SS7, or
SS7 over IP, allowing subscriber data management.

Gs interface Connects the SGSN to the MSC/VLR using

narrowband SS7, broadband SS7, or SS7 over IP,
allowing cooperation between CS and PS networks

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 6

 MS Class
› CLASS A:
Supports simultaneous attach, simultaneous activation,
simultaneous monitor, simultaneous invocation, and
simultaneous traffic.
› CLASS B:
Simultaneous traffic is not supported. The mobile user can
make and/or receive calls on either of the two services
sequentially but not simultaneously. The selection of the
appropriate service is performed automatically
› CLASS C:
Supports only non-simultaneous attach. Alternate use only.
› The status of the service which has not been selected is
detached,
that is, not reachable.
Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 7
 GPRS Concepts

•A transmission from a user is called TBF - Temporary Block Flow

Maximum one per user and direction.
•Minimum transmission = 1 Radio Block (20 ms)
•Nothing to send – no TBF Today’s MS can handle up to 4 TS.
•Each PDCHs can be shared between many users (<=32 on DL)
•Each of the TBFs are scheduled on each PDCH based on capability, QoS
class, cell capacity etc.

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 8

TBF Reservation

• User data according to MS Multislot Class and BSS support

• GMM/SM signaling reserved only on 1 PDCH
• Maximum 32 DL TBFs per PSET (TFI limitation)
• Maximum 6 or 7 UL TBFs per PDCH (USF limitation)
• Performed to reach highest performance for the TBF.
• If no PDCH in cell or outstanding PDCH Allocation attempt
-wait for answer on the attempt
• If no PDCH in cell and attempt failed => Reject

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 9

GPRS Concepts (cont.)
› TFI
– A TBF is identified by a TFI (Temporary Flow Identity)
value, value range 0 – 31 per cell.

› PSET
– A set of PDCHs possible to use together for a TBF. A
PSET can contain up to eight on-demand and/or
dedicated PDCHs.

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 10

 User data rate per timeslot
Kbps
59.2
60
54.4
50

40
44.8

30 29.6

22.4
20 20.0
14.4 16.8
12.0 14.8
11.2
10
8.0 8.4

0
MCS1

MCS2

MCS3

MCS4

MCS5

MCS6

MCS7

MCS8

MCS9
CS1

CS2

CS3

CS4

GPRS EGPRS
GMSK modulation 8PSK modulation
Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 11
GPRS/EGPRS Abis allocation
Requirements

Bearer Service Abis allocation

Voice and GPRS CS 1-2 16 kbit/s
GPRS CS 1-4 64 kbit/s (4 * 16)
EGPRS (including GPRS CS 1-4, GPRS CS 1-2) 64 kbit/s (4 * 16)
(All EDGE coding schemes supported with 64 kbit/s)

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 12

GPRS CS 1-2, CS 1-4 and EGPRS MCS 1-9

Bearer Service Abis allocation Name Max Bitrate/PDCH

GPRS CS 1-2 16 kbit/s B (Basic) 12
GPRS CS 1-4 64 kbit/s G (GPRS) 20
EGPRS MCS 1-9 64 kbit/s E (EGPRS) 59,2

B-TBF possible on B-, G- and E-PDCH

G-TBF possible on G- and E-PDCH
E-TBF possible on E-PDCH
A TBF can never be more than one
Kbps 59.2
of B-,G- or E-TBF. The change of 54.4
60
TBF mode of a running TBF is not 50
allowed according to 3GPP 40 44.8
29.6
standard. The type of TBF (E-, G, 30 20.0 16.8
22.4
20
14.4 11.2 14.8
or B) that will be chosen depends 8.0 12.0 8.4
10
on the capacity each type of 0 MCS1

MCS2

MCS3

MCS4

MCS5

MCS6

MCS7

MCS8

MCS9
CS1

CS2

CS3

CS4

reservation can provide.

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 13
 GPRS CS 1-2, CS 1-4 and EGPRS MCS 1-9

A prerequisite for EGPRS and LQC is that the MS and the

hardware and software in the cell supports EGPRS. There
are three types of PDCHs:
› B-PDCH is capable of handling GPRS CS-1 to CS-2
› G-PDCH is capable of handling GPRS CS-1 to CS-4
› E-PDCH is capable of handling EGPRS and GPRS CS-1 to CS-4

A TBF can be reserved on several PDCHs. EGPRS will be

used if the MS supports EGPRS and all reserved PDCHs are
E-PDCHs. If at least one of the reserved PDCHs is not
capable of handling EGPRS, then GPRS will be used.

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 14

 GPRS
MOBILITY MANAGEMENT

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 15

Mobility Management States
GPRS
Attach / Detach

Idle READY Ready

Timer Expiry

Packet
STANDBY Standby TX/RX
Timer Expiry

MS location known to
MS location known to cell level.
MS location SGSN level. MS is transmitting or has
not known. MS is capable of receiving just been transmitting.
Subscriber is not Point-to-Multipoint data MS is capable of receiving
reachable by the and being paged for Point-to-Point data and
GPRS NW. Point-to-Point data Point-to-Multipoint data.

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 16

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

1 GMM Attach Request

TMSI, MNC, MCC, LAC, RAC

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 17

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

2 Identity Request

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 18

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

3 Identity Response
IMSI

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 19

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

4 Authentication Request
RAND

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 20

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

5 Authentication Response
Kc and SRES

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 21

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

Gn
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

6 Identity Check Request

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 22

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

7 Identity Check Response

IMEI

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 23

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

EIR

8 IMEI Check Request

Gf

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 24

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

EIR

9 IMEI Check Response Back

Gf

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 25

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

HLR

10 Update Location
Gr

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 26

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

HLR

11 Insert Subscriber Data

Gr

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 27

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

HLR

12 Insert Subscriber Data Ack

Gr

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 28

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

HLR

13 Update Location Ack

Gr

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 29

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

HLR

Gr

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

14 Attach Accept

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 30

 GPRS Attach Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

15 Attach Complete

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 31

 GPRS PDP Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

16 Activate PDP context

APN

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 32

 GPRS PDP Call Flow

DNS

17 DNS Query
APN

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 33

 GPRS PDP Call Flow

DNS

18 DNS Response
GGSN IP

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 34

 GPRS PDP Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal
19 Create PDP Context Request
APN

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 35

 GPRS PDP Call Flow
Radius

Radius Auth /
20 Accounting Request

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 36

 GPRS PDP Call Flow
Radius

Radius Auth /
21 Accounting Response

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 37

 GPRS PDP Call Flow
Radius

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal
22 Create PDP Context
Response
APN

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 38

 GPRS PDP Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

BT
GPRS
S
Terminal

23 Activate PDP Context Accept

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 39

 GPRS PDP Call Flow

Gn Gi
Gb Backbone
GGSN
PDN
IP network
BSC SGSN

GPRS
BT Application
Terminal
S Server

24 IP Application session

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 40

SGSN3-HLR-EIR GT-919829003341

EIR
3-6999

JAIHLR1 JISTP1A
GMSC1 DELSTP1
3-700 3-725
3-10 3-781

JISTP1B
3-726 DELSTP(BTSOL) SGSNDEL3

2-6921 3-902
JAIHLR2
3-705
GT:- 919810051826
JISTP2A
DELSTP2
3-727 GMSC1
3-782
3-9101

JAIHLR3 JISTP2A
3-728
3-706

Rajasthan Delhi

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 41

SGSNDEL3 Connectivity

JAIMSC1
Via RAJ STP DELSTP(BTSOL) GMSC1 DELSTP1
3-9290 3-10 3-781
Via RAJ STP 2-6921

RAJ HLR SGSNDEL3

3-902

RJGMSC1
Via RAJ STP GT:- 919810051826
3-9297 Via RAJ STP
DELSTP2
GMSC2
KOLSTP(BTSOL) 3-782
3-9101
2-8502 SGSNDEL2
3-901

GT:- 919810051937

New SGSN For

RAJ-Connectivity
Req
Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 42
SGSN-GGSN
IP
Network
310Mbps

http://usage1.mantraonline.com/bharti12/bcms-isp-004/bcms-isp-004.html
http://usage.mantraonline.com/delhi/bcld-isp-005/bcld-isp-005.html

Gi Link
81.2 %
http://10.2.42.79/delhi/gprs/sw/192.168.201.9_34.html 80 %
92.68 %
100Mbps
100Mbps OK
H
Gn Link 75.9 %
SGSNDEL3 SW
1 100Mbps 93.03 % GGSN

74.3 %
100Mbps 52.5 %
OK
100Mbps H
http://10.2.42.79/delhi/gprs/sw/192.168.201.10_34.html SW
2 100Mbps 52.5 %

Okhla Vikaspur

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 43

Airtel Live –Airtel GPRS-Corporate APN

AIRTEL
Corporate APN MPLS NW

Airtel GPRS
GI
SGSNDEL3 GGSN
Network

Airtel Live
DBP/
WAP ISP 90 MB
Airtel Technical
LAN

Airtel
Live
Portal

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 44

Blackberry

AIRTEL
Corporate APN MPLS NW

Airtel GPRS
GI
SGSNDEL3 GGSN
Network
10 MB BB
Mails-AES
link
Blackberry
10 MB
BES RIM
DBP/ Server
Server
Airtel Technical WAP
LAN

Airtel
Live Portal
FOR internet Airtel
browser ISP 90 MB FOR internet BB
browser
Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 45
Gn interface-sgsndel3

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 46

 First Step Evaluation of Performance
IP Throughput STS Review
Downlink GPRS CS1/2

IP Throughput

Av. # TS Av. utilization TBFs per Radio Link

reservable for all TBFs PDCH Bitrate
per TBF

PCU congestion PCU congestion Preemptions PDCH Allocation TCH Hard

GSL dev Processor load Success rate Congestion

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 47

IP Throughput – investigation
(only GPRS CS1/2)
IP Throughput
DLBGGTHR
DLBGGDATA

Av. # TS Av. utilization TBFs per Radio Link

reservable for all TBFs PDCH Bitrate
per TBF

MAXTSDL MUTILBASIC DLTBFPBPDCH CS12DLACK

TRAFF2BTBFSCAN TRAFF2BTBFSCAN DLBPDCH CS12DLSCHED * 0,02

Other formulas apply when GPRS CS1-4 or EGPRS exist

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 48
IP Transfer Interrupts STS Review

IP Transfer Interrupts

Buffer discards TBF releases Radio link

due to CRS due to capacity TBF releases

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 49

IP Throughput – counters and comments

IP Transfer Interrupts

Buffer discards TBF releases Radio link

due to CRS due to capacity TBF releases

FLUDISC LDISTFI LDISRR LDISOTH

Investigate more Investigate more CELLMOVED

Capacity STS RLQ STS
Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 50
 GboIP Connectivity

SGSN

MPBN MPBN
Site Switch Site Switch

GPRS HUB site

MPBN MPBN
Site Router Site Router

New EOSDH BW for for GB over IP

MPBN MPBN
Site Router Site Router

MPBN MPBN
Site Switch Site Switch
Site in other circle

BSC LAN Switch BSC LAN Switch

BSC

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 51

Strategies for dimensioning (HOW?)

Trunking
Conservative Efficiency

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 52

A-bis interface Abis Dim

› Activating EDGE from BGPRS scenario: The need for resources are x4 in Abis per
Air Interface EPDCH

› Abis extension?

› Getting efficiency over Abis

– Abis over Ip: The feature Abis over IP uses the same packetized Abis
framework as Abis Optimization, the packet gateway, PGW, is used to terminate
IP on the BSC side. On the BTS site IP is terminated in the Site Transport Node
for RBS, STN.
– Abis Optimization is a feature to achieve bandwidth savings on the Abis
interface. Bandwidth savings are achieved by removal of redundant information
and packing of frames and by introducing the super channel concept where 64
kbit/s consecutive Abis timeslots can be used as a wideband connection,
gaining statistical multiplexing gains. The Packet Gateway (PGW) based on RP
HW, is needed in the BSC to support Abis Optimization.

› Powerful solutions, but… expensive in our scenarios

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 53

 Flexible A-bis Abis Dim

› Create a pool of 64 kbps GSL resources in Abis. These resources are used
only when they are activated.
› If needed, this 64 kbps GSL resources can be redefined as 16 kbps resources
to guarantee service for speech or BGPRS
› The result is a trunking effect of this pool of resources among the cells.
› The trunking power depends on:
– The size of the pool
– The number of cells (one omni does not create trunking)
– CS and PS BH coincidences
– Demand pattern differences among cells
› To define:
– If users of BGPRS can use pool resources
– F-EPDCH to assure minimum EDGE services per cell

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 54

FAJ 122 450 Flexible Abis
ENHANCEMENTS Abis Dim

A number of Flexible Abis enhancements

are introduced to improve the dynamic
behaviour for traffic mix variations, e.g.:
–PDCH pre-emption at Abis congestion
–Improved allocation of GSL devices
–Packing of 16 kbps paths
–Improved downgrading of Abis paths
–Consider upgrade from B- to E-PDCH BSC
in TBF-upgrade/re-reservation
RBS

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 55

FAJ 122 450 Flexible Abis, Example Abis Dim
RBS HW requeriments:
• sTRU – DXU21
• RBS 2101, 2102, 2202
• New RBS versions
A

B
BSC

RBS
4-slot EGPRS MS
C
2-slot GPRS MS
Abis resources for non-EDGE channels (16 kbps per channel)
Abis resources for EDGE channels (64kbps per EDGE channel)
Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 56
Recomendations for Flexible a-bis dimensioning
Abis Dim

› Minimum per TG #16 kbps Abis = TS available at TG plus signalling

› How many EPDCH should be allocated in the site?
– Concept of GoS
– Demand on traffic per node (adding the demand of the cells)
– FPDCHs to assure a minimum performance
› Abis Needed Capacity (64kbps) = TS64 + TS16/4 + SigTS
– TS64: # of EPDCH to be allocated in the site (including FPDCHs)
– SigTS: #TRX / ConFactor
– TS16: #TRX*8 - #BCCH - #SDCCH/8 - TS64
› At least 1 FPDCH per cell and FLEXHIGHGPRS=0 for best general performance
– FPDCH will impact the PCU
– Their Abis associated resources were not be included as Abis flexible pool, but as
fixed resources

Ericssonwide Internal | 2010-05-24 | Page 57