GSM Channels

• Each BTS have 3 sectors.

• Each sector have 4 TRX.(full-duplex channel)
• Each TRX(carrier frequency) have 8 physical
channels(time slot) on a TDMA frame
• Each time slot have 16Kbps.
• Physical channels can be used to transmit
speech, data or signaling information.
• Information carried by physical channels is
called logical Channels.
• 1 E1 divided in to 32 time slot. from 0 to 31
 Type of channels
• There are three type of channels.

Logical channel

Transport channel

Physical channel
Logical channel
 Logical Channels
• Traffic channels: Used for speech and data
– Full Rate(TCH/F)
– Half Rate(TCH/H)
• Control channels: Used for signaling and setting
up a radio connection, call or controlling an MS
during conversation
– BCH(Broadcast channels)
– CCCH(common control channels)
– DCCH(dedicated control channels)
 BCH(Broadcast Channels)
FCCH
SCH
BCCH

• FCCH(Frequency Correction Channels)

– Downlink point to multipoint .
– BTS transmits a carrier frequency for all MS
– enforce MS to synchronies with the frequency.
 BCH(Broadcast Channels)
FCCH
SCH
BCCH

• SCH(Synchronization Channels)
– Downlink point to multipoint.
– Carries information for frame synchronization.
– Contains frame number and BSIC(Base Station
Identity Code).
 BCH(BroadcastChannels)
FCCH
SCH
BCCH

• BCCH(Broadcast Control Channels)

– Downlink point to multipoint.
– Broadcast information of the serving cell (System
Information).
– Transmitted on timeslot zero of BCCH carrier.
– Reads only by idle mobile at least once every 30
secs.
 CCCH(Common Control Channel)
• PCH(Paging Channel)
– Downlink point to multipoint.
– This channel is used for alerting to Mobile Subscribers if
there is a incoming call or a short Message.
– It contains the MSIN, the IMSI or TMSI.
International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)

234 15 1234567890 602 02 1234567890

MCC MNC MSIN MCC MNC MSIN

Vodafone UK IMSI Vodafone Egypt IMSI

MCC : Mobile Country Code

MNC : Mobile Network Code
MSIN : Mobile Station Identification Number
 CCCH(Common Control Channel)
• AGCH (Access Grant Channel)
• Downlink point to multipoint.
• Used by the network to assign a signaling cannel
upon successful decoding of access bursts.
• Used for acknowledgement of the access attempt
sent on RACH.
 CCCH(Common Control Channel)

• RACH(Random Access Channel)

– Uplink only. And used by the MS for making first
access the network.
– When MS wants to initiate dialogue with network,
this channel is used to send request to the network
for a dedicated resource.
– The reason for access could be initiation of a call or
a page response.
DCCH(Dedicated Control Channel)
• SDCCH (Stand-alone Dedicated Control
Channel)
– Uplink and Downlink.
– Used for call setup, authentication, ciphering
location update and SMS.
– This channel is used for the Location Update,
Voice Call Set up and SMS
 DCCH(Dedicated Control Channel)
• SACCH(Slow Associated Control Channel)
• Downlink and Uplink.
• Used to transfer signal while MS have ongoing
conversation on traffic or while SDCCH is being used.
• In response of RACCH, network allocates SDCCH over
AGCH for further communication between MS and BTS.
• On the forward link, the SACCH is used to send slow but
regularly changing control information to each mobile
on that ARFCN, such as power control instructions and
specific timing advance instructions
DCCH(Dedicated Control Channel)
• FACCH(Fast Associated Control Channel)
– Downlink and uplink.
– Associate with TCH only.
– It is used to send fast message like hand over
message.
– Work by stealing traffic bursts.
– his channel is used to convey Handover
information.
 CONTROL CHANNELS
• When an MS is switched on, it searches for a
BTS to connect to.
• The MS scans the entire frequency band, or,
optionally(‫)اختیاری‬, uses a list containing the
allocated carrier frequencies for this operator.
• It does so by searching for a particular logical
(‫)بخصوص‬

channel called Broadcast Control CHannel (BCCH).

 Cont…
• A frequency carrying BCCH contains important
information for an MS, including e.g. the
current LA identity, synchronization(‫)همگاه سازی‬
information and network identity(‫شناسایی‬.‫)هویت‬
• Without such information, an MS cannot work
with a network.
• This information is broadcast at regular(‫)مرتب‬
intervals, leading to the term Broadcast CHannel
(BCH) information
Cont…
 Cont…
• However, if the MS roams to another cell, it
must repeat the process of reading FCCH, SCH
and BCCH in the new cell.
• If the mobile subscriber then wishes to make
or receive a call, the Common Control
CHannels (CCCH) must be used.
Common Control Channel
DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNELS (DCCH)

• Standalone Dedicated Control Channel

(SDCCH)
• Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
• Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH
 BROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL (BCCH) –
DOWNLINK
• Broadcasts Network and Cell specific
information required to identify the network
and gain access.

• Broadcast parameters include Location Area

Code (LAC), Mobile Network Code (MNC),
Control Channel Structures, BCCH frequencies
of neighboring Cells and other access
parameters
FREQUENCY CORRECTION CHANNEL (FCCH)
– DOWNLINK

• This channel contains frequency correction

bursts, used by the mobiles for frequency
correction

• Bears information for frequency

Synchronization.
 SYNCHRONISATIO CHANNEL (SCH) –
DOWNLINK

• This channel is used by the MS to learn the

Base Station Information Code (BSIC) as well
as the TDMA frame number (FN).
 CELL BROADCAST CONTROL CHANNEL
(CBCH) – DOWNLINK

• This channel is used to broadcast specific

information to network subscribers; such as
weather, traffic, sports, stocks and other
public services and announcement.
PAGING CHANNEL (PCH) – DOWNLINK

• This channel is used for alerting to Mobile

Subscribers for incoming calls, SMS and other
mobility services

• Every MS in a cell periodically listen to this

channel
 RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL (RACCH) –
UPLINK

• This channel is used by a MS seeking attention of the BTS.

When MS wants to initiate dialogue with network, this
channel is used to send request to the network for a
dedicated resource.
• The real dialogue between MS and Network will take place
on the dedicated channel.

• If the request is not granted within a specific time period

by the network, the MS repeats the request on the RACCH
 ACCESS GRANT CHANNEL (AGCH) -
DOWNLINK

• This channel is used by a BTS to notify the MS of

the assignment of an initial SDCCH for initial
signaling.

• In response to request from MS on RACH, the

network allocates a specific dedicated signalling
channel (SDCCH) for further communication.
This response is sent on AGCH.
STAND-ALONE DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNEL
(SDCCH) – UPLINK/DOWNLINK

• In response of RACCH, network allocates

SDCCH over AGCH for further communication
between MS and BTS.

• This channel is used for the Location Update,

Voice Call Set up and SMS
 FAST ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL
(FACCH) – UPLINK/DOWNLINK

• his channel is used to convey Handover

information.

• There is no TS and frame allocation dedicated

to this channel.
 SLOW ASSOCIATED CONTROL CHANNEL
(SACCH) – UPLINK/DOWNLINK

• This channel is always associated with TCH or

SDDCH used for control and supervision of
signals associated with the traffic channels.

• Used to convey the periodic carrier-signal

strength measurements to the network,
transmit power control and timing advance.