Toan Vo and Tarek Oueslati

EE 161 Final Presentation

May 15, 2013
Basic problems in digital communication
systems through fading channels is that a
large number of errors occurs and multiple
simultaneous users must be accommodated.
For this reason, we want to investigate and
compare the CDMA and GSM technologies
approach to the problem.
1
GSM: Global System for Mobile
ETSI Standard dating back to 1982 when the
890-915 MHz and 935-960 MHz band were
allocated for the Pan European cellular network.
In 1991, specifications for the standard were
completed.
In 1992, the first deployment started
In 1993, 32 operators in 22 countries adopted the
GSM standard.
By 2002, almost 150 countries (out of 193)
adopted GSM for cellular service.
2
Mobile Station: The phone and SIM card (Subscriber Identity
Module), which is specific to the user and stores vital
information about the subscription.
Base Station Subsystem: The tower. It links over the air
transmission to wired infrastructure by translating the
different protocols. It contains the Base Transceiver Station
(BTS) and the Base Station Controller (BSC).
Network Switching Subsystem: Facilitates communication
with other wired and wireless networks in addition to
support for registration and maintenance of connections.
3
SIM
ME BTS BSC
EIR AUC
HLR VLR
MSC
PSTN
PDN
Network & switching
subsystem (NSS)
Base station
subsystem (BSS)
Mobile Station (MS)
Other MSCs
User
4
Band Frequency Range Purpose
850 MHz 824 MHz - 848 Mhz Mobile transmit, base receive
864 MHz - 849 MHz Base transmit, mobile receive
900 MHz 890 MHz - 915 MHz Mobile transmit, base receive
935 MHz - 960 MHz Base transmit, mobile receive
1800 MHz 1710 MHz - 1785 MHz Mobile transmit, base receive
1805 MHz - 1880 MHz Base transmit, mobile receive
1900 MHz 1850 MHz - 1910 MHz Mobile transmit, base receive
1930 MHz - 1990 MHz Base transmit, mobile receive
5
Q
I
1
0
1 bit per symbol
6
GMSK Modulation
Gaussian
Lowpass
Filter
90
0
Phase
Shift
Local
Oscillator
90
0
Phase
Shift
Summation
Mixer or Multiplier
Input
GSM uses Time Division Multiple Access
method (TDMA) where time intervals call
frames are subdivided into K non-overlapping
subintervals, each assigned to a specific user.
There are 2 frequency bands of 25 MHz for
forward and reverse communications, each
subdivided into 125 channels of 200 KHz each
Each channel can accommodate K = 8 users
by creating 8 non-overlapping timeslots.
7
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
0 1
49 50
Super Frame
6.12 seconds
576.93 microseconds
Multi Frame
Frame (8 users)
0 1
0 1
24 25
6 7
Time Slot
4.615 milliseconds
120 milliseconds
8
To reduce the effect of interference, fading,
and to provide diversity, the carrier frequency
is hopped at 217 hops per second.
Speech is transmitted at a rate of 13 kbps
which is then encoded and transmitted at a
rate of 22.8 kbps
9
4 mechanisms are common in all voice wireless
networks.
Registration: When you first turn on your phone
Call Establishment: When you initiate or receive
calls.
Handover: When the MS changes its connection
point to the network.
Security: Protection from fraud and
eavesdropping (lies within the SIM card for GSM)
10
CDMA: Coded Division Multiple Access
In 1935, the theory was proposed by Dmitry
Ageev in St. Petersburg, Russia.
First used by the military for 2 reasons:
Provide resistance to jamming
Hide the signal by transmitting it at low power
Developed by Qualcomm and standardized and
designated as IS-95 by TIA for use in the 800
MHz and 1900 MHz frequency band.
Now widely adopted in North America and
China.
11
Uses the direct sequence spread spectrum signal where the
information signal is spread over the entire bandwidth by
means of a pseudorandom code that is specific to the user
called a signature.
The signal is sent at low power that is less than the noise
power level (Pr << PN)
Pr: Average received signal power
PN: Average noise power
Giving the signal a low probability of interception and is
therefore called an LPI signal.
12
CDMA Based systems rely heavily on
Error control coding
Spreading of the spectrum
Soft handoff
Strict power control
The core fixed network infrastructure that supports
the wireless interface is very similar to that of GSM
(TDMA). However, the air interface is significantly
different
13
Modulation QPSK
Forward Channels 824-849 MHz Bands IS-95 Standard
Reverse Channels 869-894 MHz Bands IS-95 Standard
Forward Channels 1850-1910 MHz Bands IMT-2000
Reverse Channels 1930-1990 MHz Bands IMT-2000
14
Similar to that of GSM (MS, BS, NSS) except for some elements and
interface such as:
The data message handler that collects billing information
The interwork function that allows the MSC to connect to other networks and
the auxiliary equipment that can connect to a MS.
Note: Radio source management, mobility management and security are the
same for CDMA and TDMA.

The difference lies in handling the power control and employing the soft handoff
by CDMA.

Due to the reduced Eb/N0, CDMA has:
Spread spectrum processing gain
RAKE Diversity gain
Fast power control mechanisms
Soft handoff

15
Multiple direct sequence spread signals can occupy
the same channel bandwidth simultaneously,
provided that each has its own pseudorandom code or
signature.
When demodulated, the signals from other users
appear as additive noise. Thus, the level of
interference depends on the number of users.
Large number of users can be accommodated if the
messages are transmitted over a short period of time,
which allows the increase or decrease in the number
of users without reconfiguring the system.
Signals are completely overlapping in time and
frequency domain.
16
IS-95: North America Digital Cellular Standard
that utilize CDMA as an access method and air
interface. It went under several revisions: IS-95a
and IS-95b.
IS-136: Is the standard for TDMA in North
America.
3G systems have been standardize throughout
the world by the International
Telecommunications Union under International
Mobile Telecommunications IMT-2000 Standard.
Both GSM, IS-95 as well as IS-136 have evolved
to IMT-2000.
17
North America
IS-136 (TDMA)
IS-95 (CDMA)
CDMA2000
WCDMA
Both have CDMA
air interface
IMT-2000
18
Is more resilient, resistance to multipath and fading
Has demonstrated an increase in system capacity
compared with TDMA based systems
Improves quality of voice by using better voice
recording
Has less power consumption (6-7 mW on average),
about 10% of TDMA phones, due to implementation
of power control.
Does not require frequency planning because of time
and frequency overlapping.
Is already well established in the U.S, China and Japan.

19
For the average American who
doesnt travel, CDMA trumps
GSM in terms of reliability.

However, CDMAs proprietary
standards and the sheer market
share of mobile users using GSM
throughout the world makes GSM
a compelling alternative for basic
wireless voice service. Especially
for international travelers.
20
It is easier to swap SIM cards in an unlocked
GSM phone whereas CDMA requires carrier
permission.
3G CDMA cannot utilize data service while
making a voice call but its possible on 3G
GSM.
In the end, its a personal choice since the
pros and cons are not very apparent in terms
of simply making a phone call.
21
[1] J.G. Proakis and M. Salehi, Fundamentals of
Communication Systems, Pearsons, 2005

[2] K. Pahlavan and P. Krishnamurthy, Principles of Wireless
Networks. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002

[3] Digital Cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2+);
Radio transmission and reception. ETSI TS 145 005
V11.3.0, 2013

22
Although the search ultimately proved fruitless
given limited time, we want to thank

Elena Harbachova (Minsk, Belarus)
Kamila Zaripova (Ufa, Russia)
Alexander Teiho (Moscow, Russa)

for their efforts in trying to find a copy of
Dmitry Ageevs paper on CDMA from 1935.


23