GSM factsheet

Version 0.4: 22 May 2001 FM/GF doh

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Introduction

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is an extremely powerful and complex second-generation (G2) digital mobile radio system, which offers a wealth of services, good operating characteristics and a high degree of security. In the mid-eighties, a large number of mutually incompatible analogue first-generation (G1) mobile radio systems were introduced in Europe, the USA and Japan. The best-known standards were: AMPS (in the USA and Canada), TACS (in England, Italy and Austria), Radiocom 2000 (in France), C 450 (in Germany and Portugal), and NMT (in all the Nordic countries, the Benelux states and Switzerland). As these conventional analogue mobile radio systems grew, it soon became clear that plans for a future digital system with distinctly higher capacity were essential. A further objective for such a new system was to achieve international compatibility, in order to replace the patchwork of different analogue networks. From 1982 to 1990 the ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute), in cooperation with the European industry and network operators, developed the GSM standard. GSM was the world's first digital mobile radio standard with modern features, offering above all trans-national use (roaming). The GSM system was originally designed for the voice telephony service. The growing demand for new, faster data services was soon acknowledged and the GSM standard was extended to include new functionalities such as HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data), GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution). These services allow higher data rates and constitute the basis for new and innovative data services.

Development in Europe

In 1987, in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the network operators of 13 European countries agreed on the following minimum roll-out plan: 1991: 1993: 1995: putting into service of a GSM pilot network in each country coverage of the main cities including international airports coverage of all main traffic routes and large towns.

However, in most countries this plan was soon overtaken by the rapid success of GSM. By the end of 1993 the threshold of one million mobile radio customers was crossed. By mid1994 more than 50% of the populated area of Europe enjoyed GSM coverage. By the end of the year 2000, the number of mobile radio customers in the 15 EU states amounted to approximately 130 million (approximately 450 million worldwide). Given the approximately 375 million inhabitants of the 15 EU states, this gives an average penetration of 35%.

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Licences in Switzerland

The first GSM network in Switzerland was launched commercially under the brand name Natel D in the spring of 1993 at the Geneva car show by the then PTT (now Swisscom). At that time Telecom PTT was the only mobile radio operator in Switzerland, because it was the only organisation authorised to provide mobile communications as a monopoly service. With the liberalisation of the telecommunications market and the entry into force of the revised Law on Telecommunications in 1998, the foundations were created for competition in mobile networks in Switzerland. As early as autumn 1997, ComCom (the Federal Communications Commission) supported by preparatory work performed by OFCOM had decided to invite tenders for two additional mobile radio licences, using the GSM standard. Subsequently, nine serious applications for licences were submitted by five candidates. The ensuing competition, based on criteria, finally led, in April 1998, to the licensing of two additional mobile radio operators in Switzerland: Diax and Orange. The two new networks were rapidly constructed. Diax was able to start operating its network commercially by the end of 1998, and Orange by mid-1999. By the end of 2000, it was possible to allocate additional frequencies in the so-called E-GSM band to the three mobile radio operators in Switzerland. In early 2001, the number of mobile radio customers in Switzerland totalled approximately 4.6 million. This corresponds to a penetration of 66%. In terms of market share, Swisscom has 67%, Diax 16% and Orange 17%. The bandwidths currently available (2001) to the GSM operators in Switzerland are shown in table 1 below.
Table 1: Bandwidths for the public GSM operators in Switzerland (early 2001).
Operator Swisscom Diax (TDC Switzerland AG) Orange 2 x 2.2 MHz Total 2 x 30.8 MHz Comments: a) Including frequencies in the E-GSM900 band (Extension-GSM band): Diax: 2 x 4.4 MHz, Orange: 2 x 2.2 MHz. 2 x 24.8 MHz 2 x 48.8 MHz 2 x 27 MHz 2 x 79.6 MHz Frequencies in the 900 MHz band 2 x 13.6 MHz 2 x 15 MHz
a)

Frequencies in the 1800 MHz band 2 x 12.2 MHz 2 x 11.8 MHz

Total 2 x 25.8 MHz 2 x 26.8 MHz

Services

An extensive range of services has been developed for GSM. Within the framework of this brief overview of GSM it is possible to list only the most important services.

TELESERVICES:

TELEPHONY SERVICES: normal voice telephony service with the possibility of making and receiving calls to mobile or fixed users worldwide. EMERGENCY CALL SERVICE: dialling 112 in any country connects the user to a national emergency service. SHORT MESSAGING SERVICE (SMS): offers the possibility of sending short alphanumeric messages up to 160 characters long.

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FAX: allows transmission and reception of faxes at 2.4 9.6 kbit/s.

CARRIER SERVICES:

CIRCUIT-SWITCHED1 DATA TRANSMISSION: transparent and non-transparent synchronous or asynchronous circuit-switched data transmission from 1.2 9.6 kbit/s. HSCSD: circuit-switched data service at bitrates up to 57.6 kbit/s (see chapter 6.2.1). GPRS: packet-switching2 data service at bitrates up to 171.2 kbit/s (see chapter 6.2.2).

EXTRA SERVICES:

CALL OFFERING: diversion or forwarding services for incoming calls. Call Forwarding Unconditional (Service 21): if this form of call forwarding is activated, an incoming call is forwarded to a national or international number programmed by the subscriber. Call Forwarding on Mobile Subscriber Busy (Service 67): if the called subscriber is engaged, the next call is diverted to a pre-programmed number. Call Forwarding on No Reply (Service 61): forwarding of calls to a programmed a national or international number, if the called subscriber does not answer. The mobile subscriber can program delayed forwarding within a range of 5 to 30 seconds. Call Forwarding on Mobile Subscriber Not Reachable (Service 62): forwarding of calls to a programmed a national or international number, if the called subscriber is not reachable, i.e. when the device is not switched on or is in an area which is not covered.

CALL RESTRICTION: these services are restrictions or bars on incoming or outgoing calls. Pre-programming of the service concerned by the network operator and activation/deactivation by the mobile customer are necessary. Barring of All Outgoing Calls: all outgoing calls, national and international (apart from the emergency service) are barred. Barring of Outgoing International Calls: all outgoing international calls are barred. Barring of Outgoing International Calls except to the Home PLMN Country: barring as above, but if the mobile customer is abroad, he can make calls back to his home country. Barring of all Incoming Calls: all incoming calls are routed to a spoken text (e.g. "No calls can be received on this number at present"). Barring of all Incoming Calls when Roaming outside the Home PLMN: if the subscriber is abroad, incoming calls are not forwarded but routed to a spoken text (e.g. "No calls can be received on this number at present").

1 In circuit switching, the transmission channel is used exclusively by one application. The entire bandwidth of the channel is available exclusively to the application. 2 In the case of packet switching, one existing transmission channel is used simultaneously by multiple users. A virtual transmission channel is set up for each user. The available bandwidth of the channel is assigned statistically among the users, i.e. on the basis of requirements.

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CALL COMPLETION: These services provide enhanced facilities for call handling. Call Waiting: if a user is on a call and another call arrives, the called user is made aware of this other call. Call Hold: if a call is in progress, it can be put on hold in order to answer another call or set up another call. Often used together with "Call Waiting".

NUMBER IDENTIFICATION: these services make it possible for the network operator or the customer to identify the calling or called subscriber. Calling Line Identification Presentation (CLIP): the caller's number can be displayed to the called subscriber when an incoming call is received. Calling Line Identification Restriction (CLIR): allows a specific subscriber to prevent identification at the called user. Connected Line Identification Presentation (COLP): the number of the called subscriber is indicated to the calling subscriber. In the case of call forwarding or diversion, this may be different from the dialled number. Connected Line Identification Restriction (COLR): allows a specific subscriber to prevent indication of the called number to the calling subscriber.

LOCATION SERVICES: location services are used to determine the position of the handset within the mobile radio network. At present it is only possible to establish the cell in which a subscriber is located. By the end of 2001, with new location services, it will be possible to achieve a positioning accuracy (standard deviation) of 125 m. Location services can be used for various applications: determining a location in the case of emergency calls: in the case of an emergency call from a mobile phone, the emergency services can determine the position of the caller. This location service will be a legal requirement in the USA from 1 October 2001. location-based charging: operators have the possibility of making call charges dependent on the caller's geographical location. For example, lower charges can be imposed for calls from home or the office than elsewhere in the network (home and office zone calls). Commercial services: supervision of children; fleet management (e.g. optimisation of taxi journeys); finding the nearest hotel; finding the nearest restaurant or filling station; determining locations; navigation; identifying the location of stolen handsets , etc.

5
5.1

Environmental considerations
Protection from non-ionising radiation

Both base station transmitter antennas and handsets emit non-ionising radiation into the environment. As far the intensity of radiation from handsets is concerned, in Switzerland there are currently no legally binding protective provisions.

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Radiation from base stations, on the other hand, is limited by the decree on protection from non-ionising radiation (Verordnung ber den Schutz vor nichtionisierender Strahlung: NISV). The decree contains on the one hand requirements for individual items of equipment and on the other hand it also limits the total high-frequency radiation and thereby, indirectly, the use of the frequency spectrum. The decree states that the radiation from an individual mobile radio transmission installation at locations of sensitive use must not exceed the installation limit value. Sensitive locations are rooms inside buildings in which people are present for long periods, children's playgrounds as defined by planning law, and non built-up construction zones, where such types of use are permitted. The installation limit value is specified for the electrical field strength and for GSM900 equipment it is 4 V/m, for GSM1800 equipment 6 V/m and for equipment which transmits in both the 900 MHz band and the 1800 MHz band 5 V/m. The installation includes all transmitter antennas for mobile radio and wireless subscriber connections (WLL) which are located in close proximity. Compliance with the installation limit value is checked by the competent municipal or cantonal planning authority. For this purpose, for each transmitter installation which it wishes to construct, relocate or modify, the licensee completes a site data sheet which must contain technical specifications of the equipment and a prognosis of the radiation intensity in adjacent areas where people are present. This site data sheet is a component of the planning application and may be made available to the public by the planning authority. The (blank) "Site data sheet for mobile radio and WLL base stations" can be found on the BUWAL internet site (www.buwal.ch/luft/d/n0.htm ). To ensure that the installation limit value can be complied with, a certain separation between the transmitter installation and sensitive locations is essential. This separation depends greatly on the transmitter power and the radiating direction of the installation, as well as on the topographical conditions. For the total high-frequency radiation, including that emitted by broadcasting, professional and amateur radio equipment, the decree requires limitation at all locations where people may be present even for short periods. The relevant limits known as the immission limit values are seldom reached or exceeded, and even then only in the immediate vicinity of a transmitter installation. In the site data sheet, the licensee provides proof that the immission limit values will not be exceeded.

5.2

Protection of nature and the countryside, area planning

The construction of new telecommunications networks necessitates the establishment of new infrastructure e.g. antenna installations. In order to balance in practice the interests of building telecommunications networks and the associated provision of telecommunications services on the one hand and the interests of protection of nature and the countryside on the other, a working group of the Confederation and cantons (UVEK/BPUK) has been dealing with questions of co-ordinating the planning and building approval procedures for radio infrastructures, with the co-operation of the mobile network operators. The recommendations can be consulted on the OFCOM internet site (www.bakom.ch). In addition, within the framework of granting licences, operators' licences include obligations to co-use antenna sites outside building zones, as far as possible. In the case of construction of new sites, the legal requirements on area planning and protection of nature and the national heritage must be complied with. On 30.10.1998, the Federal Office for the Environment, Forests and the Countryside (BUWAL, Countryside Department) published a notice on consideration of the requirements for the protection of nature and the countryside and for forest conservation with regard to the

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construction of mobile radio antennas (www.buwal-landschaft.ch/d/planen/telekommunikation/grundsaetze_antennenbau.htm).

6
6.1

Technology
Traditional GSM

GSM is a fully digital system, i.e. all signals are transmitted digitally, even on the radio section. This allows combined use of GSM for voice and/or data. In addition, highly developed security measures against fraud and interception are integrated into the system. The connection between the mobile station (MS) and the base station (BTS) is termed the radio interface. Data is sent on the radio channel as short packets (burst), with these being inserted into frames of 8 time slots. During a call, an individual handset or base station occupies precisely one such slot on a specific carrier frequency, i.e. one logical channel. During the call, the transmitter is switched off approximately 217 times per second (see Figure 1). This channel access procedure is termed TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access). Normally, in one cell, multiple carrier frequencies with the TDMA structure shown in figure 1 are emitted from the base station. In each cell, the control channel is transmitted on a specific carrier frequency in the first time slot from the base station to the handsets. The other seven time slots on this carrier frequency can be used for calls. The control channel is used to transfer the network's system data to the handsets and to establish synchronisation between the base station and the handsets. This carrier is constantly transmitted by the base stations at full power, so that the handsets can find the cell when they are switched on, when they are roaming or during the handover. This carrier is transmitted at full power on all eight slots even when no calls are being made in the cell.

Sendertastung fr Kanal 1
1 TDMA-Rahmen (4,615 ms), entsprechend einer Pulswiederholrate von 217 Hz 1 Zeitschlitz (0,577 ms)

Kanal 1 Kanal 2 Kanal 3 Kanal 4 Kanal 5 Kanal 6 Kanal 7 Kanal 8 Kanal 1

Figure 1: GSM's TDMA channel access method.

The modulation procedure used is GMSK (Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying). This modulation technique has the major advantage that it allows relatively cheap transmitters to be used. The most important radio parameters of GSM are shown in Table 2 below.

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Table 2: Important radio parameters of GSM.

Parameter Channel pattern for carrier frequencies Frequencies for public GSM systems Value 200 kHz P-GSM900 (2 x 125 carrier frequencies): Handset sends (uplink): 890 - 915 MHz Base station sends (downlink): 935 - 960 MHz E-GSM900 (additional 2 x 50 carrier frequencies to P-GSM900): Handset sends (uplink): 880 - 915 MHz Base station sends (downlink): 925 - 960 MHz GSM1800 (2 x 374 carrier frequencies): Handset sends (uplink): 1,710 - 1,785 MHz Base station sends (downlink): 1,805 - 1,880 MHz Duplex spacing Base station transmitting power GSM900: GSM1800: 45 MHz 95 MHz

The radiated transmitting power is of the order of 1 W up to several hundred W ERP per high-frequency carrier. As a rule, several high-frequency carriers are operated on one base station. GSM900: GSM1800: Handset: Base station: Duplex TDMA GMSK (BT = 0.3) 270,833 kbit/s 22.8 kbit/s 2W 1W -102 dBm -104 dBm

Maximum handset transmitting power (typical) Reception sensitivity, dynamic Mode Channel access method Modulation Channel bit rate Maximum data rate, non-protected (gross bit rate) This data rate corresponds to the net data rate (see below) plus the error protection (channel coding) on the air interface Net data rates (with different channel codings) This data rate is available to the subscriber or for the application Range

TCH/F2.4: TCH/F4.8: TCH/F9.6: TCH/F14.4: approx. 30 km

2.4 kbit/s 4.8 kbit/s 9.6 kbit/s 14.4 kbit/s

One important element for digital speech transmission on the GSM air interface is the speech encoder/decoder in the handset. The analogue speech signal from the microphone is sampled 800 times per second and converted into a digital signal. This signal is fed to the speech encoder which codes this signal at the basic rate of 13 kbit/s. This signal is then transmitted across the air interface by adding the channel coding (error protection on the air interface) at the gross bit rate of 22.8 kbit/s.

6.2

The new HSCSD, GPRS and EDGE data services

In order to meet the demand for distinctly higher data rates than the 9.6 kbit/s originally provided by GSM, the GSM system has been fundamentally extended. The principle of these new functionalities of HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is trunking: multiple slots (see Figure 1, page 7) are allocated to a specific call. The data rates of the individual users can therefore be increased substantially. In addition to trunking, at the same time new channel codings (transmission protection in the air interface) and in the case of EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) a new modulation technique are also being introduced. This enables the maximum possible data rate on the air interface to be adapted optimally to the reigning transmission conditions (interference, distance between base station and mobile, etc.).

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The average transmitting power of the mobile during a call is increased as a result of trunking on the uplink, i.e. by the simultaneous occupancy of multiple slots by the user. 6.2.1 HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data) As the name indicates, HSCSD is a circuit-switched data service. With HSCSD, up to four slots of a carrier can be occupied by a single user. Since the net data rate per slot is 9.6 kbit/s or 14.4 kbit/s depending on the channel coding, up to 57.6 kbit/s are available for the individual users (see Table 3). This data service is relatively simple to incorporate into existing GSM networks, because the current GSM core network is already prepared for 64 kbit/s circuit-switched data services. However, subscribers do need new handsets or plug-in computer cards. 6.2.2 GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) With the packet-switched GPRS service, data signalling rates up to 171.2 kbit/s are theoretically possible. However, optimal propagation conditions must exist to achieve these rates. The foreseeable signalling rates in real networks at least in the initial phase are far below this theoretical upper limit. Today (early 2001) data rates of approximately 40 kbit/s are offered in practice, i.e. 'only' three channels or rather slots are trunked with channel coding CS-2 (see Table 3) for a specific call. The limiting factor in this context are the handsets. With GPRS, instead of making a channel exclusively available to a subscriber for the entire duration of a call, the capacity of the radio channel is utilised only when data actually exists for transmission. This increases the spectrum efficiency of the system. Network capacity is therefore a resource which is available to all users simultaneously and at any time. New models can also be introduced for charging. For example, a user can always be logically connected to a server (always-on), but only pays for the data which is actually physically transmitted (charging by volume). The time-consuming call set-up and disconnection procedures are therefore eliminated. This always-on principle with GPRS extends GSM to the mobile internet. As with HSCSD, for GPRS new handsets or plug-in computer cards also have to be introduced. Unlike HSCSD, new elements are also required for GPRS in the fixed network in order to support packet-switched services. The mobile radio networks will be able to handle the new GPRS services in the course of 2001. The GSM Association an association of GSM network operators expects GPRS to be introduced in the first half of 2001 in more than 100 networks. 6.2.3 EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) The introduction of EDGE, which is expected to take place from early 2002, promises a further increase in all data rates by a factor of three, thanks to an improved modulation technique (8-PSK). EDGE will probably be used predominantly in conjunction with GPRS (see above). These services will de designated EGPRS (Enhanced GPRS). The advantages of the types of modulation and channel coding used by EDGE can also be exploited together with HSCSD (see above). In this context the term ECSD (Enhanced Circuit Switched Data) is used. It offers the possibility of achieving the maximum data rate of 57.6 kbit/s with less than four slots. In the case of the circuit-switched services, this is the maximum data rate, which is limited by the capabilities of the fixed network. It is currently not possible to judge definitively whether EDGE or EGPRS will actually be introduced. The opinions of the system suppliers and network operators are divided on this question.

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Table 3: Examples of data rates of HSCSD, GPRS and EDGE (ECSD and EGPRS).
Service HSCSD (circuit-switched) GPRS (packet-switched) Channel coding TCH/F9.6 GMSK TCH/F14.4 CS-1 (Code rate 0.5) CS-2 (Code rate 0.67) GMSK CS-3 (Code rate 0.75) CS-4 (Code rate 1) ECSD (EDGE) (circuit-switched) EGPRS (EDGE) (packet-switched) Comments: a) In the case of the circuit-switched services, the maximum data rate on the air interface is 57.6 kbit/s. TCH/F28.8 8-PSK TCH/F43.2 MSC-5 (Code rate 0.37) 8-PSK MSC-9 (Code rate 1) 59.2 kbit/s 8 x 59.2 kbit/s = 473.6 kbit/s 43.2 kbit/s 22.5 kbit/s 15.6 kbit/s 21.4 kbit/s 28.8 kbit/s 8 x 15.6 kbit/s = 124.8 kbit/s 8 x 21.4 kbit/s = 171.2 kbit/s 2 x 28.8 kbit/s = 57.6 kbit/s a) 1 x 43.2 kbit/s = 43.2 kbit/s a) 8 x 22.5 kbit/s = 180 kbit/s 14.4 kbit/s 9.05 kbit/s 13.4 kbit/s 4 x 14.4 kbit/s = 57.6 kbit/s 8 x 9.05 kbit/s = 72.4 kbit/s 8 x 13.4 kbit/s = 107.2 kbit/s Modulation Net data rate per slot 9.6 kbit/s Maximum data rate 4 x 9.6 kbit/s = 38.4 kbit/s

Frequencies

The GSM mobile radio system is operated in two frequency bands: in the 900 MHz frequency band (GSM900) and in the 1800 MHz frequency band (GSM18003). All possible bands for public GSM mobile radio networks are shown in Table 2 on page 8. Basically, 2 x 35 MHz are available in the 900 MHz band and 2 x 75 MHz in the 1800 MHz band for public mobile radio systems. "2 x" means that the respective bandwidth is available both on the uplink (from the mobile to the base station) and on the downlink (from the base station to the mobile). In Switzerland, however, these bands are not yet available in their entirety: in the 1800 MHz band 2 x 25 MHz will be occupied by other services until 2002 and in the 900 MHz band a range of 2 x 2.8 MHz (incl. guard band) will remain reserved until the end of 2005 for the CT1+ cordless telephone system (see Figure 2).

CT1+

GSM900

CT1+

GSM1800
Uplink
25 MHz

Uplink

Downlink

Downlink

25 MHz

35 MHz 880 915 925

35 MHz 960 MHz 1710

75 MHz 1785 1805

75 MHz 1880 MHz

In der Schweiz momentan noch nicht fr GSM verfgbar

Figure 2: Frequencies for GSM in Switzerland.

3 GSM in the 1800 MHz frequency band was originally introduced under the name DCS1800 (Digital Cellular System at 1800 MHz). Since this system apart from the frequencies has the same functionalities as GSM900, the name was changed to GSM1800 in 1997.

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Networks

The most important GSM network elements are shown in Figure 3. The MSC (Mobile Switching Centre) is the heart of the mobile radio system. It performs routing and switching of calls from origination to destination. The MSC is connected to other MSCs on the same network or other GSM networks and is the switching centre to the public network. The two important databases, HLR and VLR, store information on subscribers. The main function of the BSC (Base Station Controller) is to manage the data for mobility. A mobile subscriber can move at will from the area of one radio cell to the area of any other cell. This procedure, during which the user perceives no interruption in his call, is termed the handover. The BTS (Base Transceiver Station) is primarily responsible for sending and receiving radio signals from and to the mobiles.

Luftschnittstelle

HLR

VLR

MS

BTS

Abis

BSC

MSC
A Abis BTS BSC MSC HLR VLR ISDN MS PSTN Schnittstelle zwischen MSC und BSC Schnittstelle zwischen BTS und BSC Base Transceiver Station - Basisstation Base Station Controller - Kontrolleinrichtung der Basisstation Mobile Switching Center - Zentrale fr Mobiltelefonie Home Location Register - Heimteilnehmerdatenbank Visitor Location Register - Besucherteilnehmerdatenbank Integrated Services Digital Network Mobilstation (Handy) Public Switched Telephone Network

ISDN / PSTN

Figure 3: Network configuration of GSM with the most important interfaces (highly simplified).

GSM mobile radio networks are constructed as cellular networks. A cellular system is designed as a honeycomb of contiguous radio cells which together guarantee the coverage of a given area. This means that mobile users are free to move within a network area without logging on and off the network and without any perceivable interruption in calls. The cell radius depends on the topology, traffic density and transmitting power and typically varies from a few hundred metres to a few kilometres.

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Abbreviations
1G 2G 3G 8-PSK AMPS BPUK BT BTS BUWAL ComCom CT1+ ECSD EDGE EGPRS E-GSM ERP ETSI GMSK GPRS GSM HLR HSCSD ISDN MS MSC NISV NMT OFCOM P-GSM PLMN PSTN SMS TACS TCH/F TDMA UMTS UVEK VLR WLL First generation mobile radio systems (e.g. TACS, C 450, NMT) Second generation mobile radio systems (e.g. GSM) Third generation mobile radio systems (e.g. UMTS) 8 Phase Shift Keying Advanced Mobile Phone Service Swiss Conference of Directors of Planning and Environmental Protection Relative filter bandwidth Base Transceiver Station (base station) Federal Office for the Environment, Forest and the Countryside Federal Communications Commission Cordless Telephone (885-887 MHz paired with 930-932 MHz) Enhanced Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD plus EDGE) Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution Enhanced GPRS (GPRS plus EDGE) Extended GSM900 band (includes P-GSM900 band) Effective Radiated Power European Telecommunications Standards Institute Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying General Packet Radio Service Global System for Mobile communications Home Location Register High Speed Circuit Switched Data Integrated Services Digital Network Mobile station (handset) Mobile Switching Centre Decree on protection from non-ionising radiation Nordic Mobile Telephone Federal Office of Communications Standard or Primary GSM900 band Public Land Mobile Network Public Switched Telephone Network Short Message Service Total Access Communications System Full rate Traffic Channel Time Division Multiple Access Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Federal Department for the Environment, Traffic, Energy and Communications Visitor Location Register Wireless Local Loop