GSM AIR INTERFACE

1
GSM Air Interface

Objectives:
At the end of this module, the student is able to:
• Explain the difference between physical and logical channels
• List and describe at least nine different types of logical channels and their
functions with the help of their abbreviations
• Name two problems in the Air Interface and suggest one way of decreasing
each of these problems
• Describe the main function of the transcoder
• List three Base Station Controller (BSC) / Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
connections
• List five steps in the radio network planning process
• Explain how frequencies are reused in a GSM network
• Name at least one advantage with a sectorised Base Transceiver Station
compared with an omnidirectional BTS
• Name three sources of information that can be used when monitoring the
network's performance

2
GSM frequency allocations

890 MHz 915 MHz 935 MHz 960 MHz

GSM-900 Uplink Downlink

1710 MHz 1785 MHz 1805 MHz 1880 MHz

GSM-1800 Uplink Downlink

3
Carrier frequency range

GSM 1800
GSM 900 Uplink: 1710 - 1785 Mhz
Uplink: 890 - 915 Mhz Downlink: 1805 - 1880 Mhz
Downlink: 935 - 960 Mhz
Carrier pairs (in Mhz)
Carrier pairs (in Mhz) 1710.0 1805.0
890.0 935.0 1710.2 1805.2
890.2 935.2 1710.4 1805.4
890.4 935.4 .... ....
.... .... .... ....
.... .... 1784.8 1879.8
914.8 959.8 1785.0 1880.0
915.0 960.0 124 carriers Duplex frequency = 95 374 Mhz carriers
Duplex frequency = 45 Mhz

4
Principle of Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

TSL 7
TSL 6

TimeSLot 0
TSL 5
TSL 1
TSL 3 TSL 2 BTS
TSL 4

5
GSM frequency bands

• GSM 450
UL: 450,4 – 457,6 MHz and DL: 460,4 – 467,6 MHz
• GSM 480
UL: 478,8 – 486 MHz and DL: 488,8 – 496 MHz
• GSM 700
UL: 747 – 762 MHz and DL: 777 – 792 MHz
• GSM 850
UL: 824 – 849 MHz and DL: 869 – 894 MHz
• GSM 900 (standard GSM, P-GSM, Primary GSM)
UL: 890 – 915 MHz and DL: 935 – 960 MHz
Extended GSM 900 (E-GSM; only in combination with GSM 900)
UL: 880 – 915 MHz and DL: 925 – 960 MHz
• Railway GSM 900 (R-GSM; in combination with GSM)
UL: 876 – 880 MHz and DL: 921 – 925 MHz
• GSM 1800 (DCS 1800)
UL: 1710 – 1785 MHz and DL: 1805 – 1880 MHz
• GSM 1900 (PCS 1900)
UL: 1850 – 1910MHz and DL: 1930 – 1990 MHz

6
Modulation techniques

Digital signal 0 1 0

Frequency modulation

Amplitude modulation

7
Phase modulation

Example: Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK)

Digital signal 1 1

00 phase shift
=> Interpretation

Phase modulation

1800 phase shift

=> Interpretation
duration of one bit duration of one bit

Digital signal 1 0

8
Phase modulation

Digital signal 0 1 1 0

Phase modulation

3.69s

0 0 0 0
-90 +90 +90 -90

9
GMSK – Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying

• Phase changes of +/- 90 degrees for bit changes (new bit values)
• The phase change is done gradually over a small time period, meaning
that:

 The change is not as abrupt as in BPSK

 The Mobile Station causes less inter-frequency interference

• In GSM, one bit duration is 3.69 s (0.00000369 seconds).

10
Logistical problem

8 seats in each vehicle

11
Number of channels required during call set-up (1)

• Channel to transmit information to help the mobile station

to tune into the network.
• Channel to transmit synchronisation information.
• Channel to transmit information about the network to help
the mobile know about the frequencies being used in its
cell as well as in surrounding cells.

TDMA Frame
BTS
Sync.
Information

BTS

12
Number of channels required during call set-up (2)

• Channel to transmit mobile station’s request to initiate call

set-up.
• Channel to set up a call.
• Channel to transmit handover information.

TDMA Frame

Channel
allocation
Request
BTS

Traffic

13
Number of channels required during call set-up (3)

• Channel to page the called party.

• Channel to transmit measurements.
Conclusion: No channel left for conversation!
Solution: We must send more than one type of information
on a channel by sharing it.

TDMA Frame

Answer

BTS BTS
BTS Traffic
BTS
Paging

14
Logical channels

LOGICAL
LOGICAL
CHANNELS
CHANNELS

COMMON
COMMON DEDICATED
DEDICATED
CHANNELS
CHANNELS CHANNELS
CHANNELS

BROADCAST COMMON DEDICATED TRAFFIC

TRAFFIC
BROADCAST COMMON DEDICATED
CHANNELS CONTROL CONTROL CHANNELS
CHANNELS
CHANNELS CONTROL CONTROL
CHANNELS
CHANNELS CHANNELS
CHANNELS

FCCH
FCCH SCH
SCH BCCH
BCCH SDCCH
SDCCH SACCH
SACCH FACCH
FACCH

PCH
PCH RACH
RACH AGCH
AGCH TCH/F
TCH/F TCH/H
TCH/H TCH/EFR
TCH/EFR

15
Logical channels in TDMA frames

... 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ...
0 FCCH
1 SCH
2 BCCH
0 TCH/F
3 BCCH
1 TCH/F
4 BCCH
2 TCH/F
5 BCCH
51-Frame Multiframe

26-Frame Multiframe
3 TCH/F
...

...
PCH

...
...

11 TCH/F
AGCH
12 SACCH
. . .

...

13 TCH/F
FCCH

...
...

...
SCH
24 TCH/F
...

25 IDLE
SDCCH
...

SACCH
...

50 IDLE

16
Broadcast channels

Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)

– Pure sine wave.
– The MS searches for this channels to switch on.
– Downlink.

Synchronisation Channel (SCH)

– After locking to the frequency the MS synchronises
with the SCH.
– The SCH contains the BSIC of the BTS and the TDMA
frame number (used in encryption).

17
Broadcast channels

Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)

– Common information about the BTS:
– Used frequencies
– Frequency hopping sequence
– Channel combination
– Paging groups
– Surrounding cell information

18
Common control channels

Paging Channel (PCH)

– Used by BTS to page a mobile.
– A downlink channel only.
Random Access Channel (RACH)
– Used by the MS to request a dedicated control channel.
– Used for e.g. mobile originated calls.
– An uplink channel only.
Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
– Used by the BTS to assign a dedicated control channel.
– A downlink channel only.

19
Dedicated channels

Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)

– Bi-directional channel.
– Used for call set-up procedures, e.g. authentication.
– The traffic channel (TCH) is assigned by using SDCCH.
Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
– Associated with SDCCH and TCH.
– Measurement reports.
– MS power control.
– Timing alignment.
Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
– Associated with TCH.
– For quick control communication, e.g. handover.
– Physically replaces 20 ms of speech, “stealing mode”

20
Traffic channels

Full Rate
– Bi-directional channel.
– Used for speech or data transmission.
– User data bit rate 13 kbit/s.
Half Rate
– Bi-directional channel.
– Used for speech or data transmission.
– User data bit rate 5.6 kbit/s.
Enhanced Full Rate (EFR)
– Bi-directional channel.
– Used for high quality speech transmission.
– User data bit rate 12.2 kbit/s.

21
Bursts and time slots in the Air Interface

TDMA Time Slot

... TDMA Frame

...
BTS

Bursts from Mobile Stations 2Mbit/s to BSC

22
GSM burst types (1)

TDMA FRAME ~ 4.615 ms

576.9 µs

tail S training S tail guard

encrypted bits encrypted bits
bits B sequence B bits period
57 57 8,25 bits
3 1 26 1 3
NORMAL BURST

tail tail guard

fixed bits ("0")
bits bits period
142 8,25 bits
3 3
FREQUENCY CORRECTION BURST

23
GSM burst types (2)

tail extended training tail guard

encrypted bits encrypted bits period
bits sequence bits
39 39 8,25
3 64 3 bits

SYNCHRONISATION BURST

tail tail guard

mixed bits
bits bits period
142 8,25 bits
3 3
DUMMY BURST

ext. tail synchronisation tail

encrypted bits extended guard period
bits sequence bits
8 36 68,25 bits
41 3
ACCESS BURST

24
Burst types

• Frequency correction burst

Used to transmit the FCCH channel. No information.

• Synchronisation burst
Used to transmit synchronisation information.

• Access burst
Used to send RACH information.
RACH contains the first message from the MS to the BTS.
It has a long guard period to allow the BTS to calculate the MS distance from the BTS and to
provide timing advance information to the MS.

• Normal burst
Used to send all other logical channel information.

• Dummy burst
Used to fill up unused timeslots in the TRX, which transmits the BCCH channel.
No real information.

25
Multipath propagation

Approx.
17cm

RX sensitivity

BTS
Fading dips

Inter symbol interference Fading dips caused by

multipath propagation

26
Speech processing flow

Speech 13kbit/s
Digitising and Channel
source coding coding

22.8kbit/s

Interleaving
and ciphering

22.8kbit/s
Air
Interface 33.8kbit/s
GMSK TDMA burst
modulation formatting

27
Frequency hopping

F1

F2

F3

F4

Time

28
Antenna receiver diversity

Approx. 6m (GSM-900)
Approx. 3m (GSM-1800)

Received signal

Antennas

RX RX

Signal
Processing

29
Shadowing

BTS

Solution: Adaptive power control

30
Propagation delay and TA

allocated time slot allocated time slot

BTS BTS

Effect due to propagation delay Solution using adaptive frame alignment

31
BTS configurations

f1,f2, f3
BTS
BTS BTS

f1 f2

Omnidirectional BTS f1, f2

2 sectorised BTS

f5, f6 BTS

BTS
BTS

f3, f4

3 sectorised BTS

32
BSC - BTS connections

BSC BTS
Point to point connection

Multi drop chain

BTS BTS BTS

Multi drop loop

BTS BTS BTS

BTS BTS BTS

33
Pulse Code Modulation (PCM)

A/D-
300 - 3400 Hz 64000 bit / sec
Converte
r
Amplitude

o 8000 Hz x 8 Bit/s
o  64,000 Bit/s
o
o o o
o o

o
Time
1 o (8000 samples / second)
125 s o o
8000
o

34
PCM30

TS 0
used for synchronisation
32 time slots and alarms

TS 16
Exchange often used for common Exchange
channel signalling
1 2

125 µs time frame

35
Transcoder positions

MSC BSC TC BTS

64 kbps 64 kbps 13 kbps

Transcoder is at BTS site

BSC
MSC TC BTS

13 kbps
64 kbps 16 (13+3) kbps 16 (13+3) kbps

Transcoder is at MSC site

36
Transcoder positions

MSC BSC TC BTS

64 kbps 64 kbps 13 kbps

Transcoder is at BTS site

BSC
MSC TC BTS

13 kbps
64 kbps 16 (13+3) kbps 16 (13+3) kbps

Transcoder is at MSC site

37
Transcoder and Submultiplexer

TCSM (Transcoder / Submultiplexer)

MSC
TC
BSC
BTS
TC S
M
U
TC X

64 kbps 13 kbps
16 kbps

16 (13+3) kbps 16 kbps

38
Network Planning

39
Factors affecting network planning

• Intended coverage area

• Location of network elements (MSC, BSC, BTS)
• Quality of calls
• Maximum congestion allowed (grade of service)
• Capacity of the network
• Cost of the infrastructure
• Future development of the network

40
Cellular radio network planning

41
Network planning steps

• Collection of all relevant information

– Demography, penetration forecast, geographical extension forecast, services to be supported, market
segmentation
– Leased lines and microwave frequency availability,
connections with other networks (PSTN, Internet)
– Regulations and laws
– Numbering, addressing and routing principles
– Topographical maps
– Existing infrastructure.
• Network dimensioning based on coverage and capacity requirements.
• Selection of MSC, BSC and BTS sites.
• Survey of intended MSC, BSC and BTS sites.
• Use of a computer aided design system for coverage prediction,
interference analysis, microwave and frequency planning, etc.

42
Network planning steps

• Collection of all relevant information

– Demography, penetration forecast, geographical extension forecast, services to be supported, market
segmentation
– Leased lines and microwave frequency availability,
connections with other networks (PSTN, Internet)
– Regulations and laws
– Numbering, addressing and routing principles
– Topographical maps
– Existing infrastructure.
• Network dimensioning based on coverage and capacity requirements.
• Selection of MSC, BSC and BTS sites.
• Survey of intended MSC, BSC and BTS sites.
• Use of a computer aided design system for coverage prediction,
interference analysis, microwave and frequency planning, etc.

43
Switching network planning

Network dimensioning
• The performance level
• Switch and signalling network
diagrams
• Voice and signalling traffic matrixes
• Routing planning
• Protection planning
• List of equipment types
• Synchronisation and management
principles
Detailed planning
• Network diagram set
• Detailed routing plan
• Digit analysis
• A detailed signalling plan
• A detailed numbering plan
• A detailed charging plan
• DCN settings
• Synchronisation plan
• Source data

MSC / LE
Originating Outgoing

Terminating Incoming

44
Cellular transmission network planning
Network dimensioning
• The general transmission network
diagram for base stations access and
core networks in phases.
• The block diagrams showing capacity
requirements, media selection and
protection.
• General management network
principles with area definitions.
• Gateway and switching network
connections.
• Synchronisation principles for the
main network.
• Expansion plans including
guidelines for element switchovers.
Detailed planning
• Network layout diagram.
• Connections and capacities between
sites.
• Timeslot allocation of each link.
• Routing diagram.
• Branching and cross-connect tables.
• Equipment availability calculation.
• The exact synchronisation plan with
sources and hierarchy.
• The settings in the nodes.
• Management network diagram with
defined buses and addresses.
45
BTS configurations

f1,f2, f3
BTS
BTS BTS

f1 f2

Omnidirectional BTS f1, f2

2 sectorised BTS

f5, f6 BTS

BTS
BTS

f3, f4

3 sectorised BTS

46
Partial Erlang table

( calls per hour )  ( average conversation time )

x Erlangs 
3600 Seconds
Chs1% 2% 3% 5%
... ..... .... .... .....
15 8.11 9.01 9.65 10.60
16 8.88 9.83 10.50 11.50
17 9.65 10.70 11.40 12.50
18 10.40 11.50 12.20 13.40
19 11.20 12.30 13.10 14.30
20 12.00 13.20 14.00 15.20
21 12.80 14.00 14.90 16.20
22 13.70 14.90 15.80 17.10
.... ...... ...... ..... .....
.... ...... ...... ..... .....

47
Frequency reuse exercise

• • • •

• • • •

• • • • •

• • •

48
Frequency reuse patterns (3x3)

6 6
7 8 7 8
3 • 1 • 2 3 • 1 • 2
4 5 6 4 5
9 7 8 9
• 3 • 1 • 2 •
6 4 5 6
7 8 9 7 8
3 • 1 • 2 • 3 • 1 • 2
4 5 6 4 5
9 7 8 9

• 3 • 1 • 2
4 5
9

49
Network optimization and monitoring
• Grade of service
• Quality of service
• Present and future
demand
• Cost efficiency
 Customer feedback
 NMS / Performance
management
 Field tests
Need for continuous
monitoring, optimisation and
development of the network
Advantages /
Disadvantages
with each of these
50
Drive survey tool

51
 Review Questions to
„GSM Air Interface & Network
Planning“

52
Review

1. Duplex frequency means:

a) the difference between the uplink and downlink
frequency pair.
b) the uplink and downlink frequency pair.
c) twice the uplink or downlink frequency band.
d) GSM 900 and GSM 1800 frequency bands.
2.  The modulation scheme used in GSM is predominantly based on:

a) frequency modulation.
b) amplitude modulation.
c) phase modulation.
d) None of the above.

53
Review

3. Which of the following are dedicated channels?

a) FCCH, SCH, AGCH.
b) SDCCH, TCH, SACCH.
c) RACH, FACCH, TCH.
d) BCCH, SDCCH, SACCH.

4. The function of the AGCH is to:

a) inform the mobile station of the frequency hopping
sequence.
b) provide the mobile station the handover information.
c) inform the mobile station of a dedicated signalling channel.
d) transmit adaptive frame alignment information to the
mobile station.

54
Review

5. Short message service is transmitted in:

a) the SDCCH.
b) the SACCH.
c) both the SDCCH and the SACCH.
d) neither the SDCCH nor the SACCH.

6. Information about the frequency hopping sequence can be found in

the:

a) BCCH.
b) FCCH.
c) RACH.
d) AGCH.

55
Review

7. Inter symbol interference is caused by:

a) fading dips.
b) the Viterbi equaliser.
c) reflection.
d) interleaving.

8. Frequency hopping:

a) eliminates the problem of fading dips.

b) eliminates the problem of inter symbol interference.
c) is part of channel coding.
d) spreads the problem of fading dips to many mobile stations.

56
Review

9. Speech transcoding from 13 to 64 Kbits/s and vice versa is done by a

transcoder between which two points?

a) The BTS and the BSC at the BTS site.

b) The BTS and the BSC at the BSC site.
c) The BSC and the MSC at the MSC site.
d) All above are possible.

10. Which of the following are factors in network planning?

a) Intended coverage area.

b) Intended grade of service.
c) Cost of the network elements.
d) All of the above.

57
Review

12. Frequency reuse is done in GSM networks, because:

a) the number of available frequencies is lower than the
number of carrier channels needed for a financially viable
GSM network.
b) the spacing of 200 kHz between carriers instead of 25 kHz
(like in analogue networks) reduces the number of
frequencies.
c) it increases the number of subscribers.
It can be argued that,
d) None of the above is quite correct. in special cases,
this would
be a valid answer

58
Review

13. In a certain PLMN, an average subscriber makes five calls during office
hours (8 AM - 6 PM). It is known that in a certain cell area, there are
going be 1000 subscribers, at any given hour, during these office
hours. Assuming that a subscriber’s conversation lasts for 100 seconds,
how many TRXs are needed in this cell to provide a grade of service of
2%?
a) 2
b) 3
c) 4
d) There is not enough information given for an exact
answer.

59