SMART Communications, Inc.

SYSTRA


Introduction to GSM
There was an increasing need for telecommunication services which prompted CEPT to
specify a common mobile system for Western Europe later to be called GSM ( Global
System for Mobile )

GSM later on spread throughout Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

GSM system primary requirements:
1. There should be several network operators in each country to encourage
competition.
2. The GSM system must be an open system.

3. The GSM network must be built without causing any major modifications
to the existing Public Switched Telephone Networks ( PSTN ).
Advantages of GSM
Efficient use of radio frequencies and more tolerant to interference.
Quality of speech is better than analog systems.
Data transmission is supported.
Speech is encrypted and subscriber information security is guaranteed.
New services can be offered due to compatibility with ISDN system.
International roaming is possible.
Competition and large market results in lower prices.
Traffic Management
Objectives
Name the three subsystems of GSM.
Explain the mobility concept ( handover,
location update, paging ).
Describe how mobile originated and mobile
terminated calls are handled in GSM.


GSM subsystems
BSC
MSC
VLR
GMSC
HLR
NMS
MS
BSS
NSS
Air
A
O&M
A-bis
NSS Functions:
1. Mobility Management
2. Subscriber Data Handling
3. Signalling ( towards other
network elements )
4. Call Control
5. Charging
6. Locating a subs for mobile
terminated calls.
GSM subsystems
BSC
MSC
VLR
GMSC
HLR
NMS
MS
BSS
NSS
Air
A
O&M
A-bis
BSS Functions:
1. Radio Path Control, BTS and
TC control, Sync with MSC.
2. Air and A interface signalling,
Connection establishment.
3. Mobility management,
Speech Transcoding
4. Collection of Statistical data
GSM subsystems
BSC
MSC
VLR
GMSC
HLR
NMS
MS
BSS
NSS
Air
A
O&M
A-bis
NMS Functions:
1. Fault Management
2. Configuration Management
3. Performance Management
MSISDN = CC +NDC +SN

CC = Country Code
NDC = National Destination Code
SN = Subscriber #

IMSI = MCC + MNC + MSIN ( fixed 15 digits )

MCC = Mobile Country Code
MNC = Mobile Network Code
MSIN = Mobile Subscriber Identification #

LAI = MCC + MNC + LAC

MCC = Mobile Country Code (of visiting country)
MNC = Mobile Network Code(of serving PLMN)
LAC = Location Area Code
BTS
1
BSC
1
MSC
VLR1
MSC
VLR2
LAI 1
MS
B
First time Location Update (1)
Loc Up
HLR
IMSI Request
IMSI
HLR DB
MSISDN IMSI VLR Address Sub. Data
63+918+9499247 310+02+1234567890 vlr2 services
Loc Up + TMSI
Authen
BTS
1
BSC
1
MSC
VLR1
MSC
VLR2
LAI 1
MS
B
Generic Location Update
TMSI + LAI
HLR
Loc Up + new TMSI
TMSI
IMSI
Security Info
Subscriber Info
Update
Del old
data
Authentication
MS
BSS MSC VLR HLR
LOCATION UPDATE REQUEST
REQUEST SUBS ID
SEND SUBS ID
REQUEST SUBS INFO
SEND SUBS INFO
AUTHENTICATION
AUTHENTICATION RESPONSE
HLR UPDATE
PSTN
BTS
1
BSC
1
MSC
VLR1
MSC
VLR2
HLR
HLR
Enquiry

HLR DB
MSISDN IMSI VLR Address Sub. Data
63+918+9499247 310+02+1234567890 vlr2 services
VLR DB
IMSI MSRN LAI DATA
310+02+1234567890 1 services
LAI 1
MSRN
POOL
MS
B
IMSI
A
B
Call Establishment (PSTNO-MT)
MSISDN
MSISDN (B)
CC+ NDC + SN
63 918 9499247
IMSI = MCC+MNC+MSIN
MSRN = CC+NDC+SN
MSISDN
PSTN
BTS
1
BSC
1
MSC
VLR1
MSC
VLR2
LAI 1
MS
A
B
Call Establishment (MO-PSTNT)
MSISDN
MSISDN (A)
CC+ NDC + SN
63 2 5113580
HLR
VLR DB
IMSI MSRN LAI Services
2 Speech
BTS
1
BTS
2
BSC
2
BSC
1
MSC
VLR1
MSC
VLR2
HLR
HLR Enquiry
LAI 1
LAI2
MSRN
MS
MS
B
IMSI
B
C
Call Establishment (MO-MT)
MSISDN
MSISDN (C)
CC+ NDC + SN
63 918 9499247
IMSI = MCC+MNC+MSIN
MSRN = CC+NDC+SN
MSISDN
HLR DB
MSISDN IMSI VLR Address Sub. Data
63+918+9499247 310+02+1234567890 vlr1 services
Handover (1)
MSC/VLR 1
MSC/VLR 2
BSC1
BSC2
BSC3
BTS4
BTS3
BTS2
BTS1
PSTN
HLR
A
B
Measurement Report
Handover (2)
MSC/VLR 1
MSC/VLR 2
BSC1
BSC2
BSC3
BTS4
BTS3
BTS2
BTS1
PSTN
HLR
B
A
I am OK
Handover (3)
MSC/VLR 1
MSC/VLR 2
BSC1
BSC2
BSC3
BTS4
BTS3
BTS2
BTS1
PSTN
HLR
B
A
Measurement Report
Handover (4)
MSC/VLR 1
MSC/VLR 2
BSC1
BSC2
BSC3
BTS4
BTS3
BTS2
BTS1
PSTN
HLR
B
A
I am OK
Handover (5)
MSC/VLR 1
MSC/VLR 2
BSC1
BSC2
BSC3
BTS4
BTS3
BTS2
BTS1
PSTN
HLR
B
A
Measurement Report
Handover (6)
MSC/VLR 1
MSC/VLR 2
BSC1
BSC2
BSC3
BTS4
BTS3
BTS2
BTS1
PSTN
HLR
B
A
I am OK
Handover (7)
MSC/VLR 1
MSC/VLR 2
BSC1
BSC2
BSC3
BTS4
BTS3
BTS2
BTS1
PSTN
HLR
B
A
Review Questions
1. Which is the following does not contain subscriber data?

a) HLR
b) VLR
c) MSC
d) SIM
2. The format of IMSI is:

a) CC + NDC + SN
b) MCC + MNC + MSIN
c) MCC + MNC + LAC
d) Operator specific 32 bit number
3. The three subsystem of GSM are:

a) NMS, PSTN, MS
b) NMS, BSS, MS
c) NSS, BSS, MS
d) NSS, BSS, NMS
4. Which of the following will result in a HLR Enquiry?

a) PSTN originated PSTN terminated call
b) Mobile originated PSTN terminated call
c) PSTN originated Mobile terminated call
d) None of the above
5. A Location area

1. Is a geographical area under one BSC.
2. Is equal to one MSC area.
3. Is equal to one cell.
4. Is identified by a unique Location Area Identity.
6. Which of the following combination best describes the BSS.

1. BSC, TC, BTS
2. MS, BSC, BTS
3. TC, Submultiplexer, BTS
4. BSC, BTS, MS
7. The BSS

1. Is responsible for radio network control.
2. Is located between Air and A interfaces.
3. Gets synchronization from MSC
4. All of the above.
8. Name two reasons for performing a handover.

9. Name 4 different handover cases.
Transmission
Objectives
Differentiate between physical and logical
channels.
List and describe the twelve different types of
logical channels and their functions.
Describe how air interface properties affect
the transmission of speech between MS and
network and explain GSM solutions to these
problems.
Describe the main function of transcoders.
List 3 BSC/BTS connections.

ACCESS METHODS
FDMA CDMA TDMA
Frequency Division Code Division Time Division
f1
f2
f3
4}4}
4 4 4

} } }
*+4^==*+4^=
******
4444444
========
TDMA is used
in GSM system
FRAME STRUCTURE
1 TDMA Frame = 8 TDMA Time Slots
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
4.615 ms
Tail Data F Training Data F Tail
Or Speech
Flag
3
000
57
1
26 1 57 3
Burst 148 bits
156.25 bits 0.577 ms
Basic TDMA frame, timeslot and burst structure
F D T T T T T T
S D T T T T T T
B D T T T T T T
B D T T T T T T
B D T T T T T T
B D T T T T T T
C D T T T T T T
C D T T T T T T
C D T T T T T T
C D T T T T T T
F D T T T T T T
S D T T T T T T
C D A T A T A T
C D T T T T T T
C D T T T T T T
C D T T T T T T
TS0 TS1 TS2 TS3 TS4 TS5 TS6 TS7
4.615 ms
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1 Frame
(Downlink - BTS transmit)
1 carrier = 200 kHz
F = FCCH
S = SCH
B = BCCH
C = PCH or
AGCH
D = SDCCH
A = SACCH
T = TCH
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D A I A I A I
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
R D T T T T T T
TS0 TS1 TS2 TS3 TS4 TS5 TS6 TS7
4.615 ms
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1 Frame
(Uplink - Mobile transmit)
1 carrier = 200 kHz
R = RACH
A = SACCH
T = TCH
LOGICAL CHANNELS
On every physical channel, a number of
logical channels are mapped. Each logical
channel is used for a specific purpose.

11 Logical Channels in the GSM system:
2 are used for Traffic
9 are used for Control Signaling
LOGICAL CHANNELS
TRAFFIC CHANNELS (TCH)
Full Rate Channel
Half Rate Channel
CONTROL CHANNELS (with horrible abbreviations!)
Broadcast Channels (BCH)
Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)
Synchronization Channel (SCH)
Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)
Common Control Channels (CCCH)
Paging Channel (PCH)
Random Access Channel (RACH)
Access Grant Channel (AGCH)
Dedicated Control Channels (DCCH)
Stand alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)
Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)
Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)
Hey! Dont shout
at me, lower your
power...
BROADCAST CHANNELS
all downlink!
FCCH
SCH TDMA#BSIC...
BCCH
Hey. Im a
GSM xmitter!
GSM?
GSM!!!
LAneigborscell infomax power...
Okok
COMMON CONTROL CHANNELS
PCH downlink only
Hello! You have a call.
RACH uplink only
Hello! I have to set
up a call.
I need SDCCH.
AGCH downlink only
Ok. Use SDCCH.
DEDICATED CONTROL CHANNELS
uplink and downlink
SDCCH
SACCH
timing advance
MS power

FACCH

handover
On SDCCH:
-call set up signaling
-location updating
-periodic registration
-IMSI attach/detach
-SMS
-facsimile
etc..

On SACCH
-mobile transmits signal
strength on ncell quality
Dont shout
at me/
I cant hear
you.
FADINGS
signal level (dB)
log (distance)
global mean value
log normal fading
local mean value
slow fading
shadowing
long-term fading
rayleigh fading
fast fading
short-term fading
so many names
to make life
worst!
FAST FADING
signal level (dB)
log (distance)
present due to the fact that the mobile antenna is lower
than the surrounding structures such as trees and buildings.
( Multipath propagation )
peak-to-peak distance is ~ lambda/2 (in GSM ~ 17 cm)
affects the signal quality and can lead to signal level below
the receiver sensitivity.

SOLUTIONS:
use more power at the transmitter (providing a fading
margin).
use space diversity.
SLOW FADING
signal level (dB)
log (distance)
if we smooth out the fast fading, the signal variation
received is called the local mean or the slow fading.
caused by obstructions near the mobile such as
buildings, bridges and trees and this may cause a rapid
change of the local mean (in the range of 5 to 50 meters).
( Shadowing )
because slow fading reduces the average strength
received, the total coverage from the transmitter is reduced.

SOLUTION:
fading margin must be used.
Concept of Multiplexing
Network Planning
Objectives
List the main steps of the radio network
planning process.
Define the main radio network parameters.
Explain how frequencies are reused.


THE CELL PLANNING PROCESS
Traffic and Coverage Analysis
Nominal Cell Plan
Surveys
System Design
Implementation
System Tuning
TRAFFIC DATA
Based on ERICSSON
Initial Planning System Growth
THE CELL PLANNING PROCESS
Traffic and Coverage Analysis
Nominal Cell Plan
Surveys
System Design
Implementation
System Tuning
TRAFFIC DATA
Based on ERICSSON
Initial Planning System Growth
geographical area.
expected need of
capacity.
cell pattern on a map.
coverage & interference
prediction.
visit sites where
radio equipment
will be placed.
perform radio
measurements.
dimensioning of the
rbs equipment, BSC & MSC.
CDD is filled out.
system
installation,
commissioning
and testing are performed.
continually evaluated to
determine how well it meets
the demand.
CHANNEL PLANNING
CELL PLANNING
The simplest solution to a
cell planning problem is to
have one cell and use all
available carriers in that
cell.
1 cell
24 carriers
f1 - f24
CELL PLANNING
A cellular system is based
upon re-use of the same set
of carriers, which is obtained
by dividing the area needing
coverage into smaller areas
(cells) which together form
clusters.
f1
f1
f1
f1
24
24
24
24
RE-USE PATTERNS
Re-using the carrier frequencies according to well-proven
re-use patterns , neither co-channel interference nor
adjacent channel interference should become a problem,
if the cells have homogenous propagation properties for
the radio waves.
The re-use patterns recommended
for GSM are:
4/12 pattern
3/9 pattern

4/12 means that there are 4 three
sector sites supporting 12 cells
4/12 RE-USE PATTERN
3/9 RE-USE PATTERN
Thank you very much . . .


from Smart Communications