Global System for

Mobile
Communications

GSM
 WHAT IS GSM?
• GSM is a standard for a Global System for
Mobile communications.
• A mobile phone system based on multiple
radio cells.
• is completed by ETSI, the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute.
 Two main standards are followed:
• GSM 900 (global system for mobile
communications in the 900 MHz band)
• DCS 1800 (digital cellular system for the 1800
MHz band)
GSM System Specifications (900 MHz Band)
•Frequency Band Uplink: 890 MHz to 915 MHz.
Downlink: 935 MHz to 960MHz.
•Duplex Distance 45 MHz
•Carrier Separation 200 KHz
•Modulation GMSK
•Transmission rate 270Kbps.
•Access Method TDMA
•Speech Coder RPE LPC 13kbit/s
•Diversity Channel Coding
Interleaving
 GSM System Specifications(1800 MHz Band)

•Frequency Band Uplink: 1710 MHz to 1785 MHz.

Downlink:1805MHz to1880
MHz.
•Duplex Distance 95 MHz
•Carrier Separation 200 KHz
•Modulation GMSK
•Transmission rate 270Kbps.
•Access Method TDMA
•Speech Coder RPE LPC 13kbit/s
•Diversity Channel Coding
Interleaving
 GSM - Basic Building Blocks
• Mobile Station (MS)
• Base Stations (BS)
• Mobile Services Switching Centers (MSC)
• Operation and Maintainance Center (OMC)
The GSM System Model
 Basic Building Blocks of Mobile Telephony

MSC OMC

Base
Mobile Mobile Service Operation and
Station Database
Station Switching Center Maintenance
Center
GSM Network Areas
MSC/VLR Service Area
Location Area (LA)
 GSM Network Identities

1. Mobile Station ISDN Number (MSISDN)

MSISDN=CC+ NDC +SN

Here CC= Country Code

NDC= National Destination Code
SN= Subscriber Number

The Maximum length is of 15 Digits

 2. International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI)

The IMSI is the information which uniquely identifies a subscriber in a GSM PLMN.

For the correct identification over the radio path and through the GSM PLMN network, a
specific identity is attached to each subscriber. This Identity is called IMSI.
stored in the SIM card, HLR, VLR.

IMSI=MCC+MNC+MSIN

Here MCC=Mobile Country Code(3 Digits)

MNC=Mobile Network Code(2 Digits)
MSIN=Mobile Subscriber Identification Number(10 Digits)
3. Mobile Station Roaming Number (MSRN)

a temporary network identity which is assigned during the establishment of

a call to a roaming subscriber.

MSRN= CC+ NDC +SN (Country Code

+ National Destination Code
+ Subscriber No)
 4. Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI)

Temporary IMSI number made known to an MS at registration.

It is used to protect the subscriber's identity on the air interface

5. International Mobile Station Equipment Identity (IMEI)

IMEI is used to uniquely identify MS equipment to the network.

IMEI consists of = TAC +FAC + SNR +SP

TAC-Type Approval Code (6 Digits) determined by the central GSM body.

FAC-Final assembly code (2 Digits) - Identifies the manufacturer.
SNR- Serial Number (6 Digits) – An individual serial number of 6 digits
uniquely identifying all equipment within
each TAC and FAC.
SP- Spare for Future use
5.Base Station Identity Code (BSIC)

enables MS's to distinguish between different base stations sending on

the same frequency.

BSIC = NCC + BCC

NCC- Network Color Code (3 Bits) - identifies

the GSM PLMN.

BCC- Base Station Color Code (3 Bits) -

identifies the Base station to help in identifying
the BTSs using same BCCH frequencies
 Physical and Logical Channels

Each timeslot on a TDMA frame is called a Physical Channel.

Physical channels can be used to transmit speech, data or signaling
information.

A physical channel may carry different messages, depending on the

information that is to be sent. These messages are called Logical
Channels.
Logical Channels
Location Update – Basic Steps
 Call Flow

1. Originating Call Flow

2. Terminating Call Flow
 Short Message Service (SMS) Traffic Cases

1.MOBILE ORIGINATED SMS

2.MOBILE TERMINATED SMS
IP Networks
Overview
 Networking Basics

Network Topology