GSM Association

Permanent Reference Document: CS.04 Unrestricted

PRD CS.04

Title A Guide to the World-Wide Digital Mobile

Communication System
Version 3.5.1
Date August 1998

GSM Association Classifications

Non-Binding
Security Classification Category:
Unrestricted - Public X

Information Category marketing

Unrestricted
This document is subject to copyright protection. The GSM MoU Association (“Association”) makes no representation, warranty or
undertaking (express or implied) with respect to and does not accept any responsibility for, and hereby disclaims liability for the
accuracy or completeness or timeliness of the information contained in this document. The information contained in this document may
be subject to change without prior notice. Access to and distribution of this document by the Association is made pursuant to the
Regulations of the Association.
© Copyright of the GSM MoU Association 1992

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Document History
Version Date Brief Description
3.5.1 August 1998 Document Classification Scheme

Changes Since Last Version

Table of Contents
1.
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………..3
1.1 Why do we need GSM?...............................................................................................3
2. COMMON STANDARDS................................................................................................3
2.1 ISDN(S)........................................................................................................................ 3
2.2 Digital Technology(S)...................................................................................................3
2.3 Spread of Service(S)....................................................................................................4
2.4 Spread of Frequency(S)...............................................................................................4
3. THE FEATURES OF GSM.............................................................................................4
3.1 Integrated Voice/Data(S)..............................................................................................4
3.2 Security(S).................................................................................................................... 4
3.3 Performance(S)............................................................................................................ 4
4. SERVICES OF GSM......................................................................................................5
4.1 Data Services(M).......................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Data Transmission(S)...................................................................................................6
4.3 Facsimile Group III(S)...................................................................................................6
4.4 Connection to Other Data Services: (S).......................................................................6
4.5 GSM Messaging (short message) Service(S)..............................................................6
4.6 Cell Broadcast(S).........................................................................................................6
5. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONS.......................................................................................6
5.1 Key(M).......................................................................................................................... 7
6. THE GSM NETWORKS.................................................................................................7
6.1 Mobile Services Switching Centre(s)............................................................................7
6.2 Databases(S)............................................................................................................... 7
6.3 Network Managements(S)............................................................................................8
6.4 Signalling and Interfaces(S).........................................................................................8
6.5 Base Station Controller................................................................................................8
6.6 Base Transceiver Station(S)........................................................................................8
7. RADIO............................................................................................................................ 8
7.1 Channel Coding(S).......................................................................................................9
7.2 Speech Coder(S).......................................................................................................... 9
7.3 Traffic and Signalling Channel(S)...............................................................................10
7.4 Security Features(S)..................................................................................................10
8. DATA SERVICES.........................................................................................................11
8.1 Data Transmission(S).................................................................................................11
8.2 Facsimile(S)................................................................................................................ 11
8.3 Connection to the ISDN(S).........................................................................................11
8.4 GSM Messaging Service(S).......................................................................................11
8.5 Cell Broadcast(S).............................................................................................................. 12
9. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................12
9.1 The Future has been Designed into GSM(M).............................................................12

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1. INTRODUCTION (M)

The explosion in demand for mobile communications in the last few years has stimulated
widespread availability of cellular telephony at affordable prices.
So why did we need a new system? This document gives the answers and describes
some of the revolutionary new features which are offered in the GSM networks.
It then goes on to illustrate some of the techniques used to provide a service to
increasingly sophisticated customers.

1.1 Why Do We Need GSM? (M)

For some years, many regions throughout the world have offered mobile (cellular)
services. The quality, capacity and area of coverage vary widely, but almost universally,
demand has outstripped supply.
However, these are using a variety of technical standards. Indeed, some regions have
offered a choice of network operators not always using the same technology.

2.COMMON STANDARDS(M)

This diversity of standards was perhaps acceptable locally, but is unhelpful when
subscribers "roam" between regions. These roamers will drive their cars, fitted with
mobile phones, or travel with their hand-held phones, and expect to be able to use them
wherever they are. It is important to be able to receive calls as well as to make them,
without special arrangements or additional subscription charges.
This can only be achieved with phones made to operate to a common standard.

The GSM initiative provides an infrastructure with the ability to use the phone throughout
the world wherever its coverage is provided. Common standards throughout such a
large market are important also for minimising costs, to allow industry to manufacture to a
common design of product for the whole world - an impressive market!
So successful is GSM that many countries throughout the world have adopted the
standard. The GSM standard is now being used not only in the original 900 MHz
frequency band but also at 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz in the USA.

2.1 ISDN (S)

In the same time frame as the introduction of GSM, Telecommunication Companies have
also been offering the new Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) to their customers.
This offers new standards of quality and performance with a very wide range of services
and features. In particular, high speed data services and excellent quality speech can run
side by side.
GSM has been designed entirely in harmony with ISDN principles and is totally
compatible as far as is appropriate to the mobile environment. Interworking between the
two new standards ISDN and GSM is thus assured.

2.2 Digital Technology(S)

GSM is designed to use the latest Digital Technology for performance and reliability.
Costs are minimised for such high-volume products since most of the complexity is
compressed into "VLSI chips" and the software. Digital technology today offers the best
combination of performance and spectral efficiency, permitting more callers
simultaneously to use the limited radio band available.
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2.3 Spread of Service(S)

GSM is now a well established service and is available in most regions of the world.
Many operators are already covering a substantial part of their country with a good level
of service.

2.4 Spread of Frequency(S)

The GSM standard has been adapted to operate also at 1800 MHz (called DCS 1800)
and at 1900 MHz (called PCS 1900).

3. THE FEATURES OF GSM (M)

3.1 Integrated Voice/Data(S)

The primary function of GSM is to provide an excellent mobile telephony service.
Versions of all types of phone may also be used for a wide variety of new data services
without the use of a separate modem. These data services include the GSM Messaging
Service, Facsimile transmission and data communications to nearly all the common
standards, at rates up to 9600 b/s full duplex, much faster than most existing mobile
systems can support.
As would be expected, phones are available in all the major configurations: Vehicle,
Portable and Hand Held, with a variety of prices and features. Roaming with GSM
networks throughout the world is fully automatic. Switch on in any area covered by GSM
and your "home network" is notified where you are. Thus you will be able to receive
calls, as well as make them, without your callers being aware that you are abroad.
Phones must be Type Approved to ensure their suitability on all GSM networks.

3.2 Security(S)
On GSM, your subscription is recorded in a Subscriber Card. This looks like a normal
size credit card (or it may be a much smaller card for use in hand-held phones), but
contains a complete microcomputer with memory on the SIM Card. Just plug your
Subscriber Card into a GSM phone, and the phone immediately becomes "yours". The
network checks that the subscription is valid and the card is not stolen, by
AUTHENTICATING the call right back to your HOME database. This provides
exceptional security, preventing false charges on your bill, and ensuring that incoming
calls are correctly delivered. Security is also greatly enhanced by the use of FULL
DIGITAL ENCRYPTION which is totally effective against those wishing to listen into your
conversations.

This applies equally for voice and for data calls.

Other useful new features include the ability to store user information such as a list of
short codes for dialling commonly-used numbers.
3.3 Performance(S)
Whilst many of the current analogue systems can boast good performance, GSM has
been designed to be as good as and often better than analogue systems.
Speech quality on GSM is comparable with analogue systems under average to good
conditions. However, under poor conditions of weak signal or bad interference, GSM
performs significantly better. Size, weight and battery life are also important parameters
of performance. Due to the digital standards employed, a high level of silicon

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implementation is realized, leading to smaller, lighter phones as technology progresses.

The data services can offer high performance with exceptionally low errors at rates up to
9600 b/s, much faster than commonly available. No modems are required and you can
connect your notebook computer to a suitable GSM phone either directly or via a simple
adaptor. The use of powerful automatic "sleep mode" makes a significant impact on
battery life. Some hand-held phones may be expected to last well over a day between
charges.

4. SERVICES OF GSM(M)

The full list of services is extensive, and includes some which are very innovative. Some
of these services will not be available initially, and introduction may vary from network to
network.
Telephony - Normal telephony is supported, with the ability to send or receive calls to a
fixed or mobile subscriber throughout the world, using a standard "+" function for
International Access Codes.
Emergency calls - Calls to the local emergency services can be made using a
standardised emergency number in any country, by dialling "112".
Supplementary services - GSM supports an extremely comprehensive list of
supplementary services.

The list includes:

 Call Forwarding Unconditional
Mobile Subscriber Busy
No Reply
Mobile Not Reachable
 Call Barring Outgoing
Outgoing International
Outgoing International except to
Home Country
Incoming
Incoming when roaming abroad
 Call waiting Call Hold
Multi-Party Service
 Advice of Charge
 Calling line Identity
 Closed User Group
The GSM standard is being actively extended and a number of attractive new services
will be introduced in the next few years.

4.1 Data Services(M)

GSM offers a very wide range of data services which can be applied in a host of different
situations. Considerable effort has been made to simplify the method of use to
encourage those inexperienced in this field.
It can also be seen that a very wide-ranging list of data services has been specified. Not
all GSM Network Operators will offer all of them, at least not at first, but popularity and
competition may determine which ones are made available.

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4.2 Data Transmission(S)

Data Transmission to a choice of popular standards may be sent or received, at all
standard rates up to 9600 b/s.
Examples include asynchronous data to a standard modem or a packet switched network
via a PAD. Similarly, synchronous connection may be available to a modem, or directly
to a packed switched network. In all these cases, no modem is required at the mobile - a
suitable data terminal or lap top computer is connected directly to the mobile GSM phone
-a great advance over previous systems, and much more convenient to use. When used
in error correcting mode, extremely low data error rates are guaranteed, even under
badly fading conditions.

4.3 Facsimile Group III(S)

Telefax messages may be sent to, or received from a standard Group III machine
anywhere in the world. Rates up to the Group III maximum of 9600 b/s are supported, so
a high speed service is available.

4.4 Connection to Other Data Services:(S)

By using the data transmission described above, a wide range of services may be
obtained.
These include: Electronic Mail - including the new X.400 and X.25 standard access to
international databases.

4.5 GSM Messaging (Short Message) Service(S)

This service allows the transmission of messages up to 160 alphanumeric characters to
be sent to a GSM phone and displayed on the terminal. This can be seen as an
advanced form of paging, but has a number of advantages. If the phone is switched off,
or out of the area covered by GSM, the message is stored and offered to the subscriber
when he reappears. This gives much greater confidence that it has been received. Also,
the user needs only one piece of equipment (the mobile phone), and the caller needs to
know only one number (the mobile phone number) for telephony and messaging service.
Some phones will even be equipped for originating these messages, but it is expected
that generally telephony will be used to call an operator who types in the message at a
Service Centre.

4.6 Cell Broadcast(S)

This provides short messages to be sent to all phones in a geographical area. A wide
range of applications for this service can be envisaged, but typical applications might
include warnings of traffic delays or accidents. It works in a way somewhat similar to
Teletext on television where you can select types of message which may be of interest.

5. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION(M)
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is an international Digital Cellular
Radio Standard which has been developed as a result of an unprecedented collaboration
of Telecommunications Administrations and Industry from the whole of Western Europe.
The work begun by the Groupe Spécial Mobile, under the auspices of the Conférence
EurepŽenne des Administrations des Postes et Télécommunications (CEPT), is now
being continued by the Special Mobile Group (SMG) of the European
Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). The GSM standard uses state of the art
technology. Many advanced features have been designed in, so that GSM will remain as
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THE STANDARD for cellular radio for many years. GSM operates in the 900MHz
frequency band, which has been made available for this service throughout Europe and
in many other regions of the world. It has been designed to be able to co-exist with other
cellular services in that band, such as TACS and NMT 900. It also operates at 1800
MHz (as DCS 1800) where account has been taken of the DECT service and at 1900
MHz (as PCS 1900). At 900 MHz, Type Approved GSM mobile stations may be used
without restriction by roamers to any GSM network.

This chapter gives a brief description of the technical features of GSM.

5.1 Key(M)
MSC Mobile Services Switching Centre
BSC Base Station Controller
BTS Base Transceiver Station
EIR Equipment Identity Register
HLR Home Location Register
AUC Authentication Centre
VLR Visitor Location Register

6. THE GSM NETWORK(S)

The basic infrastructure of GSM is similar to all other cellular radio networks. The system
is realised as a network of contiguous radio cells, together providing a complete
coverage of the service area.
Each cell has a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) operating on a dedicated set of radio
channels which are different from the channels used in adjacent cells.
A group of the base stations is controlled by a Base Station Controller (BSC) for
functions such as handover and power control. A group of Base Station Controllers is
served by a Mobile Services Switching Centre (MSC) which routes calls to and from the
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN),
Public Data Networks and possibly various private networks.

6.1 Mobile Services Switching Centre(S)

The MSC is the heart of a cellular radio system. It is responsible for routing, or switching,
of calls from the originator to their destination. It can be thought of as "managing" the
call, being responsible for set-up, routing, control and termination of the call, for
management of inter-MSC handover and supplementary services, and for collecting
charging and accounting information. It also acts as the interface between the GSM
network and the public telephony and data networks. The MSC may also be connected
to other MSCs on the same network and to other GSM networks.

6.2 Databases(S)
Two important databases (HLR and VLR) store information about subscribers. The
Home Location Register (HLR) carries information about subscription levels,
supplementary services and the network and location currently, or most recently, in use
by subscribers to a network ("home"). Working in close association with the HLR is the
Authentication Centre (AUC) which provides the information to authenticate all calls in
order to guard against possible fraud, stolen subscriber cards or unpaid bills. The Visitor
Location Register (VLR) stores information about subscription levels, supplementary
services and location area for a subscriber currently, or most recently, in that ("visited")
area. It may also know whether a subscriber is currently active, to avoid the delay and

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use of the network in trying to signal to a phone which is switched off. The Equipment
Identity Register (EIR) stores information about the type of mobile station in use and can
even bar a call if it finds that the mobile station is stolen, not Type Approved or has a
fault which can disturb the network.

6.3 Network Management(S)

Network management is used to monitor and control the major elements of the
infrastructure. In particular, it monitors and reports faults, grade of service and network
performance. This is primarily required to keep the network operational, but is also
useful for planning purposes.

6.4 Signalling and Interfaces(S)

A new comprehensive digital signalling scheme has been developed. The Mobile
Application Part of CCITT Signalling System No. 7 is used between MSCs and Location
Registers. This signalling is required to operate internationally between GSM networks.
This signalling is additional to the telephony traffic, since GSM has introduced new
features such as international roaming and authentication. Further examples of its use
include call set-up, handover, authentication, transfer of subscriber information on
location updating and management of supplementary services. Standard interfaces are
defined between all the network entities, to ensure a common standard for roamers, and
to allow equipment of different manufacturers to be used anywhere in the GSM network.

6.5 Base Station Controller(S)

The primary function of the BSC is call maintenance. As a subscriber moves around, he
is likely to move out of one cell and into the area of another. The process by which the
call is maintained without a noticeable break is known as handover, and on GSM this
break is kept shorter than on most other cellular systems. On GSM, during a call, the
mobile stations 'listens out' to all surrounding base stations and gives a continuous report
of their signal strength to the BSC. This allows the BSC to make a very good decision on
when to initiate a handover, and to which new cell. GSM features power control of
mobile stations and, optionally the base stations. This reduces the signal levels radiated,
minimising interference to other GSM users, and maximising battery life.

6.6 Base Transceiver Station(S)

The primary function of the BTS is to provide the base station radio transmission and
reception. The BTS may contain one or more transceivers, to provide the required
capacity. A cell-site may be omni-directional, or be split into typically three directional
cells.

7. RADIO(S)
GSM uses the 900MHz band, with Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) with 8 time
slots (i.e. transmitting for one eight of the time). Hence, one radio channel can support 8
'full rate' traffic channels but a more economical 'half rate' scheme will be introduced as a
later enhancement, with 16 traffic channels. The radio channel separation is 200kHz.
The frequency band used is: GSM 900 MHz, 890-915MHz (mobile transmit) and 935-
960MHz (base transmit); DCS 1800, 1710-1785 (mobile transmit) and 1805-1880 MHz
(base transmit), PCS 1900, BLOCK A: 1850-1865 MHz (mobile transmit) and 1930-1945
Mhz (base transmit), BLOCK B: 1870-1885 MHz (mobile transmit) and 1950-1965 MHz

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(base transmit), BLOCK C: 1895-1910 MHz (mobile transmit) and 1975-1990 MHz(base
transmit).

The maximum power of mobile stations depends on the 'class' of mobile. These are
specified as full rate channel mean power:
GSM 900 Mhz: class 2 960mW
class 3 600mW
class 4 hand held 240mW
class 5 hand held 96mW

DCS 1800/PCS 1900 class 1 hand held 125 mW

class 2 hand held 31 mW

PCS 1900 class 3 vehicular mount 250 mW

Precautions are required to avoid interference with other users. Power control - 15 steps
of 2dB - is provided. The transmitter must be ramped up and down in level in a
controlled fashion at the beginning and end of each time slot. Careful filtering is also
applied.

Frequency Hopping may be optionally employed in order to avoid 'deadspots' and to

minimise interference from other signals. The hopping rate is one hop per TDMA frame
(4.6ms), or 217 hops per second.

The method of modulation used is Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), with a BT
value of 0.3 at a gross data rate of 270 kb/s. Thus it is seen that GSM is a digital radio
system with a high data rate, so a good quality equaliser must be employed, in particular
to cope with a multipath environment with up to 15ms dispersion. Phase and frequency
synchronisation must allow for doppler shift for vehicle speeds up to 250km/h (900 MHz)
or 130 Km/h (DCS 1800/PCS 1900) as well as for frequency standard drift, and timing
advanced to compensate for propagation delay due to round trips for paths, in cells up to
35km radius.

7.1 Channel Coding(S)

The overall data rate for the radio channel is 270kb/s. This is split into 8 full rate or 16
half rate traffic channels, plus the signalling channels. The coding is complex in order to
have the maximum chance to detect and correct the errors encountered in a typical
propagation path. The output of the speech coder is encrypted and coded and
interleaved in a sophisticated way to allow Forward Error Correction to be applied. The
data is then sent as bursts in time slots of 577ms, each containing 116 encrypted bits.
There are 8 of these time slots per TDMA frame, and the receive and transmit time slots
are staggered so that the mobile station is not receiving at the same instant as it is
transmitting, thus simplifying the filtering requirements. With this scheme, there can be at
least one spare slot between transmit and receive, leaving time for the synthesiser to
change frequency (whether or not hopping is employed). The receiver also monitors an
adjacent cell for one time slot each frame, to determine their signal strength to optimise a
possible handover.

7.2 Speech Coder(s)

Initially, only the full rate coder will be available. This operates at a basic rate of 13kb/s
which becomes 22.8kb/s gross when the coding for forward error correction is added.
The coding principle is known as RPE-LTP (Regular Pulse Excitation - Long Term
Prediction), and samples the analogue signal with a 13 bit uniform PCM, at 8000
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samples per second. A sophisticated Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) scheme is used,

to minimise radiated power, for battery efficiency and spectral efficiency. This features
voice activity detection, with insertion of comfort noise during periods of 'silence', and
speech frame substitution, to minimise distortion due to interference. When the half rate
coder is introduced, this will operate at 11.4kb/s gross. It will be more complex, but
technology should have advanced adequately by the point of introduction. It will almost
double the capacity and spectral efficiency of a network - vital to satisfy anticipated
customer demand and to cope with the huge number of new customers

7.3 Traffic and Signalling Channels(S)

Traffic channels are defined for speech, and for data at the rates of 9.6kb/s, 4.8kb/s and
 2.4kb/s. These may be full or half rate (except for 9.6kb/s which must be 'full rate'). In
addition a number of logical signalling channels are specified. These operate at different
rates, and have individual functions.
- Slow associated control channels - for control and supervisory signals associated with
the traffic channels.
- Fast associated control channels - which steal time slots from the traffic allocation and
are used for control requirements such as handover.
- Dedicated control channels - which are multiplexed on to a standard channel and are
used for registration, location updating, authentication and call set-up.
- Broadcast control channels - (down link only) - which provide the mobile stations with
information such as base station identity.
- Paging channel (down link only) - which informs the mobile that the network requires to
signal it.
- Random-access channel (up link only) - which is used by the mobile station to request
access to the network.
- Access grant channel (down link only) - which replies to a random access and assigns a
dedicated control channel for subsequent signalling.
- Cell Broadcast Channel (down link only) - transmits the cell broadcast information.

7.4 Security Features(S)

GSM offers advanced features inherent in its design to ensure the integrity and
confidentiality of the call.
- Authentication is provided to check the validity of the call, that it is not using a card
reported as stolen or with a subscription which has not been paid for. It also guards
against callers trying to avoid payment by pretending to be another subscriber.
This is achieved by using the Subscriber Card (SIM). The user may select that this will
only function with use of a Personal Identity Number (PIN), providing good security even
if the card is stolen. If the card is reported stolen, the provision of service can be
immediately barred by the Service Provider.
An optional supplementary service can identify the called or calling subscriber's directory
number, which is a useful security feature.
- Encryption provides complete confidentiality of the call, so that only the other party in a
call can identify who the caller or called party is, and their traffic (conversation) is
completely encrypted, for telephony and data calls. The hidden key, required to set up
and to decode this encryption is stored in the Subscriber Card (SIM).
- All mobile stations carry a serial number and networks can check this against a list of
stolen mobiles. If it is found to be stolen, the call may be barred, or other action taken.

8. DATA SERVICES(M)

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8.1 Data Transmission(S)

GSM offers a wide range of bearer services.
All standard rates up to 9.6kb/s (4.8kb/s half rate channel) are supported. Connection
may be made to other mobile stations, or to other data users on circuit switched (i.e.
telephone) or packet switched data networks.
In the case of circuit switched connections to the PSTN, a suitable modem is
automatically selected at the GSM switching centre for the link to the similar modem at
the remote end of this telephone link. No modem is required at the mobile station.
When using asynchronous standards, modem types V21, V22, V22bis, V23 or V32
(including V42 error correcting protocols) can be supported. Synchronous standards use
X series modems. For connection to the data packet switched networks, asynchronous
access is made via a PAD (packet assembler/disassembler). This PAD may be located
in the mobile network (a Dedicated PAD) or a public PAD may be used. The use of
direct connection using X25 standards may also be supported. All the above
connections may be made into modes, known as transparent and non-transparent.
Transparent is used for certain services where the flow of data cannot be interrupted by
flow-control. In this case, accurate timing consistency must be maintained. However,
where flow-control can be used (e.g. V series links to computers and terminals) the error
correcting protocols of the non-transparent service should be selected.
In this mode, if errors are detected, an automatic repeat of the affected block of data is
requested (ARQ). The resultant error rate in this mode is effectively zero (less than 1 in
100 million), and a mean throughput of 9.5kb/s.

8.2 Facsimile(S)
Group III Facsimile is supported by GSM, at rates up to 9.6kb/s (4.8kb/s half rate). Since
standard fax machines are designed to connect to a telephone, they use analogue
signals. However, the GSM telephony service is unsuitable for this, so it must be used
as a data service. Therefore a special modem does have to be fitted between a
standard Group III facsimile machine and the V24 connector on a data-equipped GSM
mobile phone.
It is anticipated that suitable mobile facsimile machines avoiding the use of a separate
modem may be developed, but until these become available, a special modem must be
employed.

8.3 Connection to the ISDN(S)

GSM has been designed in accordance with ISDN principles, and is generally
compatible. Hence, interworking between GSM and ISDN is straightforward. Indeed, the
user may not even be aware of the difference - he just calls the required directory
number.
This generally applies to telephony and to the data bearer services, except that, due to
the scarcity of the available radio spectrum, GSM is limited to a single duplex channel of
9.6kb/s and the speech decoder operates at 13kb/s instead of 64kb/s rendering that
coder unsuitable for carrying data.

8.4 GSM Messaging Service(S)

GSM messaging service allows alphanumeric messages of up to 160 characters to be
sent to or from a mobile phone. Typically, a caller telephones a Service Centre, dictating
a message which is to be sent to the mobile subscriber. It is routed on the basis of the
recipient's mobile phone number.
If the message cannot be delivered due to the phone being switched off, or out of
coverage, the message is stored at the Service Centre, and a record is kept in the

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network that there is a message waiting. When the recipient reappears, the message is
sent to him.

Messages can also be originated from a mobile station and sent to a Service Centre for
onward transmission. Messages can be transmitted or received by a Mobile Station
which is engaged in a call, or when idle between calls. If the message happens to clash
with the transition between these two states, it is corrupted, and automatically repeated.
Once received, the message can be displayed on the screen or display of the mobile,
and can even be stored in the subscriber card (SIM) for future examination.

8.5 Cell Broadcast(S)

Cell Broadcast is a feature which allows messages of up to 93 characters to be
broadcast to all mobiles within a geographical area. It operates in 'background mode', so
it is only received while the mobile is in idle mode. A new message can be sent every
two seconds. The user may select whether to accept or reject all messages, or to be
selective - e.g. to accept road traffic reports but not weather reports. It is seen that GSM
is a highly sophisticated new generation cellular radio system. It is feature rich, and has
performance which overall exceeds probably any other system. Although it uses many
complex techniques, these are necessary to match the performance and capability
required in the 1990s and into the next century.

9. CONCLUSION(M)

It is seen that GSM is a highly sophisticated new generation cellular radio system. It is
feature rich, and has performance which overall exceeds probably any other system.
Although it uses many complex techniques, these are necessary to match the
performance and capability required in the 1990s and into the next century.

9.1 The Future has been Designed into GSM(M)

However, this complexity should not result in an expensive service or an unreliable
product. Indeed, recent experience has shown a very buoyant market with terminal
prices falling close to those of analogue standards. Advanced digital technology and
extensive software are appropriate to a product with a World market potential. Indeed,
as well as economy of scale, maximum efficiency in use of spectrum and fixed
infrastructure links contribute to GSM being highly competitive.

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