GSM Essentials

GSM900
DCS1800

1
Introduction to GSM

Objectives
Upon completion of the module the student should be able to:
– Name the key terms in mobile communications
– List the main improvements from 1G to 2G mobile communications systems
– Identify events in GSM evolution

2
First Steps in Wireless Communications

Radio Transmission

• 1873 J.C. Maxwell - Electromagnetic theory

• 1895 G. Marconi - First radio transmission
• 1901 First transatlantic transmission
• 1906 R. Fesseden - First transmission of human voice
• 1909 First Broadcast Transmission
• 1946 First car phone service

3
Transmission

Simplex Duplex

on two-way
e-w
ay

4
Single Cell System

Base station
Downlink (DL)

Uplink
(UL)

cell = supply area

5
Cellular System

• Orange
Coverage
•
• • • Carpentras • •

•• •
• •
• Avignon • •

• • • • • • Cavaillon
•
•
• Nimes • •
• • •
• Arles •
• Salon-de-Provence

• • •
• •
Aix-en-Provence

6
Handover

Mobile phone is active,

e.g. a call takes place

Continued service
without interruption

7
Location Areas and Paging

Location Area 3
Location Area 1

Location Area
=
registration
area of one
no Location Update subscriber
Location Area 2
Location Update
8
1st Generation Limitations

1. No Roaming
2. Only Speech
3. Supplementary services not available
4. No security
5. Problems & limitations in radio interface

9
Roaming

Example:
Roaming
GSM subscriber =
from Spain ability to use the
infrastructure of
different
operator‘s

Can use GSM network

in Australia, based on a
roaming agreement
between home operator
and visited operator

10
GSM Radio Interface Organisation: FDD and FDMA

UPLINK DOWNLINK

GSM900: 890 MHz - 915 MHz 935 MHz - 960 MHz

GSM1800: 1710 MHz - 1785 MHz 1805 MHz - 1880 MHz

123 ... 123 ...

200 kHz
Channel 1 - 124
guard band
1 - 374

Duplex frequency 45 MHz / 95 MHz

11
GSM Radio Interface Organisation: TDMA

5
4

e
tim
3
2
Physical channel, 1
e.g. allocated to one 0
subscriber with FR voice & 7
no frequency hopping 6
5
4
3
2 TDMA frame
1 = 8 timeslots
0
7 =8x.577ms
6
=4.615ms
5
4
3
2
TDMA frame
1
0
frequency
200 kHz
12
GSM PLMN Organisation

Network Switching
Subsystem
• Switching
Air A • Mobility Management
• Connection Management
• Charging

MS BSS NSS
O&M

NMS
Base Station Subsystem
• Radio Resource Management
• Radio Link Management
Network Management
System
• Fault Management
• Configuration Management
• Performance Management
13
GSM Technical Specifications

01 General Description of a GSM PLMN

02 Services
03 Network Functions
04 MS - BSS Interface
05 Radio Path
06 Speech Processing Functions
07 Terminal Adaptation Functions
08 BSS - MSC Interface
09 Network Inter Working
10 Service Inter Working
11 Type Approval Procedures
12 Operation and Maintenance
[..] removed

14
Global System for Mobile Communications

15
Advantages of GSM

• GSM uses radio frequencies efficiently and, because of the digital radio
path, the system tolerates more inter cell disturbances.
• The average quality of speech achieved is better than that in existing
analogue systems.
• Data transmission is supported throughout the system.
• Speech is encrypted and subscriber information security is guaranteed.
• Due to ISDN compatibility, new services are offered as compared to the
analogue systems.
• International roaming is technically possible within all the countries
concerned.
• The large market toughens the competition and lowers the prices both for
investments and usage.

16
Evolution of GSM (1)

• 1982 CEPT initiated a new system, GSM

• 1985 CEPT made decision on time schedule and
action plan
• 1986 CEPT tested eight experimental systems in
Paris
• 1987 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU),
allocation of the frequencies
– 890-915 uplink (from mobile to base station)
– 935-960 downlink (from base station to
mobile)

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Evolution of GSM (2)

• 1988 The European Telecommunications

Standard Institute (ETSI) was created; includes
members from administrations, industry and user
groups
• 1989 Final recommendations and specifications
• 1.7.1991 First official call in the world with GSM
• 1992 Australian operators were the first non-
European signatories of the GSM MoU
• 1992 New frequency allocation: GSM1800
– 1710-1785 uplink
– 1805-1880 downlink

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Evolution of GSM (3)

• 1993 Roaming agreements between several operators

are established. By December 1993 there were 32
GSM networks operating in 18 areas.
• 1994 The first GSM network in Africa was launched in
South Africa. The GSM Phase 2 data/fax bearer
services were launched. By December 1994 there
were 69 GSM networks in operation.
• 1995 There were 117 GSM networks operating around
the world. The GSM phase 2 standardisation was
completed, including adaptation for GSM 1900 (PCS
1900).

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Evolution of GSM (4)

• 1996 By December 1996 there were 120 networks

operating. The 8K SIM was launched in addition to Pre-
Paid GSM SIM cards.
• 1997 Zimbabwe and Mozambique implement GSM
networks.
• 1998 Over 2 million GSM 1900 users in the USA and a
total of 120 million GSM 900/1800/1900 users worldwide.
The first High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD) trials
in Singapore.

20
Evolution of GSM (5)

• 1999 First GPRS call in a live network. 200 million

subscribers exceeded and 344 networks in 127 countries
(August 1999).
Location Based Services Standardised
Open Service Access (OSA) Standardised
GSM 850 support
First UMTS Release – evolutionary concept based on GSM
• 2000 First GPRS networks launched.

21
Evolution of GSM (6)

• 2001 GSM 700 support

Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) standardised
• 2002 IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) standardised
More than 40 operators launched MMS
More than 120 operators offer GPRS commercially (Oct.
2002)
About 880 Million GSM subscribers (Dec. 2002)
460 GSM networks on air in 164 countries (Sep. 2002)

22
Review Questions for
“Introduction to GSM“

23
Review

1. Name advantages of cellular systems as opposed to single cell systems.

• The supply area of a single cell system is limited. A cellular
system
can offer mobile services to a region, or even nation-wide.
• Handover procedures offer continuous service for a moving
subscriber.
• The cell size can be adjusted (e.g. in GSM900, the cell radius
ranges from 0.5 to 35 km). By decreasing the cell radius, thus
increasing the numbers of cells in one geographical area, the
available radio interface capacity can be increased.

24
Review

2. Explain the difference between handover and the location update

procedure.
A handover takes place during a call, when the mobile phone
is moved from one cell to the next. It is required for service
continuation. (The mobile phone is in the so-called ”dedicated
mode“.)

A location update takes place when the mobile phone is

moved into a new cell belonging to a new administrative area,
known as the ”location area“. A location update only takes
place when the mobile phone is in so-called ”Idle mode,“ i.e.
no calls takes place.

25
Review

3. Which of the following is a requirement for GSM specifications?

a) The system must be compatible with existing mobile standards.

b) The system must be standardised globally.
c) The system must be built without causing any major changes in the
existing Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN).
d) All of the above.

26
Review

4. Which of the following two statements are generally seen as advantages

of GSM over analogue networks?
a) Data transmission is supported in the whole GSM network.
b) It is only possible to use an analogue mobile telephone in one’s own
network.
c) GSM mobile stations can be used in other digital mobile networks, for
instance in NMT and TACS networks.
d) GSM is a more secure system than analogue systems with respect to
subscriber information and transmission.

27
Review

5. Match the year in the left-hand column with the corresponding

significant GSM event in the middle column.
Year Event Correct year

1982 Allocation of GSM frequencies   1982

2000 Experimental test in Paris   1986
1995 Frequency allocation for GSM 1800   1992
1989 First official GSM call in the world   1991
1991 Initiation of a new system   1995
1987 ETSI begins the specification work for UMTS   1999
1992 Final recommendations Phase 1   1989
1999 Phase 2 recommendations frozen   1994
1986 Total GSM subscribers exceeds 300 million   2000

28