Mobile Switching Center

(MSC)
• This is where calls are established maintained and released
• Holds database subscribers information
• Communicates with BSCs and PSTN on fixed line
• MSC is weighted on the number of subscribers means
one MSC is enought till subscriber base increase up to 1 lac,
beyond which another MSC is required

Very complicated to connect each MSC to each other

and each MSC to the PSTN
Other Databases and Servers
• Home Location Register (written HLR): a database
containing information (geographic position, administrative
information, etc.) on the subscribers registered in the area.
• Visitor Location Register (VLR): a database containing
information on users other than the local subscribers. The VLR
retrieves the data on a new user from the HLR of the user's
subscriber zone. The data are maintained as long as the user is
in the zone and are deleted when the user leaves.
• Equipment Identify Register (EIR): a database listing the
mobile terminals.
• Authentication Centre (AUC): responsible
for verifying user identities.
• Short message service center (SMSC) Its purpose is to
store, forward, convert and deliver SMS messages.
GSM and the World

The End