1.

International Roaming for

GSM
2.Call Drop
3.Dead Zones

1
 Introduction

➢GSM supports roaming services that allow a

mobile user in a specific network to receive
service when he/she visits a different GSM
network.
➢If these two networks are located in different
countries, the current GSM implementation for
call delivery to the subscriber is very expensive.

4
 Three Scenarios for GSM International
Call Delivery (1/3)

➢Consider that John, a GSM subscriber in

Taiwan, roams to Singapore. His friend,
Jenny, makes a mobile phone to John.
➢Scenario 1.
• Jenny is a GSM subscriber in Taiwan and calls
John by her mobile phone.
• Jenny is charged for a local GSM call.
• John is charged for an international call from
Taiwan to Singapore.
5
 Three Scenarios for GSM International
Call Delivery (2/3)

➢Scenario 2.
• Jenny is a GSM user from a third country (e.g.,
Hong Kong).
• Jenny is in Hong Kong and makes a call to John’s
GSM MS.
• Jenny is charged for an international call from
Hong Kong to Taiwan.
• John is charged for an international call from
Taiwan to Singapore.
Hong Singapor
Taiwan Kong e 6
 Three Scenarios for GSM International
Call Delivery (3/3)

➢Scenario 3.
• Both Jenny and John are in Singapore.
• Jenny is charged for an international call from
Singapore to Taiwan.
• John is charged for an international call from
Taiwan to Singapore.
• Scenario 3 is in fact a special case of Scenario 2.
• This case is referred to as Tromboning.

Taiwan Singapor
e 7
 Call Delivery

➢The procedure of call delivery will be

described.
➢In current implementation, call delivery for
international GSM roaming is expensive.
➢Some solutions are presented to reduce the
network cost for international GSM calls.

6
International GSM Call Setup

7
 International Switch Centers (1/2)
➢Consider the Scenario 3.
➢Each country has a national network.
➢The call path of every international call is
composed of three segments:
• One in the origination country
• The second in the international network
• The third in the destination country
➢International Switch Center (ISC) in each
national network is used to connect to an
international network.
8
 International Switch Centers (2/2)

➢ISCs offer inter-working functions between the

national networks and the international
network.
➢Two ISCs are involved in the voice path.

9
International Call Setup Procedure (1/3)

10
 What is drop call?
•Dropped calls occur when a phone call is terminated
unexpectedly as a result of technical reasons, including poor
network signal.

•The dropped-call rate is one of the key performance indicators

(KPI) used by the network operators to assess the performance of
their networks.

•In telecommunications, the dropped-call rate (DCR) is the

fraction of the telephone calls which, due to technical reasons,
were cut off before the speaking parties had finished their
conversational tone and before one of them had hung
up (dropped calls)
 Causes of dropped call
Call drops in GSM network can be caused by the following:

i)Lack of radio coverage (either in the downlink or the uplink),

ii)Radio interference between different subscribers,
iii) Imperfections in the functioning of the network (such as failed handover or cell-
resellection attempts),
iv)Overload of the different elements of the network (such as cells),
v) Equipment: GSM radios/Combiners can be a cause of this, solution to this is
replacement of the unit. A Mobile Station(phone) can also be a cause.
vi) VSWR (voltage wave standing ratio): VSWR caused by poor connections on feeders,
water penetration, fault on antenna etc
vii) Transmission problem: If transmission is not perfect, high B.E.R (Bit error ratio) or
other factors causing inaccuracy of transmission.
viii) Hand-over: if hand-over between two sectors is not well defined.
 How to overcome ?
For this situation, a cell phone signal booster is going to be
best bet for increasing the cell phone signal inside the
building and reducing or eliminating the number of dropped
calls.
 What is dead zone?

A dead zone is an area within network where RF

signal does not function.
 What causes a ‘dead zone?’
Distance from cell towers – If you are in one of the few remaining remote areas that lack
sufficient cell tower coverage, connections will obviously be tricky. Even if you do get a
signal in these areas it is often spotty, resulting in dropped calls, lost connections, and a
drained battery as your phone or device searches endlessly for signal.
Terrain/Environment – There are several types of terrain that can obstruct signals from
cell towers. Mountains, hills and bluffs can all render an area a dead zone by absorbing
cell signals before they reach a mobile device. Tall trees, dense forests, and other
vegetation can also act as barriers to cell signal waves.
Metal and glass in vehicles – The materials being used to keep us safe inside of our cars,
or while on trains and subways can also keep cellular signals out. Most of us willingly
accept this tradeoff, but those materials are often culprits in dropped calls while in transit.
That’s why you’ll often find that rolling down a car window can quickly boost the quality
of a call.
Building construction materials – Brick, concrete, and steel materials used in the
construction of commercial buildings, bridges, tunnels and parking garages are notorious
cell signal obstructors. Green building materials, including LEED-certified windows can
also hamper cell service. All of these materials can be difficult for cellular signals to
penetrate, and can render an already weak signal useless.
Atmospheric/weather conditions – Turbulent storms, thick fog, and other weather
conditions can easily disrupt cell signals.
 How to fix a dead zone?

Through passive distributed antenna systems technology 

( passive DAS), cellular signals can be boosted to these dead
zone locations