GSM
GSM ARCHITECTURE
OPERATIONAL
ARCHITECTURE
Hierarchical organization of GSM
PHYSICAL VIEW OF GSM NETWORK
HLR in GSM
Contains permanent data about all the registered
subscribers.
all the detail like customer ID, customer number,
billing detail, etc
The HLR in telecom database contains the
master database of all the subscribers to a GSM
PLMN
Basic Parameters stored in the HLR
Subscriber ID (IMSI and MSISDN)
Current Subscriber VLR (Current Location)
Supplementary Services Subscriber to (Caller Tone,
Missed Call Alert, Any Other Services etc.)
Subscriber Status (Registered or Deregistered)
Authentication Key and AUC Functionality
Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number
Entities in GSM
GSM network is divided into 5 groups:
1. MS (Mobile Station): A mobile station (MS) consists of the
mobile equipment (ME) and the subscriber identity module (SIM)
MS Identities
IMEI (International mobile station equipment
identity)
Every mobile equipment has a unique identifier, i.e., an international mobile
station equipment identity (IMEI).
The purpose of IMEI is to protect the mobile equipment from stealth
IMEI
Type approval code (TAC). This code is 6 digits/24 bits long.
The TAC is issued by an authorized agency on successful testing
for type approval.
Final assembly code (FAC). This code is 2 digits/8 bits long.
This uniquely identifies the manufacturer of the mobile
equipment.
Serial number (SNR). Each mobile equipment is identified with
a unique serial number within a TAC and FAC. The SNR is 6
digits/24 bits long.
The remaining 1 digit/4 bits are not currently used and are a
"spare."
Mobile station ISDN number (MSISDN)
Each subscriber in a network is identified with a unique
international number, i.e., a mobile station ISDN number.
The wireless service provider assigns this number at the time of
subscription.
MSISDN
Country code (CC). Country codes are defined by the ITU-T.
They can be 1 to 3 digits long. For example, the country code for
the United States is 1, Japan is 81, and Ecuador is 593.
National destination code (NDC). The country’s
telecommunication regulatory authority assigns an NDC to each
PLMN. One PLMN may have more than one NDC assigned to it.
This field may be 2 to 3 digits.
Subscriber number (SN). The SN is a variable-length field.
IMSI
International mobile subscriber identity (IMSI).
International mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is a unique
identifier for a GSM subscriber in a PLMN.
It is stored in the SIM and also in the HLR as part of the
subscriber data.
The HLR transfers IMSI information to the serving VLR on
registration for temporary storage.
IMSI
Mobile country code (MCC). ITU-T E.212, Annexure-A, lists
all the countries and assigned codes. The MCC is 3 digits long.
For example, the MCC for Australia is 505, Germany is 262, and
the United States is 310.
Mobile network code (MNC). Each PLMN in a country is
assigned a unique network code by a regulatory authority in the
country. The MNC is 2 digits long. For example, in Singapore the
assigned code for Singtel is 01, M1 is 03, and Starhub is 05.
Mobile subscriber identification number (MSIN). The MSIN
is a unique number within a PLMN to identify the subscriber.
Entities in GSM
2. BSS (Base Station Subsystem): This includes the Base
Transceiver Station (BTS) and the Base Station Controller (BSC).
3. Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS): This includes Mobile
Switching Center (MSC), Home Location Register (HLR), Visitor
Location Register (VLR), Equipment Identity Register (EIR), and
the Authentication Center (AUC)
4. Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS): This includes the
Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC)
5. Data Infrastructure: It includes PSTN(Public Switched Telephone
Network), ISDN (Integrated System Digital Network), PDN
(Public Data Network)
Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
BTS has a set of Transceivers to talk to MS. Antenna
Arrangement BTS
One BTS covers one or more than one cell.
Capacity of BTS depends on no of Transceivers.
BTS is connected to BSC via A’bis interface.
Transmission rate on A’bis is 2 Mbps (G.703).
Interface between MS & BTS is called Air I/f.
Transmission rate on Air interface is 13 Kbps.
BTS controls RF parameters of MS.
Each TRx has 8 TDMA channels to carry Voice & signalling.
Base Station Controller (BSC)
BSC controls several BTSs.
BSC
BSC manages channel allocation, & Handover
of calls from one BTS to another BTS.
BSC is connected to MSC via A interface.
Transmission rate on A I/f is 2 Mbps (G.703).
Interface between BSC & BTS is called A’bis I/f.
BSC has database for all of its BTS’s parameters.
BSC provides path from MS to MSC.
Mobile Switching
Centre (MSC)
MSC is heart of the entire network connecting Fixed line network to
Mobile network.
MSC manages all call related functions and
Billing information.
MSC is connected to HLR & VLR for subscriber
identification & routing incoming calls.
MSC capacity is in terms of no of subscribers.
MSC is connected to BSC at one end and Fixed
Line network on other end.
MSC
Call Detail Record (CDR) is generated for each & every
call in the MSC.
Visiting Location Register (VLR)
MSC
VLR
Active Subscriber is registered in VLR.
It has temporary data base of all the active
subscribers used for their call routing.
HLR validates subscriber before registration.
MSC ask VLR before routing incoming call.
Home Location Register (HLR)
MSC
HLR
All Subscribers data is stored in HLR.
It has permanent data base of all the registered
subscribers.
HLR has series of numbers for all subscribers.
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Operation subsystem
The OSS (Operation Subsystem) enables centralized operation, management, and
maintenance of all GSM subsystems
Components
1. Authentication Center (AUC)
generates user specific authentication parameters on request of a VLR
authentication parameters used for authentication of mobile terminals and encryption
of user data on the air interface within the GSM system
2. Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
registers GSM mobile stations and user rights
stolen or malfunctioning mobile stations can be locked and sometimes even localized
3. Operation and Maintenance Center (OMC)
different control capabilities for the radio subsystem and the network subsystem
Authentication Centre (AUC)
MSC
AUC
HLR
Authentication is a process to verify the subscriber SIM.
Secret data & verification algorithm are stored in to the
AUC.
AUC & HLR combined to authenticate the subscribers.
Subscriber authentication can be done on every call, if required.
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Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
MSC
EIR
All subscriber's mobile handset data is stored in EIR.
MSC asks mobile to send it IMEI & then checks it with
data available in EIR.
EIR has different classification for mobile handsets
like, White list, Grey list & Black list.
According to category the MS can make calls or can be
stopped from making calls.
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Operation & Maintenance Centre (OMC)
OMC
All the network elements are connected to OMC.
OMC monitors health of all network elements &
carry out maintenance operation, if required.
OMC link to BTSs are via parent BSC.
OMC keeps records of all the faults occurred.
OMC can also do Traffic analysis.
OMC may prepares MIS Report for the network.
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Functions of OMC
Administration and commercial operation (subscription, end
terminals, charging and statistics).
Security Management.
Network configuration, Operation and Performance Management.
Maintenance Tasks.
VMSC & SMSC
MSC
SMSC VMSC
Voice Mail Service Centre : To provide Voice Mail service.
It has database for all the VMS subscribers & also stores voice
messages for them.
Short Message Service Centre : To provide text message service.
To send short messages from mobile to another mobile subscriber.
Messages can also be sent by Manual Terminal connected to SMSC.
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Additional components of the GSM
architecture
Home Location Register (HLR)
Visitor Location Register (VLR)
Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
Authentication Center (AuC)
SMS Serving Center (SMS SC)
Gateway MSC (GMSC)
Chargeback Center (CBC)
Transcoder and Adaptation Unit (TRAU)
GSM network areas
Cell : Cell is the basic service area; one BTS covers one cell.
Each cell is given a Cell Global Identity (CGI), a number that
uniquely identifies the cell.
Location Area : A group of cells form a Location Area (LA).
This is the area that is paged when a subscriber gets an incoming
call. Each LA is assigned a Location Area Identity (LAI). Each
LA is served by one or more BSCs.
MSC/VLR Service Area : The area covered by one MSC is
called the MSC/VLR service area.
PLMN : The area covered by one network operator is called the
Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN). A PLMN can contain one
or more MSCs.
GSM Specifications-1
RF Spectrum
GSM 900
Mobile to BTS (uplink): 890-915 MHz
BTS to Mobile(downlink):935-960 MHz
Bandwidth: 2* 25 MHz
GSM 1800
Mobile to BTS (uplink): 1710-1785 MHz
BTS to Mobile(downlink) 1805-1880 MHz
Bandwidth: 2* 75 MHz
GSM Specification-II
Carrier Separation : 200 K Hz
Access Method : TDMA/FDMA
Modulation Method : GMSK
Modulation data rate : 270.833 Kb
Call Setup
Mobile Originating Call MOC: Call setup, which are initiated
by an MS
Mobile Terminating Call MTC: Call setup, where an MS is the
called party
Mobile Mobile Call MMC: Call setup between two mobile
subscribers; MMC thus consists of the execution of a MOC and a
MTC one after the other.
Mobile Internal Call MIC: a special case of MMC; both MSs
are in the same MSC area, possibly even in the same cell.
Mobile Originating Call MOC
