WIRELESS COMMUNICATION

Second Generation Mobile Networks

• GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication. GSM is an open and digital cellular
technology used for mobile communication. It uses 4 different frequency bands of 850 MHz, 900
MHz, 1800 MHz and 1900 MHz

Features of GSM are :

1. Supports international roaming
2. Clear voice clarity
3. Ability to support multiple handheld devices.
4. Spectral / frequency efficiency
5. Low powered handheld devices.
6. Ease of accessing network
7. International ISDN compatibility.
8. Low service cost.

GSM ARCHITECTURE

• The GSM system architecture consists of four major interconnected subsystems that interact between
themselves and with the users through certain network interfaces.
• The four subsystems of GSM are: -

a. The Mobile Station (MS)

b. Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
c. Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)
d. Operation Support Subsystem (OSS).
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• The Mobile Station (MS)
MS stands for Mobile System. MS comprises user equipment and software needed
for communication with a mobile network.
Mobile Station (MS) = Mobile Equipment (ME) + Subscriber Identity Module (SIM).
Mobile stations are connected to tower and that tower connected with BTS through transceiver which is
combination of transmitter and receiver which performance of sending and receiving.
• Base Station Subsystem (BSS)
The BSS is combination of two system i.e., BTS and BSC.
BTS: BTS stands for Base Transceiver Station which facilitates wireless communication between
user equipment and a network. Every tower has BTS.
BSC: BSC stands for Base Station Controller. BSC has multiple BTS. You can consider the BSC
as a local exchange of your area which has multiple towers and multiple towers have BTS.
• Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)
The Network switching system (NSS), the main part of which is the Mobile Switching Center (MSC),
performs the switching of calls between the mobile and other fixed or mobile network users, as well
as the management of mobile services such as authentication.

MSC: MSC stands for Mobile Switching Center. MSC is associated with communication
switching functions such as call setup, call release and routing. Call tracing, call forwarding all
functions are performed at the MSC level. MSC is having further components like VLR, HLR,
AUC, EIR and PSTN.
• VLR: VLR stands for Visitor Location Register. VLR is a database which contains the exact
location of all mobile subscribers currently present in the service area of MSC. If you are going
from one state to another state then your entry is marked into the database of VLR.
• HLR: HLR stands for Home Location Register. HLR is a database containing pertinent data
regarding subscribers authorized to use a GSM network. If you purchase SIM card from in the
HLR. HLR is like a home which contains all data like your ID proof, which plan you are taking,
which caller tune you are using etc.
• AUC: AUC stands for Authentication Center. AUC authenticates the mobile subscriber that
wants to connect in the network.
• EIR: EIR stands for Equipment Identity Register. EIR is a database that keeps the record of all
allowed or banned in the network. If you are banned in the network then you can’t enter the
network, and you can’t make the calls.
• PSTN: PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. PSTN connects with MSC.
PSTN originally a network of fixed line analog telephone systems. Now almost entirely digital
in its core network and includes mobile and other networks as well as fixed telephones. The
earlier landline phones which places at our home is nothing but PSTN.
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• Operation Support Subsystem (OSS).

The operations and maintenance center (OMC) is connected to all equipment in the switching system and to
the BSC. The implementation of OMC is called the operation and support system (OSS).

Here are some of the OMC functions−

• Administration and commercial operation (subscription, end terminals, charging, and statistics).
• Security Management.
• Network configuration, Operation, and Performance Management.
• Maintenance Tasks

Three subsystem BSS, NSS and OSS are connected with each other via some interfaces. Total three
interfaces are there:

1. Air Interface: Air interface is also known as UM interface. Interface between MS and BTS is
called as UM interface because it is mobile analog to the U interface of ISDN.
2. Abis Interface: It is a BSS internal interface linking with BTS and BSC.
3. A interface: It provides communication between BSS and MSC.

Steps for making a call in GSM

When a mobile subscriber makes a call the following sequence of events takes place −

• The MSC/VLR receives the message of a call request.

• The MSC/VLR checks if the mobile station is authorized to access the network. If so, the mobile
station is activated. If the mobile station is not authorized, then the service will be denied.
• MSC/VLR analyses the number and initiates a call setup with the PSTN.
• MSC/VLR asks the corresponding BSC to allocate a traffic channel (a radio channel and a time
slot).
• The BSC allocates the traffic channel and passes the information to the mobile station.
• The called party answers the call and the conversation takes place.
• The mobile station keeps on taking measurements of the radio channels in the present cell and
the neighbouring cells and passes the information to the BSC. The BSC decides if a handover
is required. If so, a new traffic channel is allocated to the mobile station and the handover takes
place. If handover is not required, the mobile station continues to transmit in the same
frequency.
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Steps for receiving the call in GSM

When a PSTN subscriber calls a mobile station, the following sequence of events takes place −

• The Gateway MSC receives the call and queries the HLR for the information needed to route
the call to the serving MSC/VLR.
• The GMSC routes the call to the MSC/VLR.
• The MSC checks the VLR for the location area of the MS.
• The MSC contacts the MS via the BSC through a broadcast message, that is, through a paging
request.
• The MS responds to the page request.
• The BSC allocates a traffic channel and sends a message to the MS to tune to the channel. The
MS generates a ringing signal and, after the subscriber answers, the speech connection is
established.
• Handover, if required, takes place, as discussed in the earlier case.
General Packet Radio System

GPRS stand for General Packet Radio System is a packet-switching technology that enables data transfers
through cellular networks. It is used for mobile internet, MMS and other data communications. In theory the
speed limit of GPRS is 115 kbps, but in most networks, it is around 35 kbps. Informally, GPRS is also called
2.5G. GPRS became the first stepping-stone on the path between the second-generation GSM cellular
technology and the 3G W-CDMA / UMTS system.

Basic concept:

• The key element of GPRS technology is that it uses packet switched data rather than circuit switched
data, and this technique makes much more efficient use of the available capacity.
• The data is split into packets and tags inserted into the packet to provide the destination address.
• Packets from several sources can then be transmitted over the link.

Advantages of GPRS

• Speed: GPRS technology offers up to 172 kbps, although the maximum data rates realistically
achievable under most conditions will be in the range 15 - 40 kbps.
• Packet switched operation: GPRS technology uses packet switching in line with the Internet. This
makes far more efficient use of the available capacity, and it allows greater commonality with
Internet techniques.
• Always on connectivity: GPRS offers an "Always On" capability. For packet switched technology
charges are for the amount of data carried as this is what uses the services provider's capacity.
Accordingly, always on connectivity is possible.
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• More applications: GPRS was the Blackberry form of mobile or PDA. This provided for remote
email applications along with web browsing, etc.
• The Capital expenditure and operational expenditure: The capital expenditure for introducing
GPRS technology was not as high as deploying a complete new network. Additionally opex was
not greatly affected as the basic base station infrastructure remained basically the same

Disadvantages of GPRS:

• Voice calls have a higher priority than data packet transmissions, essentially giving you fluctuations
in your connection speed.
• the actual rate lower than the theoretical value, GPRS data transfer rate to achieve the theoretical
maximum 172.2kbps, must be only one user occupy all eight time slots, and no protection against
mistakes.

GPRS Architecture

GPRS is usually attempts to reuse the existing GSM network elements as much as possible. There are new
entities called GPRS supports nodes (GSN) which are responsible for delivery and routing of data packets
between mobile stations and external packets networks. There are two types of GSNs,

1. Serving GPRS Support Node (SGNS)

2. Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGNS)

There is new database called GPRS register which is located with HLR. It stores routing information’s and
maps the IMSI to a PDN address.
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SGSN: It is at the same hierarchical level as the MSC. Whatever the MSC does for voice, SGSN does for
Packet Data. The tasks of SGSN include packet switching, routing and transfer, mobility management and
location management, logical link management and authentication and charging functions SGSN processes
the registration of new mobile subscriber and keeps a record of the location inside a given service area.

GGSN: It acts as an interface between GPRS backbone network and the external packet data networks.
GGSN’s function is similar to that of a router in a LAN. It maintains the routing information that is necessary
to tunnel the protocol data units to the SGSNs.

Protocol architecture of the transmission plane for GPRS:

• Data between the GSNs is transferred using the GPRS tunneling protocol (GTP).
• GTP uses two different transport protocols, either the reliable TCP or the non-reliable UDP.
• Network protocol for the GPRS is IP.
• Sub network dependent convergence protocol (SNDCP) is used between an SGSN and the MS.
• User packet data is tunneled from the MS to the GGSN and vice versa.
• For reliable packet transfer between MS and SGSN, LLC is used, which comprises ARQ and
FEC mechanisms.
• Base station subsystem GPRS protocol (BSSGP) is used to convey routing and QoS-related
information between the BSS and SGSN. It works on top of a frame relay (FR) network
• Radio link protocol (RLC) provides a reliable link, while the MAC controls access with signaling
procedures for the radio channel and the mapping of LLC frames onto the GSM physical channels.
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Long Term Evolution

• LTE stands for Long Term Evolution. The technology designed and developed by 3GPP as air interface
for cellular mobile communication systems.
• It is used to increase the capacity and data transfer speed of mobile telephone networks used mainly
for data communication. LTE is marketed as 4G technology.
• LTE was designed for high-speed broadband data communication; voice also can be supported using
VOIP (Voice over IP) protocols or using other legacy system fall-back.
• LTE specifications are:

o Reduced cost per bit

o Increased service provisioning - more services at lower cost with better user experience
o Flexibility of use of existing and new frequency bands
o Simplified architecture, Open interfaces
o Allow for reasonable terminal power consumption

Difference LTE and WiMAX

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Difference between 4G and 5G