Special Topic Presentation

Subject : Wireless Communication

Topic : Global System for Mobile Communication
By Khatri Tabish, Khan Usama, Khan Sohail, Koilkar Siddesh
 Content
Sr. no. Topic Slide no.
1 Overview on GSM 3
2 Past of GSM 4
3 GSM Today 5
4 Features of GSM 6
5 Architecture of GSM 8
6 GSM Network Interface 11
7 Advantages of GSM 13
8 Disadvantages of GSM 15
9 Conclusion 16
Overview on GSM
• The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a second generation (2G)
standard for mobile networks.
• In the early 1980s, a group was formed by the European Telecommunications
Standards Institute (ETSI) to develop a digital mobile communication system. Aptly
named Groupe Speciale Mobile (GSM), its main task was to develop a single,
consistent network for all of Europe and come up with a better and more efficient
technical solution for wireless communication.
• The GSM standard operates on three different carrier frequencies: the 900 MHz band,
which was used by the original GSM system; the 1800 MHz band, which was added to
support the swelling number of subscribers and the 1900 MHz frequency, which is
used mainly in the U.S.
• Although GSM is based on the time division multiple access (TDMA) system, its
technology uses digital signaling and speech channels and is considered a second
generation (2G) mobile phone system.
Past of GSM
• In 1983, work began to develop a European standard for digital cellular voice
telecommunications when the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications
Administrations(CEPT) set up the Groupe Spécial Mobile (GSM) committee
• In February 1987 Europe produced the very first agreed GSM Technical Specification.
• In 1986, the European Commission proposed reserving the 900 MHz spectrum band
for GSM
• The former Finnish prime minister Harri Holkeri made the world's first GSM call on July
1, 1991
• The first 1800 MHz network became operational in the UK by 1993, called and DCS
1800.
GSM Today
• Not only is GSM used in cell phones. But the module now can be used in
Embedded Systems for communications purpose.
• Embedded systems which include features like SOS, SMS, etc. use GSM.
• GSM is also used in Medical monitoring instruments
Features of GSM
• Improved spectrum efficiency
• International roaming
• Low-cost mobile sets and base stations (BSs)
• High-quality speech
• Compatibility with Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and
other telephone company services
• Support for new services
• Rapid call setup
Features of GSM (continued)

• It supports smaller handsets

• It supports call forwarding, call on hold, conference facility
• It supports FAX transmission and reception at 9.6kbps
• It allows data transmission and reception across GSM networks
• It supports more subscriber capacity in the given spectrum
• It supports calling network Identification presentation (CLIP)
• It supports fully international roaming capability
• It has compatibility with ISDN for supplementary services
Mobile Station:
A mobile section station communicates across the air interface with a base
station transceiver in the same cell in which the mobile subscriber unit is located
.The MS communicates the information is interfaced with the MS through a
microphone and speaker for the speech ,keypad and display for short messaging
,and the cable connection for the other data terminals . The Mobile equipment
(ME) refers to the physical device which comprises of transceiver ,digital signal
processors ,and the antenna .The second element of the MS is the GSM is the
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). It also has a memory of 32KB.
BASE STATION SUBSYSTEM (BSS)
A Base Station Subsystem consist of a base station controller and one or more
base transceiver station. Each Base Transceiver Station defines a single cell. A cell
can have a radius of between 100m to 35km. Each depending on the
environment .A Base Station Controller may be connected with a BTS. It may
control multiple BTS units and hence multiple cells. There are the two main
architectural elements in the BSS the Base Transceiver Subsystem (BTS) and the
Base Station Controller (BSC). The interface that connects a BTS to a BSC is called
the A-bis interface. The interface between the BSC and the MSC is called the A
interface, which is standardized within GSM.
NETWORKING AND SWITCHING SUBSYSTEM (NSS)
The NSS is responsible for the networks operations. It provides the link between
the cellular network and the public switched telecommunication networks (PSTN
or ISDN or Data Networks).The NSS controls band-offs between cells in difference
BSSs authenticates user and validates their accounts and includes functions for
enabling worldwide roaming of mobile subscribers. In particular the switching
subsystem consists of :
• Mobile Switch Centre (MSC)
• Home Location Register (HLR)
• Visitor Location Register (VLR)
• Authentications Centre (AUC)
• Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
The NSS has one hardware . Mobile switching center and four software database
element Home Location Register (HLR). Visitor Location Register (VLR).
Authentications Centre (AUC) and Equipment Identity Register (EIR). The MSC
basically performs the switching function of the system by controlling calls to and
from other telephone and data systems. It includes functions such as network
interfacing and common channel signaling.
GSM Network Interface
Um Interface
The Um interface is the air interface for the GSM mobile telephone standard. It is
the interface between the mobile station (MS) and the Base transceiver station
(BTS). It is called Um because it is the mobile analog to the U interface of ISDN.
Um is defined in the GSM 04.xx and 05.xx series of specifications. Um can also
support GPRS packet- oriented communication.
Abis Interface
This is a BSS internal interface linking the BSC and a BTS , and it has not been
totally standardized. The Abis interface allows control of the radio equipment
and radio frequency allocation in the BTS.
A Interface
The A interface is used to provide communication between the BSS and the MSC.
The interface carries information to enable the channels, timeslots and the like
to be allocated to the mobile equipment being serviced by the BSSs. The
messaging required within the network to enable handover etc. to be
undertaken is carried over the interface.
Advantages of GSM
• Extensive Coverage
• Greater Phone Variety
• No Roaming Charges on International Calls
• Wide Variety of compatible devices available
• It provides very cost effective products and solutions.
• The GSM based networks (i.e. base stations) are deployed across
the world.
Advantages of GSM (continued)

• Advanced versions of GSM with higher number of antennas will

provide high speed download and upload of data.
• It is easy to maintain GSM networks due to availability of large
number of network engineers at affordable cost.
• The phone works based on SIM card and hence it is easy to change
the different varieties of phones by users.
• The GSM signal does not have any deterioration inside the office
and home premises. It is easy to integrate GSM with other wireless
technology based devices such as CDMA, LTE etc.
Dis- advantages of GSM
• Bandwidth Lag
• Causes Electronic Interference
• Licenses need to be obtained from Qualcomm.
• In order to increase the coverage repeaters are required to be
installed.
• Advanced GSM devices required for higher data rates
• GSM uses FTDMA access scheme. Here multiple users share same
bandwidth and hence will lead to interference when more number
of users are using the GSM service. In order to avoid this situation,
robust frequency correction algorithms are used in mobile phones
and base stations.
Conclusion
GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) is a cellular
technology used for transmitting mobile voice and data services. Out
of all cell technologies in use today, GSM is the most widespread.
However, it is important to know that although GSM is currently the
industry standard in cell technology, it has both advantages and
disadvantages of which consumers should be aware. Perhaps the
greatest disadvantage of GSM is that multiple users share the same
bandwidth. With enough users, the transmission can encounter
interference. Therefore, faster technologies, such as 3G&4G
have been developed on different types of networks than GSM, such
as CDMA, in order to avoid such bandwidth limitations.
REFRENCE
1. https://www.techopedia.com/definition/5062/global-system-for-mobile-
communications-gsm
2. https://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/GSM
3. https://www.tutorialspoint.com/gsm