GSM Architecture

This is post is about the basic architecture of GSM for the general understanding of GSM architecture.

 The contents of this article are taken from different sites.

A GSM network consists of several functional entities whose functions and interfaces are defined. The GSM network can be divided into following broad parts.

·         The Mobile Station(MS)

·         The Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

·         The Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)

·         The Operation Support Subsystem(OSS)

Following is the simple architecture diagram of GSM Network.

The added components of the GSM architecture include the functions of the databases and messaging systems:

• 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)

Following is the diagram of GSM Netwrok alongwith added elements.

The MS and the BSS communicate across the Um interface, also known as the air interface or radio link. The BSS communicates with the Network Service Switching center across the A interface.

GSM network areas:

In a GSM network, the following areas are defined:

·         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. This is the area that is paged when a subscriber gets an incoming call. Each Location Area is assigned a Location Area Identity (LAI). Each Location Area 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 PLMN. A PLMN can contain one or more MSCs.

The Mobile Station:

The MS consists of the physical equipment, such as the radio transceiver, display and digital signal processors, and the SIM card. It provides the air interface to the user in GSM networks. As such, other services are also provided, which include:

·         Voice teleservices

·         Data bearer services

·         The features' supplementary services

The MS Functions:

The MS also provides the receptor for SMS messages, enabling the user to toggle between the voice and data use. Moreover, the mobile facilitates access to voice.messaging systems. The MS also provides access to the various data services available in a GSM network. These data services include:

·         X.25 packet switching through a synchronous or asynchronous dialup connection to the PAD at speeds typically at 9.6 Kbps.

·         General Packet Radio Services (GPRSs) using either an X.25. or IP.based data transfer method at speeds up to 115 Kbps

·         High.speed, circuit.switched data at speeds up to 64 Kbps

What is SIM?

The SIM provides personal mobility so that the user can have access to all subscribed services irrespective of both the location of the terminal and the use of a specific terminal. You need to insert the SIM card into another GSM cellular phone to receive calls at that phone, make calls from that phone, or receive other subscribed services.

The Base Station Subsystem (BSS)

The BSS is composed of two parts:

·         The Base Transceiver Station (BTS)

·         The Base Station Controller (BSC)

The BTS and the BSC communicate across the specified Abis interface, enabling operations between components that are made by different suppliers. The radio components of a BSS may consist of four to seven or nine cells. A BSS may have one or more base stations. The BSS uses the Abis interface between the BTS and the BSC. A separate high-speed line (T1 or E1) is then connected from the BSS to the Mobile MSC.

The Base Transceiver Station (BTS):

The BTS houses the radio transceivers that define a cell and handles the radio link protocols with the MS. In a large urban area, a large number of BTSs may be deployed.

The BTS corresponds to the transceivers and antennas used in each cell of the network. A BTS is usually placed in the center of a cell. Its transmitting power defines the size of a cell. Each BTS has between 1 and 16 transceivers, depending on the density of users in the cell. Each BTS serves a single cell. It also includes the following functions:

• Encoding, encrypting, multiplexing, modulating, and feeding the RF signals to the antenna.
• Transcoding and rate adaptation
• Time and frequency synchronizing
• Voice through full- or half-rate services
• Decoding, decrypting, and equalizing received signals
• Random access detection
• Timing advances
• Uplink channel measurements

The Base Station Controller (BSC):

The BSC manages the radio resources for one or more BTSs. It handles radio channel setup, frequency hopping, and handovers. The BSC is the connection between the mobile and the MSC. The BSC also translates the 13 Kbps voice channel used over the radio link to the standard 64 Kbps channel used by the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSDN) or ISDN.

It assigns and releases frequencies and time slots for the MS. The BSC also handles intercell handover. It controls the power transmission of the BSS and MS in its area. The function of the BSC is to allocate the necessary time slots between the BTS and the MSC. It is a switching device that handles the radio resources. Additional functions include:

• Control of frequency hopping
• Performing traffic concentration to reduce the number of lines from the MSC
• Providing an interface to the Operations and Maintenance Center for the BSS
• Reallocation of frequencies among BTSs
• Time and frequency synchronization
• Power management
• Time-delay measurements of received signals from the MS

The Network 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.

The switching system includes the following functional elements.

Home Location Register (HLR)

The HLR is a database used for storage and management of subscriptions. The HLR is considered the most important database, as it stores permanent data about subscribers, including a subscriber's service profile, location information, and activity status. When an individual buys a subscription in the form of SIM then all the information about this subscription is registered in the HLR of that operator.

Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC)

The central component of the Network Subsystem is the MSC. The 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 such as registration, authentication, location updating, handovers, and call routing to a roaming subscriber. It also performs such functions as toll ticketing, network interfacing, common channel signaling, and others. Every MSC is identified by a unique ID.

Visitor Location Register (VLR)

The VLR is a database that contains temporary information about subscribers that is needed by the MSC in order to service visiting subscribers. The VLR is always integrated with the MSC. When a mobile station roams into a new MSC area, the VLR connected to that MSC will request data about the mobile station from the HLR. Later, if the mobile station makes a call, the VLR will have the information needed for call setup without having to interrogate the HLR each time.

Authentication Center (AUC)

The Authentication Center is a protected database that stores a copy of the secret key stored in each subscriber's SIM card, which is used for authentication and ciphering of the radio channel. The AUC protects network operators from different types of fraud found in today's cellular world.

Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

The Equipment Identity Register (EIR) is a database that contains a list of all valid mobile equipment on the network, where its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) identifies each MS. An IMEI is marked as invalid if it has been reported stolen or is not type approved.

The 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.

The operation and Maintenance functions are based on the concepts of the Telecommunication Management Network (TMN) which is standardized in the ITU-T series M.30.

Following is the figure which shows how OMC system covers all the GSM elements.

The OSS is the functional entity from which the network operator monitors and controls the system. The purpose of OSS is to offer the customer cost-effective support for centralized, regional, and local operational and maintenance activities that are required for a GSM network. An important function of OSS is to provide a network overview and support the maintenance activities of different operation and maintenance organizations.