GDEGPRE5

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS
Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS/EDGE
Alcatel
File GDEGPRE5.DOC
Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA
Date 05/2003
Edition 05
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CONTENTS
1. 2.
2.1 2.2
SCOPE..................................................................................................................... 3 SETTING THE SCENE ............................................................................................ 4

Acronyms............................................................................................................................................. 4 Why all that effort ? ............................................................................................................................ 6
3.
3.1 3.2
GPRS/EGPRS ARCHITECTURE ............................................................................ 7

Overview .............................................................................................................................................. 7 GPRS network elements .................................................................................................................... 9
4.
4.1 4.2 4.3
NOW, HOW DOES IT WORK ?............................................................................. 11

The processes................................................................................................................................... 11 Logical and physical channels ........................................................................................................ 15 The protocol stack ............................................................................................................................ 20
5.
5.1 5.2
THE PHYSICAL LAYER ........................................................................................ 25

Modulation schemes ........................................................................................................................ 25 Coding schemes ............................................................................................................................... 29
6.
6.1 6.2 6.3
NETWORK COVERAGE AND THROUGHPUT..................................................... 35

Some basics ...................................................................................................................................... 35 GPRS and EGPRS performance ...................................................................................................... 36 How to plan a GPRS/EGPRS network............................................................................................. 42
7.
7.1 7.2 7.3
TRAFFIC ASPECT................................................................................................. 47
What is the difference to speech transmission ? .......................................................................... 47 Multi-Service Traffic Model .............................................................................................................. 47 Mobile station capabilities ............................................................................................................... 49
8.
8.1 8.2 8.3
INTERFACES AND TRANSMISSION ASPECTS.................................................. 50

Capacity aspect for the Abis interface............................................................................................ 50 Transmission management on the Ater interface ......................................................................... 50 The Gb Interface................................................................................................................................ 50
9.
LITERATURE......................................................................................................... 53
10. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................... 54

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This document contains proprietary technical information belonging to Alcatel. By accepting this material, the recipient agrees that this material will not be reproduced or used in whole or part except as otherwise agreed between Alcatel and the recipient. Subject to change without notice.
Alcatel
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1. SCOPE
The following document provides a first introduction to GPRS and EDGE (EGPRS). In order to ease the reading, some simplifications are made. Sometimes, the GSM recommendations specify several possibilities for certain functions. This document does not cover all these alternatives, but is restricted to the most commonly implemented ones. The know-how acquired by working through this paper shall enable the reader to better understand other documents going further into details. This document can be grouped into four parts:

The first part (chapter 2) is setting the scene: It introduces the acronyms related to data services offered for GSM network evolutions and gives some rationales for GPRS / EGPRS. The second part (chapter 3 to 5) describes the GPRS / EGPRS system from top to bottom: Starting with the network architecture, via an overview of the processes going on in GPRS / EGPRS, the protocol stacks are introduced. This part ends with describing the physical layer.
The third part (chapter 6 and 7) gives a first insight into network performance and planning aspects, from a coverage / throughput aspect as well as from a traffic aspect. The fourth part (chapter 8) gives a short introduction to the transmission aspects.
For the interested reader, recommendations on further documents are provided in chapter 9. A list of abbreviations is appended at the end of the document. A reasonable knowledge of telecommunications and conventional (circuit-switched) GSM systems is required to fully understand this document.
Please note that this document contains preliminary information:

Performance indications are partially based on simulations and need to be verified in real hardware. This document does not give any commitments of Alcatel on product parameters and availability schedules.
Alcatel
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2. SETTING THE SCENE 2.1 Acronyms

GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Service. This packet data service is introduced into GSM networks in addition to the old fashioned circuit switched services. GPRS provides a true, end-toend packet-switched transmission. Two steps for the GPRS-introduction are distinguished: Step 1 with the (slower) coding schemes CS-1 and CS-2, and Step 2 with the additional coding schemes CS-3 and CS-4 (higher throughput). Later in this document, you will find more information on CS-1 to CS-4. With GPRS, a new entity is introduced into the radio network: The Packet Control Unit (PCU), realized in Alcatel networks Multi-BSS Fast by the packet
Tiihhrh Vihhrh
%76 %6& * %76 %6& * %76

T C
&LUFXLW &RUH 1HWZRUN
$ *E
Server (MFS). This entity contains the major part of the all "GPRS-intelligence" packet data related within the BSS and controls
0)6
,3 &RUH **61 6*61 1HWZRUN
processes. For the rest of the BSS, GPRS is just software. A packet data core network consisting of the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) is complementing the circuit switched core-network mainly consisting of the MSC/VLR.
HSCSD stands for High Speed Circuit Switched Data. For a HSCSD connection, more than one time-slot in a time-division multiple access (TDMA) frame is assigned exclusively to one user. This allows to offer circuit-switched data services with higher bit-rates.
EDGE stands for Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution. EDGE is a concept of improving data rates in GSM systems. This definition is the headline for all possible applications, let it be circuit- or packet-switched services including architectural issues, all protocol levels etc. With EDGE, a new modulation scheme on the Air interface (called 8PSK) is introduced, which allows higher throughput while maintaining the existing bandwidth and time-division multiple access (TDMA) structure of GSM.
Alcatel
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EGPRS stands for Enhanced General Packet Radio Service. This is nothing else than the application of GPRS within EDGE: A Packet data services with a higher bit rate.
ECSD is the acronym for EDGE Circuit Switched Data. This is the application of EDGE for circuit switched traffic applications and could be the evolution of HSCSD. Using 8PSK modulation, data rates of 28.8 and 32 kbit/s per timeslot in transparent mode, 28.8 and 43.2 kbit/s in non-transparent mode are available. This service has so far only met limited interest from network operators and is therefore not further considered in this document.
GERAN stands for GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network. GERAN combines all the GSM services as described before:
GSM and circuit-switched data) (voice and circuit-switched data) GSM (voice GPRS GPRS GERAN GERAN HSCSD HSCSD EDGE EDGE EGPRS EGPRS ECSD ECSD
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2.2 Why all that effort ?
Because of the Internet. There are big expectations on the potential of Internet services (Internet including World Wide Web www, e-mail, Intranet and the like) offered to mobile subscribers.
The good old circuit switched mode of data transmission is not very well suited to the bursty way the data actually flow between the end-user and the network.
A packet mode transmission allows other users to reuse the transmission resources while you are reading the page just downloaded from the Internet. This even without urging you to disconnect, reconnect, disconnect, ... GPRS is a real Always On service. And, quite important, only the actual transmitted data have to be billed to the subscriber, thus offering a much more affordable way for mobile Internet surfing.
These are the reasons behind the idea of the General Packet Radio Service GPRS. This service improves already the data capability of GSM remarkably.
A further way to increase the speed was found: The use of a new modulation scheme, named EDGE in combination with GPRS: EGPRS.
The ultimate evolution step will be the availability of services similar to all you ever expected (and a lot you never expected) from UMTS. The limitation is just the bandwidth available to the operators (yes, we still need UMTS ! ).
But what is ultimate ? Some engineers already started discussing about adding new modulation schemes to GSM allowing even higher data rates ...
Alcatel
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3. GPRS/EGPRS ARCHITECTURE 3.1 Overview

The technical solution adopted by ETSI for the GPRS / EGPRS service is based on the common use of the BSS by circuit and packet-switched services and the introduction of new logical network entities:

Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN), Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), Packet Control Unit (PCU), in the Alcatel implementation supported by the A935 MFS (Multi-BSS Fast Packet Server), GPRS Backbone Network.
The following figure shows the architecture of a GPRS / EGPRS capable network on the example of the Alcatel implementation with the Multi-BSS Fast Packet Server MFS:
TC
Abis Ater
MSC VLR
PTSN ISDN
BTS BTS
BSC MFS (PCU) HLR AuC
Abis
BTS
Gb
Packet-switched services Circuit-switched services Mixed packet- and circuitswitched services
Gn
SGSN
GPRS backbone
Gi
GGSN
Internet X.25
GPRS / EGPRS services use the same BSS architecture as circuit-switched services. Packetswitched services are routed via Gb and Gn interfaces to SGSN and GGSN prior to interconnection with the terminating IP- or X.25 based Packet Data Networks (PDNs). The ETSI specifications allow to combine the SGSN and GGSN in the same physical node or to implement them in different physical nodes with an IP-based backbone providing interconnection. The latter option is adopted by Alcatel.
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The Home Location Register HLR holds GPRS-specific subscriber information. It provides them to the SGSN at the instant of a mobile attaches to GPRS services.
The complete overview of all network elements and all interfaces related to GPRS/EGPRS is given here:
SMS-GMSC
Short Message Service Gateway-MSC
SMSC
Short Message Service Center
SMS-IWMSC
Short Message Service - Interworking MSC
C D
MSC/VLR
Mobile Switching Center Visitor Location Register
HLR/AuC
Home Location Register Authentication Center
Gd A Gs Gr R Um Gb Gn
Gc
Gi
TE
Terminal Equipment
MT
Mobile Termination
BSS
Base Station System
SGSN
Serving GPRS Support Node
GGSN
Gateway GPRS Support Node
PDN
Packet Data Network
TE
Terminal Equipment
Gn
Gf Gp
SGSN
Serving GPRS Support Node
EIR
Equipment Identification Register
GGSN
Gateway GPRS Support Node
Other PLMN
Public Land Mobile Network
Data and signalling transfer Signalling transfer
Some of the elements and associated interfaces are optional. Examples (not exhaustive): Equipment Identification Register EIR with interface Gf, or the Short Message Service Center SMSC with interface Gd.
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3.2 GPRS network elements

3.2.1 Alcatel BSS solution In the BSS, the Packet Control Unit (PCU) is responsible for the lower layer functions on the Um interface (Radio Link Control and Medium Access Control):

Protocol Data Unit (PDU) segmentation/re-assembly, Channel access control, Radio channel management, Packet Data Channel (PDCH) scheduling, Transmission error detection, Automatic request for repetition (ARQ).
The BSC is used for circuit versus packet radio resource allocation and supports Common Control Channel (CCCH) based GPRS paging, access request and access grant. Alcatels solution for the BSS part of GPRS is based on no hardware changes to any existing BSS equipment. Consequently, the key GPRS functions are split between the BTS (only software upgrade) and the new Multi-BSS Fast packet Server (A935 MFS) located at the transcoder site.
$
BTS BTS
Abis Abis Ater
TC MFS (PCU)
Gb
BSC
BTS
The only difference for EGPRS service is the requirements for EDGE-capable transceivers in the BTSes, and likely capacity extensions to the BSC and the transmission network. A BTS can be equipped with a mixture of normal and EDGE-capable transceivers. The network can consist of a mixture of normal and EDGE-capable BTS. The A935 MFS is based on redundant IT (Information Technology) platforms for control aspects and dedicated Digital Signal Processor boards (known as GPUs) for Gb-interface termination and the Packet Control Unit (PCU) function. A single MFS can be shared by several BSCs (controlled by the same OMC-R) terminated at the same MSC site, and its capacity can be incrementally increased to match GPRS / EGPRS traffic build-up.
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3.2.2 Alcatel NSS solution Serving GPRS Support Node

The heart of the GPRS NSS is the SGSN that plays the central role in managing all GPRS and EGPRS capable mobile stations within the network. The basic functions of the SGSN are interfacing to BSS over the Gb interface and to GGSN over the Gn or Gp interface, mobility management, paging, encryption, data compression, traffic measurement and charging.
The SGSN detects new GPRS / EGPRS Mobile Stations (MS) in its service area and handles the process of registering the new MS along with the GPRS registers. It transmits /receives data packets to/from the GPRS / EGPRS mobile. Records of the location of MS inside of its service area are kept by the SGSN.
Gateway GPRS Support Node:

The GGSN provides interaction with the external Packet Data Network (PDN). It transmits/receives data packets from SGSN or PDN. GGSN interfaces to SGSN over Gn or Gp and to PDN over Gi interface. GGSN updates the location directory using routing information supplied by the SGSN about the MSs path.
It handles the routing of encapsulated external PDN protocol packets over the GPRS backbone to the target SGSN that serves the terminating MS and the external PDN. The charging traffic data to/from external PDNs are registered and handled by the GGSN.
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4. NOW, HOW DOES IT WORK ?

The precondition for a subscriber to make use of GPRS / EGPRS services is a subscription with a service provider or a network operator for certain packet data services. The subscription is related to one or more Packet Data Protocol (PDP) addresses. Some examples for such addresses: z The gateway of the GSM-network to the Internet z A WAP-server for services offered by the GSM-operator z An e-mail server
Each Packet Data Protocol (PDP) address is described by an individual PDP context in the mobile, the SGSN and the GGSN. In the following, a simplified description on what is going on in a GPRS / EGPRS network for packet data transmission is given.
4.1 The processes

Three logical management entities are sharing the tasks of controlling packet data services:

The Session Management (SM) The GPRS Mobility Management (GMM) The Radio Resource Management (RRM)
In the following simplified process description, the responsible entities are indicated.
4.1.1 Connecting to GPRS In order to receive service, a mobile needs to be known as active by the network. For circuit-switched traffic, this is automatically done when switching-on the mobile: A so-called Location Update is performed. The Visitor Location Register (VLR) and the Home Location Register (HLR) are informed about the present location of the mobile and its capabilities. For packet data services, the mobile needs to register with the network as well. This is, however, not necessarily done by switching-on of the mobile (it could be done automatically, though).
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In order to prepare the mobile and the network for a packet data exchange (i.e. to establish a session), two main activities have to be performed:

Initiation of a session (Session management SM) Activation of a Packet Data Protocol (PDP) context (SM)
As the first step, the mobile notifies the Serving GPRS Support Node SGSN. The network checks the access rights of the mobile (to be precise, the subscriber identity stored in the SIM), copies the subscriber specific data from the HLR to the SGSN and assigns a Packet Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity P-TMSI to the mobile. During this activity, the SGSN and the HLR are informed about the location of the mobile on a cell level. This process is associated with the GPRS Attach (GMM). It changes the (GPRS-) Mobility Management State of the mobile from IDLE to READY (GMM). In the READY state, the mobile continues to inform the SGSN about all changes in its location on a cell level. Now, the mobile can apply for one or more Packet Data Protocol (PDP) addresses (SM). Each PDP address is described by a PDP context, which includes:

The PDP type (IPv4 for example) The PDP address of the mobile The requested Quality of Service (QoS) class (presently only Best Effort supported, QoS handling is only specified in GERAN R5) The address of the GGSN, which acts as the access point to the respective packet data network
This PDP context is stored in the mobile, the SGSN and the GGSN. Upon reaching the READY state (GMM) and activation of at least one PDP context (SM), the mobile is visible to the outside packet data network PDN and can sent and receive packet data. The Mobility Management State remains READY regardless if radio resources are allocated or not and if data is transferred or not. But not for ever: If the READY-timer expires, the mobile goes to the STANDBY state (more later in chapter 4.1.2). The mobile can establish several PDP context in parallel. This allows the mobile to communicate, for example, with the Internet and a Public Switched Packet Data Network PSPDN at the same time. While in the Mobility Management State READY, two different Radio Resource (RRM) states are possible for the mobile:

The Radio Resource state Packet idle mode (not to be mixed-up with the Mobility Management State IDLE). The mobile listens to the broadcast control channel and the paging sub-channel. The Radio Resource state Packet transfer mode. A Temporary Block Flow (TBF) is established. The sub-chapter 4.1.3 below is dedicated to this state.
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4.1.2 The STANDBY state If no packets are transferred for a while, the READY-timer expires and the mobile falls into the Mobility Management State STANDBY (GMM). The changes:
In the STANDBY state, the location information in the SGSN is only maintained on a Routing Area (RA) level. A Routing Area (RA) consists normally of several cells. The minimum is one cell, the maximum the same cells as defined for the Location Area for the circuit-switched services.
If a packet data exchange shall take place, first a paging for the mobile in the respective Routing Area has to be performed. The paging answer changes the MS state from STANDBY to READY (GMM).
While in the Mobility Management State STANDBY, only the Radio Resource state Packet idle mode exists. The mobile is still visible to the outside packet data network PDN.
4.1.3 Temporary Block Flow If packet data units are to be transmitted, the mobile enters the Radio Resource state Packet transfer mode (RRM) and sets up a temporary physical connection on the radio interface: The Temporary Block Flow (TBF). A summary:

A TBF is an uni-directional link. A Temporary Block Flow can be initiated by either the mobile or the network. Several modes of TBF establishment in uplink and downlink exist. More details can be found in GSM 03.60 and GSM 03.64. Radio resources on one or more Packet Data Channels (PDCH) are allocated to one TBF. The TBF is, as its name suggest, only temporary and maintained for the duration of the data transfer. A TBF is addressed by a Temporary Flow Identity (TFI). The TFI is managed by the Packet Control Unit PCU, the Multi-BSS Fast Packet Server MFS respectively.
An example: During an Internet session, the user clicks on a hyperlink. This action initiates a short data portion to be transmitted from the mobile to the Internet server. In order to transport this packet, an uplink TBF is established and addressed by a Temporary Flow Identity (TFI). After this data portion is completely delivered, the uplink TBF is terminated, the TFI and the radio resources are available for another user. As a response, the Internet delivers, for example, the next page to which the hyperlink refers. A downlink TBF is established and addressed by another TFI. This TBF is
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maintained until the page is completely delivered and then terminated, the TFI and the radio resources are then free for another user. While the user is reading this page, no TBF is active for this user.
A typical user session, in which data is exchanged bi-directionally as in the example above, requires the establishment and termination of several TBFs in each direction. The user, however, has the impression of a continuous end-to-end dialogue. Such a set of uplink and downlink TBFs is also called "transaction".
Uplink Downlink
TBF TBF
TBF TBF
Transaction
Depending on the mobile capabilities (more to come on that issue in chapter 7.3), TBFs on uplink and downlink can be active simultaneously.
4.1.4 What about handovers ? There are no handovers for GPRS / EGPRS mobiles (at least not in the near future). Roaming to other cells is performed by cell (re)-selection. When a mobile in packet transfer mode leaves the coverage range of a BTS or suffers from interference, the link quality will degrade and retransmission will be activated. If the mobile detects another cell with a better field-strength, the temporary block flow (TBF) is interrupted, the mobile changes into the Packet idle mode, selects a new cell, reads the system information, enters the Packet transfer mode and sets up a new TBF. The cell re-selection is done by the mobile autonomously by measuring the received field-strength of the Packet Broadcast Control Channels PBCCH of its own and neighboring cells (the field-strength of the "circuit-switched" Broadcast Control Channel BCCH, in case no PBCCH is available). More about these logical channels comes in chapter 4.2.1 below. This mode is called NC0. A little bit later in the product evolution, the feature Network Controlled Cell Reselection (called NC2) is planned, both for GPRS and EGPRS. Upon activation of this feature and in case the mobile is in the READY state (GMM), the mobile station does no longer perform cell reselection autonomously, but sends measurement reports to the network. The network controls the cell reselection.
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The main goal of NC2 is to reduce the number of cell re-selection. Each time there is a cell reselection in packet transfer mode, the interruption can be quite significant for the application level. NC2 allows to maintain a TBF in a cell as long as reasonably possible, therefore improving the total throughput on the application layer. In addition, NC2 can be used to push an (E)GPRS-mobile to another cell (for example for traffic load reasons), given the coverage overlap is sufficient.
4.1.5 Some more key features in short

Discontinuous reception (DRX) is still possible with GPRS and EGPRS. Uplink power control is provided for GPRS and EGPRS. Frequency hopping is possible for GPRS and EGPRS. Ciphering for the packet data is used. In contradiction to circuit-switched voice or data, where ciphering/de-ciphering for the network side is performed in the BTS, for GPRS/EGPRS this is handled by the SGSN.
4.2 Logical and physical channels

4.2.1 Logical channels Similar as defined for voice services, different logical channels are defined for GPRS / EGPRS. These channels are classified into traffic channels and control channels. Some channels are bidirectional, other channels are uni-directional. An overview: Group
Traffic channels Control channels
Class
Name
Function
Packet Data Traffic Packet Broadcast Control
Direction
MSBSS MSBSS
Packet Data Traffic Channel PDTCH Packet Broadcast Control Channel *) Packet Common Control Channel (PCCCH) *) PRACH PAGCH PPCH Packet Dedicated Control Channel PACCH PTCCH PBCCH
Packet Random Access Packet Access Grant Packet Paging Packet Associated Control Packet Timing Advance Control
MSBSS MSBSS MSBSS MSBSS MSBSS
*) PBCCH and PCCCH capability is mandatory for mobiles, optional for the network.
Table 1: Logical Channels
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The function is analog to the logical channels defined for voice service and for the reader probably self-explaining. New is the Packet Timing Advance Control Channel PTCCH. In the uplink, the mobile transmits a random access burst (one mobile per PTCCH). In the downlink, the network transmits timing advance information to the mobiles (several mobiles per PTCCH).
4.2.2 Coordination between packet-switched and circuit-switched services After introduction of GPRS, mobiles can be attached to two types of services (GSM circuit-switched and GPRS packet-switched). In that case, they have to receive paging messages for both types. Three different modes of coordination between paging, called Network Mode of Operation (NMO), are defined: NMO I MPDCH used. Paging coordination between CCCH and PCCCH. Mobile needs only to monitor one paging channel. If attached to GPRS, circuit-switched paging messages are transmitted on the PDCH. Interface Gs between MSC/VLR and SGSN is required. NMO II MPDCH not used. Paging for circuit- and packet switched services always on CCCH. Interface Gs between MSC/VLR and SGSN not required. NMO III MPDCH used. No paging coordination between CCCH and PCCCH. If attached to GPRS, the mobile needs to monitor both circuit- and packet switched paging channels. Interface Gs between MSC/VLR and SGSN is not required.
Recommendation on use of Network Mode of Operation: NMO I

Medium to high data usage High performance (fast TBF establishment) required First phase of GPRS rollout Low data usage Compromise on performance acceptable Not recommended, as not all mobiles can monitor CCCH and PDCCH simultaneously
NMO II
NMO III
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4.2.3 Physical channel: The Packet Data Channel (PDCH) One physical Packet Data Channel (PDCH) consist of one radio timeslot on the Air interface. Four bursts from four consecutive TDMA frames are combined to form a radio block:
One TDMA frame = 8 TS (4,615 ms)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
One PDCH
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
47
48
49
50
51
Block B0
Block B1
Block B2
T
PTCCH
Block B3
Block B11
X
idle
One 52-multiframe (240 ms)
Up to eight Packet Data Traffic Channels (PDTCH) (in the first software releases limited to five due to mobile constraints) on different time-slots but the same transceiver can be allocated to one mobile at the same time (depending on the multi-slot capabilities of the mobile). Several mobiles can share the same PDCH. An example:
User 1: no multislot capability
PDCH 1
User 2
User 2
User 3
User 3
User 2
User 2
User 2: with multislot capability
PDCH 2
User 1
User 2
User 3
User 3
User 2
User 2
PDCH 3
User 3: with multislot capability
User 3
User 2
User 3
User 1
User 2
User 3
Block
n+1
n+2
n+3
n+4
n+5
...
It is possible, to mix GPRS and EGPRS on the same Packet Data Channel (PDCH).
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Up to 16 users can share a Packet Data Channel (PDCH). The Alcatel implementation allows a maximum of seven users in uplink plus nine users in downlink for the initial release. In later releases, a maximum of six users in uplink plus ten users in downlink can share one PDCH. Depending on what logical channels are conveyed on a PDCH, it is named:

Primary Master Packet Data Channel (primary MPDCH). PDCH carrying PBCCH and PCCCH. Minimum 0, maximum 1 per cell. Secondary Master Packet Data Channel (secondary MPDCH). PDCH carrying PCCCH. Minimum 0, maximum 15 per cell. Only exists when primary MPDCH is available. Slave Packet Data Channel (SPDCH). PDCH carrying PDTCH and PACCH, but neither PBCCH nor PCCCH. Minimum 0, maximum only limited by equipped resources.
The specification allows to multiplex also PDTCH on primary and secondary MPDCH to squeeze out some more capacity in case the MPDCH is only partially used. The benefit is in reality very limited compared to the complexibility of this feature. This option is therefore usually not implemented. Timeslots usable for PDCH are grouped into PDCH groups. One PDCH group contains time-slots belonging to the same TRX, having the same frequency configuration without holes (= consecutive timeslots).
4.2.4 Dynamic Packet Data Channel (PDCH) allocation An important feature in the Alcatel implementation of GPRS/EGPRS is the PDCH Dynamic allocation. This feature allows to use the same timeslots both for circuit-switched and GPRS traffic depending on the demand. The network entity in charge of the coordination between circuit-switched and GPRS traffic is the MFS. The MFS sents PDCH allocation and de-allocation requests to the BSC, which is in charge of the execution of such requests. BSC circuit switched traffic load is indicated from the BSC to the MFS. There are a number of parameters to tune the dynamic PDCH allocation. They can be controlled by the operator from the OMC. Some highlights:

An absolute upper limit for the number of PDCH can be set to guarantee the quality of service for voice. If circuit-switched services get priority over GPRS, the upper limit for the number of PDCH can be configured to be dynamically adapted to the traffic situation. Under high traffic load situation for circuit-switched services, the upper limit for PDCH can be reduced to make room for more voice calls. There are two possibilities to react on high traffic load:
-
A slow mechanism using soft pre-emption to react on normal changes of the traffic profile. The traffic evaluation period = reactivity is about 15 seconds.
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A fast mechanism using fast pre-emption to react on sudden voice traffic peaks. Even if all timeslots are occupied by circuit- and packet-switched traffic, a new circuit-switched request will be served. One PDCH will be cleared immediately, its traffic resumes on other PDCH with a lower total performance.
A minimum number of PDCH timeslots can be configured to guarantee a minimum performance for GPRS/EGPRS. These timeslots are not available for circuit-switched services, even if no GPRS transactions are ongoing. The value for the minimum number of PDCH timeslots can be set to 0.
4.2.5 Master Packet Data Channel (MPDCH) allocation The primary MPDCH (NMO I or NMO III) is allocated statically. The MPDCH is allocated per command from OMC and stays on its timeslot permanently. The advantage: Improved TBF handling available permanently. The secondary MPDCH can be enabled or disabled. It can only be enabled, if a primary MPDCH is allocated. If it is enabled, it can only be allocated dynamically. The maximum number of secondary MPDCH can be limited by O&M settings.
4.2.6 Mapping of uplink Packet Data Channels: The Uplink State Flag With GPRS / EGPRS, we have now the situation, that several subscribers share the same physical resources. For the downlink, the mobile has just to wait for the data addressed to it, but what about the uplink Packet Data Traffic Channel PDTCH and Packet Associated Control Channel PACCH ? In order to tell the mobile, when it is allowed to use the Packet Data Channel (PDCH), the Uplink State Flag USF has been invented. This flag consists of three bits and is contained in the header of the preceding RLC/MAC block transmitted in downlink on the same PDCH. If several PDCHs are allocated to a multislot-capable mobile, each PDCH gets its Uplink State Flag. If the mobile reads his value in the Uplink State Flag, it is allowed to use the next uplink block on the PDCH. If a mobile can not decode the Uplink State Flag USF correctly, it can not use it's radio block. You will therefore find this Uplink State Flag USF regularly mentioned as reference in radio performance related articles and specifications.
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4.3 The protocol stack

4.3.1 Introduction A rather good way to show the split of responsibilities within a GPRS / EGPRS network is the protocol stack. This chapter shall give a very brief introduction to the most interesting protocol stacks used for GPRS and EGPRS. The emphasis is put on the air interface (the Um interface). Two protocol-stacks have to be considered:

The transmission plane. This plane shows how the data travels through the network. The control plane. This plane shows the way of control and signaling information.
4.3.2 Transmission plane The complete protocol-stack including the example of surfing the world wide web is shown below:
www
World Wide Web
Application example
http
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
TCP
Transmission Control Protocol RFC 793
IP
Internet Protocol RFC 791
IP
relay
SNDCP
Subnetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol GSM 04.65
SNDCP
GTP
GPRS Tunneling Protocol GSM 09.60
GTP
LLC
Logical Link Control GSM 04.64
LLC
UDP
or:
User Datagram Protocol RFC 768
UDP
or:
User Datagram Protocol RFC 768
TCP RLC
Radio Link Control GSM 04.60
TCP
relay
RLC
BSSGP
BSS GPRS Protocol GSM 08.18
BSSGP
IP
IP
MAC
Medium Access Control GSM 04.60
MAC
NS
Network Service GSM 08.16
NS
Ethernet FR
Frame Relay
Ethernet FR
Frame Relay
Physical Link Layer Physical RF Layer
relay Physical L2-GCH Layer 2 GPRS Link Layer Channel Physical RF Layer
Um
L2-GCH
Layer 2 GPRS Channel
or:
or:
ATM L1bis
Layer 1bis GSM 08.14 Asynchronous Transfer Mode
ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
L1-GCH
L1-GCH
L1bis
Layer 1bis GSM 08.14
and/or:
and/or:
E1 (PCM30)
G.703 / G.704
E1 (PCM30)
G.703 / G.704
MS
BTS
Abis / Ater
MFS
Gb
SGSN
Gn
GGSN
Gi
The blocks highlighted in orange (left from the Gb interface and up to the RLC/MAC layer) are managed by the BSS and the green ones (right hand from the Gb interface and up to the IP layer) by the Core Network. Grey blocks (above the IP layer) are examples of external applications, for which the GSM/GPRS/EGPRS network is transparent. Some explanations are given in chapter 4.3.4 ff.
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4.3.3 Control plane Two different modes are provided as mentioned in chapter 4.2.1 above:

In the first mode, the network uses the existing signaling resources of the circuit-switched channels (the Common Control Channel CCCH) to establish packet data connections. The second mode introduces separate signaling channels for packet data. These channels are called Packet Broadcast Control Channel PBCCH and Packet Common Control Channel PCCCH.
The complete protocol-stack of the control plane is shown below on the example of the second mode:
GMM/SM
GPRS Mobility Management/ Session Management
GMM/SM
GPRS Mobility Management/ Session Management
LLC
LLC
relay
RLC
RLC
BSSGP
BSSGP
MAC
MAC
NS
NS
Physical Link Layer Physical RF Layer
relay Physical L2-GCH Layer 2 GPRS Link Layer Channel Physical RF Layer
Um
L2-GCH
L1-GCH
L1-GCH
L1bis
L1bis
MS
BTS
Abis / Ater
MFS
Gb
SGSN
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4.3.4 The "tunnels" The user data of the application is transported using tunneling. The packets of one protocol are encapsulated within packets of an underlying protocol. This process is totally transparent for the application protocol. The advantage is that the applications do not need to be modified for the specific mechanism of GPRS. That means GPRS/EGPRS can transmit everything that is called data packet, even protocols which are not yet invented. There are two parts of the tunnels:

The backbone-part, the GPRS Tunneling Protocol GTP The radio-part, the SubNetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol SNDCP
relay
SNDCP
SNDCP
GTP
GTP
MS
Um
BTS
Abis / Ater
MFS
Gb
SGSN
Gn
GGSN
Gi
The tunnels are established upon the PDP context activation. The backbone-part, the GPRS Tunneling Protocol GTP, is set up between the GGSN (the fixed part in all matters relating to a certain data service) and the SGSN. If the mobile leaves the area served by the SGSN, a new GTP tunnel is established between the GGSN and the new SGSN. For each PDP context, one GTP tunnel is established. The GPRS Tunneling Protocol GTP is defined for the Gn-interface between SGSN and GGSN within one network and for the Gp-interface between the SGSN in one network to the GGSN in another network. The radio part, the SubNetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol SNDCP, is the "mobile" part of the tunnel. It follows the mobile to each cell. If several PDP contexts are activated at the same time, the SubNetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol SNDCP multiplexes all of them onto a single logical connection of the Logical Link Control LLC layer. User data and redundant header data are compressed by the SNDCP to save precious Air interface resources.
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4.3.5 The Data Link Layer LLC and RLC/MAC The data link layer between the mobile and the BSS is divided into two sub-layers:

The Logical Link Control LLC The Radio Link Control / Medium Access Control RLC/MAC
LLC
LLC
relay
RLC
RLC
MAC
MAC
MS
Um
BTS
Abis / Ater
MFS
Gb
SGSN
The Logical Link Control LLC provides a highly reliable logical connection between the mobile and the SGSN. The functionality includes:

Flow control Provision of data packets in the correct sequence Error detection Automatic repetition of erroneously received packets (Automatic Repeat Request ARQ) Support of different Quality of Services QoS classes Support of acknowledged and unacknowledged operation Ciphering of data, user confidentiality
The functionality is based on the LAPDm protocol, which is a High-Level Data Link Control HDLC derivative (just for the protocol experts of you).
The Radio Link Control RLC is responsible for

Segmentation of the data units to be transferred into radio blocks which will be transmitted in four subsequent bursts in a PDCH (you remember, we have seen this in chapter 4.2.3 above) Link adaptation, the dynamic selection of the modulation and coding scheme taking into account the measured channel quality (you will find more about this later in the document) The error correction by selective retransmission of erroneous blocks (Automatic Repeat Request ARQ)
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The Medium Access Control MAC is in charge of
the access control to the radio channel. MAC uses paging and random access messages to control the access to the radio transmission resources. It handles the connection attempts of several mobiles onto a common resource and the multiplexing of multiple users onto a common Packet Data Traffic Channel PDTCH.
Queuing of access requests and assignment of resources. Scheduling of radio block transmission. In case of different Quality of Service QoS classes, the MAC protocol reserves resources to ensure the guaranteed service quality.
The MAC protocol used for GPRS / EGPRS is based on the slotted-ALOHA technology as used for MAC in the GSM voice domain. 4.3.6 The Physical Layer The physical layer on the air interface is divided into the
Physical Link Layer, specified in GSM 05.03, 05.08, 05.10 and in charge of Cell (re)selection, TX power control, Discontinuous reception, Synchronization, timing advance, Forward error correction, Channel coding, Interleaving
Physical RF Layer, defined according to GSM 05.02, 05.04, 05.05 and describing the GMSK / 8PSK modulation TRX characteristics
The Physical Link Layer is rather similar to the well-known procedures of circuit-switched transmission. The Physical RF Layer is detailed in chapter 5 below. 4.3.7 Comparison GPRS to EGPRS The basics are the same. The protocol stacks as shown in chapter 4.3.2 and 4.3.3 above look the same for both GPRS and EGPRS. What is different:

Of course the Physical Layer is different (8PSK modulation as detailed in chapter 5.1). The RLC/MAC layer is different: Different RLC block formats. Different headers depending on the modulation and coding schemes used. For modulation and coding schemes providing high bit rates, two RLC blocks are sent per radio block.
Radio Resource management: There are impacts on the Packet Data Channel (PDCH) allocation algorithms. Some modification to the allocation of Temporary Block Flows (TBF).
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5. THE PHYSICAL LAYER 5.1 Modulation schemes

As mentioned before, an additional, different modulation scheme is introduced in EDGE: While the standard GSM including GPRS uses exclusively a so-called Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), for EDGE a Phase Shift Keying with eight states (8PSK) is added for higher bitrates. A comparison:
5.1.1 Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) Minimum Shift Keying can be understood as an Offset-Quadrature Phase Shift Keying, where the modulation signals are applied in form of cosine signals and filtered by a Gaussian function. So far for the specialists.
Important for us are:
Two states out of four are allowed to represent a symbol at one instant of time. After each symbol, a rotation of /2 takes place as shown to the right. This means, that one bit per symbol can be transported. There is always a phase change of 90 from one symbol to the next (not less and not more).
I Q
Q
t
I
With GMSK, the vector is staying on the circle of the state diagram. The amplitude is therefore constant over the whole burst. This is indicated by the time mask for a normalduration burst with GMSK modulation: The average power during the burst (this is the reference for the power definition) is equal to the peak power.
dB PN
(147 bits)
542.8 s
GMSK is a compromise between the width of the occupied spectrum and the side-lobes.
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5.1.2 Phase Shift Keying with eight states (8PSK)
8PSK uses eight states as shown to the right: This means, period that each
Q
011 111
111 011
Q
110 100 101
modulation
transports
Q
010 000 001 011 111
000
three information bits (2 bits = 8 elements). This roughly triples the bit rate compared to GMSK as used for GSM.
010
t
I
110
010 001 000
I
100 001 101
The states are rotated by 3/8 with each symbol clock.

101 100 110
With 8PSK, we can no longer remain on the circle of the state diagram. To come from one state to another one (for example from 011 to 101), we are going the direct way through the inner part of the diagram. This results in the change of the amplitude when transiting from one state to another, or to say in other words, the amplitude during the active part does depend on the modulated data. Without the trick of rotating the phase by 3/8 from symbol to symbol, the transitions could go through the center of the state diagram. This results in an amplitude of zero for the respective transitions for a infinitesimal duration of time: By using the trick of rotating the phase by 3/8 from symbol to symbol, the center will not be touched and the amplitude will never go to zero during the burst:
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dB
This is indicated by the time mask for a normal duration burst with 8PSK
0
modulation as shown on the right: As you can see, the minimum level during the active part of the burst is -15 dB relative to the nominal level (and not going to - dB).
PN
-15
(147 bits)
542.8 s
The nominal output power of the transmitters is specified as the average power during the active part of the burst. In GMSK, the average power is identical to the peak power (ignoring imperfections like overshoots and ripples). In 8PSK, even though the peak power is the same as in GMSK, the average power is lower than the GMSK power. This is sometimes called power back-off. This power backoff is theoretically about 4.8 dB assuming the same peak power as for GMSK and a random bit pattern. In reality, transmitters are often not limited by the ability to deliver instant power peaks, but by thermal constraints. It is in that case therefore possible to increase the peak power for 8PSK without violating the thermal limits. The real power back-off in the Alcatel products is, depending on the product, lower than the theoretical value of 4.8 dB (please refer to the EVOLIUM Radio Solutions Alcatel 9100 Base Station Product Description for details).
The modulated bits are Gray-coded. In case one state is distorted due to interference so much as to be decoded in its neighboring state, only one bit out of three is wrong. The following picture tries to explain this effect:
Observation at time tx Ideal location of the symbol Possible real locations of the symbol due to non-perfect transmission Area, in which the value of the received signal will be decoded correctly Q
010 000
Received symbol, distorted so much as to be interpreted as 010 instead of 000

011
001
111
I
110 101 100
Thanks to the Gray-coding, only one out of the three Bits is wrong.
Not using Gray-coding, the neighbouring symbol could be 111 for example. Then, all three bits would be wrong. The probability, that the signal is distorted so much as to be decoded two or even more zones away, in the area of 011 for example, is low.
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It is obvious, that the different states in 8PSK are closer together as in GMSK. Without giving mind-squeezing mathematical formulas, we can conclude, that this modulation scheme is more susceptible to interference. Or, to put it in another way: We transmit more bits within a certain time with the same total energy. The available energy per bit is therefore lower, which automatically results in a lower bit energy to noise density ratio (Eb/N0). This is the reason, why within the EDGE concept, the GMSK modulation is kept for transmission under more degraded radio conditions.
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5.2 Coding schemes

5.2.1 Overview The coding schemes are different between GPRS and EGPRS. The table below gives the comparison:
System Scheme Modulation schemes Coding schemes for RLC data block Code rate Maximum data rate per time slot (RLC payload) [kbps] EGPRS MCS-9 8PSK 1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured 1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured 1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured 1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured 1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured 1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured 1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured 1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured 1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured No coding Half rate convolutional coding, punctured Half rate convolutional coding, punctured Half rate convolutional coding 1.00 59.2
MCS-8
8PSK
0.92
54.4
MCS-7
8PSK
0.76
44.8
MCS-6
8PSK
0.49
29.6
MCS-5
8PSK
0.37
22.4
MCS-4
GMSK
1.00
17.6
MCS-3
GMSK
0.80
14.8
MCS-2
GMSK
0.66
11.2
MCS-1
GMSK
0.53
8.8
GPRS
CS-4 CS-3
GMSK GMSK
1.00 0.75
20.0 14.4
CS-2
GMSK
0.66
12.0
CS-1
GMSK
0.50
8.0
Table 2: Coding schemes Please note, that the maximum data rate given in the table above refers to the RLC payload (= the throughput offered to the Logical Link Control LLC layer). The RLC/MAC header, Block Check Sequence (BCS), Tail bit etc. are already subtracted.
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Still, these data rates do not represent the final throughput available to the end user. This is explained in chapter 5.2.4 below. Signaling uses always the CS-1 coding scheme, both for GPRS and EGPRS, as it offers the best error correction capabilities. You may ask, why four new modulation and coding schemes with GMSK were introduced for EGPRS. There are already four defined for GPRS, why not use them for EGPRS as well ? Well, in order to ease the link adaptation, a similar coding scheme (1/3 rate convolutional coding, punctured) is required for all modulation and coding schemes. Back in time, when the GPRS schemes were defined, nobody thought about the future extension with EGPRS, the chosen coding schemes are hardly upwards compatible.
5.2.2 Convolutional coding In the column Coding scheme in the table above, you find terms like Half rate convolutional coding, punctured. You also find a column Code rate. Just let us recollect some basics: Purpose: Convolutional coding is one form to implement a forward error correction (FEC) function. With forward error correction, additional - redundant information is inserted into the bit-stream. This allows detection and correction of bit errors (caused by non-perfect transmission quality) at the receiving side. Characteristic: Convolutional coding can be applied to a continuous bit stream (in contradiction to block codes, where a defined number of bits is collected, processed and then transmitted). Code rate: The code rate is the relation of the payload to the total transmitted bits. A half rate convolutional coder produces therefore twice the number of output bits compared to the input (payload) bits. The lower the code rate, the more "redundancy" is added which improves the error correction capabilities, but reduces the payload throughput. Puncturing: It is possible, to cut some bits out of the convolutional coded bit stream reducing the error protection capabilities but without losing information. This is used to squeeze the coded bits into the frames of a given, fixed length. This process is called puncturing. The code rate given in the table of the previous chapter is actually already considering the puncturing.
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5.2.3 Coding Scheme Adaptation, Link Adaptation (LA) and Incremental Redundancy (IR) Coding Scheme Adaptation (for GPRS) The choice of the coding scheme used for a given GPRS user at a given time is done using the dynamic Coding Scheme adaptation algorithm according to the reception quality (RxQual) and level (RxLev) measurements performed by the BTS and the mobile. Both uplink and downlink Coding Scheme adaptation are under control of the network.
Link Adaptation (LA) (for EGPRS) The modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used for a given EGPRS connection depends on the radio conditions as well. Measurements of the bit error probability (BEP) and the standard-deviation of the BEP are used to determine the most suitable MCS for the actual radio propagation. The process to select the appropriate MCS is called Link Adaptation. The influence of the Link Adaptation on the performance is discussed in chapter 6.2.6.
Incremental Redundancy (IR) (for EGPRS) In addition, the feature Incremental Redundancy is introduced for EGPRS. This function was specified by ETSI as optionally for base stations and mandatory for mobiles. The Alcatel base station implementation makes use of this feature. How does it work ? If a block is not properly decoded in the first instance, the bits are stored in the base station, the mobile respectively, as soft bits. The same block is repeated with a different puncturing scheme. The resulting soft bits of the second (and, if necessary, third) transmission are then combined with the previously transmitted block(s). This improves the likelihood of ending up with the correct data. Even if one block of data is found to be not good, it still can be used to improve the total bit error rate of the system (you remember, in GSM speech transmission, blocks with a too high error rate are just discarded - wasted).
You probably noted when reading table 2, that MCS-9 uses a 1/3 rate convolutional coding scheme with puncturing resulting in a code rate of 1.0. You wondered, perhaps, why MCS-9 is not specified like CS-4 without coding at all. Now you understand, that this way of coding is necessary to allow incremental redundancy for MCS-9 (if you would not use puncturing, you could not retransmit and combine the block with a different puncturing scheme).
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5.2.4 Bit rates available to the application The bit rates given for the different modulation and coding schemes in chapter 5.2.1 above refer to the data payload on the RLC/MAC layer. These bit rates are not available to the applications of the end-user. Two effects eat up some of the speed:

The different headers for the protocols The bit error rate is not 0 %, some data blocks needs to be re-transmitted depending on the radio conditions.
The first point, the header-overhead, can be visualized on the protocol layers as seen from the mobile (example of surfing the web):
Application Layer
www
World Wide Web
Utility Layer
http
Hypertext Transfer Protocol
Outside of the PLMN
Transport Layer Internetwork Layer
TCP
Transaction Control Protocol
IP
Internet Protocol
SNDCP Network Layer

Subnetwork Dependent Convergence Protocol
NSS (Core Network)
LLC
Logical Link Control
RLC
Radio Link Control
Link Layer MAC

Medium Access Control
BSS
Physical Layer
GSM-RF
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The table below gives the maximum payload data throughput on the RLC layer for error-free transmission and the payload data throughput on the RLC layer for the ETSI reference point (block error rate of 10 %). The figures are given for one timeslot each.
System
Scheme
Max RLC data throughput (RLC payload) [kbps]
RLC data throughput at Reference Point (BLER=10%) [kbps] 53.3 49.0 40.3 26.7 20.2 15.9 13.3 10.1 7.9 18.0 13.0 10.8 7.2
EGPRS
MCS-9 MCS-8 MCS-7 MCS-6 MCS-5 MCS-4 MCS-3 MCS-2 MCS-1
59.2 54.4 44.8 29.6 22.4 17.6 14.8 11.2 8.8 20.0 14.4 12.0 8.0 Table 3: Data throughput
GPRS
CS-4 CS-3 CS-2 CS-1
In general, we define the "real" user data rate to be the rate the IP-layer provides to the upper layers, as we do not know, which application will actually be used. We therefore take into account the LLC/SNDCP and IP/X.25 headers to evaluate the "real" user throughput. This is not so easy because the rate depends on the IP payload: For short packets, the overhead is relatively higher than for long packets.
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IP Payload The table to the right gives a correction factor depending on the length of the IP payload. In order to get the real user throughput, simply multiply the RLC throughput with the factor given. 200 300 500 1000 1500 [Bytes] 50 100
Correction factor
63 % 77 % 87 % 91 % 94 % 97 % 98 %
Table 4: Correction factor Example: IP payload = 300 bytes CS-4 RLC data throughput at Reference Point (BLER=10%) = 18.0 kbps Real user data rate = 18.0 kbps x 91 % = 16.38 kbps per time-slot
5.2.5 End-user data-rates GPRS and EGPRS allow several users to share one timeslot and also to combine several timeslots for one user. The bitrate seen by one user (the peak bit-rate) can therefore be higher than the throughput of one timeslot. You will find fantastic rates announced in literature and brochures: Up to 384 kbps, sometimes even 473.6 kbps (8 x 59.2 kbps) are promoted. We learned in the previous chapter, that these rates are on the RLC layer and are not really seen by the end-user. There are a lot of dependencies which have an influence on the transmission rate. The transmission mechanisms used, for example by the Internet protocols, have a great influence. High traffic load situations can decrease the throughput drastically. In addition, we have to be careful on the ability of the mobile terminals, especially for small handheld devices. As from the knowledge of today, the mobile part will in most cases not provide more than a 3+1 or 4+2 configuration (timeslots in downlink + timeslots in uplink). The processing capabilities of the terminals will probably not allow to exceed 100 to 150 kbps. This message is based on the extrapolation of the technology of today taking also battery limitations into account (the more processing power, the higher the power consumption).
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6. NETWORK COVERAGE AND THROUGHPUT 6.1 Some basics

The introduction of GPRS and EGPRS into existing GSM networks designed for voice is very easy, as the standard has been defined in a way to offer at least the lowest coding (and modulation) scheme over the full cell area without constraints on the existing network plan. If a network, however, shall be planned for a certain minimum throughput, we have to look a little bit closer on the way to design the GPRS/EGPRS part. From the design of GSM networks for voice, we are used to cell ranges, cell areas respectively, in which, with a certain probability, coverage is provided. Considering a certain, market-defined coverage class and coverage probability, a cell range or an cell area could be defined, where mobile telephony service can be offered. A common way for calculating the cell range for voice is the link budget. Based on the equipment parameters like transmit power, receiver sensitivity, consideration of losses and gains, a path-loss can be calculated which, using empirical models like Hata-Okumura, COST 231 etc. results in the cell range. With GPRS and EGPRS, this is different: Service can be offered everywhere within the cell range as for voice, but due to the link adaptation, the throughput differs significantly from the center of the cell towards the edge of the cell. The comparison between voice and packet data: Voice service Packet data service (GPRS/EGPRS)
Service available, or service not available (based Service available, service quality (data on a certain, specified probability)
Service Quality
throughput) dependent on the location

Service Quality
Distance from base station
Distance from base station
The depiction is very much simplified
The conclusion: There is no fixed cell range for GPRS/EGPRS. The coverage area depends directly on the requested data throughput. If the requested data throughput is low, the cell range for GPRS/EGPRS can be much larger than for voice. If the requested data throughput is high, the cell range can be lower as for voice.
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6.2 GPRS and EGPRS performance

6.2.1 Introduction The performance in terms of data throughput per PDCH depends on several parameters:
The carrier-to-interference and noise ratio C/(I+N)

-
Carrier
-> Level (fieldstrength) from the serving cell at the mobile location
Interference -> Co- and adjacent channel interference from non-serving cells Noise -> assumed to be thermal noise and the noise created by the non-perfect receivers of mobiles and base stations
Use of frequency hopping Link adaptation Use of Incremental Redundancy
6.2.2 Different definitions for network performance Usually, the data throughput specified refers to one PDCH, ignoring that in GPRS and EGPRS several PDCH per user can be combined to get a higher data throughput. Due to the asymmetric traffic expected for packet data services (much more downlink traffic than uplink traffic), GPRS and EGPRS networks are planned commonly for the downlink only. The throughput is therefore specified for the downlink. There are different ways to define the data throughput in a network: Mean Data Throughput The area of the network can be considered to be divided into equally sized pixels. The data throughput is calculated pixel per pixel. The pixels close to the base station will have a high data throughput; the pixels at the cell border provide only a low throughput. The mean data throughput is the average of all pixels within one cell. This is the most common definition for data throughput. x% Data Throughput Again, the data throughput is calculated pixel per pixel. The defined data throughput is the minimum value reached by at least x % of all the pixels. Common values for x are 50%, 90% and 95%. Example: 90% Data throughput of 20 kbit/s. 90% of the cell area provides a data throughput of at least 20 kbit/s, 10% of the cell area are below that value.
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Guaranteed Data Throughput
A guaranteed throughput in the pure sense does not exist. It is similar to voice: A coverage probability of 100.0% is not possible. When talking about a guaranteed data throughput, in fact a minimum throughput with a certain area probability is meant. The definition is usually the same as above for x% Data Throughput.
The diagram below visualizes the difference between the mean data throughput and, as example, the 90% data throughput (this diagram is heavily simplified):
kbit/s Assumed cell border
60 50
Mean data throughput 90% throughput Data throughput as function of the distance mobile to BTS
40 30 20 10 0 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 Distance BTS - Mobile [m]
Why is the Mean Data Throughput the most common definition ? Because this definition describes best the performance of the complete system. GPRS/EGPRS is not, like voice, limited to one timeslot. Depending on the mobile capability, several timeslots (up to eight in theory, up to five with real mobiles) can be combined to provide a higher throughput. A mobile close to the base station receives a higher data throughput. It therefore occupies less timeslots. The mobile farther away from the base station receives a lower data throughput, but can get more timeslots to compensate for that. Or in other words, even a mobile at the cell border benefits from the higher throughput: The mobiles close to the BTS occupys less time-slots for a given data throughput or completing the data transfer earlier. The mobile at the cell border (assuming mobiles with multi-slot capability) can compensate its lower throughput per timeslot by combining timeslots not occupied by the mobile close to the BTS. This is an important idea on optimizing the spectrum usage and often ignored ! The mean data throughput is therefore the appropriate value to design the network.
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6.2.3 Simulation results The following diagrams show exemplary simulation results for the data throughput dependent on the distance between the mobile and the base station for EGPRS. The results are shown for four different frequency reuse cluster sizes (1x3, 3x3, 4x3 and 7x3) and a fixed inter-site distance.
Dense urban, GSM 900, with incremental redundancy, no frequency hopping, three-sectored
Fading profile TU3 17 dB 3 dB
60
Indoor loss
Mean Throughput [kbit/s]
50 40 30 20 10 0 0 500 1000 1500 Distance BTS - Mobile [m] 7x3 4x3 3x3 1x3
Body loss
BTS antenna height 20 m Antenna beamwidth 65 EIRP GMSK EIRP 8PSK 57.7 dBm 52.9 dBm
Diagram 1: EGPRS, mean throughput over distance, GSM 900, dense urban
Rural, GSM 900, with incremental redundancy, no frequency hopping, three-sectored

Fading profile RA100 8 dB 3 dB
60 Mean Throughput [kbit/s]

In-car loss
50
Body loss
40 30 20 10 0 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 Distance BTS - Mobile [m]
7x3 4x3 3x3 1x3
BTS antenna height 35 m Antenna beamwidth 90 EIRP GMSK EIRP 8PSK 59.3 dBm 54.5 dBm
Diagram 2: EGPRS, mean throughput over distance, GSM 900, rural
We can see, that EGPRS shows a very good performance both for urban and rural applications. And please remember, that several timeslots can be combined for one user !
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For urban areas, we have to consider, that the cell range for voice with indoor coverage is in a range of one to three kilometers. EGPRS would, in fact, offer a much wider service area as voice when accepting lower data rates. We can also see the influence of the interference: The more intensively we are using the spectrum, the lower the data rates per timeslot get. The difference between a 3x3 and a 4x3 reuse is rather small, while a 1x3 leads to a severe degradation. Going to a 7x3 reuse increases the data throughput per timeslot within a certain cell. As the frequencies are less utilized, the total spectrum efficiency is reduced. Remark: Important for the interpretation of the above diagrams is to keep in mind that they are done as function of the distance mobile to BTS for a fixed cell range/site distance. Close to the base station, the C/I and therefore the data throughput is high (field strength from serving base station high, distance to neighbour cells high -> interference low). Further away from the base station, the C/I is low and therefore the data throughput is lower (field strength from serving base station low, distance to neighbour cells lower -> interference higher). An alternative representation would be to show the data throughput as function of the cell range (mobile would always be located at the cell border for varying cell ranges/site distances). The resulting diagram would look different. As the C/I is more or less constant for different cell ranges (reducing the cell range improves the field strength from serving base station, but also increases the interference level from neighbouring base stations), the resulting graph would show a more constant bit rate for different cell ranges. You can find more details on how these simulations were done in the document "Introducing 3 Tangemann, Dr.-Ing. Andreas Weber and Dr.-Ing. Dirk Nikolai.
rd
Generation Mobile Communication Services on Evolved GSM Platforms" by Dr.-Ing. Michael
6.2.4 Some remarks to spectrum efficiency GPRS and EGPRS will provide a much better spectrum efficiency (in kbps/MHz) compared to voice. The reason is that the design of a voice network is done to ensure a minimum quality level in the cell. This leads to an "excessive" good signal-to-noise-and-interference-ration SINR in most of the cell area. An example for the probability function is given below:
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0.18 0.16 0.14 Probability 0.12 0.10 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.02 0.00 -4 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 SINR / dB
Diagram 3: Probability function for SINR
A SINR-value of around 17 dB has the highest probability, while 9 dB would be sufficient for voice. This can be utilized by GPRS and EGPRS by transporting more information bits per second wherever possible: The total spectrum usage per cell is optimized. As mentioned before in chapter 6.2.2, even a mobile at the cell border benefits from the higher throughput: The mobiles close to the BTS get a higher throughput per timeslot, therefore occupying less time-slots for a given data throughput or completing the data transfer earlier. The mobile at the cell border can compensate its lower throughput per timeslot by combining several timeslots (assuming mobiles with multi-slot capability). As the throughput of GPRS is reaching its saturation point (the point, where an improvement in C/I does not result in increased data throughput anymore) earlier than EGPRS, the spectrum efficiency of EGPRS is better. This is visualized in the curves below:
60 50 Throughput [kbit/s] 40 30 20 10 0 -10.0 EGPRS GPRS
0.0
10.0
20.0 C/I [dB]
30.0
40.0
50.0
Diagram 4: Throughput of GPRS and EGPRS as function of C/I
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6.2.5 Influence of frequency hopping on data throughput As we have seen above, the data throughput for GPRS and EGPRS depends to a large extend on the interference experienced within the coverage area. For circuit-switched speech-traffic, frequency hopping was proven to be a good feature to combat the effects of co-channel and adjacent channel interference. Frequency hopping is especially useful for slow-moving subscribers. It is now interesting to know, whether the same positive effect of frequency hopping can be utilized for GPRS and EGPRS. With GPRS and EGPRS, it is not so easy: A GPRS/EGPRS radio block consists of four bursts. If frequency hopping is switched off, there is a good chance that either all four bursts are good or all four bursts are bad (containing errors). This is due to the fact that the channel quality changes slowly in case of no frequency hopping, while it changes for every burst in case of frequency hopping. Example for frequency hopping: Let us assume we have 25% of bursts with errors before decoding. Consequently, with frequency hopping there is a chance of 25% that the next burst has errors (before decoding). The chance that the whole radio block, i.e. at least one of the four bursts, has errors (before decoding) is 1.0-(1.0-0.25) = 68%. In case of no frequency hopping, the chance that the next burst is defect depends on the present burst (due to the slowly changing channel quality, see above). If the present burst is without errors (before decoding), then there is a good chance that the next one is also without errors because most probably the channel is good and it will stay good for some time for the chosen frequency. Obviously, the same is true for defect bursts. For Coding Schemes without error correction capability (like CS-4, MCS-4 and MCS-9) the block cannot be decoded if at least one burst has errors. With frequency hopping we get a block error probability of 68% according to the example above. Without frequency hopping, we have a higher chance that all four bursts are without errors and the radio block can be successfully decoded. The conclusion of the simulations:

4
GPRS step 1 (CS-1 and CS-2): Frequency hopping is recommended GPRS step 2 (CS-1 to CS-4), EGPRS (MCS-1 to MCS-9): Frequency hopping is not recommended (however, the performance difference is not dramatic). If MCS-9 is disabled (which is possible in the Alcatel realization), frequency hopping can be used.
6.2.6 Influence of Real Link Adaptation on Data Throughput The network will adapt the data throughput dynamically. The target is the optimum selection of the modulation and coding scheme for a given radio condition. For GPRS, the radio condition is defined by the received level (RXLEV) and the received quality (RXQUAL). For EGPRS, the bit error probability (BEP) and the standard-deviation of the BEP is used. For the downlink, this is measured by the mobile and transmitted in signaling messages to the BSS.
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Most simulation results are done for ideal Link Adaptation, i.e. always the most appropriate modulation and coding scheme is used. Ideal link adaptation would be able to make perfect forecasts of the channel condition before a radio block is transmitted, which is not possible in reality. In reality, the results are below this optimum value. This is mainly due to the delay between the measurements of RXLEV and RXQUAL and the execution of the modulation/coding scheme change. The delay comes mainly from necessary averaging of the values and the time implied by the protocol. The real performance depends on lots of parameters including fading profile (mobile movements), packet length, BSS parameter settings and the link adaptation algorithm. The data throughput loss under real conditions can be in a range of 7% to around 20%.
6.3 How to plan a GPRS/EGPRS network

We distinguish two levels of network planning:
Preliminary Network Design, resulting in an estimation of the required network elements to reach a certain network quality. This is commonly done to support business case calculations in an early stage of the decision making process.
Radio Network Planning, providing as result plots with a prediction of data throughput per timeslot at given locations (i.e. pixels on a map). This is done to find the most suitable locations for the base stations.
6.3.1 Process for Preliminary Network Design Within Alcatel, a simulation tool exists which allows to calculate

either the data throughput possible with a certain cell range, or the maximum cell range possible when a minimum data throughput has to be met.
The Mobile Network Design department of Alcatel can help to provide the data throughput estimations for any specific conditions. One remark to link budgets for GPRS/EGPRS: Designers used to plan GSM networks for voice are sometimes asking for link budgets for GPRS and EGPRS. The expected schemes are concentric rings around the base station giving the cell range for each modulation and coding scheme MCS. The MCS found at the cell border is then taken as equal to the minimum data throughput. Now, the explanations given above make something very clear: Link budgets for GPRS / EGPRS do not make sense. They neither consider the influence of interference, nor the properties of the link adaptation algorithms, incremental redundancy, frequency hopping etc. The results from link budgets for GPRS/EGPRS are misleading and should never be used to estimate the expected data performance.
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6.3.2 Radio Network Planning process for GPRS/EGPRS The basis for GPRS/EGPRS planning is the radio network planning tool A955. Required are digital databases for morpho-structure (clutter, landuse) and height (Digital Terrain Model DTM).
Morpho-structure
Digital Terrain Model DTM
Urban Suburban
80 m
Rural
40 m
Some of the planning steps are well known: Calculation of field strength prediction per pixel
Some details: GSM 1800 53.4 dBm EIRP 8PSK (58 dBm EIRP GMSK not shown) Antenna height over ground 23m
dBm
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Best server plot
1000 m
Automatic frequency assignment
Average frequency reuse (approximately) 10 except between the sites e 01, e 05 and e 06, were (by intention) a higher interference was created. Three TRX per cell are assigned. The ones with the green background are used for EGPRS.
Site Cell 1 Cell 2 Cell 3 name TRX 1 TRX 2 TRX 3 TRX 1 TRX 2 TRX 3 TRX 1 TRX 2 TRX 3 e 01 582 563 571 561 569 577 576 584 573 e 02 582 570 579 586 568 576 589 574 560 e 03 570 560 566 568 580 588 564 583 586 e 04 575 562 579 560 585 577 583 570 566 e 05 585 561 565 579 582 567 576 589 563 e 06 572 588 577 579 568 586 584 581 564 e 07 587 578 573 589 580 567 576 561 585 e 08 563 571 588 578 581 585 568 573 561 e 09 585 571 562 577 573 568 583 588 575 e 10 563 582 575 565 578 573 570 588 560 e 11 583 569 564 588 560 585 566 571 574 e 12 565 589 561 587 568 572 570 585 574 e 13 589 569 581 562 567 571 587 583 565 e 14 589 571 583 577 569 580 564 586 567 e 15 582 588 565 572 563 584 579 560 586
Interference calculation per pixel

Between the cells e01 and e06, a spot with high interference was created by intention. This was done to show the influence of the interference on the throughput (see the plots below). In a real system, such spots would be avoided.
C/I
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As a result, we have for each pixel the signal level, the interference level, and implicitly the noise level (just the thermal noise). This is exactly, what we need to calculate the throughput per pixel. The result for the above example: Data throughput on RLC/MAC layer.
If you compare with the field strength plot and the interference plot above, you can see the influence of low field strength and the influence of high interference
Kbit/s
Please note, that throughput plots based on the level only as provided by most other tools will not result in a correct prediction.
As you can see, the result is too optimistic, especially in areas with high interference.
Kbit/s
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Another interesting information is the modulation and coding scheme used. To the left, the modulation and coding scheme for the example above considering both level and interference is shown.
A large portion of the area is covered with MCS9. This is due to incremental redundancy.
MCS 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Remark: The data throughput per pixel is a snapshot of a static situation. During cell reselection, the data stream is interrupted for a moment. This is not considered in such plots.
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7. TRAFFIC ASPECT 7.1 What is the difference to speech transmission ?

With the introduction of packet data schemes, the range of applications available to the users is much wider than before: We arrive in the multi-media world.
PC, laptop, PDA
Remote access
Traffic management
Automation
Entertainment
Information
E-commerce (m-commerce)
And much more
It is quite clear, that the traffic behavior can no longer be described with just the Erlang B formula. We need a more advanced Multi-Service Traffic Model.
7.2 Multi-Service Traffic Model

A complete deterministic multi-service traffic model distinguishes between a session level (for example, the user dials his Internet service provider), a page level (loading of a selected HTMLpage) and a packet level (the segmented datagrams actually routed from server to client). This model has to be set up for all services offered, to calculate the average and peak data rate for which the network has to be designed for. This subject is very mathematical. An interesting study on this subject has been done and documented by the University of Malaga: "A page-oriented WWW traffic model for wireless system simulations" (A. Reyes-Lecuona, E. Gonzlez-Parada, E. Casilari, J. C. Casasola and A. Daz-Estrella).
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The deterministic multi-service traffic model is visualized in the diagram below:

Session inter-arrival time: exponential
Session level
Number of pages: log-normal Page size: Pareto Reading time: Gamma law
Page level
Packet size: multimodal
Inter-packet time: exponential
Packet level
For a complete view, this static model has to be complemented by a dynamic simulation. This approach is not easy to use. Other solutions allowing a good approximation with less effort are discussed. To give more details would go beyond the scope of this document. Due to the dynamic PDCH allocation available by Alcatel as described in chapter 4.2.4, the model should combine the circuit-switched and the packet-switched traffic. Just calculating both traffic types separately and adding up of the results leads to an over-design of the Air interface.
Lets look into a simple example (without proof). We assume the traffic for a cell as below: Subscribers number Voice service Data service 280 280 Volume per subscriber in busy hour 20 mErlang 102 Kbytes Service quality
Blocking Probability 2.00% Service bit rate 12 Kb/s, mean page size 2.5 Kbytes, queuing time delay max. 5 seconds with a quantile of 95%
Table 5: Traffic example Using a simplified multi-service traffic model considering the dynamic PDCH allocation, the requested traffic can be served with 14 timeslots on the Air interface, we have to equip the cell with two TRX. By calculating the required resources for both circuit- and packet-switched traffic separately and adding up the results, we would come to 19 timeslots, the cell would have to be equipped (unnecessarily) with three TRX.
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7.3 Mobile station capabilities

Different MS classes and types are defined for GPRS / EGPRS. First of all, three classes of GPRS / EGPRS mobile devices are supported: Class-A mobile station: Class-B mobile station: Can operate packet and circuit-switched services simultaneously. Can monitor control channels for both packet-switched services and circuit-switched services simultaneously, but can only operate one set of services at a time. Class-C mobile station: Can either be attached to circuit-switched services or to GPRS / EGPRS services, but not to both simultaneously. The maximum number of PDCHs granted to a mobile depends on its multi-slot class. The constraints determining the maximum capacity per user are the following:
MS type:
Type 1: simplex MS (either transmit or receive) Type 2: duplex MS (receive and transmit simultaneously)
Maximum number of receive/transmit timeslots per TDMA frame. Examples: 1+1 (one TS for the downlink plus one TS for the uplink), 3+1 (three TS for the downlink plus one TS for the uplink)
Minimum time (in timeslots) between receive, transmit and measurements. These values are defined in GSM 05.02 in more detail.
EGPRS-mobiles can further be divided into two sub-groups:

A first type with 8PSK capability on the downlink only (using only MCS-1 to MCS-4 in uplink) and a second type with 8PSK capability downlink and uplink.
Considering the unbalanced traffic in Internet-like applications, the first type makes a lot of sense. Even if the second type is used, it might be acceptable, to have lower data rates on the uplink.
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8. INTERFACES AND TRANSMISSION ASPECTS

An overview on all possible interfaces within an GPRS / EGPRS network was given in chapter 3.1. Some hints on whats going on on some of them can be extracted from the protocol stacks in chapter 4.3. A complete overview of all interfaces with their functions and protocols would fill a book, we therefore concentrate on some aspects which might be most interesting for the practical engineer.
8.1 Capacity aspect for the Abis interface

Without GPRS step 2 or EDGE/EGPRS, the amount of information provided per Air interface timeslot allowed to have the eight timeslots of one TRX mapped onto two 64kbit/s timeslots of the Abis interface (adding some timeslots for signalling and O&M). Using this scheme, even a fully equipped BTS cabinet could be served by one E1-interface (PCM30). Introducing GPRS step 2 or even EGPRS, the amount of information provided by the timeslots of the Air interface increases. If a BTS is fully equipped with TRXes, one E1-link may no longer be sufficient to carry all data between BTS and BSC. Upon the introduction of GPRS step 2 and EGPRS, the possibility to connect two E1-links between BTS and BSC is added. This requires no hardware change to Alcatel EVOLIUM BTS.
8.2 Transmission management on the Ater interface

Two types of Ater interfaces are supported between the BSC and the MFS:

Submultiplexed Ater interface for mixed circuit-switched and GPRS CS-1 and CS-2 channels. Direct connection of PCM30 links for 64 kbit/s packet data channels between the BSC and the MFS (no sub-multiplexing, no mixture with circuit-switched channels).
The MFS is the master for the Ater resources used for packet data.
8.3 The Gb Interface

The Gb interface connects the BSS to the NSS (or more fashionable, the Core Network). This is the interface, where multi-vendor interworking is interesting. The Gb interface has therefore to follow strictly the GSM recommendations.
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Lets recall the protocol stack to see what is transported by the Gb interface:
BSSGP
BSSGP
The BSS GPRS Protocol BSSGP handles Radio Resource information, Quality of Service information and routing information. It is based to a large extend on the BSSMAP protocol. The Network Service NS transfers the Packet Data Units PDU between the BSS and the SGSN. It allocates PDUs to Virtual Channels VC and takes care of the load-sharing. The Network Service is based on a Frame Relay Data Network, which is a specific type of a packet data network. The physical layer can, for example, be provided by 64 kbit/s timeslots on PCM 30 (E1) trunks according to ITU G.703 / G.704.
NS
NS
L1bis
L1bis
PCU (MFS)
Gb
SGSN
The PCU (MFS) and the SGSN are often not located in the same room. Therefore different possibilities are provided to route the Gb interface:
TC
MSC VLR
PTSN ISDN
Direct connection between PCU (MFS) and SGSN
BSC
Ater
MFS (PCU)
Gb SGSN
Packet-switched services Circuit-switched services
TC
MSC VLR
PTSN ISDN
Via a (public) Frame Relay Data Network
BSC
Ater
MFS (PCU)
Gb
Frame Relay Network
Gb SGSN
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$
TC MSC VLR
PTSN ISDN
Via the MSCs
BSC
Ater
MFS (PCU)
Gb
MSC VLR
Gb SGSN
Co-located
$
TC MSC VLR
PTSN ISDN
Via the Ater multiplexed interface through the transcoder and the MSCs
BSC
Ater
Gb MFS (PCU)
Gb
MSC VLR
Gb SGSN
Co-located
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9. LITERATURE
Papers giving introductions and overviews:

Alcatels approach to GPRS, Position Paper (3DC 21141 0007 TQZZA) Wireless Data with HSCSD or GPRS? (Alcatel) Dr.-Ing. Michael Tangemann, Dr.-Ing. Andreas Weber, Dr.-Ing. Dirk Nikolai: Introducing 3 Generation Mobile Communication Services on Evolved GSM Platforms Data Throughput in EDGE / EGPRS Networks (3DC 21150 0285 TQZZA) On the Road to 3G with Alcatel Spectrum Efficiency: A Comparison between EDGE and UMTS (3DC 21084 0005 TQZZA)
rd
Related ETSI documents and recommendations (check for the latest edition):

EDGE: Concept Proposal for Enhanced GPRS (Tdoc SMG2 657/99) ETSI EN 301 344 (GSM 03.60) ETSI TS 101 350 V8.2.0 (GSM 03.64) ETSI EN 301 349 (GSM 04.60) ETSI TS 100 573 V7.0.1 (GSM 05.01) Draft ETSI EN 300 959 V7.1.0 (GSM 05.04) ETSI EN 300 910 V 8.5.1 (GSM 05.05)
ETSI documents are available on the Internet under http://www.etsi.org. As all standardization activities of GERAN have been transferred to 3GPP, you might better check http://www.3gpp.org. If you want to dig deeper into theory:
A. Reyes-Lecuona, E. Gonzlez-Parada, E. Casilari, J. C. Casasola and A. Daz-Estrella: "A page-oriented WWW traffic model for wireless system simulations" (Dpto. Tecnologa Electrnica, E.T.S.I. Telecomunicacin, Universidad de Mlaga)
Description of Alcatel products related to GPRS and EGPRS:

EVOLIUM Radio Solutions Alcatel 9100 Base Station Product Description (3DC 21083 0001 TQZZA) EVOLIUM Radio Solutions Alcatel GSM 900/GSM 1800 G2 Base Station Controller Product Description (3DC 21016 0003 TQZZA) EVOLIUM Radio Solutions A935 MFS Multi-BSS Fast packet Server Product Description (3DC 21016 0005 TQZZA) Alcatel GPRS NSS Product Description (3DN 00501 AAAA DEZZA)
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10. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

1 3GPP.......Third Generation Partnership Project A AAL5........ATM Adaptation Layer 5 APN .........Access Point Name ARQ.........Automatic Repeat Request ATC .........ATM Transfer Capability ATM.........Asynchronous Transfer Mode AuC .........Authentication Center B BCCH ......Broadcast Control Channel BEP .........Bit Error Probability BGP.........Border Gateway Protocol BLER .......Block Error Rate BSC .........Base Station Controller BSS .........Base Station System BSSGP ....BSS GPRS Protocol BSSMAP..BSS Mobile Application Part BTS .........Base Transceiver Station BVC .........BSSGP Virtual Connection C CAC.........Call Acceptance control CCCH ......Common Control Channel C/I............Carrier to Interference Ratio C/ICO ........Carrier to Interference Ratio - Common Channel Interference CLNP.......Connectionless Network Protocol CLNS.......Connectionless Network Service CONP ......Connection-Orientated Network Protocol CONS ......Connection-Orientated Network Service CS ...........Circuit-Switched CS-x ........Coding Scheme x (x = 1, 2, 3, 4) D DF............Delivery Function DHCP ......Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol DNS.........Domain Name Server DR ...........Dual Rate DRX.........Discontinuous Reception DSP .........Digital Signal Processor E ECSD ......Enhanced Circuit Switched Data Eb/N0 ........Bit Energy to Noise Density ratio EDGE ......Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution EGP.........Exterior Gateway Protocol EGPRS....Enhanced General Packet Radio Service G Gb ........... Interface between BSS and SGSN GERAN ... GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network Gc ........... Interface between GGSN and HLR Gd ........... Interface between SGSN and SMS-GMSC Gf ............ Interface between SGSN and EIR GGSN ..... Gateway GPRS Support Node Gi ............ Interface between a GGSN and a PDN. GMM ....... GPRS Mobility Management GMSC ..... Gateway MSC GMSK ..... Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying Gn ........... Interface between SGSNs and between SGSN and GGSN. Gp ........... Interface between SGSN and GGSN of other network GPRS...... General Packet Radio Service GPU ........ GPRS Processing Unit Gs ........... Interface between SGSN and MSC/VLR GSL......... GPRS Signaling Link GSN ........ GPRS Support Node GSM........ Global System for Mobile communication GTP ........ GPRS Tunneling Protocol H HDLC ...... High-Level Data Link Control HLR......... Home Location Register HPLMN ... Home PLMN HSCSD ... High Speed Circuit Switched Data http.......... Hypertext Transfer Protocol I IAP .......... Internet Access provider IMSI ........ International Mobile Subscriber Identity IP ............ Internet Protocol IPv4......... Internet Protocol Version 4 IR ............ Incremental Redundancy ISDN ....... Integrated Service Digital Network ISP .......... Internet Service Provider IT............. Information Technology ITU .......... International Telecommunication Union Iu_CS...... Interface between RAN and core network, CS Iu_PS ...... Interface between RAN and core network, PS IWMSC ... Interworking MSC K kbps ........ Kilo Bit Per Second L LA ........... Location Area LA ........... Link Adaptation LAN......... Local Area Network LLC ......... Logical Link Control L1............ Layer 1 L2............ Layer 2 M MAC ........ Medium Access Control MCS ........ Modulation and Coding Scheme MFS ........ Multi-BSS Fast Packet Server
EIR......... Equipment Identification Register

ERAN ......EDGE Radio Access Network ETSI ........European Telecomm. Standardization Institute E1 ............ITU-T G.703/G.704 physical interface F FEC .........Forward Error Correction FR............Frame Relay FR............Full Rate
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MM .......... Mobility Management MO .......... Mobile Originated MPDCH... Master Packet Data Channel (). MS .......... Mobile Station MSC ........ Mobile Services Switching Center MSP ........ Multiple Subscriber Profile MT........... Mobile Terminating N NMC........ Network Management Center NMO........ Network Mode of Operation NS........... Network Service NSS ........ Network Subsystem O OAM........ Operation, Administration and Maintenance OMC-R.... Operation and Maintenance Center - BSS O&M........ Operation and Maintenance P PACCH ... Packet Associated Control Channel PAD ........ Packet Assembly/Disassembly facility PBCCH ... Packet Broadcast Control Channel PCCCH ... Packet Common Control Channel PCH ........ Paging Channel PCM........ Pulse Code Modulation PCU ........ Packet Control Unit PDA ........ Personal Data Assistant PDCH...... Packet Data Channel PDTCH.... Packet Data Traffic Channel PDP ........ Packet Data Protocol PDN ........ Packet Data Network PDU ........ Protocol Data Unit PLMN ...... Public Land Mobile Network PPCH...... Packet Paging Channel PPP......... Point to Point Protocol PSK......... Phase Shift Keying PTM ........ Point-To-Multipoint PTM-G .... Point-To-Multipoint Group PTM-M .... Point-To-Multipoint Multicast PTP......... Point-To-Point PRACH ... Packet Random Access Channel PSPDN ... Public Switched Packet Data Network PSTN ...... Public Switched Telephone Network P-TMSI.... Packet Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity PVC ........ Permanent Virtual Connection
Q QoS .........Quality of Service R RA ...........Routing Area RAN.........Radio Access Network RF ...........Radio Frequency RFC.........Request for Comment RLC .........Radio Link Control RNC ........Radio Network Controller RRM ........Radio Resource Management S SAP .........Service Access Point SDCCH....Stand-alone Dedicated Control Channel SDU.........Service Data Unit SGSN ......Serving GPRS Support Node SIM..........Subscriber Identity Module SINR........Signal-to-Noise-and Interference Ratio SM...........Session Management SMS.........Short Message Service SNDCP....Sub-Network dependent Convergence Protocol SVC.........Switched Virtual Circuit T TBF .........Temporary Block Flow TC ...........Transcoder TCP .........Transfer Control Protocol TFI...........Temporary Flow Identity TDMA ......Time Division Multiple Access TLLI .........Temporary Logical Link Identity TMN.........Telecommunication Management Network TRX .........Transceiver TS............Timeslot TU ...........Typical Urban U UDP.........User Datagram Protocol UMTS ......Universal Mobile Telecommunication System USF .........Uplink State Flag V VLR .........Visitor Location Register VPLMN ....Visited PLMN VoIP ........Voice over IP W WAP........Wireless Application Protocol www.........World Wide Web
End of DOCUMENT
Alcatel
File GDEGPRE5.DOC
Date 05/2003
Edition 05
Page 55

GDEGPRE5

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Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS/EDGE

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

SCOPE..................................................................................................................... 3 SETTING THE SCENE ............................................................................................ 4

GPRS/EGPRS ARCHITECTURE ............................................................................ 7

NOW, HOW DOES IT WORK ?............................................................................. 11

THE PHYSICAL LAYER ........................................................................................ 25

NETWORK COVERAGE AND THROUGHPUT..................................................... 35

INTERFACES AND TRANSMISSION ASPECTS.................................................. 50

10. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................... 54

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

Please note that this document contains preliminary information:

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

2. SETTING THE SCENE 2.1 Acronyms

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Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

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Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

2.2 Why all that effort ?

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

3. GPRS/EGPRS ARCHITECTURE 3.1 Overview

BSC MFS (PCU) HLR AuC

Packet-switched services Circuit-switched services Mixed packet- and circuitswitched services

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

Data and signalling transfer Signalling transfer

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

3.2 GPRS network elements

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

3.2.2 Alcatel NSS solution Serving GPRS Support Node

Gateway GPRS Support Node:

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

4. NOW, HOW DOES IT WORK ?

4.1 The processes

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

4.1.5 Some more key features in short

4.2 Logical and physical channels

MSBSS MSBSS MSBSS MSBSS MSBSS

Table 1: Logical Channels

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

Recommendation on use of Network Mode of Operation: NMO I

Reference 3DC 21084 0003 TQZZA

Introduction to GPRS and EGPRS

One 52-multiframe (240 ms)

User 1: no multislot capability

User 2: with multislot capability

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