ISSN : 2230-7109(Online) | ISSN : 2230-9543(Print)

IJECT VOL. 2, ISSUE 2, JUNE 2011

Scarce Frequency Spectrum and Multiple Access Techniques in Mobile Communication Networks
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Department of ECE, I.E.T. Bhaddal, Ropar, Punjab, India College of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China 3 Manav3 CMJ Bharti University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, University Shillong, Meghalaya, India India 4 Deptt. of Computer Science & Engg., Bhai Maha Singh College of Engg., Muktsar, Punjab, India
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Tanvir Singh, 2,3Amit Kumar, 4Dr. Sawtantar Singh Khurmi

Abstract Mobile communications has experienced explosive growth in remarkably short time in the history of wireless. Different evolutionary paths have been followed in wireless access technologies to focus at unied target: performance and efciency in high mobile environment. Evolution of wireless access technologies has reached its fourth generation (4G). This paper gives a comprehensive overview of mobile communication networks, scarce frequency spectrum, and different multiple access techniques. Keywords Mobile communication, Frequency spectrum, Multiple Access Techniques, 4G. I. Introduction Mobile radio communication began with Guglielmo Marconis and Alexander Popovs experiments with ship-to-shore communication in the 1890s. Today billions of people around the world use cellular phones. Cellular phones allow a person to make ubiquitous communication. Cellular communications is supported by an infrastructure called a cellular network, which integrates cellular phones into the public switched telephone network. Evolution of wireless access technologies has reached its fourth generation (4G). Looking past, wireless access technologies have followed different evolutionary paths focussed at unied target: performance and efciency in high mobile environment. The rst generation (1G) has fullled the basic mobile voice, while the second generation (2G) has introduced capacity and coverage. This is followed by the third generation (3G), which has quest for data at higher speeds to open the gates for truly mobile broadband experience, which will be further realized by the fourth generation (4G). The Fourth generation (4G) will provide access to wide range of telecommunication services, including advanced mobile services, supported by mobile and xed networks, which are increasingly packet based, along with a support for low to high mobility applications and wide range of data rates, in accordance with service demands in multiuser environment [1]. II. Basic concept MS (Mobile station) is used by a mobile subscriber to communicate with the mobile network. Several types of MSs exist, each allowing the subscriber to make and receive calls. GSM MSs consist of Mobile equipment (ME) and subscriber identity module (SIM). Mobile has 4 modes: Active, Busy, Ringing, and Idle. One MS is latched with minimum 6 BTSs (Base transceiver station) at a time; out of which 1 is selected which has maximum RX level (Range). From the MS to BTS, interface exist is Um interface (Air interface) on which information from MS goes on channel RACH (Random access control channel)
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when user insert SIM in the ME. From BTS, control information is sent to MS on the channel BCCH (Broadcast control channel) [2]. Fig. 1 shows the basic block diagram of BSS (Base Station System) which consist of BTS & BSC.

Fig.1: Block Diagram showing BSS In the above g., BSC (Base station controller) controls number of BTSs and have functions of Radio Resource and Radio Base Station Management which includes cell description data, trafc and event management, signal strength and quality during call, etc. Segment which controls number of BSCs is MSC (Mobile service switching centre) which is the exchange performs all switching, signalling and routing functions. Operation of charging, billing and service provisioning is done by MSC. Transmission from BTS to MSC is E1 Carrier System which is used in INDIA while T1 Carrier System is used in USA. E1 travels through different cables and has 32 Time Slots which is shown in g.2:

------------ 15 16

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Fig.2: E1 Carrier System The above g. shows E1 Carrier System having 32 Time Slots in which TS0 is for Synchronisation, TS16 for Signalling (other than speech) and rest for Speech. III. Scarce Frequency Spectrum The frequency spectrum allocated for cellular communications is very limited. The success of todays cellular network is mainly due to the frequency reuse concept. The frequency reuse means that two radio channels within the same network can use exactly the same pair of frequencies, provided that there is sufcient geographical distance (the frequency re-use distance) between them so they will not interfere with each other. The tighter frequency re-use plan, the greater the capacity potential of the network. When planning the frequency re-use pattern the network planner must take into account how often to use the same frequencies and determine how close together the cells are, otherwise co-channel and/or adjacent channel interference may occur. The network provider will also take into account the nature of the area to be covered. This may range from a densely populated city (high frequency re-use, small cells, and high capacity) to a sparsely populated rural expanse
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(large Omni cells, low re-use, and low capacity). Standard GSM has a total of 124 frequencies available for use in a network. Most network providers are unlikely to be able to use all of these frequencies and are generally allocated a small subset of the 124 [2]. In case of GSM, GSM 900 Case and GSM 1800 Case exists which has uplink and downlink frequencies as in Table 1: Table 1: Uplink and downlink frequencies GSM 900 CASE 890-915 MHZ 935-960 MHZ GSM 1800 CASE 1710-1785 MHZ 1805-1880 MHZ

Fig.3: Multiple Access Techniques (FDMA, TDMA, CDMA) A. FDMA FDMA divides the frequency spectrum assigned to the BS into several frequency bands, as known as channels. These channels are well separated and do not interfere with each other. An MS can use the assigned channel(s) exclusively [3]. B. TDMA TDMA usually builds on FDMA and allows multiple MSs to share the same channel. Time is divided into discrete periods called timeslots. The timeslots are arranged in sequence and are conventionally numbered 0 to 7. Each repetition of this sequence is called a TDMA frame. The RF carrier in GSM can support up to eight Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) timeslots shown below. That is, in theory, each RF carrier is capable of supporting up to eight simultaneous telephone calls, but network signalling and messaging may reduce the overall number from eight timeslots per RF carrier to six or seven timeslots per RF carrier, therefore reducing the number of mobiles that can be supported.

As from above cases, it is clear that in GSM 900, due to low frequency more is the wavelength which requires less sites and more coverage. Operators which came under in this case are IDEA, BSNL, and AIRTEL. On the other side more sites are required in case of GSM 1800 due to high frequency and low wavelength and hence less coverage. Table 2: GSM900 and GSM1800

Time period of TDMA Frame is 4.616ms and that of 1 Time slot is 0.577ms. From 1 Time Slot we get 1 Burst which is the physical content of Time Slot and gives 156.25 usable bits.

IV. Multiple Access Methods As number of MSs need to communicate with BTS in air interface keeping in mind that there should not be any interference between them, so to communicate in an orderly manner, there are some methods called Multiple Access Methods and popular methods are TDMA, FDMA, CDMA and OFDMA. Multiple access is achieved by dividing a channel among multiple users in frequency, time, or code, as shown conceptually in Fig.3 [7, 8]. Fig.4: TDMA Frame C. CDMA CDMA takes an entirely different approach from TDMA. In CDMA, multiple MSs share the same wideband of spectrum. Instead of being assigned to time slots as in TDMA, each MS is assigned a unique sequence code. Each MSs signal is spread over the entire bandwidth by the unique sequence code. At the receiver, that same unique code is used to recover the signal. Different

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IJECT VOL. 2, ISSUE 2, JUNE 2011

codes used are Walsh codes, Short PN (Pseudo random noise) codes, and Long PN (Pseudo random noise) codes. Walsh codes have 64 different codes for 64 users, Short PN codes are used to differentiate the codes by shifting the bits at each sector to avoid the condition of clash and so that network will not jammed. Also Scrambling of Data and Direct Spread Spectrum (DSS) Technology is used in CDMA. D. OFDMA OFDM-based technologies are selected by 3GPP to achieve the targeted high data rates with simpler implementations involving relatively low cost and power-efcient hardware which would not have been possible with enhancements in WCDMA. Data rates in WCDMA networks are constrained by the 5MHz channel width. LTE overcomes these limitations by deploying in bandwidths up to 20MHz. Use of a wider Radio Frequency (RF) band such as 20MHz leads to group delay problems in WCDMA that limit the achievable data rate. LTE removes these limitations by deploying OFDM technology to split the 20MHz channel into many narrow sub-channels [4]. Each narrow sub-channel is driven to its maximum and the sub-channels subsequently combined to generate the total data throughput. Assigning different sub-channels to different users results in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems. To avoids the distortion caused by multipath reections while maintaining a high bit rate, thousands of narrow sub-channels are deployed to send many low speed messages simultaneously that are then combined at the receiver to make up one high speed message. LTE uses OFDMA in the downlink but Single CarrierFrequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) in the uplink. SC-FDMA is technically similar to OFDMA but is better suited for handheld devices because it is less demanding on battery power [5]. For instance, Fig. 5 illustrates an example where the subcarriers in an OFDM symbol are represented by arrows and the lines shown at different times represent the different OFDM symbols. It shows how the resources can be allocated by using the different subcarriers and OFDM symbols among 5 users [9].

moving sector to sector. On the other side in case of Inter-cell, Handover is taking in different BTSs. Handover occurs in the case of GSM and works on the principle of to break before make, while in case of CDMA, it is known as Hand-off and works on the principle of to make before make. VI. Conclusion Wireless communications has developed into a key element of modern society and is the fastest growing segment of communication industry. The ever increasing demands of users have triggered researchers and industries to come up with a comprehensive manifestation of the fourth generation (4G) mobile communication system. This paper provides an introduction to cellular networks, scarce frequency spectrum, and the evolution of cellular networks. References [1] Amit Kumar, Dr. Yunfei Liu, Dr. Jyotsna Sengupta, Divya, Evolution of Mobile Wireless Communication Networks: 1G to 4G, IJECT, Vol. 1, Issue 1, December 2010. [2] MOTOROLA LTD 1999, Cellular infrastructure group, Introduction to Digital Cellular, ISSUE 5 REVISION 4. [3] Jingyuan Zhang, Ivan Stojmenovic, Cellular networks, July 18, 2005. [4] Amit Kumar, Jyotsna Sengupta, Yun-fei Liu, 3GPP LTE: The Future of Mobile Broadband, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. 2010. [5] UMTS Forum. (2009). Mobile broadband evolution: The roadmap from HSPA to LTE. http://www.umtsforum. org/component/option,com_docman/Itemid, 12/. [6] ERICSSON, GSM System Survey, EN/LZT 123 3321 R2A. [7] Mobile Radio Communication, Overview of Mobile Communication Systems, [Online] Available: scholar.lib. vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04262000-15330030/.../ ch2.pdf [8] Kamil Sh. Zigangirov, Theory of Code Division Multiple Access Communication, IEEE, 2004 [9] Ibikunle, F.A., Broadband Wireless Access Solution based on OFDMA Technique in WiMAX IEEE 802.16. Pacic Journal of Science and Technology. 10(1), 2009:286294.

Fig. 5: Allocation of Resources to Users in OFDMA [9] V. Handovers/Handoffs Handovers take place as the MS moves between cells, gradually losing the RF signal of one and gaining that of the other. The MS switches from channel to channel and cell to cell as it moves to maintain call continuity because the MS contributes to the handover decision, this type of handover is often called Mobile Assisted handover (MAHO) [6]. Further Handover is of types named Intra-cell and Inter-cell Handover. In case of Intra-cell, Handover is taking place within the same BTS when MS is
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Tanvir Singh is pursuing his bachelors degree in Electronics and Communication from I.E.T., Bhaddal, Ropar (Punjab Technical University), Punjab, INDIA. He is working as a budding researcher in eld of research on topics Green Computing and Sustainability with a dream to create a Technical Advanced and eco- friendly world. He has published many papers in International Journals and conference proceedings. Amit Kumar received his bachelors degree in Mathematics from the Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, India, in 2002 and Masters degree in Computer Application from Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India, in 2006. He completed his M.Phil. in Computer Science from Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamilnadu, India, in 2010. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Computer Science. He is working as a Lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, College of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China. He has many publications in National /International Conference proceedings and International Journals. He is a reviewer for many international Journals. His current interest includes Techno-Economic Analysis of Broadband Wireless Networks viz. WiMAX, HSPA, EV-DO and LTE. His future focus is to explore the Green Wireless Technologies and Sustainable development.

Dr. Sawtantar Singh Khurmi received his MCA from IGNOU, New Delhi, India, and M.Phil. in Computer Science from Alagappa University, Kraikudi, India. He received his P.hD. from Guru Jambeshwar University, Hisar, India. He has more than 25 years of experience in teaching and research. He has published many books, book chapters. He has published, reviewed and presented many research papers in national and international conferences and journals. Presently he is working as Professor & Head, Department of Computer Science & Engineering., Bhai Maha Singh College of Engineering, Muktsar, Punjab, India.

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