GSM AIR INTERFACE

INDEX

CONTENTS
10. GSM Air Interface
a.) TDMA
b.) GMSK
c.) Logical Channels
d.) Burst Formation
e.) Multi Frames
f.) Multipath Propagation
g.) Shadowing
h.) BTS Configuration
i.) E1 Link
j.) Transcoder Position

GSM Air Interface

Objectives:

At the end of this module, the student is able to:

Explain the difference between physical and logical channels
List and describe at least nine different types of logical channels and their
functions with the help of their abbreviations
Name two problems in the Air Interface and suggest one way of decreasing
each of these problems
Describe the main function of the transcoder
List three Base Station Controller (BSC) / Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
connections
List five steps in the radio network planning process
Explain how frequencies are reused in a GSM network
Name at least one advantage with a sectorised Base Transceiver Station
compared with an omnidirectional BTS
Name three sources of information that can be used when monitoring the
network's performance

Principle of Time Division Multiple Access

(TDMA)

TSL 7
TSL 6
Timeslot 0
TSL 5
TSL 1
TSL 4

TSL 3

TSL 2

BTS

GMSK Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying

Phase changes of +/- 90 degrees for bit changes (new bit values)
The phase change is done gradually over a small time period, meaning
that:
The change is not as abrupt as in BPSK
The Mobile Station causes less inter-frequency interference

In GSM, one bit duration is 3.69 ms (0.00000369 seconds).

Logistical problem

8 seats in each vehicle

Number of channels required during call set-up (1)

Channel to transmit information to help the mobile station

to tune into the network.
Channel to transmit synchronisation information.
Channel to transmit information about the network to
help the mobile know about the frequencies being used in
its cell as well as in surrounding cells.

TDMA Frame
BTS

Sync.
Information

BTS

Number of channels required during call set-up (2)

Channel to transmit mobile stations request to initiate call

set-up.
Channel to set up a call.
Channel to transmit handover information.

TDMA Frame

Channel
allocation
Request
BTS

Traffic

Number of channels required during call set-up (3)

Channel to page the called party.

Channel to transmit measurements.
Conclusion: No channel left for conversation!
Solution: We must send more than one type of
information on a channel by sharing it.

TDMA Frame

Answer

BTS

BTS

Paging

Traffic

Logical channels

LOGICAL
CHANNELS

COMMON
CHANNELS

BROADCAST
CHANNELS

FCCH

SCH

DEDICATED
CHANNELS

COMMON
CONTROL
CHANNELS

SDCCH

BCCH

PCH

RACH

TRAFFIC
CHANNELS

DEDICATED
CONTROL
CHANNELS

AGCH

SACCH

FACCH

TCH/F

TCH/H

TCH/EFR

10

Broadcast channels

Frequency Correction Channel (FCCH)

Pure sine wave.
The MS searches for this channels to switch on.
Downlink.

Synchronisation Channel (SCH)

After locking to the frequency the MS synchronises
with the SCH.
The SCH contains the BSIC of the BTS and the TDMA
frame number (used in encryption).

11

Broadcast channels

Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH)

Common information about the BTS:

Used frequencies
Frequency hopping sequence
Channel combination
Paging groups
Surrounding cell information

12

Common control channels

Paging Channel (PCH)

Used by BTS to page a mobile.
A downlink channel only.

Random Access Channel (RACH)

Used by the MS to request a dedicated control channel.
Used for e.g. mobile originated calls.
An uplink channel only.

Access Grant Channel (AGCH)

Used by the BTS to assign a dedicated control channel.
A downlink channel only.

13

Dedicated channels
Stand Alone Dedicated Control Channel (SDCCH)
Bi-directional channel.
Used for call set-up procedures, e.g. authentication.
The traffic channel (TCH) is assigned by using SDCCH.

Slow Associated Control Channel (SACCH)

Associated with SDCCH and TCH.

Measurement reports.
MS power control.
Timing alignment.

Fast Associated Control Channel (FACCH)

Associated with TCH.
For quick control communication, e.g. handover.
Physically replaces 20 ms of speech, stealing mode

14

Traffic channels

Full Rate
Bi-directional channel.
Used for speech or data transmission.
User data bit rate 13 kbit/s.

Half Rate
Bi-directional channel.
Used for speech or data transmission.
User data bit rate 5.6 kbit/s.

Enhanced Full Rate (EFR)

Bi-directional channel.
Used for high quality speech transmission.
User data bit rate 12.2 kbit/s.

15

Bursts and time slots in the Air Interface

TDMA Time Slot

...

...
TDMA Frame

BTS

Bursts from Mobile Stations

2Mbit/s to BSC

16

Burst Period
0

0
s

TDMA frame = 4.615 ms

= BURST PERIOD

17

GSM burst types (1)

TDMA FRAME ~ 4.615 ms

576.9 s

tail
bits
3

encrypted bits
57

S
B
1

training
sequence
26

S
B
1

encrypted bits
57

tail
bits
3

guard
period
8,25 bits

tail
bits
3

guard
period
8,25 bits

NORMAL BURST

tail
bits
3

fixed bits ("0")

142

FREQUENCY CORRECTION BURST

18

GSM burst types (2)

tail
bits
3

extended training
sequence
64

encrypted bits
39

encrypted bits
39

tail
bits
3

guard
period
8,25
bits

tail
bits
3

guard
period
8,25 bits

SYNCHRONISATION BURST

tail
bits
3

mixed bits
142

DUMMY BURST

ext. tail
bits
8

synchronisation
sequence
41

encrypted bits
36

tail
bits
3

extended guard period

68,25 bits

ACCESS BURST

19

Burst types

Frequency correction burst

Used to transmit the FCCH channel. No information.

Synchronisation burst
Used to transmit synchronisation information.

Access burst
Used to send RACH information.
RACH contains the first message from the MS to the BTS.
It has a long guard period to allow the BTS to calculate the MS distance from the BTS and to
provide timing advance information to the MS.

Normal burst
Used to send all other logical channel information.

Dummy burst
Used to fill up unused timeslots in the TRX, which transmits the BCCH channel.
No real information.

20

GSM Logical Channels

LOGICAL
LOGICAL
CHANNELS
CHANNELS

COMMON
COMMON
CHANNELS
CHANNELS

BROADCAST
BROADCAST
CHANNELS
CHANNELS

FCCH
FCCH

SCH
SCH

DEDICATED
DEDICATED
CHANNELS
CHANNELS

COMMON
COMMON
CONTROL
CONTROL
CHANNELS
CHANNELS

SDCCH
SDCCH

BCCH
BCCH

PCH
PCH

RACH
RACH

TRAFFIC
TRAFFIC
CHANNELS
CHANNELS

DEDICATED
DEDICATED
CONTROL
CONTROL
CHANNELS
CHANNELS

AGCH
AGCH

SACCH
SACCH

FACCH
FACCH

TCH/F
TCH/F

TCH/H
TCH/H

TCH/EFR
TCH/EFR

21

Logical channels in TDMA frames

...

FCCH

...

SCH

11
12
13

24
25

...

TCH/F
TCH/F
TCH/F
TCH/F
...

...

0
1
2
3

TCH/F
SACCH
TCH/F

TCH/F
IDLE

...

SDCCH

...

...

AGCH

26-Frame Multiframe

...

PCH

...

0
FCCH
SCH
BCCH
BCCH
BCCH
BCCH
...

0
1
2
3
4
5

. . .

SACCH
...

51-Frame Multiframe

...

50

IDLE

22

GSM Logical Channels

FCCH - Frequency Correction CHannel
Downlink channel used to enable MS in finding the slot alignment for demodulating
SCH burst (also allows for frequency correction).

SCH - Synchronisation CHannel

Downlink channel which provides MS will all the necessary information needed for
synchronisation (always follows FCCH burst, 8 BPs later, on same frequency). Also
carries BTS identification information.

BCCH - Broadcast Control CHannel

Downlink channel used to transmit cell specific information to all MSs within a cell
coverage area, at regular intervals, e.g. frequencies used in a cell & ncells, channel
combination, paging groups, etc. (must be ubiquitous coverage).

PCH - Paging CHannel

Dowlink channel used to send paging messages to MSs (MTC)

AGCH - Access Grant CHannel

Downlink channel used by network to allocate a dedicated control channel to an MS.
23

GSM Logical Channels

RACH - Random Access CHannel
Uplink Channel used by MS to request a dedicated control channel.

SDCCH - Standalone Dedicated Control CHannel

Bi-directional channel used for system signalling, e.g. call set-up, location updates, SMS.

SACCH - Slow Associated Control CHannel

Bi-directional (low rate) channel used to transport signalling data (two messages per sec
~ 1 every 480ms) such as measurement reports for handover process. RLT is also
based on decoding SACCH.

FACCH - Fast Associated Control CHannel

Bi-directional channel used to transport urgent signalling messages, e.g. command a
handover, authenticate a subscriber, etc.

TCH (F/H) - Traffic CHannel

Bi-directional channel used to carry user speech or data - can be either full rate or half
rate.

CBCH - Cell Broadcast CHannel

Downlink channel used only for general (non point-to-point) short message information.
24

Configuration of Signalling Channels

Combined Configuration

ts0=bcch + sdcch/4 + pch + agch

Non-combined Configuration

ts0=bcch + pch + agch

ts1=sdcch/8

25

BCCH/CCCH Multiframe
Downlink

51 TDMA frames = 235 ms

f s b b b b c c c c f s cf c c c c c c c f s cf c c c c c c c f s cf c c c c c c c f s cf c c c c c c c i

Uplink
r r r r r r r r r r r r rf r r r r r r r r r rf r r r r r r r r r rf r r r r r r r r r rf r r r r r r r r
0

50
CHANNELS:

f = FCCH
s = SCH

b = BCCH r = RACH
i=idle
c = CCCH = PCH/AGCH

26

SDCCH/8 Multiframe
Downlink

51 TDMA frames = 235 ms

t t t t t t t t t t t t tf t t t t t t t t t tf t t t t t t t t t sf s s s s s s s s s sf s s s s s i i i
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Uplink
s s s s s s s s s s s s fi i i t t t t t t t tf t t t t t t t t t tf t t t t t t t t t tf t t t t s s s s
0

50
CHANNELS:

t = SDCCH/8

s = SACCH/8

i=idle

27

Combined CCCH + SDCCH/4

Multiframe
Downlink

51 TDMA frames = 235 ms

f s b b b b c c c c f s cf c c c c c c c f s tf t t t t t t t f s tf t t t t t t t f s sf s s s s s s s i
1.

Uplink

2.

3.

4.

t t t t r r s s s s s s sf s r r r r r r r r rf r r r r r r r r r rf r r r r t t t t t tf t t r r t t t t
0
CHANNELS:

50
f then s = FCCH then SCH
ssss = SACCH

c = CCCH

b = BCCH
t = SDCCH

r = RACH
i=idle

28

Full Rate Traffic Channel

(TCH) Multiframe
Downlink and Uplink
26 TDMA frames = 120 ms

t t t t t t t t t t t t sf t t t t t t t t t tf t t i

CHANNELS:

25

t = TCH

s = SACCH

i=idle

29

Half Rate Traffic Channel

(TCH) Multiframe
Downlink and Uplink
26 TDMA frames = 120 ms

t
t

t
t

t
t

t
t

t
t

st
t

t
t

t
t

t
t

t
t

t
t

CHANNELS:

i
t

25

t = TCH

s = SACCH

i=idle

30

Radio Timeslots & Frames

Hyperframe = 2048 Superframes

Superframe = 26x51 or 51x26 Multiframes

26 Multiframe = 120 ms

TCH
0

51 Multiframe = 235 ms

24 25

SIGN.

49 50

7
TDMA frame = 4.615
ms

31

Propagation delay and TA

allocated time slot

allocated time slot

BTS

Effect due to propagation delay

BTS

Solution using adaptive frame alignment

32

Radio Wave Characteristics

33

Multipath propagation

Approx.
17cm

RX sensitivity

BTS
Fading dips

Inter symbol interference

Fading dips caused by

multipath propagation

34

Frequency hopping

F1
F2
F3

F4
Time

35

Antenna receiver diversity

Approx. 6m (GSM-900)
Approx. 3m (GSM-1800)

Received signal

Antennas

RX

RX

Signal
Processing

36

Shadowing

BTS

37

BTS configurations

f1,f2, f3
BTS
BTS
f1
Omnidirectional BTS

f5, f6

f1, f2

BTS
f2

2 sectorised BTS

BTS
BTS
BTS
f3, f4
3 sectorised BTS
38

BSC - BTS connections

BSC

Point to point connection

BTS

Multi drop chain

BTS

BTS

BTS

Multi drop loop

BTS

BTS

BTS

BTS

BTS

BTS

39

PCM30

32 time slots

TS 0
used for synchronisation
and alarms

TS 16
often used for common
channel signalling

Exchange
1

Exchange
2

E1

125 s time frame

40

Transcoder positions

BSC

MSC
64 kbps

TC
64 kbps

BTS

13 kbps

Transcoder is at BTS site

MSC

BSC

TC

BTS

13 kbps
64 kbps

16 (13+3) kbps

16 (13+3) kbps

Transcoder is at MSC site

41

Review Questions to
GSM Air Interface

42

Review

1. Duplex frequency means:

a) the difference between the uplink and downlink

frequency pair.
b) the uplink and downlink frequency pair.
c) twice the uplink or downlink frequency band.
d) GSM 900 and GSM 1800 frequency bands.
2. The modulation scheme used in GSM is predominantly based on:

a)
b)
c)
d)

frequency modulation.
amplitude modulation.
phase modulation.
None of the above.

43

Review

3. Which of the following are dedicated channels?

a)
b)
c)
d)

FCCH, SCH, AGCH.

SDCCH, TCH, SACCH.
RACH, FACCH, TCH.
BCCH, SDCCH, SACCH.

4. The function of the AGCH is to:

a) inform the mobile station of the frequency hopping

sequence.
b) provide the mobile station the handover information.
c) inform the mobile station of a dedicated signalling
channel.
d) transmit adaptive frame alignment information to the
mobile station.
44

Review

5. Short message service is transmitted in:

a)
b)
c)
d)

the SDCCH.
the SACCH.
both the SDCCH and the SACCH.
neither the SDCCH nor the SACCH.

6. Information about the frequency hopping sequence can be found in

the:

a)
b)
c)
d)

BCCH.
FCCH.
RACH.
AGCH.

45

Review

7. Inter symbol interference is caused by:

a)
b)
c)
d)

fading dips.
the Viterbi equaliser.
reflection.
interleaving.

8. Frequency hopping:

a)
b)
c)
d)

eliminates the problem of fading dips.

eliminates the problem of inter symbol interference.
is part of channel coding.
spreads the problem of fading dips to many mobile
stations.
46

Review

9. Speech transcoding from 13 to 64 Kbits/s and vice versa is done by a

transcoder between which two points?

a)
b)
c)
d)

The BTS and the BSC at the BTS site.

The BTS and the BSC at the BSC site.
The BSC and the MSC at the MSC site.
All above are possible.

10. Which of the following are factors in network planning?

a)
b)
c)
d)

Intended coverage area.

Intended grade of service.
Cost of the network elements.
All of the above.

47

Review

12. Frequency reuse is done in GSM networks, because:

a) the number of available frequencies is lower than the

number of carrier channels needed for a financially
viable GSM network.
b) the spacing of 200 kHz between carriers instead of 25
kHz (like in analogue networks) reduces the number
of frequencies.
c) it increases the number of subscribers.
It can be argued that,
d) None of the above is quite correct.
in special cases,
this would
be a valid answer

48

Review

13. In a certain PLMN, an average subscriber makes five calls during office
hours (8 AM - 6 PM). It is known that in a certain cell area, there are
going be 1000 subscribers, at any given hour, during these office hours.
Assuming that a subscribers conversation lasts for 100 seconds, how
many TRXs are needed in this cell to provide a grade of service of 2%?

a)
b)
c)
d)

2
3
4
There is not enough information given for an exact
answer.

49