Chapter 1

The GPRS Network

Contents:

1.1

GPRS and GSM

1.

1.2

GPRS and GSM

Network elements and functions

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

1.3

The GSM PLMN

GPRS Network Architecture
Functions of GGSN
Functions of SGSN
Additional PS core entities
Modifications for GPRS in the BSS
GPRS MS

Services and Network evolution

1.
2.
3.

GPRS Network Services

Network evolution into GERAN
GERAN reference architecture (Rel 5)

Chapter 1.1

The GPRS Network

1.1

GPRS and GSM

1.

GPRS and GSM

GPRS and GSM

higher flexibility on
radio interface!

High Speed Circuit

Switched Data (HSCSD)
channel bundling
up to

higher
efficiency

higher
throughput

115.2
kbps

Enhanced
Data rates
for GSM
Evolution
(EDGE)

Enhanced
Circuit
Switched
Data
(ECSD)

new coding schemes:

up to 14.4 kbps/TS

GSM
Phase 2+

General Packet Radio

Service (GPRS)
channel bundling
up to

171.2
kbps

new coding schemes:

up to 21.4 kbps/TS
+ capacity on demand
+ multiplexing of subscribers
on one phy. channel

new
modulation
and
coding
schemes

up to

348
kbps

Enhanced
General
Packet
Radio
Service
(EGPRS)

up to

476
kbps

The GSM PLMN

The GSM Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMN) consists out of a Network Switching Subsystem (NSS) and a
Base Station System (BSS).

BTS

Ater

TC

BSC

MS

BTS

Abis

BSS

MSC/VLR
F

EIR

GMSC
C

HLR

NSS

(H)

Ext

PSTN

AuC SCP CSE SMSC

SS7
Main element in the NSS is the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) which contains the Visitor Location Register (VLR).
The MSC represents the edge towards the BSS and on the other side the Gateway MSC (GMSC), the connection
point to all external networks, like the Public Switched Telephone Network or ISDN. GSM is a circuit switched
network, there are physical links to transport control information (signalling) and user data. The signalling links are
SS7 based and circuits (voice channels) are switched through the MSC (or GMSC).
HLR
Home Location Register, a main database that contains data for each subscriber like IMSI, MSISDN,
subscribed services, access rights etc.
EIR
Equipment Identity Register, if supported, may be integrated in the HLR.
AuC
Authentication Center, provides Authentication Triplets for every subscriber to perform authentication
and ciphering (performed by MSC/VLR).
SCP
Service Control Point, a database for Intelligent Network services.
CSE
CAMEL Service Entity, a database for PLMN specific Intelligent Services, e.g. charging of roaming
subscribers.
SMSC
Short Message Service Center, used for transfer of short messages.

GPRS Network Architecture

GERAN

NSS
BSS

BTS

BTS

Ater TC

MSC/VLR

GMSC

PSTN

BSC
PCU
Abis

BTS
Gs

MS

EIR

HLR

BSS

BTS

TC

Gf

(H)

Home Subscriber
AuC Server (HSS)
Rel 5

Gc

Gr

GPRS PS Core Network

BTS
Abis

BTS

Ext

BSC
PCU

Gb

SGSN

Gn

IPvX
backbone

GGSN

ISP
Gi

Functions of GGSN

GMSC
Gateway
Mobile services
Switching Centre

GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node

signalling evaluation (SS7)

signalling evaluation (IP header)

switching (cs traffic)

routing and tunneling of packet data (ps traffic)

operational tasks incl.

- collection of traffic statistics
- alarms
- generation of charging records

operational tasks incl.

- collection of traffic statistics
- alarms
- generation of charging records

interrogation of HLR

interrogation of HLR

often interfacing external networks, such as

PSTN, ISDN

interfaces external IP networks

Interfaces internal IP network (IP BB)
Allocates dynamic or static IP addresses to mobiles
either by itself or with the help of a DHCP or a
RADIUS server

Gateway GPRS Support Node is an IP router

that provides access to various PDP networks,
e.g. the Internet
7

Functions of SGSN
(V)MSC/VLR
Visited MSC/
Visitor Location
Register

SGSN
Serving
GPRS Support Node

signalling evaluation (SS7)

signalling evaluation (IP header)

switching (cs traffic)

routing (ps traffic)

operational tasks incl.

- collection of traffic statistics
- alarms
- generation of charging records

operational tasks incl.

- collection of traffic statistics
- alarms
- generation of charging records

Mobility Management, incl.

authentication, authorisation, location
area updates

GMM (GPRS Mobility Management), incl.

authentication, authorisation, routing area
updates

Connection Management,
incl. call control, SMS, supplementary
services

SM (Session Management),
incl. PDP (Packet Data Protocol) context
management and SMS

Paging (CS)

Paging (PS and CS as option)

Protocol conversion between IP backbone and BSS
protocols e.g. data compression for IP-Header and
IP payload (V.42 bis, RFC 1144).

Additional PS core entities

DNS
GPRS PS Core Network
IPvX
backbone

SGSN

DNS LIG

BG

GGSN

Domain Name Server:

used to convert IP names into IP
addresses or vice versa.

Border Gateways: BGs are to interconnect operators'

GPRS backbone networks via a secure
BG
connection to support roaming
Charging Gateway:

CG

GPRS charging data records (CDR) are generated by

SGSNs and GGSNs, and sent to the CG via interface

LEA

Inter-PLMN
Network

Billing
Centre

Ga.
The Charging Gateway
collects all this data together
CG processes it
passes it to the Billing System

Lawful Interception Gateway:

Lawful interception is an action based on the law, which is performed by the GPRS network
It provides information for a Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) about some pre-defined target subscriber

LIG

Information could include

data sent and received by the interception target
location information
subscriber information
etc.

Modifications for GPRS in the BSS

CCU

BTS

BSC site
Abis

PCU

SGSN site
Gb

CCU

Ater
The PCU (Packet Control Unit):
Performs radio specific functions (Radio Resource Management)

Manages sub-multiplexing of multiple MS on one physical channel

Decides which radio resources are dynamically allocated to packet switched or circuit switched use

Is responsible for packet segmentation and re-assembly

Guarantees reliable link to MS

Terminates Gb interface
In most vendors implementation the PCU is a part of the BSC, in principle it could be as well a standalone
module or integrated in the BTS.

PCU

CCU

Channel Codec Unit:

BTS SW upgrade for new Coding Scheme (CS 1-4 or CS 1+2).

10

GPRS MS

Simultaneous
CS and PS
attach
activation
monitor
no simultaneous
traffic

class
B

simultaneous
attach
activation
monitor
invocation
traffic
of GSM and GPRS

class
A
pure GPRS or
alternative use of
GSM and GPRS only

class
C

A class A MS may be attached to the CS and PS core simultaneously. While the MS is in packet transfer mode
and there is an incoming call the MS can continue its packet session while making the call and enters the Dual
Transfer Mode (DTM). DTM requires additionally support by networks (BSS).
A class B MS may be attached to the CS and PS core simultaneously. While the MS is in packet transfer mode
and there is an incoming call the MS can take the call, the packet transfer has to be suspended and resumed
after the call is finished.
A class C MS may be attached to the CS or PS core. While the MS is in packet transfer mode there can be no
incoming call. Usually these MSs are PCMCIA cards.

11

GPRS Network Services

The objective of this training are the (E)GPRS signalling protocols, and to show, how a user data packet is
transmitted through the GPRS network. The user data transmission can be seen from two points of view:
end user's point of view:
The subscriber wants to exchange user data packets between the mobile terminal (MT) attached to his MS (or
internal) and an application server, located in a PDN.

user's point of view

GPRS

ISP
GGSN

MS

Application
Server

ISP
Internet

Router
operator's point of view:
Router
The operator is especially responsible to transmit the user data from one access point of the PLMN to another.
The access points to and from the PLMN are the MS and the GGSN.
The operator is required to offer a certain Quality
of Service (QoS) in order to enable new services.
Services are categorized into (Rel 99)

BSS
PCU

NSS

IP
SGSN backbone

GGSN

Interactive class
ISP Background class
Streaming class
Conversational class

13

Network evolutions into GERAN

2G Network

Support of Interactive and

Background PS Services (Rel 99)
HSCSD

ECSD

GSM
GPRS

EGPRS
classic

TDMA/136 +

TDMA/136

TDMA/136HS
Outdoor
TDMA/136HS
indoor

EGPRS
compact

Support of streaming (Rel 4) and

conversational PS Services (Rel 5)
GERAN (GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network)
In order to deliver the required
QoS for a certain service the
existing networks are enhanced.
ETSI standardized the GSM radio
interface and defined GSM, GPRS,
EDGE access to PS Core Network
(Rel 97, 98 ,99). Due to aspects of
harmonization and interworking
with 3G the specifications has
been moved to 3GPP. Rel 99 has
been adopted by 3GPP. Since then
the GSM access network is
referred to as GERAN. The
evolution of GERAN is done in Rel
4, 5, 6,... (along with the evolution
of CN entities).
Currently Rel 4, 5 and 6 features
are adopted in order to fullfil the
requirements for new services

14

GERAN Reference architecture (Rel 5)

Enhanced
compared to Rel 99
(Support of Realtime
Packet services)

-Interactive,
-Background,
-Streaming
PS Services

GERAN
BSS
Iur-g

MS

Um

BTS

BSC
MS

Iur-g (cancelled)
-Interface carries only
control signalling-no user
data
-improved interworking
GERAN-UTRAN
-Radio specific
procedures handled
completely inside RAN

BTS

Gb
IuCS

BSS

IuPS

To 2G CN (A/Gb mode)
required for Rel 4 or older MSs
To 3G CN (Iu mode)

Iur-g
UTRAN

IuCS

RNC

IuPS

A MS may operate in Gb mode (class A, B or C MS) or Iu mode. For Iu mode the MS may
operate

CS/PS mode: correspondends to Class A in A/Gb mode

PS mode: MS can only operate packet switched services

CS mode: MS can only operate circuit switched services

To
3G
CN

-Interactive,
-Background,
-Streaming
-Conversational
PS Services
GSM/UMTS
Core Network

15