GSM Interfaces and Protocols (Global System for

Mobile Communication (GSM)) Part 1

The GSM specifications define the interaction between system components through
well-defined interfaces and protocols. Figure 3-11 shows the interfaces between the
GSM functional entities. Table 3-3 lists the GSM interfaces.
Figure 3-12 shows the protocol architecture used for the exchange of signaling
messages on each interface. The protocols are layered according to the OSI Reference
Model. It consists of the Physical Layer, Data Link Layer, and Layer 3. This Layer 3 is
not the same as defined in OSI Layer 3. In GSM, the Layer 3 functions include call,
mobility, and radio resource management. In the OSI model, these functions are
provided by the higher layers. GSM reuses a few established protocols such as CCS7
MTP, TCAP, SCCP, ISUP, and ISDN LAPD protocols. The MAP and BSSAP are new
protocols to support GSM specific needs.

Air interface
The air interface between the MS and the BTS is called Um. . Most of the
implementations use a frequency band of 900 MHz. The other derivative of GSM is
called Digital cellular system 1800 (DCM1800).

Figure 3-11 GSM interfaces.

TABLE 3-3 GSM Interfaces

Interface Description
Um

Abis

It uses a frequency band of 1800 MHz. Table 3-4 lists the GSM frequency bands.
The used frequency band is divided into 200-kHz carriers or RF channels in both the
uplink and downlink direction. Each RF channel is then further subdivided into eight
different timeslots, i.e., 0 to 7, by TDMA techniques. A set of these eight timeslots is
referred as a TDMA frame. Each frame lasts 4.615 ms. The physical channels are
further mapped to various logical channels carrying user traffic and control information
between the MS and the BTS. Table 3-5 describes the logical channels and their
usages.
The following section describes the Um interface protocols used at the MS and the BTS
side.
Physical layer. Layer 1, which is a radio interface, provides the functionality required to
transfer the bit streams over the physical channels on the radio medium. The Physical
Layer itself does the frame delimitation The services provided by this layer to those
above include:

 Channel mapping (logical to physical)

Channel coding and ciphering
Digital modulation
Frequency hopping
Timing advance and power control
Data link layer. Signaling Layer 2 is based on the LAPDm protocol to provide a reliable
signaling link between the network and the mobile station. LAPDm uses no flags for
frame delimitation.. This way, scarce radio resources are not spent on flag bits the bit.

Figure 3-12 GSM protocol stack.

TABLE 3-4 GSM Frequency Bands
System
Direction
GSM 900
Uplink

GSM/DCS1800

Frequency band (MHz)

890-815

Downlink

935-960

Uplink

1710-1785

Downlink

1805-1880

Network layer. Signaling Layer 3 takes care of signaling procedures between an MS

and the network. It consists of three sublayers with distinct signaling procedures.
Radio resource management (RR)
Mobility management (MM)
Connection management (CM)
Radio resource management. Radio resource management (RR) comprises
procedures required to establish, maintain, and release the dedicated radio
connections. The RR sublayer functions include:
Channel assignment and release
Ciphering
Modification of channel modes, e.g., voice and data
Handover between cells
Frequency redefinition to enable frequency hopping
MS measurement reports
Power control and timing advance
Paging
Radio channel access
The mobile station always initiates an RR session. For example, the RR procedures
are invoked to establish an RR session in response to a paging message or to establish
an outgoing call. As shown in Figure 3-13, the RR messages are transferred to BSC
transparently, through the BTS. Table 3-6 lists RR messages.
Mobility management. The mobility management (MM) sublayer handles functions and
procedures related to mobility of the mobile user. This includes procedures for:
Authentication
Location registration and periodic updating
TABLE 3-5 Logical Traffic and Control Channels
Traffic
channels
(TCH)

TCH/F carries
subscriber
information
(speech/data)
at a rate of
22.8 Kbps
with a speech
coding at
around 13
Kbps.
TCH/F carries
subscriber
information at
a rate of 11.4
Kbps with a
speech coding
at around 7
Kbps.
Broadcast
control
channels
(BCH)
This channel is
broadcast by
the BTS and
carries
information
for the
frequency
correction of
the MS. It is
used in
downlink
direction only.

This channel is
broadcast by
the BTS and
carries
information
for frame
synchronizatio
n of the MS.
In addition it
also carries the
base station
identity code
(BSIC). It is
used in
downlink
direction only.
This channel
carries
broadcast
information
related to the
BTS and the
network. The
information
includes
configuration
details of
common
control
channels
(CCH)
described
below.
It is used in
downlink
direction only.
Common
control
channels
(CCH)

This is used to
page an MS. It
is used in
downlink
direction only.

The MS uses
this channel to
request the
allocation of a
SDCCH. It is
used in uplink
direction only.
The BTS
allocates a
SDCCH or
TCH in
response to the
allocation
request by the
MS using this
channel. It is
used in
downlink
direction only.
Dedicated
control
channels
(DCH)

This channel is
used for
carrying
signaling
information
between the
BTS and a MS
before
allocation of a
TCH. For
example,
SDCCH is
used for
carrying
signaling
messages
related to
update
location and
call
establishment.
This is a
bidirectional
channel.
This channel is
always used in
conjunction
with a TCH or
a SDCCH. The
MS and the
BTS use it to
maintain an
SDCCH or a
TCH. In the
uplink, the MS
sends
measurement
reports to the
BTS using this
channel. In the
downlink, the
BTS transmits
information to
keep the
mobile

updated on
recent changes
in system
configuration.
This channel is
always
associated to a
TCH and is
used to
transfer
signaling
messages
when a mobile
is already
involved in a
call.

Figure 3-13 Air interface signaling protocols.

Security

TMSI reallocation
IMSI detach/attach
As shown in Figure 3-13, the CM layer from the transmitting side uses the MM layer to
establish RR connection and then transfers messages transparently across to the
receiving side, that is MSC. Table 3-6 lists MM messages.
Connection management. The connection management (CM ) sublayer contains the
functions and procedures for call control. This includes procedures to establish, release,
and access services and facilities. The CM consists of three sublayers, namely, call
control (CC), supplementary services (SS), and short message services (SMS).
The call control sublayer provides procedures for ISDN call control. These procedures
are based on ISDN call control procedures defined in the ITU-T Q.931 specification.
However, the minor modifications are done to adopt these to mobile environment.

The supplementary service sublayer provides the procedures to support non-call-related

supplementary services such as call forwarding and call waiting.
TABLE 3-6 Layer 3 Messages
RR messages
Channel establishment messages

MM messages
Registration messages

CM messages
Call establishment messages

IMSI DETach

ALERTing

ADDitional ASSignment
INDication
LOCation UPDating

CALL CONFirmed

IMMediate ASSignment
ACCept
IMMediate ASSignment

LOCation UPDating

EXTended

REJect

IMMediate ASSignment

LOCation UPDating

REJect

REQuest

CALL PROCeeding

CONnect

Connection

CONnect

management messages

ACKnowledge

PAGing REQuest Type 1

CM SERVice ACCept

SETUP

PAGing REQuest Type 2

CM SERVice REJect

EMERGency SETUP

PAGing REQuest Type 3

CM SERVice REQuest

PROGRESS

PAGing ReSPonse

CM SERVice ABOrt

Call phase messages

Handover messages

CM REeStablishment

MODify

Paging messages

REQuest
ASSignment CoMmanD

Security messages

MODify REJect

ASSignment COMplete

AUTHentication REJect

MODify COMPlete

ASSignment FAILure

AUTHentication

USER INFOrmation

HANDover ACCess

REQuest

HANDover CoManD

AUTHentication

HOLD

ReSPonse
HANDover COMplete

IDENTity REQuest

HOLD REJect

HANDover FAILure

IDENTity ReSPonse

HOLD ACKnowledge

PHYsical INFOrmation

TMSI REALlocation

RETRIEVE

COMmand
Ciphering messages

TMSI REALlocation

RETRIEVEREJect

CoMPlete
CIPHering MODe CoMmanD

Other messages

RETRIEVE
ACKnowledge

CIPHering MODe COMplete

MM STATUS

Call clearing messages

Channel release messages

ABORT

DISConnect

CHANnel RELease

RELease

PARTial RELease

RELease COMplete

PARTial RELease COMplete

Other messages

System information messages

CONGESTion
CONTROL

SYStem INFOrmation Type1

STATUS

SYStem INFOrmation Type2

STATUS ENQuiry

SYStem INFOrmation Type3

NOTIFY

SYStem INFOrmation Type4

START DTMF

SYStem INFOrmation Type5

STOP DTMF

SYStem INFOrmation Type6

START DTMF

SYStem INFOrmation Type7

ACKnowledge

SYStem INFOrmation Type8

SYStem INFOrmation

STOP DTMF

Type 2bis

ACKnowledge

SYStem INFOrmation

START DTMF REJect

Type 5bis
TABLE 3-6 Layer 3 Messages
RR messages

MM messages

CM messages

Other messages
CHANnel REQuest
CHANnel MODe MODify
CHANnel MODe MODify
ACKnowledgment
CLASSmark ENQuiry
CLASSmark CHANGE
FREQuency
REDEFinition
RR Status
MEASurement REPort
The short message service sublayer provides the procedures to support the short
message transfer between the MS and the network. Table 3-6 lists CM messages.

N E X T P O S T:

GSM Interfaces and Protocols (Global System for Mobile Communication

(GSM)) Part 2
P R E V I O U S P O S T:

System Architecture (Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM))

Part 2
R ELATED L INKS

Roaming in Wireless Networks

Roaming and Wireless Networks

Interstandard Roaming
Prepaid and Postpaid Subscriber Roaming
Basic Structure of Roaming
Roaming Services

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