General Overview of VAS

What is VAS & VAS Definition

Role of VAS
Categorization of VAS Revenue Sharing in VAS Challenges in the Growth of VAS

VAS -Definition
In short all services beyond standard voice calls and fax termination is considered as VAS in GSM. Value added service add value to the standard service offering, spurring the subscriber to use their phone.

What is VAS
It is popular as a telecommunications industry that are not part of the basic voice offer & are availed separately by the end user. These are used as a tool for differentiation & allow the mobile operator to develop another stream of revenue.

Role of VAS
Operators are facing cutthroat competition & with the call rates in India being the one of the cheapest in the world, the margins are very low. Therefore, VAS has become the flywheel of the telecom growth & a large chunk of revenue for operators likely to come from VAS services in the year to come.

Challenges in the Growth of VAS

Focus only on youth and entertainment Piracy of Content Lack of Infrastructure Preference for low feature handsets High cost to the end user Spam

Services
SMS GPRS WAP MMS CRBT MCA VP BGM Voice Chat IVR Services Many more

GPRS (General Packet Radio Services)

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a packet based wireless communication service. GPRS is used for various data applications on phones, including WAP, MMS and software that connects to the Internet. It offers data rates from 14.4kbps up to 115 Kbps and continuous connection to the Internet for mobile phone and computer users. GPRS is based on GSM Technology. GPRS represents the bridge between 2G and 3G mobile telecommunications and is commonly referred to as 2.5G.

GPRS Handset Classes

Class A:- Class A terminal have 2 transceiver which allow to send/receive data & voice at same time. This class of device takes the full advantage of GSM & GPRS. You can be taking the call & receiving the call all at the same time. Class B:- class B can send/ receive data or voice but not both at same time. Generally, if you got the call while using GPRS, then you have an option to receive the call or carry on. Class C:- class C are connected to either GPRS or GSM service, must be switched manually for one service.

Service Path of GPRS

A laptop connects with a GPRS-capable handset. The handset communicates with GSM base station. Base station sends the GPRS packets to SGSN. SGSN encapsulates packets. Handset location information is updated in other GSM components, such as HLR. SGSN sends encapsulate packets to GGSN. GGSN de-capsulate and sends to PDN.

Services.

Network
GSM
Um

BSS
A-bis A MAP

MAP ISUP

MAP ISUP

Gb

Gs Gf Gr Gc

PSTN/ISDN
PDN
Gi Gn

GPRS
Gn Private Backbone

PDN

Gp

Interfaces
Gn - GSN backbone network
Private IP network intended for GPRS data/signalling only Connects the GPRS Support Nodes (GSNs) together within a GPRS PLMN

Gp inter-PLMN backbone network

PLMN to PLMN connection (i.e. roaming) via Border Gateways (BG) Packet data Network (public Internet or leased line)

Gi
Interface to external packet data network (IP)

Gs SGSN to MSC/VLR
Used to perform IMSI attach and GPRS attach simultaneously Combined paging procedures, where all paging is done form SGSN

Gr SGSN to HLR
SGSN must contact the HLR whenever a new subscriber enters one of its Routing Areas

Gd SGSN to SMS
Used if SMS is forwarded over GPRS channels

Gf SGSN to EIR
Used to check the IMEI number

SGSN (Service GPRS Support Node)

Handles:
PDP contexts for Mobile Stations. Determines Quality of Service assigned to user. Routes packets to Mobile Stations. Pages Mobile Stations when data is to be sent. Handover/cell Change

Stores:
Subscriber data for all Mobile Stations in the location area. Store not-acknowledged packets in case of a cell change during an ongoing packet data transfer

Security:
Authentication, by means of identity or equipment check. P-TMSI is allocated by SGSN. Ciphering. (Not only in Um as in GSM but all the way down to SGSN).

Charging
Together with the GGSN the SGSN collects CDR's (Call Data Records). Opposed to the GGSN, the SGSN collects CDR's for the use of the own network resources. These CDR's are forwarded to the Charging Gateway (CG) via the IP-based intra-PLMN backbone

GGSN (Gateway GPRS Support Node)

Handles:
Interconnects a PLMN to the external world (Internet). Routes IP packets to the appropriate SGSN. If the Mobile Station changes the SGSN during ready mode, the GGSN is used as data packet buffer. Activation and Deactivation of PDP-Contexts / Session Management.

Stores:
Subscriber data for active Mobile Stations.

Security:
Firewall. Screening.

Charging
The GGSN will, in addition to the SGSN, collect CDRs and forward them to the charging gateway (CG). Please note that opposed to the SGSN, the GGSN will collect call data records based on the usage of external network resources. In other words, charges that arise from other packet data or mobile network operators are collected by the GGSN

HLR. (Home Location Register)

New fields has been added to the HLR in order to serve the GPRS Network.
IMSI is still the reference key. SGSN Number. The SS7 address of SGSN currently serving the MS. SGSN Address. The IP address of SGSN currently serving the MS. GGSN List. The GGSN number and optional IP address are related to the GGSN which will be contacted when activity from the MS is detected. For each PDP context: PDP Type. (e.g.. X25 or IP). PDP Address. (Note: This field will be empty if dynamic IP add is used.). QoS Profile. (Qos profile for this PDP context). VPLMN Address allowed. Access Point name. (A label according DNC naming list).

BSS (Base Station Subsystem)

LA 2 LA 1 RA 1

In GPRS, LA is divided into RA. Each RA contains one or more cells. In a RA, the RAI is broadcasted as System Information. When an MS is crossing an RA border the MS will initiate an RA update procedure. New elements (CCU , PCU) are added to the BSS in order to support new coding schemes introduced by GPRS.

RA 3 RA 5 RA 2

BTS + CCU

RA 4

LA = Location Area. LAI = MCC+MNC+LAC RA = Routing Area (Subset of LA) RAI = LAI+RA PCU = Packet Control Unit. CCU = Channel Codec Unit.

PCU (Packet Control Unit)

Interface the new GPRS core network to the existing GSM BSS.
Converting packet data coming from the SGSN in so called PCU-frames that have the same format as TRAU-frames. These PCU-frames are transparently routed through the BSC and towards the BTS. The BTS needs to determine the respective coding scheme and other options before processing a PCU-frame.

Takes over all GPRS radio related control functions from the BSC.

Firewall
Isolate the Backbone from external networks

Protect and isolate the Charging and Operation and Maintenance network
Spoofing filters and SAM could be employed on a Firewall Network Address Translation Additional security with Access control list

Other elements
HLR: It is involved in the MS attachment to the GPRS network ( Authentication and services subscription. NTP: Provides one time reference for all the network. BG (Border Gateway) :(Not defined within GPRS) Routes packets from SGSN/GGSN of one operator to a SGSN/GGSN of an other operator Provides protection against intruders from external networks. DNS (Domain Name Server) :Translates addresses from ggsn1.oper1.fi -format to 123.45.67.89 format (i.e. as used in Internet). Charging Gateway :Collects charging information from SGSNs and GGSNs.

Session Management (SM)

Allow transfer of user data packets between the MS and some external packet data network. Before data transmission start, SM involves a handshaking procedure between the MS, SGSN and the GGSN.
Establish a PDP context between the MS and the GGSN (includes the negotiated QoS profile)

GMM (GPRS Mobility Management)

Like MM in GSM, GMM are used to keep track of the current location of an MS and to initiate security procedures. GMM is a function that is mainly handled between the mobile station and the SGSN. However, the HLR is also involved. There are various scenarios defined in GPRS to update a subscriber's location within the network. The most important ones are:
Routing Area Update (Intra-SGSN and Inter-SGSN) GPRS Attach and Detach Cell Update (only while in GMM-Ready State)

The GMM cell update procedure replaces in GPRS what is known as handover procedure in circuit-switched GSM. Due to the fact that a GPRS MS is not constantly connected to the network, the GMM has introduced a new state, called Ready State.

GMM Procedures
GPRS Attach/Detach
Made towards the SGSN The MS must provide its identity (P-TMSI/IMSI) and an indication of which type of attach that is to be executed (GPRS / combined GPRS/IMSI) After GPRS attach the MS is in Ready state and MM contexts are established in the MS and the SGSN.

Routing Area Update

When a GPRS-attached MS detects a new RA (Routing Area) When the periodic RA update counter has expired

Cell Update
When the MS enters a new cell inside the current RA and the MS is in Ready state

Combined RA/LA update

Only if option Gs-interface i simplemented

GMM States
Idle Mode. (MS off or not attached yet).
If the MS is on, and is a Class B or Class C MS, the MS will listen to the network, but not make any updating of where the MS is. It is not possible to page an MS.

Ready Mode. (MS is able to send and receive data).

Cell updating is necessary. If no activity within the timer ( Default = 44s) the MS will fall back to a stand-by state. NOTE: an MS can be forced back to standby mode due to lack of recourses.

Standby Mode. (MS is listening to the Network).

Only RA update and periodic update is necessary. It is possible to page the MS.

PDP
The packet data protocol (PDP; e.g., IP, X.25, FrameRelay) context is a data structure present on both the Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) which contains the subscriber's session information when the subscriber has an active session. When a mobile wants to use GPRS, it must first attach and then activate a PDP context. This allocates a PDP context data structure in the SGSN that the subscriber is currently visiting and the GGSN serving the subscriber's access point. The data recorded includes Subscriber's IP address Subscriber's IMSI Subscriber's
Tunnel Endpoint ID (TEID) at the GGSN Tunnel Endpoint ID (TEID) at the SGSN

The Tunnel Endpoint ID (TEID) is a number allocated by the GSN which identifies the tunneled data related to a particular PDP context. There are two kinds of PDP contexts. Primary PDP context
Has a unique IP address associated with it

Secondary PDP context

Shares an IP address with another PDP context Is created based on an existing PDP context (to share the IP address)

Secondary PDP contexts may have different quality of service settings

PDP Context Activation

Identifies the transaction parameters of an active session of a GPRS mobile station.
Note that a GPRS mobile station may support multiple simultaneous sessions and activated PDPcontexts

Can be initiated by the network or the MS (in Standby or Ready state) Cannot be activated before a GMM context exists. (A GPRS mobile station first needs to register itself towards the SGSN before a PDP context activation procedure can be initiated). Can be deactivated on request of the MS or the SGSN or the GGSN by means of the PDP context deactivation procedure

Radio Resource (RR) Management Procedures

Takes care of the allocation and maintenance of radio communication paths Paging
The paging procedure moves the MM state to Ready to allow the SGSN to forward downlink data to the BSS

TBF Establishment/Release
A Temporary Block Flow (TBF) is a physical connection used by two RR entities to support unidirectional transfer of user data or signalling. The TBF is an allocated radio resource on one or more Packet Data Channels (PDCH) A TBF is temporary and is maintained only for the duration of the data transfer.

Um Interface
The RLC protocol, and the MAC Protocol is in charge of all radio related control functions on the air interface. The LLC Protocol is in charge of transmission between SGSN and the Mobile Station. Delivery of data units to the higher layer in the correct sequence. The SNDCP Protocol is in charge of Segmentation and compression of Data.

GPRS A-bis Interface

In GSM the A-bis is a well known structured protocol. In GPRS each vendor is making his own version of the A-bis protocol (not specified).

RLC/MAC (Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control)

The RLC/MAC protocol is defined between the mobile station and the PCU (Packet Control Unit). In charge of all radio related control functions on the air interface. Performs segmentation of LLC frames into radio blocks

SNDCP (Sub-Network Dependent Convergence Protocol)

Interface function between the GPRS protocol stack and the different packet data protocols like IP. The SNDCP is applicable between the MS and the SGSN.
Within the SGSN, there is a relay function from the SNDCP towards the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP).

Segmentation of user data packets (max. 1520 octets)

Compression of Packet Data (optional)

Relies completely on the error recovery and transmission capabilities of LLC and therefore provides no means for these functions

Gb protocol layers
BSSGP (Base Station Subsystem GPRS Protocol)
Transparent transfer of signaling and data PDU's between the SGSN and the PCU Administration of the packet-switched link resources between SGSN and PCU. Initiation of packet-switched paging for a particular mobile station if requested by the SGSN.

NS (Network Service) - consists of two sublayers:

The Network Service Control Protocol. Provides for virtual connections (NS-VC) between the SGSN and the PCU. These virtual connections need to be administrated by the Network Service protocol The Frame Relay Protocol. The Network Service is a packet-switched protocol: A single virtual connection may use resources from 0 kbit/s up to the entire bandwidth of the transmission link Transports PDUs between BSS and SGSN.

GTP (GPRS Tunnel Protocol)

Allows multi-protocol packets to be tunnelled through the GPRS backbone between GPRS Support Nodes (GSNs). Responsible for the transmission of both, signaling information and application data. Based on an IP-protocol stack and uses UDP as transport layer (OSI layer 4) Also takes care of the transfer of charging information. In that function, GTP is called GTP'

TLLI/GTP Tunnelling

APN
An IP network to which a mobile can be connected A set of settings which are used for that connection A particular option in a set of settings in a mobile phone When a GPRS mobile phone sets up a PDP context, the access point is selected. At this point an access point name (APN) is determined Example: ericsson.mnc012.mcc345.gprs Example: Internet Example: mywap This access point is then used in a DNS query to a private DNS network. This process (called APN resolution) finally gives the IP address of the GGSN which should serve the access point. At this point a PDP context can be activated.

GPRS Mobility Management

GPRS Attach: "Authentication"

Request GPRS attach

HLR

SGSN
Tripet Request Tripet (RAND, SRES, Kc)

Request Subscriber Identity

IMSI
Authentication request (with RAND)

SRES ? SRES Authentication verified

GPRS Mobility Management

GPRS Attach: Attach Accpeted
TLLI

HLR

SGSN
Update Location Subscriber Data Subscriber Data OK Update Location Ack

P-TMSI

MS
P-TMSI Ack

GPRS Attach Accepted

MS Standby
HLR VLR-1
IMSI LAI SGSN 244... LA-1 SGSN-1 IMSI VLR SGSN 244... VLR-1 SGSN-1

BSC

SGSN-1

IMSI RAI Cell

244... RA-1 ?????

RA-1
LA-1

GPRS Mobility Management

MS DNS

?
GGSN IP Address APN

SGSN
APN GGSN IP address
Activate PDP Context Request with APN

DNS

GTP

?
DNS

GGSN IP Address APN

Smart GPRS backbone

GGSN
Thai GPRS backbone

Roaming, Dynamic IP-address from Home Network, APN Always the Same
Visited Operator Visited-PLMN GPRS Backbone BG Inter-PLMN GPRS Backbone GGSN

SGSN

BG
IP address changes HOME Operator GPRS Internet/ Intranet Access Point

GGSN

PDP Context Activation - 1

Accessing the HLR
HLR BTS BSC

(1) MS sends "Activate PDP Context Request" to SGSN

2.
SS7

Access Point Name PDP Type (IP) PDP Address (empty ==

dynamic)

1.
APN= "Intranet.Ltd.com"

SGSN
DNS GPRS Backbone IP Network

QoS & other options

Intranet

(2) SGSN checks against HLR

Access Point
GGSN

Access Point Name Dynamic / static IP

address

Internet

Access Point Name = Reference to an external packet data network the user wants to connect to

PDP Context Activation - 2 Finding the GGSN

(1) SGSN gets the GGSN IP address from DNS

BTS

BSC

APN maps to the GGSN IP address (2) SGSN sends

"Create PDP Context Request
to GGSN
SGSN

1.
GPRS Backbone IP Network

DNS

2.

Access Point
GGSN

PDP Type (IP) PDP Address (if empty=> dynamic address) Access Point Name QoS & other options
Internet

DNS = Domain Name System = mechanism to map logical names to IP addresses

Intranet

PDP Context Activation - 3

Access Point Selection

Access Point Name refers to the external network the subscriber wants to use

Physical/logical interface in
GGSN
BTS BSC

SGSN DNS GPRS Backbone IP Network

Access Point configuration in GGSN defines where to connect the user If dynamic address, can be allocated by GGSN or external RADIUS or DHCP server

Protocols:

DHCP = Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol RADIUS = Remote Authentication Dial In User Service

GGSN Intranet Internet

APN="Intranet.Ltd.com"

PDP Context Activation - 4 Context Activated

User authenticated OK (non-transparent case) User IP address allocated dynamically by

RADIUS server, or DHCP server, or GGSN internal pool

(1) GGSN sends "Create PDP Context Response"

back to SGSN

BTS BSC

(2) SGSN sends "Activate PDP Context Accept" to the MS SGSN now ready to route user traffic between MS and GGSN

2.
SGSN

GPRS Backbone IP Network GGSN Intranet

1.
Internet

Name Resolution using a Root DNS takes place during PDP context activation
MS Local SGSN Resolver Cache Local DNS GPRS ROOT DNS Foreign DNS GGSN MS activates PDP context SGSN Checks Cache SGSN sends request to DNS Local DNS checks for authoritative DNS Foreign DNS IP returned

APN address from Foreign NS SGSN Saves to Cache SGSN creates PDP context SGSN Accepted PDP context BG

DNS Request of GGSN IP response of the foreign GGSN

GGSN PDP Response BG

Billing
PSTN MSC MSC SGSN BSC
GPRS Network

GGSN

Charging Gateway

Mediation

Billing

Conclusion
GPRS provides efficient access to Packet Data Networks. Multislot operation in GPRS leads to efficient channel utilization. GPRS is more effective for long data packet transmission than short ones.

Thanks