Wireless mobile communication is critical for linking people, aircraft, ships, vehicles, and a variety of other moving objects, regardless of their geographical location. It enables the above-mentioned objects to be digitally connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the development of real-time applications to track their location and performance.
Mobile communication is cost-effective since it does not use wires or cables and does not require maintenance, and it is becoming quicker and more precise as technology improves. Any mobile communication framework should be scalable, capable of load balancing, robust to manage complexity, secure, support roaming, and manage devices via appropriate device management rules (MDM). GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication and is one of the most widely utilized mobile communication standards in second-generation cellular networks. Let’s look at the evolution of mobile communication technology, specifically GSM features, in this article.
Architecture of GSM
GSM is a digital cellular protocol for mobile communication that was first deployed in Europe and Asia in the 1980s.
It is a digital system that uses a circuit switching concept to carry speech and data, and it is part of the second generation (2G) of cellular technology.
GSM Originally referred to a group of European technocrats that worked on the “Groupe Special Mobile” standard. It was renamed “Global System for Mobile Communication” when it was adopted.
GSM has been widely adopted over the world, and many nations use it as their main network standard.
In the 1990s and 2000s, it ruled the mobile world, offering high-quality voice, text, and multimedia messaging services. In the worldwide market, I had an 80 percent market share.
With the advent of more digital technologies, the need for high-resolution video and data-intensive content to be transferred over the network arose. This has paved the way for the advent of 3G technologies and the entry of smartphones.
GSM is still used to support feature phones, although major service providers such as Telstra and AT&T discontinued GSM services in 2017.
Deployment of GSM
- Mobile Station
It comprises of a portable phone with an IMEI (International mobile equipment identity) number that may be used for voice calls and data services (SMS/MMS). It monitors the signal quality of surrounding cells to allow for simple roaming transfers. For voice conversations and data transfer, each phone should have a SIM card (subscriber identification module) with an International mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number. This password-protected SIM card also has network identifying data and an activation/deactivation feature.
2. Base Station
It creates a radio transmission environment for mobile stations to connect to the Message Switching Centre (MSC), as well as a seamless interface between mobile stations and other GSM components. The Base Station is made up of two main components.
The information from mobile stations is received by the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) (cell tower), which then sends it to the station controller. It also modulates, encrypts, multiplexes, and feeds the data to the mobile station over the radio interface.
The Base Station Controller (BSC) assigns frequency and time slots to all mobile stations and communicates with both the MSC and the BTS.
- Switching Networks
It aids MSCs in switching operations to interact with ISDN and PSTN networks, and it includes Mobile Switching Centers. The Mobile Switching Center is responsible for call setup, routing, switching, registration, location updates, billing information, and gateway services.
The mobile subscriber database is managed by Home Location Registers (HLR).
New Mobile station entrants’ temporary data is stored in Visitor Locating Registers (VLR).
Intruders will be protected by the Authentication Center’s strict security procedures.
To trace device IMEI numbers, use the Equipment Identity Registry (EIR).
- Operational Assistance
It aids system administrators in keeping GSM activities running smoothly and monitoring performance.
5. Usage of Interfaces
Abis interface between BTS and BSC, UM, Interface manages communication between MS and BTS, UM, Interface manages communication between MS and BTS, UM, Interface manages communication between MS and BTS, UM, Interface A connection between the BSC and the MSC, as well as the SS7 protocol between the MSC and other networks.
GSM Varieties
In the 2G network, which GSM belongs to, three common technologies are utilized in communication:
FDMA (Frequency Division Many Access):
The available spectrum bandwidth is divided into equal voice channel bandwidths, similar to how multiple radio stations transmit signals at their allotted frequency in the band. Although it is capable of digital transmission, it is usually utilized for analog.
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA):
A frequency channel’s available narrow bandwidth is split into multiple time slots and shared among multiple users. The data is pumped in sequence in their time slot over the same channel by the users. Voice is translated to digital representation, which requires less channel capacity.
CDMA (Code Division Several Access):
It takes a different method, allowing multiple calls to be handled in a single channel separated by a distinct sequence code. The channel is a type of spread spectrum that efficiently transfers the data pockets of numerous callers. GSM does not utilize it, although IS-95 in the 2G family does.
GSM Architecture’s Benefits
The following are some of the benefits of GSM Architecture:
- It’s a tried-and-true technology that’s been used all around the world, and it’s still used in feature phones today.
- Cost-effective.
- International Roamers will see minimal disturbance because this technology is available everywhere.
- GSM networks are simple to set up and maintain, and engineers have a wealth of knowledge.
- It has a symbiotic relationship with other technologies.
