What is 2G?

2G signifies second-generation wireless digital technology. Fully digital 2G networks

replaced analog 1G technology, which originated in the 1980s. 2G networks saw their
first commercial light of day on the GSM standard. GSM, which made international
roaming possible, is an acronym for global system for mobile communications.

2G technology on the GSM standard was first used in commercial practice in 1991 in
Finland by Radiolinja, which is now part of Elisa, a company that was known in the 1990s
as the Helsinki Telephone Company.

All phone conversations are digitally encrypted, 2G networks are more efficient on the
spectrum, They can allow far greater mobile phone penetration levels and 2G introduced
data services for mobile , starting with SMS text messages .

2G technology is more efficient, 2G network holds sufficient security for both the sender
& the receiver , All text messages are digitally encrypted , This digital encryption allows
for the transfer of data in such a way that only the intended receiver can receive & read it
, These digital signals consume less battery power , so , it helps in saving the battery of
mobiles .

Second generation cellphone technology is either time division multiple access (TDMA)
or code division multiple access (CDMA).

Download and upload speed in 2G technology was 236 Kbps. 2G preceded 2.5G, which
bridged 2G technology to 3G.

The most notable upgrade of 2G over its predecessor is the digital encryption of telephone
conversations, and considerably higher efficiency on the spectrum, which allows for
greater penetration level for mobile phones. 2G also introduced mobile data services,
beginning with SMS text messaging.
Second generation technologies are either time division multiple access (TDMA) or code
division multiple access (CDMA). TDMA allows for the division of signal into time slots.
CDMA allocates each user a special code to communicate over a multiplex physical
channel. Different TDMA technologies are GSM, PDC, iDEN, iS-136.CDMA technology
is IS-95.

The downside of 2G is that it is very dependent on proximity and location to towers, and
its digital nature will only compound that problem. Analog signals degenerate over
distance, consistently resulting in static until the signal becomes unintelligible, while digital
signal cuts off or loses and distorts dramatically because of its jagged, on-off nature. This
means that as 2G signal becomes lesser, the frequency of dropped calls and robotic-
sounding voice becomes more prevalent.
How 2G Works:
Advancement in mobile phones technology has been marked by generation (G). Analog
phones are related to the 1st generation (1G), and then come digital phones marked by
second generation (2G). This second generation mobile phones has changed the concept
of mobile phones by introducing high data transfer rate, increased frequency band and
wireless connectivity.

There are three different types of technologies in the second generation these are FDMA
(Frequency Division Multiple Access), TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)
and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). All types have one common feature of
multiple access which means that many users are able to use the same number of cells.
First part of all the technologies makes difference.
Because of different types of technologies utilizes in 2G mobiles, there are different types
of mobiles according to the technology incorporate in them. Let see the 2Gtechnologies
use in mobiles and their functions as they work.

How 2G (FDMA) Works:

Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) enables the calls to use different frequency
by splitting it into small cells. Each call uses different frequency. The phenomenon is
same as in radio where different channels broadcast on separate frequency. So every
radio station has been assigned different frequency according to the specific band
available. FDMA is best in case of analog transmission but also support digital
transmission. No doubt it is accommodating to the digital signals yet with poor service.

How 2G (TDMA) Works:

Different technologies are categorized in second generation’s TDMA standard according
to the different time zones indifferent countries in the world.
These technologies are
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) nearly used in the whole world.

IDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) is introduced by Motorola used in US and

Canada.

IS-136 (Interim Standard-136) also known as D-AMPS (Digital Advanced Mobile Phone
System) prevail in South and North America.
PDC (Personal Digital Cellular) is used in Japan.

TDMA is a narrow band of 30 KHz wide and 6.7 millisecond long. It is divided into three
slots of time. Using the CODEC, stands for Compression / Decompression
algorithm, compresses the digital information and use less space leaving for the other
users. Division of this narrow band into three time slots increases the capacity of
frequency band. TDMA supports both frequency bands IS-54 and IS-136. GSM (TDMA)
is a different standard and provide basis for IDEN and PCS. Being an international
standard, it covers many countries of the world. There is only the need for changing the
SIM and you can get connected no need to buy a new phone. Having two different bands
900-1800 MHz band covers Europe and Asia
850-1900 MHz band covers United State

First band is in sync widely but second is limited to the United State. It is better to go for
the first one if you need to go on extensive travelling.

GSM:
GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications and it is the world's most
popular 2G technology, implemented in most of Europe and Asia. Like TDMA(Time
Division Multiple Access), it is based on time-division multiplexing but uses wider carrier
frequencies and eight, rather than three, time slots.

GSM has its origin from the Group special Mobile, in Europe. GSM (Global system for
mobile communication) is the most admired standard of all the mobile technologies.
Although this technology originates from the Europe, but now it is used in more than 212
countries in the world. GSM technology was the first one to help establish international
roaming. This enabled the mobile subscribers to use their mobile phone connections in
many different countries of the world’s is based on digital signals ,unlike 1G technologies
which were used to transfer analogue signals. GSM has enabled the users to make use
of the short message services (SMS) to any mobile network at any time. SMS is a cheap
and easy way to send a message to anyone, other than the voice call or conference. This
technology is beneficial to both the network operators and the ultimate users at the same
time.

GSM phones are used by over a billion people across more than 200 countries. The
ubiquity of the GSM standard makes international roaming very common with "roaming
agreements" between mobile phone operators. GSM differs significantly from its
predecessors in that both signalling and speech channels are digital, which means that it
is seen as a second generation (2G) mobile phone system.

From the point of view of the consumer, the key advantage of GSM systems has been
early delivery of new services at low costs. For example text messaging was developed
first for GSM. The advantage for network operators has been the low infrastructure cost
which is caused by open competition. The primary disadvantage has been that GSM's
radio network is based on TDMA technology, which is considered less advanced than
competing CDMA-based systems. Practical performance figures are rather similar;
however, GSM has retained backward- compatibility with the original GSM phones.

Radio interface:
GSM employs TDMA between stations on a frequency duplex pair of radio channels, with
slow frequency hopping between channels. GSM also uses SDMA (Space-Division
Multiple Access is a channel access method which enables the use of the same frequency
at the same time in different spaces (cells). This means, however, the cells can't be next
to each other. Cells using the same frequency are typically separated by two cells.) and
FDMA (In Frequency-Division Multiple Access, each transmitter is assigned a distinct
frequency channel so that receivers can discriminate among them by tuning to the desired
channel.). It uses a modified Gaussian shift-key modulation. This modulation scheme
inherently gives mobile units better battery life because it encodes the data by varying the
frequency of the signal, not the amplitude. This allows amplifiers to be run at high power
levels without distorting the transmitted data (good power efficiency). However, the trade-
off is that each user consumes more bandwidth, which means that more spectrum is
necessary to serve the same number of users than with other modulation schemes (poor
spectral efficiency). GSM networks operate at various GSM frequency ranges.

The GSM network consists of cells and cells can be named after their size. Basically there
are 4 different cell sizes - Macro, micro, pico and umbrella-cells. The coverage area of
each cell is different in different environments (Figure 4). Macro cells can be regarded as
cells where the base station antenna is installed in a mast or a building above the average
roof top level. However, micro cells are cells where the antenna height is under the
average roof top level and they are typically used in urban areas. The pico-cells are small
cells whose diameter is a few dozen metres and are mainly used indoors. On the other
hand, umbrella-cells are used to cover shadow regions of smaller cells and fill in gaps in
coverage between those cells. These cells are usually built on top of tall buildings or in
other high places.

The cell radius can vary depending on the antenna height, antenna gain and propagation
conditions from couple of hundred meters to several tens of kilometres. Because of the
timeslot (time period allocated to one call) overlap that occurs when mobile phones are a
large distance away from a base station, 35 km is the longest distance the GSM
specification supports in practical use. The specification does define an extended cell,
where the cell radius could be double or even more. This is done by utilizing 2 timeslots
per user, so the call has a better chance of hitting the right timeslot. Indoor coverage is
also supported by GSM.

Indoor coverage can be built by using power splitters to deliver an RF (Radio Frequency)
signal from the antenna outdoors to a separate indoor antenna distribution system. When
all the capacity of the cell is needed indoors, as in shopping centres or airports, indoor
coverage can be built by using antennas only inside the building. In suburban areas the
indoor coverage is usually provided by in-building penetration of the radio signal, not by
a separate indoor antenna system.

Network structure:
The network behind the GSM system (Figure 5) seen by the customer is large and
complicated in order to provide all of the services which are required. It is divided into a
number of sections and these are each covered in separate articles.
•The Base Station Subsystem (the base stations and their controllers).
•The Network and Switching Subsystem (the part of the network most similar to a fixed
network). This is sometimes also just called the core network.

•The GPRS Core Network (the optional part which allows packet based Internet
connections).
•All of the elements in the system combine to produce many GSM services such as voice
calls and SMS that are available to subscribers.
Subscriber Identity Module (SIM):
One of the key features of GSM is the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), commonly known
as a SIM card. The SIM is a detachable smartcard containing the user's subscription
information and phonebook. This allows the user to retain his information while switching
handsets. Alternatively, the user can also change operators while retaining the handset
simply by changing the SIM. Some operators will block this by allowing the phone to use
only a single SIM, or only a SIM issued by them; this practice is known as SIM locking,
and is illegal in some countries. In the USA most operators do lock the mobiles they sell.
This is done because the price of the mobile phone is usually subsidised with revenue
from subscriptions and operators want to try to avoid subsidising competitor's mobiles.

A subscriber can usually contact the provider to remove the lock for a fee (which operators
sometimes try to claim to be ignorant of), utilize private services to remove the lock, or
make use of ample software and websites available on the Internet to unlock the handset
themselves. Some providers in the USA, such as T- Mobile, will unlock the phone for free
if the customer has held an account for a certain period. In most countries removing the
lock is not illegal.

GSM security:
GSM was designed with a moderate level of security. The system was designed to
authenticate the subscriber using shared-secret cryptography. Communications between
the subscriber and the base station can be encrypted. GSM uses several cryptographic
algorithms for security. The A5/1 and A5/2 stream ciphers are used for ensuring over-the-
air voice privacy. A5/1 is a stronger algorithm used within Europe; A5/2 is weaker and
used in other countries. Serious weaknesses have been found in both algorithms, and it
is possible to break A5/2 in real-time in a cipher text-only attack. The system supports
multiple algorithms so operators may replace that cipher with a stronger one.

2G (CDMA):
Contrary to TDMA, CDMA works in a singular way. Like TDMA, It also converts the
information into digital data and sends it. Now the information is extended upon the
bandwidth. Incoming calls are spread over the surface of the channel and a code is
allocated to them. As the data is spread over the surface of channel it is known as spread
spectrum. It compresses the data into small packets and sends it to a separate frequency
columns.

Every caller sends out data to a similar spectrum. Every caller’s signals are spread over
the channel having a unique code. Reaching at the receiving point, codes are to be
matched and hence data delivers. CDMA refers to the GPS standard for marking the time
stamp on the broadcast signals. CDMA supports Interim Standard (IS-95) and operational
at the frequency bands of 800 MHz and 1900 MHz.

IS-95 (CDMAOne)
Interim Standard 95 (IS-95) is the first CDMA-based digital cellular standard pioneered
by Qualcomm. The brand name for IS-95 is CDMAOne. IS-95 is also known as TIA-EIA-
95. It is a 2G mobile telecommunications standard that uses CDMA, a multiple access
scheme for digital radio, to send voice, data and signaling data (such as a dialed
telephone number) between mobile telephones and cell sites.

CDMA or "code division multiple access" is a digital radio system that transmits streams
of bits. CDMA permits several radios to share the same frequencies. Unlike TDMA "time
division multiple access", a competing system used in GSM, all radios can be active all
the time, because network capacity does not directly limit the number of active radios.
Since larger numbers of phones can be served by smaller numbers of cell-sites, CDMA-
based standards have a significant economic advantage over TDMA-based standards, or
the oldest cellular standards that used frequency-division multiplexing.
 It is used in the USA, South Korea, Canada, Mexico, Israel, Australia, Venezuela and
China. [12] CDMA will eventually be replaced with 2.5G and 3G technology such as
CDMA2000 1zRTT, CDMA2000 1xEVDO, WCDMA, and I-CDMA. We will examine most
of these technologies later on this document.

IS-136 (D-AMPS):
IS-136 is a second-generation (2G) mobile phone system also called D-AMPS. It is now
mostly being superseded by GSM systems, but even in its heyday was primarily used
only in the Americas, particularly the USA. IS-136 was designed as a digital extension to
the advanced mobile phone system (AMPS). IS-54 was an earlier version of D-AMPS
which used the same timeslot structure and encryption, but lacked some extra features.
D-AMPS was designed to use existing AMPS channels and allow a smooth transition
since both systems could co-exist in the same area. IS-54 increased capacity over the
preceding analogue design by dividing each 30 kHz channel pair into three time slots
(using TDMA technology) and digitally compressing the voice data, yielding three times
the call capacity at some expense of voice quality. Moving to a digital system also made
calls more secure because analogue scanners could not access digital signals, and new
scanners in the U.S. were prohibited by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission)
from accessing cell-phone frequencies. Calls were also encrypted, although the algorithm
used, CMEA (Cellular Message Encryption Algorithm) was later found to be weak.

IS-136 superseded IS-54, a previous extension to AMPS, adding features such as text
messaging and data capabilities borrowed from competing GSM and IS- 95/CdmaOne
standards. IS-136 is used primarily by Cingular Wireless, AT&T Wireless, and US
Cellular. Cingular (who has purchased AT&T Wireless in October 2004) is now migrating
to an all GSM network. At the same time, US Cellular is migrating to an all CDMA network.

PDC:
Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) is a 2G mobile phone standard developed and used
exclusively in Japan. Like D-AMPS and GSM, PDC uses TDMA. NTT DoCoMo
launched PDC's service in March 1993. PDC is implemented in the 800 MHz and 1.5 GHz
bands.

The services include voice (full and half-rate), supplementary services (call waiting, voice
mail, three-way calling, call forwarding, and so on), data service (up to 9.6 kb/s CSD),
and packet-switched wireless data (up to 28.8 kb/s PDC-P).

PDC has 61.817 million subscribers as of end December 2003 but is slowly being phased
out in favor of 3G technologies like W-CDMA and CDMA2000.
2.5G Generation Wireless Technology:
2.5G Wireless technology is a technology bridge between second-generation (2G), and
third-generation (3G) wireless cellular technologies. The term "second and a half
generation" is used to describe systems that provide faster services than 2G, but not quite
as fast or advanced as newer 3G systems.

Researchers developed 2.5-generation technologies as upgrades to 2G approaches.

2.5G has more bandwidth than 2G but less than 3G. 2.5G uses existing 2G spectra and
doesn't require an entirely new network infrastructure. Thus it can be implemented faster
and less expensively than 3G. 2.5G approaches include high-speed circuit- switched data
(HSCSD) technology, a GSM extension that offers throughput of up to 38.4 Kbits per
second. 2.5G also uses iDEN, GPRS, and EDGE upgrade technologies.

HSCSD:
High Speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD) is an enhancement of data services ("Circuit
Switched Data - CSD) over all GSM (2G) networks. It allows you to access non-voice
services at 3 or more times the rate normally associated with 2G, which means
subscribers are able to send and receive data from their portable computers at a speed
of up to 43.2 kbps on fully deployed networks. The HSCSD solution enables higher rates
by using multiple channels, allowing subscribers to enjoy faster rates for their Internet, e-
mail, calendar and file transfer services.

IDen:
Integrated Digital Enhanced Network: Motorola developed iDEN, a GSM (2.5G) upgrade
that uses enhanced compression and modulation technologies to deliver data rates of
64Kbits per second. iDEN is currently used in most of North America and South America,
as well as in China and Japan.

GPRS:
General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a 2.5G digital cellular phone standard for data
speeds up to 171 Kbps. This is an upgrade for GSM networks. GPRS reallocates several
GSM time slots from voice to data uses, thereby increasing data rates but decreasing
voice rates. GPRS services have recently been rolled out in various locations principally
in China, Europe, and the US.

EDGE:
Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE) is a wireless digital cellular technology.
Specifically a 2.5G GSM upgrade, designed to provide data rates up to 384 Kbits per
second. EDGE was initially developed by Ericsson and scheduled for commercial use this
year, uses 3G transmission technology but works in GSM's (2.5G) frequency range. In
addition EDGE works with new modulation and radio techniques that use existing
frequency more efficiently.

GSM Channels:

Physical Channel: Each timeslot on a carrier is referred to as a physical channel

Logical Channel: Variety of information is transmitted between the MS and BTS.

Different types of logical channels:
Common and dedicated channels

The channels may also be divided into common and dedicated channels. The forward
common channels are used for paging to inform a mobile of an incoming call, responding
to channel requests, and broadcasting bulletin board information. The return common
channel is a random access channel used by the mobile to request channel resources
before timing information is conveyed by the BSS.

The dedicated channels are of two main types: those used for signalling, and those used
for traffic. The signalling channels are used for maintenance of the call and for enabling
call set up, providing facilities such as handover when the call is in progress, and finally
terminating the call. The traffic channels handle the actual payload.
The following logical channels are defined in GSM:
TCHf - Full rate traffic channel.
TCH h - Half rate traffic channel.

BCCH - Broadcast Network information, e.g. for describing the current control channel
structure. The BCCH is a point-to-multipoint channel (BSS-to-MS).
SCH - Synchronisation of the MSs.
FCHMS - frequency correction.
AGCH - Acknowledge channel requests from MS and allocate a SDCCH.
PCHMS - terminating call announcement.
RACHMS - access requests, response to call announcement, location update, etc.

FACCHt - For time critical signalling over the TCH (e.g. for handover signalling). Traffic
burst is stolen for a full signalling burst.
SACCHt - TCH in-band signalling, e.g. for link monitoring.
SDCCH - For signalling exchanges, e.g. during call setup, registration / location updates.

FACCHs - FACCH for the SDCCH. The SDCCH burst is stolen for a full signalling burst.
Function not clear in the present version of GSM (could be used for e.g. handover of an
eight-rate channel, i.e. using a "SDCCH-like" channel for other purposes than signalling).
SACCHs - SDCCH in-band signalling, e.g. for link monitoring.

GSM Frequencies;
Originally designed on 900MHz range, now also available on 800MHz, 1800MHz and
1900 MHz ranges.

GSM Network Architecture:

The GSM technical specifications define the different elements within the GSM network
architecture. It defines the different elements and the ways in which they interact to enable
the overall system operation to be maintained.

The GSM network architecture is now well established and with the other later cellular
systems now established and other new ones being deployed, the basic GSM network
architecture has been updated to interface to the network elements required by these
systems.

Despite the developments of the newer systems, the basic GSM system architecture has
been maintained, and the network elements described below perform the same functions
as they did when the original GSM system was launched in the early 1990s.GSM network
architecture elements

The GSM network architecture as defined in the GSM specifications can be grouped into
four main areas:
Mobile station (MS)
Base-Station Subsystem (BSS)
Network and Switching Subsystem (NSS)
Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS)

The different elements of the GSM network operate together and the user is not aware of
the different entities within the system.

A basic diagram of the overall GSM system architecture with these four major elements
is shown below:

Simplified GSM Network Architecture Diagram

Mobile station:
Mobile stations (MS), mobile equipment (ME) or as they are most widely known, cell or
mobile phones are the section of a GSM cellular network that the user sees and operates.
In recent years their size has fallen dramatically while the level of functionality has greatly
increased. A further advantage is that the time between charges has significantly
increased.

There are a number of elements to the cell phone, although the two main elements are
the main hardware and the SIM.
The hardware itself contains the main elements of the mobile phone including the display,
case, battery, and the electronics used to generate the signal, and process the data
receiver and to be transmitted. It also contains a number known as the International
Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). This is installed in the phone at manufacture and
"cannot" be changed. It is accessed by the network during registration to check whether
the equipment has been reported as stolen.
The SIM or Subscriber Identity Module contains the information that provides the identity
of the user to the network. It contains are variety of information including a number known
as the International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

Base Station Subsystem (BSS):

The Base Station Subsystem (BSS) section of the GSM network architecture that is
fundamentally associated with communicating with the mobiles on the network.
It consists of two elements:

Base Transceiver Station (BTS): The BTS used in a GSM network comprises
the radio transmitter receivers, and their associated antennas that transmit and receive
to directly communicate with the mobiles. The BTS is the defining element for each cell.
The BTS communicates with the mobiles and the interface between the two is known as
the Um interface with its associated protocols.

Base Station Controller (BSC): The BSC forms the next stage back into the GSM
network. It controls a group of BTSs, and is often co-located with one of the BTSs in its
group. It manages the radio resources and controls items such as handover within the
group of BTSs, allocates channels and the like. It communicates with the BTSs over what
is termed the Abis interface.

Network Switching Subsystem (NSS):

The GSM system architecture contains a variety of different elements, and is often termed
the core network. It provides the main control and interfacing for the whole mobile
network. The major elements within the core network include:

Mobile Services Switching Centre (MSC): The main element within the core
network area of the overall GSM network architecture is the Mobile switching Services
Centre (MSC). The MSC acts like a normal switching node within a PSTN or ISDN, but
also provides additional functionality to enable the requirements of a mobile user to be
supported. These include registration, authentication, call location, inter-MSC handovers
and call routing to a mobile subscriber. It also provides an interface to the PSTN so that
calls can be routed from the mobile network to a phone connected to a landline. Interfaces
to other MSCs are provided to enable calls to be made to mobiles on different networks.

Home Location Register (HLR): This database contains all the administrative
information about each subscriber along with their last known location. In this way, the
GSM network is able to route calls to the relevant base station for the MS. When a user
switches on their phone, the phone registers with the network and from this it is possible
to determine which BTS it communicates with so that incoming calls can be routed
appropriately. Even when the phone is not active (but switched on) it re-registers
periodically to ensure that the network (HLR) is aware of its latest position. There is one
HLR per network, although it may be distributed across various sub-centres to for
operational reasons.

Visitor Location Register (VLR): This contains selected information from the HLR that
enables the selected services for the individual subscriber to be provided. The VLR can
be implemented as a separate entity, but it is commonly realised as an integral part of the
MSC, rather than a separate entity. In this way access is made faster and more
convenient.

Equipment Identity Register (EIR): The EIR is the entity that decides whether a given
mobile equipment may be allowed onto the network. Each mobile equipment has a
number known as the International Mobile Equipment Identity. This number, as
mentioned above, is installed in the equipment and is checked by the network during
registration. Dependent upon the information held in the EIR, the mobile may be allocated
one of three states - allowed onto the network, barred access, or monitored in case its
problems.

Authentication Centre (AuC): The AuC is a protected database that contains the secret
key also contained in the user's SIM card. It is used for authentication and for ciphering
on the radio channel.

Gateway Mobile Switching Centre (GMSC): The GMSC is the point to which a ME
terminating call is initially routed, without any knowledge of the MS's location. The GMSC
is thus in charge of obtaining the MSRN (Mobile Station Roaming Number) from the HLR
based on the MSISDN (Mobile Station ISDN number, the "directory number" of a MS) and
routing the call to the correct visited MSC. The "MSC" part of the term GMSC is
misleading, since the gateway operation does not require any linking to an MSC.

SMS Gateway (SMS-G): The SMS-G or SMS gateway is the term that is used to
collectively describe the two Short Message Services Gateways defined in the GSM
standards. The two gateways handle messages directed in different directions. The SMS-
GMSC (Short Message Service Gateway Mobile Switching Centre) is for short messages
being sent to an ME. The SMS-IWMSC (Short Message Service Inter-Working Mobile
Switching Centre) is used for short messages originated with a mobile on that network.
The SMS-GMSC role is similar to that of the GMSC, whereas the SMS-IWMSC provides
a fixed access point to the Short Message Service Centre.

Operation and Support Subsystem (OSS)

The OSS or operation support subsystem is an element within the overall GSM network
architecture that is connected to components of the NSS and the BSC. It is used to control
and monitor the overall GSM network and it is also used to control the traffic load of the
BSS. It must be noted that as the number of BS increases with the scaling of the
subscriber population some of the maintenance tasks are transferred to the BTS, allowing
savings in the cost of ownership of the system.

Gsm Services:
GSM offers much more than just voice telephony. Contact your local GSM network
operator to the specific services that you can avail.
GSM offers three basic types of services:
Telephony services or teleservices
Data services or bearer services
Supplementary services

Teleservices:
The abilities of a Bearer Service are used by a Teleservice to transport data. These
services are further transited in the following ways:
Voice Calls:

The most basic Teleservice supported by GSM is telephony. This includes full-rate
speech at 13 kbps and emergency calls, where the nearest emergency-service provider
is notified by dialing three digits.
Videotext and Facsmile:

Another group of teleservices includes Videotext access, Teletex transmission, Facsmile

alternate speech and Facsmile Group 3, Automatic Facsmile Group, 3 etc.
Short Text Messages:

Short Messaging Service (SMS) service is a text messaging service that allows sending
and receiving text messages on your GSM mobile phone. In addition to simple text
messages, other text data including news, sports, financial, language, and location-based
data can also be transmitted.

Bearer Services:
Data services or Bearer Services are used through a GSM phone. to receive and send
data is the essential building block leading to widespread mobile Internet access and
mobile data transfer. GSM currently has a data transfer rate of 9.6k. New developments
that will push up data transfer rates for GSM users are HSCSD (high speed circuit
switched data) and GPRS (general packet radio service) are now available.
Supplementary Services:
Supplementary services are additional services that are provided in addition to
teleservices and bearer services. These services include caller identification, call
forwarding, call waiting, multi-party conversations, and barring of outgoing (international)
calls, among others. A brief description of supplementary services is given here:

Conferencing : It allows a mobile subscriber to establish a multiparty conversation, i.e.,

a simultaneous conversation between three or more subscribers to setup a conference
call. This service is only applicable to normal telephony.

Call Waiting : This service notifies a mobile subscriber of an incoming call during a
conversation. The subscriber can answer, reject, or ignore the incoming call.

Call Hold : This service allows a subscriber to put an incoming call on hold and resume
after a while. The call hold service is applicable to normal telephony.

Call Forwarding : Call Forwarding is used to divert calls from the original recipient to
another number. It is normally set up by the subscriber himself. It can be used by the
subscriber to divert calls from the Mobile Station when the subscriber is not available, and
so to ensure that calls are not lost.

Call Barring : Call Barring is useful to restrict certain types of outgoing calls such as ISD
or stop incoming calls from undesired numbers. Call barring is a flexible service that
enables the subscriber to conditionally bar calls.

Number Identification : There are following supplementary services related to number

identification:

Calling Line Identification Presentation : This service displays the telephone number
of the calling party on your screen.

Calling Line Identification Restriction : A person not wishing their number to be

presented to others subscribes to this service.

Connected Line Identification Presentation : This service is provided to give the calling
party the telephone number of the person to whom they are connected. This service is
useful in situations such as forwarding's where the number connected is not the number
dialled.

Connected Line Identification Restriction : There are times when the person called
does not wish to have their number presented and so they would subscribe to this person.
Normally, this overrides the presentation service.

Malicious Call Identification : The malicious call identification service was provided to
combat the spread of obscene or annoying calls. The victim should subscribe to this
service, and then they could cause known malicious calls to be identified in the GSM
network, using a simple command.

Advice of Charge (AoC) : This service was designed to give the subscriber an indication
of the cost of the services as they are used. Furthermore, those service providers who
wish to offer rental services to subscribers without their own SIM can also utilize this
service in a slightly different form. AoC for data calls is provided on the basis of time
measurements.

Closed User Groups (CUGs) : This service is meant for groups of subscribers who wish
to call only each other and no one else.

Unstructured supplementary services data (USSD) : This allows operator-defined

individual services.

Key features of 2G system:

Digital system (switching)
SMS services is possible
Roaming is possible
Enhanced security
Encrypted voice transmission
First internet at lower data rate

2G technology advantages:
2G technology is useful to both the users & the network operators at the same time ,
Digital systems are embraced by the consumers for many reasons , The lower powered
radio signals require less battery power , so , The phones last longer between the charges
& the batteries can be smaller .

2G technology offers improved privacy that was not possible with the earlier technologies
, 2G phones are more private than 1G phones which have no protection whatsoever
against eavesdropping , The digital cellular calls are harder to eavesdrop on by use of the
radio scanners While the security algorithms used have proved not to be as secure as
initially advertised .

The digital calls tend to be free of static & background noise , The digital signals require
very little battery power , The mobile phone connections in different countries of the world
are based on digital signals and 2g technology .
The mobile batteries can last longer as the digital signals consume less battery power ,
so , They help the mobile batteries to last long , The digital coding reduces the noise in
the line , thus improving the voice clarity and the digital signals are considered
environment friendly .

From the other advantages of 2g technologies is that the lower power emissions have
helped in dealing with health concerns , Nobody wants any unforeseen health concerns
arising due to the use of any technology .

2G technology introduces the digital data services such as SMS & email that has allowed
the world to shrink & come closer , You can not have two or more cloned handsets having
the same phone number , under 2G technologies , This has helped in reducing any
chances of fraud to a minimum .

The digital data service is used to assist the mobile network operators to introduce short
message service over the cellular phones , The digital encryption has provided privacy &
safety to the data & the voice calls , SMS is a cheap & easy way to communicate with
anyone .

2G technology disadvantages:
You can see many advantages of 2g technology , But using the 2G
technology requires powerful digital signals to help the mobile phones work
, But the digital signals could be weak if there is no network coverage in any
specific area .
The weaker digital signal transmitted by the cellular phone can not be
sufficient to reach the cell tower in less populous areas , It causes a particular
problem on 2G systems deployed on higher frequencies , but is mostly not a
problem on 2G systems deployed on lower frequencies , The national
regulations differ greatly among the countries which dictate where 2G can
be deployed .
The digital signal has jagged decay curve , unlike the Analog that has a
smooth decay curve , Under unfavorable conditions , The digital will have
occasional dropouts and may fail completely if the conditions worsen , As
distance increases , The analog reception degrades gradually , but digital
reception abruptly transitions from clear reception to no reception .
The digital will start to completely fail , by dropping calls or being unintelligible
, while analog slowly gets worse , generally holding a call longer and allowing
at least some of the audio transmitted to be understood .
Although the digital calls are free of static & background noise , the use of
lossy compression by the codecs takes a toll and the range of sound that
they transmit is reduced , You may hear less of the tonality of someone’s
voice talking on the digital cellphone .
The pulse nature of TDMA transmission used interferes with some
electronics , such as certain audio amplifiers , Because the intellectual
property is concerted among a few industry members It can create the
obstacles for new entrants and it limits the competition among the phone
manufacturers .
2G is less compatible with the smartphones functions , Data transmission
speed can be more than 4 million bits per sec in 3G technology but it is less
than 50,000 bits per sec in 2G network , GSM offers a fixed maximum cell
site range of 35 km which is imposed by the technical limitations .
One could have a backup handset in case of damage or loss , a permanently
installed handset in a car or remote workshop and so on , With digital
systems , this is no longer possible , unless the two handsets are never
turned on simultaneously .
The downloading & uploading speeds available in 2G technologies are up to
236 Kbps , While in 3G technology the downloading and uploading speeds
are up to 21 Mbps and 5.7 Mbps respectively .