Chapter 2 : The 3G Mobile Communications

Chapter 2
The 3G Mobile Communications
2.1 The Vision for Third Generation (3G) Mobile Communication Systems:
The vision for the emerging mobile and personal communication services
for the new century is to enable communication with a person, at any time, at
any place, and in any form, with a paradigm shift from current focus on voice and
low speed data services to high speed data and multimedia services. The current
second generation digital mobile and personal communication systems are
based on national or regional standards that are optimized for region or country
specific regulatory and operating environments. They are incompatible with each
other and can provide mobility only within their radio environments.
Efforts are therefore under way at the international as well as
regional/national levels to define the third generation mobile telecommunication
system that will meet the future requirements of telecommunications subscribers.
International or global standards are needed for seamless global mobility and
integration of wire line and wireless networks for providing transparent
telecommunications services to the users.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) responsible for global
telecommunications standards has been working since 1986 towards developing
an international standard for wireless access to worldwide telecommunication
infrastructure. This standard is known as IMT-2000, for International Mobile
Telecommunications 2000.IMT-2000 is intended to form the basis for third -
generation wireless systems, which will consolidate today’s diverse and
incompatible mobile environments into a seamless radio and network
infrastructure capable of offering a wide range of telecommunications services on
a global scale.
The vision for IMT-2000 is as follows:
• Common spectrum worldwide(1.8-2.2 GHz band)
• Multiple radio environments(Cellular, Cordless, Satellite, LANs)
• Wide range of telecommunications services(Voice, Data, Multimedia,
Internet)
• Flexible radio bearers for increased spectrum efficiency
• Data rates up to 2 Mbps for indoor environments

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• Global seamless roaming

• Enhanced security and performance
• Integration of satellite and terrestrial systems
Whereas the vision for IMT-2000 implies significant departures from the
second generation systems in terms of range of environments and services, as
well as seamless global mobility ,it is expected that IMT-2000 will evolve from
existing wireless and wire line systems and it will be a family of systems rather
than a single, monolithic network.
The European Telecommunications Standards institute ,ETSI ,has been
working on the Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS) which will
be the European standard for third generation mobile systems. UMTS will
represent one of the family member groups within IMT-2000 family of systems.

2.2 Existing Wireless Networks: Existing networks are mostly digital cellular
systems .However ,if we look at evolution of wireless networks, they are often
divided into first, second and third generation networks.
2.2.1 First Generation Wireless Networks
The first generation of wireless mobile communications was based
on analog signalling. Analog systems, implemented in North America,
were known as Analog Mobile Phone Systems (AMPS), while systems
implemented in Europe and the rest of the world were typically
identified as a variation of Total Access Communication Systems
(TACS). Analog systems were primarily based on circuit-switched
technology and designed for voice, not for data.
2.2.2 Second Generation Wireless Networks
The second generation (2G) of the wireless mobile network was
based on low-band digital data signalling. The most popular 2G
wireless technology is known as Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM). GSM systems, first implemented in 1991, are
now operating in about 140 countries and territories around the world.
An estimated 248 million users now operate over GSM systems. GSM
technology is a combination of Frequency Division Multiple Access
(FDMA) and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). The first GSM

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systems used a 25 MHz frequency spectrum in the 900 MHz band.

FDMA is used to divide the available 25 MHz of bandwidth into 124
carrier frequencies of 200 kHz each. Each frequency is then divided
using a TDMA scheme into eight timeslots. The use of separate
timeslots for transmission and reception simplifies the electronics in the
mobile units. Today, GSM systems operate in the 900 MHz and 1.8 GHz
bands throughout the world with the exception of the Americas where
they operate in the 1.9 GHz band.
In addition to GSM, a similar technology, called Personal Digital
Cellular (PDC), using TDMA-based technology, emerged in Japan.
Since then, several other TDMA-based systems have been deployed
worldwide and serve an estimated 89 million people worldwide. While
GSM technology was developed in Europe, Code Division Multiple
Access (CDMA) technology was developed in North America. CDMA
uses spread spectrum technology to break up speech into small,
digitized segments and encodes them to identify each call. CDMA
systems have been implemented worldwide in about 30 countries and
serve an estimated 44 million subscribers.
While GSM and other TDMA-based systems have become
the dominant 2G wireless technologies, CDMA technology is
recognized as providing clearer voice quality with less background
noise, fewer dropped calls, enhanced security, greater reliability and
greater network capacity. The Second Generation (2G) wireless
networks mentioned above are also mostly based on circuit-switched
technology. 2G wireless networks are digital and expand the range of
applications to more advanced voice services, such as Caller Line
Identification. 2G wireless technology can handle some data capabilities
such as fax and short message service at the data rate of up to 9.6 kbps,
but it is not suitable for web browsing and multimedia applications.
2.3 Next Generation Wireless Networks: The next generation networks are
evolving from existing networks. We divide them into 2G+ and 3G networks.
2.3.1 Second Generation plus (2G+) Wireless Networks :
The virtual explosion of Internet usage has had a tremendous
impact on the demand for advanced wireless data communication

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) -

services. However, the effective data rate of 2G circuit-switched wireless

systems is relatively slow - too slow for today’s Internet. As a result,
GSM, PDC and other TDMA-based mobile system providers and
carriers have developed 2G+ technology that is packet-based and
increases the data communication speeds to as high as 384kbps. These
2G+ systems are based on the following technologies: High Speed
Circuit-Switched Data (HSCSD), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
and Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution (EDGE) technologies.
HSCSD is one step towards 3G wideband mobile data networks.
This circuit-switched technology improves the data rates up to 57.6 kbps
by introducing 14.4 kbps data coding and by aggregating 4 radio
channels timeslots of 14.4 kbps.
GPRS is an intermediate step that is designed to allow the GSM
world to implement a full range of Internet services without waiting for
the deployment of full-scale 3G wireless systems. GPRS technology is
packet-based and designed to work in parallel with the 2G GSM, PDC
and TDMA systems that are used for voice communications and for
table look-up to obtain GPRS user profiles in the Location Register
databases. GPRS uses a multiple of the 1 to 8 radio channel timeslots
in the 200kHz-frequency band allocated for a carrier frequency to enable
data speeds of up to 115 kbps. The data is packetized and transported
over Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMN) using an IP backbone so
that mobile users can access services on the Internet, such as e-mail,
ftp and HTTP-based Web services.
EDGE technology is a standard that has been specified to enhance
the throughput per timeslot for both HSCSD and GPRS. The
enhancement of HSCSD is called ECSD, whereas the enhancement of
GPRS is called EGPRS. In ECSD, the maximum data rate will not
increase from 64 kbps due to the restrictions in the A interface, but the
data rate per timeslot will triple. Similarly, in EGPRS, the data rate per
timeslot will triple and the peak throughput, including all eight timeslots in
the radio interface, will exceed 384 kbps.

GPRS networks consist of an IP-based Public Land Mobile

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Network (PLMN), Base Station Subsystem (BSS), Mobile handsets (MS),

and Mobile Switching Centers (MSC) for circuit-switched network access
and databases. The Serving GPRS Support Nodes (SGSN) and
Gateway GPRS Support Nodes (GGSN) make up the PLMN. Roaming is
accommodated through multiple PLMNs. SGSN and GGSN interface with
the Home Location Register (HLR) to retrieve the mobile user’s profiles
to facilitate call completion. GGSN provides the connection to external
Packet Data Network (PDN), e.g. an Internet backbone or an X.25
network. The BSS consists of Base Transceiver Stations and Base
Station Controllers. The Base Transceiver Station (BTS) receives and
transmits over the air interfaces (CDMA, TDMA), providing wireless voice
and data connectivity to the mobile handsets. Base Station Controllers
(BSC) route the data calls to the packet-switched PLMN over a Frame
Relay (FR) link and the voice calls to the Mobile Switching Center
(MSC). MSC switches the voice calls to circuit-switched network such as
PSTN and ISDN. MSC accommodates the Visitor Location Register
(VLR) to store the roaming subscriber information. The reverse process
happens at the destination PLMN and the destination BSS. On the data
side, the BSC routes the data calls to the SGSN, and then the data is
switched to the external PDN through the GGSN or to another mobile
subscriber. Figure 2.1 shows a GPRS network

Figure 2.1 GPRS network

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2.3.2 Third Generation (3G) Wireless Networks:

3G wireless technology represents the convergence of various 2G
wireless telecommunications systems into a single global system that
includes both terrestrial and satellite components. One of the most
important aspects of 3G wireless technology is its ability to unify
existing cellular standards, such as CDMA, GSM, and TDMA, under
one umbrella. The following three air interface modes accomplish this
result: wideband CDMA, CDMA2000 and the Universal Wireless
Communication (UWC-136) interfaces.
Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) is compatible with the current 2G
GSM networks prevalent in Europe and parts of Asia. W-CDMA will
require bandwidth of between 5 MHz and 10 MHz, making it a suitable
platform for higher capacity applications. It can be overlaid onto existing
GSM, TDMA (IS-36) and IS-95 networks. Subscribers are likely to
access 3G wireless services initially via dual band terminal devices. W-
CDMA networks will be used for high-capacity applications and 2G
digital wireless systems will be used for voice calls.
The second radio interface is CDMA2000 which is backward
compatible with the second generation CDMA IS-95 standard
predominantly used in US. The third radio interface, Universal Wireless
Communications - UWC-136, also called IS-136HS, was proposed
by the TIA and designed to comply with ANSI-136, the North American
TDMA standard.
3G wireless networks consist of a Radio Access Network (RAN)
and a core network. The core network consists of a packet-switched
domain, which includes 3G SGSNs and GGSNs, which provide the
same functionality that they provide in a GPRS system, and a
circuit-switched domain, which includes 3G MSC for switching of voice
calls. Charging for services and access is done through the Charging
Gateway Function (CGF), which is also part of the core network. RAN
functionality is independent from the core network functionality. The
access network provides a core network technology independent
access for mobile terminals to different types of core networks and
network services. Either core network domain can access any

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appropriate RAN service; e.g. it should be possible to access a

“speech” radio access bearer from the packet- switched domain.
The Radio Access Network consists of new network elements,
known as Node B and Radio Network Controllers (RNCs). Node B is
comparable to the Base Transceiver Station in 2G wireless networks.
RNC replaces the Base Station Controller. It provides the radio resource
management, handover control and support for the connections to
circuit-switched and packet-switched domains. The interconnection of the
network elements in RAN and between RAN and core network is over
lub, lur and lu interfaces based on ATM as a layer 2 switching
technology. Data services run from the terminal device over IP, which in
turn uses ATM as a reliable transport with QoS. Voice is embedded into
ATM from the edge of the network(Node B) and is transported over
ATM out of the RNC. The lu interface is split into 2 parts: circuit-
switched and packet-switched. The lu interface is based on ATM with
voice traffic embedded on virtual circuits using AAL2 technology and IP-
over-ATM for data traffic using AAL5 technology. These traffic types are
switched independently to either 3G SGSN for data or 3G MSC for voice.
Figure 2.2 shows the 3G network architecture.

Figure 2.2 3G network architecture

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2.4 Evolution to 3G Wireless Technology: The evolution has to be a smooth

transition from existing networks to the evolved networks as explained in the following
paragraphs.
2.4.1 Initial Coverage : Initially, 3G wireless technology will be deployed as
"islands" in business areas where more capacity and advanced services
are demanded. A complete evolution to 3G wireless technology was
mandated by the end of 2000 in Japan (mostly due to capacity
requirements) and by the end of 2001 in Europe. NTT DoCoMo has
deployed 3G wireless services in Japan. In contrast, there was no similar
mandate in North America and it is more likely that competition will drive
the deployment of 3G wireless technology in that region. The
implementation of 3G wireless systems raises several critical issues, such as
the successful backward compatibility to air interfaces as well as to deployed
infrastructures.
2.4.2 Interworking with 2G and 2G+ Wireless Networks: The existence of
legacy networks in most regions of the world highlights the challenge
that communications equipment manufacturers face when implementing
next-generation wireless technology. Compatibility and interworking
between the new 3G wireless systems and the old legacy networks must
be achieved in order to ensure the acceptance of new 3G wireless
technology by service providers and end-users.
The existing core technology used in mobile networks is based on
traditional circuit-switched technology for delivery of voice services. However,
this traditional technology is inefficient for the delivery of multimedia services.
The core switches for next-generation of mobile networks will be based on
packet-switched technology which is better suited for data and multimedia
services.
Second generation GSM networks consist of BTS, BSC, MSCA/LR
and HLR/AuC/EIR network elements. The interfaces between BTS, BSC
and MSCA/LR elements are circuit-switched PCM. GPRS technology adds a
parallel packet-switched core network. The 2G+ network consists of BSC

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with packet interfaces to SGSN, GGSN, HLR/AuC/EIR. The interfaces

between BSC and SGSN network elements are either Frame Relay and/or
ATM so as to provide reliable transport with Quality of Service (QoS).
3G wireless technology introduces new Radio Access Network (RAN)
consisting of Node B and RNC network elements. The 3G Core Network
consists of the same entities as GSM and GPRS:3G MSC/VLR, GMSC,
HLR/AuC/EIR, 3G-SGSN, and GGSN. IP technology is used for end-to-end
multimedia applications and ATM technology is used to provide reliable
transport with QoS.
3G wireless solutions allow for the possibility of having an integrated
network for circuit-switched and packet-switched services by utilizing ATM
technology. The BSC may evolve into an RNC by using add-on cards or
additional hardware that is co-located. The carrier frequency and the bands
are different for 3G wireless technology compared to 2G/2G+ wireless
technology. Evolution of BSC to RNC requires support for new protocols
such as PDCP, RRC, RANAP, RNSAP and NBAP. Therefore, BTS’s
evolution into Node B may prove to be difficult and may represent significant
capital expenditure on the part of network operators.
MSC evolution depends on the selection of a fixed network to carry the
requested services. If an ATM network is chosen, then ATM protocols will
have to be supported in 3G MSC along with interworking between ATM and
existing PSTN/ISDN networks.
The evolution of SGSN and GGSN to 3G nodes is relatively
easier. Enhancements to GTP protocol and support for new RANAP
protocol are necessary to support 3G wireless systems. ATM protocols need
to be incorporated to transport the services. The HLR databases evolve into
3G- HLR by adding 3G wireless user profiles. The VLR database
must also be updated accordingly. The EIR database needs to change to
accommodate new equipment that will be deployed for 3G wireless
systems. Finally, global roaming requires compatibility to existing
deployment and graceful fallback to an available level when requested
services are not available in the region. Towards this end, the Operator

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Harmonization Group (OHG) is working closely with 3G Partnership Projects

(3GPP and 3GPP2) to come up with global standards for 3G wireless
protocols.
2.5 Comparison of 2G and 3G Mobile Networks: Although there are many
similarities between 2G and 3G networks and many of the 2G and 3G components
are shared or connected through inter working functions, there are also many
differences between the two technologies. Table 2.1 compares the differences
between the core network, the radio portion and other areas of two networks.
Feature 2G 3G

Core MSCA/LR,GMSC,HLR/AuC/EIR 3G MSC/VLR(with added interworking and

Network transcoding) GMSC,HLR/AuC/EIR,3G-
SGSN,GGSN,CGF
MM,CM,BSSAP,SCCP,ISUP, GMM/SM,MM,CM,BSSAP,RANAP,GTP,
TCAP,MAP, MTP 3,MTP 2.MTP1 SCCP,MTP3B,M3UA,SCTP,TCAP,MAP,
TDM transport ISUP,MTP3,MTP2,MTP1 ,Q.2140
ATM,IP transport
Radio BTS,BSC,MS Node B,RNC,MS
Access FDMA,TDMA,CDMA W-CDMA,CDMA2000,IWC-136
MM,CM,RR,LAPDm,LAPD,BSS GMM/SM,MAC,RLC,PDCP,RRC,Q.2630.1
AP.SCCP, MTP 3,MTP 2,MTP 1 NBAP,RNSAP,RANAP,SCCP,MTP3B,M3
UA,SCTP,GTPU,Q.2140,Q.2130,SSCOP,
CIP
Handsets Voice only terminals New type of terminal, Multiple modes,
Voice, data and video terminals,
WAP,Multimedia management
Databases HLR, VLR.EIR, AuC Enhanced HLR, VLR , EIR, AuC
Data rates Up to 9.6 Kbps Up to 2 Mbps
Applications Voice, SMS Internet, Multimedia
Roaming Restricted, Not global Global
Compatibility Not Compatible to 3G Compatible to 2G,2G+ and Bluetooth
Table 2.1 Comparison of 2G and C1G Mobile networks

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2.6 Summary : This chapter has presented an overview of current trends in

wireless technology world, a historical overview of evolving wireless technologies
and an examination of how the communication industry plans to implement
wireless technology standards to address the growing demand for wireless
multimedia services.

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