3GPP TS 44.003 V8.0.

0 (2008-12)
Technical Specification

3rd Generation Partnership Project;

Technical Specification Group GSM EDGE Radio Access Network;
Mobile Station - Base Station System (MS - BSS) Interface
Channel Structures and Access Capabilities
(Release 8)

The present document has been developed within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP TM) and may be further elaborated for the purposes of 3GPP.
The present document has not been subject to any approval process by the 3GPP Organisational Partners and shall not be implemented.
This Specification is provided for future development work within 3GPP only. The Organisational Partners accept no liability for any use of this Specification.
Specifications and reports for implementation of the 3GPP TM system should be obtained via the 3GPP Organisational Partners' Publications Offices.
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Keywords
GSM, radio

3GPP

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The copyright and the foregoing restriction extend to reproduction in all media.

© 2008, 3GPP Organizational Partners (ARIB, ATIS, CCSA, ETSI, TTA, TTC).
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Contents
Foreword ...................................................................................................................................................... 4
1 Scope .................................................................................................................................................. 5
2 References .......................................................................................................................................... 5
3 Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................................... 5
4 General definitions .............................................................................................................................. 5
5 Channel types and their use: Traffic channels and user channels .......................................................... 6
5.1 User channels............................................................................................................................................... 6
5.2 Bm Channel ................................................................................................................................................. 6
5.3 Lm Channels................................................................................................................................................ 6
6 Channel types and their use: Packet data traffic channels ..................................................................... 7
7 Channel types and their use: Control channels ..................................................................................... 7
7.1 Control channel types ................................................................................................................................... 7
7.1.1 Broadcast Control Channel ..................................................................................................................... 7
7.1.2 Common Control Channel ...................................................................................................................... 8
7.1.3 Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH) ....................................................................................................... 8
8 BS access capability............................................................................................................................ 9
9 Channel configurations ..................................................................................................................... 10
9.1 Mandatory capabilities ............................................................................................................................... 11

Annex A (informative): Change History .......................................................................................... 12

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Foreword
This Technical Specification has been produced by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

The contents of the present document are subject to continuing work within the TSG and may change following formal
TSG approval. Should the TSG modify the contents of the present document, it will be re-released by the TSG with an
identifying change of release date and an increase in version number as follows:

Version x.y.z

where:

x the first digit:

1 presented to TSG for information;

2 presented to TSG for approval;

3 or greater indicates TSG approved document under change control.

y the second digit is incremented for all changes of substance, i.e. technical enhancements, corrections, updates,
etc.

z the third digit is incremented when editorial only changes have been incorporated in the document.

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1 Scope
The present document defines limited sets of channel types, access capabilities and channel configurations at reference
point Um (radio interface).

2 References
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the present
document.

References are either specific (identified by date of publication, edition number, version number, etc.) or
non-specific.

For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.

For a non-specific reference, the latest version applies. In the case of a reference to a 3GPP document (including a
GSM document), a non-specific reference implicitly refers to the latest version of that document in the same
Release as the present document.

[1] 3GPP TR 21.905: "Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications".

[2] 3GPP TS 22.060: "General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Service description; Stage 1".

[3] 3GPP TS 44.060: "General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Mobile Station (MS) - Base Station
System (BSS) interface; Radio Link Control/Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) protocol".

[4] 3GPP TS 45.002: "Multiplexing and Multiple Access on the Radio Path".

3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in 3GPP TR 21.905 apply.

4 General definitions
A channel represents a specified portion of the information-carrying capacity of an interface.

Channels are classified by channel types, which have common characteristics. Channel types appearing on the radio
interface are specified in clauses 3 and 4.

At a given time, the complete interface between a Base Station and the set of Mobile Stations in relation corresponds to
some interface structure. The interface structure may change in time. The number of possible different such interface
structures can be large. The BS access capability is a description of all the possible interface structures of the considered
BS. BS access capabilities are specified in sub-clause 8.

At a given moment, the channel configuration of a Mobile Station is the interface structure this Mobile Station actually
uses to transmit information to or receive information from the Base Station. The channel configuration may change in
time. A limited number of channel configurations are identified, and are specified in sub-clause 9.

A Mobile Station access capability is the description of the set of its possible channel configurations. MS access
capabilities are specified in sub-clause 8.

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5 Channel types and their use: Traffic channels and

user channels

5.1 User channels

User channels are intended to carry a wide variety of user information streams. A distinguishing characteristic is that
user channels do not carry signalling information for Connection Management (CM), Mobility Management (MM) or
Radio Resource (RR) management. This signalling information is carried over other types of channels, namely the
control channels.

User channels may be used to provide access to the PLMN and the networks it permits access to.

Different types of user channels are distinguished by their rates.

5.2 Bm Channel
A Bm channel is a bi-directional or uni-directional user channel able to carry:

- a 13 kbit/s rate bit stream with an error structure and a transmission delay compatible with some grade of service,
intended to carry voice encoded according to Technical Specifications in 3GPP TS 06-series; or

- a bit stream at a rate of 14,5 kbit/s, 12 kbit/s, 6 kbit/s or 3,6 kbit/s, with an error structure and a transmission
delay adapted to a wider range of services, including data transmission; or other kinds of bit stream adapted to a
wider range of services (for further study).

User information streams are carried on the Bm channel on a dedicated, alternate (within one call or as separate calls),
or simultaneous basis, consistent with the Bm channel carrying capability. The following are samples of user
information streams:

i) voice encoded at 13 kbit/s according to Technical Specifications in 3GPP TS 06-series; and

ii) data information corresponding to circuit switching user classes of services at bit rates compatible with the
channel capability.

A Bi-directional Bm Channel uses the radio resources referred to as TCH/F. Bi-directional downlink Bm Channel uses
the radio resources referred to as TCH/FD. The Uni-directional Bm Channel is only defined in downlink direction.
Traffic channels (TCH) are fixed physical gross rate channels, accompanied with timing (see 3GPP TS 45.002).

5.3 Lm Channels
A Lm channel is a user channel with a carrying capability lower than a Bm channel.

A Lm channel is a user channel able to carry:

- some bit stream to be defined with an error structure and a transmission delay compatible with some grade of
service, intended to carry voice encoded according to a method to be defined;

- a bit stream at a rate of 6 kbit/s or 3,6 kbit/s, with an error structure and a transmission delay adapted to a wider
range of services, including data transmission; or

- other kinds of bit stream adapted to a wider range of services (for further study).

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User information streams are carried on a Lm channel on a dedicated, alternate (within one call or as separate calls), or
simultaneous basis, consistent with the TCH/H channel carrying capability. The following are samples of user
information streams:

i) voice encoded at some rate according to a method to be specified in the future; and

ii) data information corresponding to circuit switching user classes of services at bit rates compatible with the
channel capability.

A Lm Channel uses the radio resources referred to as TCH/H. Traffic channels (TCH) are fixed physical gross rate
channels, accompanied with timing (see 3GPP TS 45.002).

6 Channel types and their use: Packet data traffic

channels
Packet data traffic channels are used to carry a wide variety of information streams, including user information and
signalling information for, e.g. Session Management (SM) and Mobility Management (MM) in packet mode. A
distinguishing characteristic is that a packet data traffic channel allows a plurality of information streams, associated
with different users, to be multiplexed in a pre-emptive and dynamic fashion. Signalling functions between the MS and
the BSS are carried out over other types of channels, namely the control channels.

Uni-directional information streams are carried on the packet data traffic channel on an alternate, or simultaneous basis,
consistent with the packet data traffic channel carrying capability. The packet data traffic channel uses the radio
resources referred to as PDTCH (see 3GPP TS 45.002).

7 Channel types and their use: Control channels

NOTE: The term "Dm channel" may be used to refer to the controls channels used by a Mobile Station at a given
moment, independently of their type. (The term "Dm channel" in conjunction with the packet control
channels shall be avoided.)

Control channels are used to provide all active Mobile Stations with a continuous frame oriented means of
communication across the MS-BS interface.

A Mobile Station Channel Configuration contains one or more control channels. These control channels may change in
time, with the channel configuration. Access management signalling functions are used to insure the continuity when a
change in the control channels occurs.

Control channels are classified by control channel types, which have common characteristics. These control channel
types are specified in sub-clause 7.1.

The control channels are primarily intended to carry signalling information for Connection Management (CM),
Mobility Management (MM) and Radio Resource (RR) management.

In addition to signalling information control channels may also be used to carry other data, including those relating to
Short Message Services (SMS).

7.1 Control channel types

7.1.1 Broadcast Control Channel
A broadcast control channel is a point-to-multipoint uni-directional control channel, from the fixed sub-system to the
Mobile Stations. Broadcast control channels are physically sub-divided into the Broadcast Control CHannel (BCCH) ,
Packet Broadcast Control CHannel (PBCCH), and Compact Packet Broadcast cControl CHannel (CPBCCH).

BCCH, PBCCH, and CPBCCH are intended to broadcast a variety of information to MSs, including information
necessary for MS to register in the system (e.g. synchronization data).

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BCCH, PBCCH, and CPBCCH use a protocol specified in Technical Specifications in 3GPP TS 04-Series.

7.1.2 Common Control Channel

A common control channel is a point-to-multipoint bi-directional control channel. Common control channels are
physically sub-divided into the Common Control CHannel (CCCH), the Packet Common Control CHannel (PCCCH),
and the Compact Packet Common Control CHannel (CPCCCH).

CCCH, PCCCH, and CPCCCH are primarily intended to carry signalling information necessary for access management
functions (e.g., allocation of dedicated channels or radio resource on a packet data traffic channel). The CCCH can be
used for other signalling purposes.

CCCH, PCCCH, and CPCCCH use a layered protocol according to Technical Specifications in 3GPP TS 04-Series. In
particular the multipoint to point management is achieved through random access techniques.

The following terms may be used when the context requires it:

- The RACH (Random Access CHannel) is the uplink (MS to network) part of the CCCH.

- The PRACH (Packet Random Access CHannel) is the uplink part of the PCCCH.

- The CPRACH (Compact Packet Random Access CHannel) is the uplink part of the CPCCCH.

- The AGCH (Access Grant CHannel) is the part of the downlink (network to MS) part of the CCCH reserved for
assignment messages.

- The PAGCH (Packet Access Grant CHannel) is the part of the downlink part of the PCCCH used for assignment
messages.

- The CPAGCH (Compact Packet Access Grant CHannel) is the part of the downlink part of the CPCCCH used
for assignment messages.

- The NCH (Notification CHannel) is the part of the downlink part of the CCCH reserved for voice group and/or
voice broadcast calls notification messages.

- PCH (Paging CHannel) is the remaining part of the downlink part of the CCCH.

- PPCH (Packet Paging CHannel) is the remaining part of the downlink part of the PCCCH.

- CPPCH (Compact Packet Paging CHannel) is the remaining part of the downlink part of the CPCCCH.

7.1.3 Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH)

A Dedicated Control CHannel (DCCH) is a point-to-point bi-directional or uni-directional control channel.

DCCHs exist with a variety of bit rates.

DCCHs are further classified as follows according to some technical particularities:

A SDCCH (Stand-alone DCCH) is a bi-directional DCCH whose allocation is not linked to the allocation of a TCH.
The bit rate of a SDCCH is 598/765 kbit/s.

A FACCH (Fast Associated DCCH) is a bi-directional DCCH obtained by pre-emptive dynamic multiplexing on
respectively a TCH/F or a TCH/H channel. The allocation of a FACCH is obviously linked to the allocation of a TCH.
The bit rate of a FACCH is 9 200 bit/s or 4 600 bit/s.

A SACCH (Slow Associated DCCH) is either a bi-directional or uni-directional DCCH of rate 115/300 kbit/s or a bi-
directional DCCH of rate 299/765 kbit/s. An independent SACCH is always allocated together with a TCH or a
SDCCH. The co-allocated TCH and SACCH shall be either both bi-directional or both uni-directional.

NOTE 1: A Multislot Configuration (described in sub-clause 9) is an example of a case where uni-directional

SACCHs may be used.

The terms Bm, or Bm + ACCHs can be used to refer to a Bm channel together with the corresponding FACCH and the
co-allocated SACCH when the context avoids any ambiguities. Similar remarks apply to the terms Lm, Lm + ACCHs,

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Lm + Lm, Lm + Lm + ACCHs. The term SDCCH can be used to refer specifically to a SDCCH together with the co-
allocated SACCH when the contexts avoids any ambiguities.

NOTE 2: TCH/F is sometimes used to designate Bm associated with its control channel (FACCH and SACCH).
TCH/H is sometime used to designate Lm associated with its control channel (FACCH and SACCH).

A PACCH (Packet Associated Control CHannel) is a bi-directional DCCH obtained by pre-emptive dynamic
multiplexing on a PDTCH.

A PTCCH (Packet Timing Control CHannel) is a bi-directional DCCH carrying synchronization data for a group of up
to 16 MSs in packet transfer state (see 3GPP TS 44.060).

The DCCHs use a layered protocol according to Technical Specifications in 3GPP TS 04- and 05-series.

8 BS access capability
The BS access capability is composed of:

one BCCH;

one CCCH physically related to the BCCH;

{{0 to 3 additional CCCHs; and a global resource.

OR:

BCCH, CCCH plus 4 SDCCHs and a global resource.}}

The global resource can be used to accommodate:

i) n1 (Bm + FACCH + SACCH);

ii) 2n2 (Lm + FACCH + SACCH);

iii) 8n3 (SDCCH of rate 598/765 kbit/s + SACCH);

iv) n4 (Bm + SACCH);

v) n5 (PBCCH + PCCCH + PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH);

vi) n6 (PCCCH + PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH);

vii) n7 (PBCCH + PCCCH); and

viii) n8 (PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH);

with the constraints: n5 = 0 or 1;

n5 > 0 implies that n7 = 0;

n7 > 0 implies that n5 = 0 and n6 = 0; and

n1 + n2 + n3 + n4 + n5 + n6 + n7 + n8 lower than some value characterizing the BS access capability.

The exact use of the global resource may vary in time.

For Compact, the BS access capability is composed of:

CPBCCH;

CPCCCH physically related to the CPBCCH;

{{and a global resource.}}

The global resource can be used to accommodate:

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i) n9 (PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH);

n9 lower than some value characterizing the BS access capability.

The exact use of the global resources may vary in time.

9 Channel configurations
At a given moment, a Mobile Station accesses only a limited number of channels appearing on its radio interface.
Different compositions for the accessed channels set are identified, and specified below.

Different channel configurations are:

i) BCCH;

ii) CCCH;

iii) CCCH + BCCH;

iv) SDCCH + SACCH;

v) Bm + FACCH + SACCH;

vi) Lm + FACCH + SACCH;

vii) Lm + Lm + FACCH + SACCH;

viii) ( n + m ) Bm + FACCH + ( n + m ) SACCH;

where n is the number of bi-directional channels and m is the number of uni-directional channels (n = 1..8, m
= 0..7, n + m = 1..i);

ix) PCCCH + PBCCH;

x) ( n + m ) PDTCH + PACCH + PTCCH

where n is the number of channel allowing information streams in both directions and m is the number of
channels allowing information streams in one direction (n = 0..8, m = 0..8, n + m = 1..8).

xi) CPBCCH;

xii) CPCCCH;

xiii) CPCCCH + CPBCCH

Configurations i) and xi) are normally used only in the phase when the physical connection is not set (i.e. just after
switch-on, or after a too long interruption of the physical connection due to poor propagation conditions).

Configurations ii) or iii) are used by active but idle MS or MS in packet wait state (see GSM 44.060).

Configurations iv) is used in phases when only a dedicated control channel is needed.

Configurations v) to viii) are used in particular when a circuit-switched communication is in progress.

Configuration viii) is a Multislot Configuration. Possible combinations of bi- and uni-directional channels are defined in
3GPP TS 45.002.

Configurations ix), xii), and xiii) are used by MS in packet wait state.

Configuration x) is a Multislot Configuration on packet data traffic channels. Possible combinations of bi- and uni-
directional channels are defined in 3GPP TS 45.002.

In addition, a MS of GPRS MS class A (see 3GPP TS 22.060) may combine one of the configurations i) to viii) (to
support GSM circuit switched services and SMS) with one of the configurations ii), iii), ix), or x) (to support GSM
GPRS services).

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9.1 Mandatory capabilities

The following access capabilities are mandatory for all MSs.

- All MSs shall support the SDCCH.

- If a given service is supported by an MS on a TCH/H, this MS shall support this service on a TCH/F (but not
necessarily vice versa).

- An MS supporting a service on TCH/F shall support the signalling only mode on TCH/F as well as the signalling
modes associated with the TCH/F.

- An MS supporting a service on TCH/H shall support the signalling only mode on TCH/F as well as the
signalling modes associated with the TCH/H.

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Annex A (informative):
Change History
TSG # TSG Doc. CR Rev Subject/Comment New
Dec 2008 - - - Release 8 version based on version 7.0.0 8.0.0

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