GSM - The Network Switching Subsystem (NSS) : The Switching System Includes The Following Functional Elements

GSM - The Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)
The Network switching system (NSS), the main part of which is the Mobile Switching Center
(MSC), performs the switching of calls between the mobile and other fixed or mobile network
users, as well as the management of mobile services such as authentication.
The switching system includes the following functional elements:

 Home Location Register (HLR)
 Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC)
 Visitor Location Register (VLR)
 Authentication Center (AUC)
 Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
Home Location Register (HLR)
The HLR is a database used for storage and management of subscriptions. The HLR is
considered the most important database, as it stores permanent data about subscribers, including
a subscriber's service profile, location information, and activity status. When an individual buys
a subscription in the form of SIM, then all the information about this subscription is registered in
the HLR of that operator.
Mobile Services Switching Center (MSC)
The central component of the Network Subsystem is the MSC. The MSC performs the switching
of calls between the mobile and other fixed or mobile network users, as well as the management
of mobile services such as registration, authentication, location updating, handovers, and call
routing to a roaming subscriber. It also performs such functions as toll ticketing, network
interfacing, common channel signaling, and others. Every MSC is identified by a unique ID.
Visitor Location Register (VLR)
The VLR is a database that contains temporary information about subscribers that is needed by
the MSC in order to service visiting subscribers. The VLR is always integrated with the MSC.
When a mobile station roams into a new MSC area, the VLR connected to that MSC will request
data about the mobile station from the HLR. Later, if the mobile station makes a call, the VLR
will have the information needed for call setup without having to interrogate the HLR each time.
Authentication Center (AUC)
The Authentication Center is a protected database that stores a copy of the secret key stored in
each subscriber's SIM card, which is used for authentication and ciphering of the radio channel.
The AUC protects network operators from different types of fraud found in today's cellular
world.
Equipment Identity Register (EIR)
The Equipment Identity Register (EIR) is a database that contains a list of all valid mobile
equipment on the network, where its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) identifies
each MS. An IMEI is marked as invalid if it has been reported stolen or is not type approved.
GSM - Specification
The requirements for different Personal Communication Services (PCS) systems differ for each
PCS network. Vital characteristics of the GSM specification are listed below:
 Modulation
 Access Methods
 Transmission Rate
 Frequency Band
 Channel Spacing
 Speech Coding
 Duplex Distance
Modulation
Modulation is the process of transforming the input data into a suitable format for the
transmission medium. The transmitted data is demodulated back to its original form at the
receiving end. The GSM uses Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation method.
Access Methods
Radio spectrum being a limited resource that is consumed and divided among all the users, GSM
devised a combination of TDMA/FDMA as the method to divide the bandwidth among the
users. In this process, the FDMA part divides the frequency of the total 25 MHz bandwidth into
124 carrier frequencies of 200 kHz bandwidth.
Each BS is assigned with one or multiple frequencies, and each of this frequency is divided into
eight timeslots using a TDMA scheme. Each of these slots are used for both transmission as
well as reception of data. These slots are separated by time so that a mobile unit doesn’t
transmit and receive data at the same time.
Transmission Rate
The total symbol rate for GSM at 1 bit per symbol in GMSK produces 270.833 K
symbols/second. The gross transmission rate of a timeslot is 22.8 Kbps.
GSM is a digital system with an over-the-air bit rate of 270 kbps.
Frequency Band
The uplink frequency range specified for GSM is 933 - 960 MHz (basic 900 MHz band only).
The downlink frequency band 890 - 915 MHz (basic 900 MHz band only).
Channel Spacing
Channel spacing indicates the spacing between adjacent carrier frequencies. For GSM, it is 200
kHz.
Speech Coding
For speech coding or processing, GSM uses Linear Predictive Coding (LPC). This tool
compresses the bit rate and gives an estimate of the speech parameters. When the audio signal
passes through a filter, it mimics the vocal tract. Here, the speech is encoded at 13 kbps.
Duplex Distance
Duplex distance is the space between the uplink and downlink frequencies. The duplex distance
for GSM is 80 MHz, where each channel has two frequencies that are 80 MHz apart.

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