Subject : Mobile Communication

Topic : 3G Communication System

Difficulty : Medium

1. GPRS architecture works on the same procedure like GSM network, but, has additional entities that allow packet data transmission. This data network overlaps a second-generation GSM network providing packet data transport at the rates from 9.6 to 171 kbps. Along with the packet data transport the GSM network accommodates multiple users to share the same air interface resources concurrently.
2. GPRS includes several security services such as authentication, access control, user identity confidentiality, and user information confidentiality.
3. The GPRS architecture introduces two new network elements, which are called GPRS support nodes (GSN) and are in fact routers. All GSNs are integrated into the standard GSM architecture, and many new interfaces have been defined.
4. The gateway GPRS support node (GGSN) is the interworking unit between the GPRS network and external packet data networks (PDN). This node contains routing information for GPRS users, performs address conversion, and tunnels data to a user via encapsulation.
5. The GGSN is connected to external networks (e.g., IP or X.25) via the Gi interface and transfers packets to the SGSN via an IP- based GPRS backbone network (Gn interface). The other new element is the serving GPRS support node (SGSN) which supports the MS via the Gb interface. The SGSN, for example, requests user addresses from the GPRS register (GR), keeps track of the individual MSs’ location, is responsible for collecting billing information (e.g., counting bytes), and performs several security functions such as access control.
6. The SGSN is connected to a BSC via frame relay and is basically on the same hierarchy level as an MSC. The GR, which is typically a part of the HLR, stores all GPRS-relevant data.