GSM, GPRS and EDGE Performance: Evolution Towards 3G/UMTS - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0470844574 ISBN 13: 9780470844571

Publisher: Wiley, 2002

Synopsis

The introduction of GERAN (GSM EDGE Radio Access Network) will enable the existing GSM and IS-136 Radio Access Networks, based on digital 2nd Generation TDMA technologies, to evolve towards real 3rd Generation Radio Access Networks in terms of radio spectral efficiency, peak data throughput and support for 3rd Generation services.
At present there is a distinct lack of comprehensive books covering GPRS and EDGE and hence the authors aim to provide a comprehensive handbook which discusses the latest performance results of both. Operators will be implementing other performance solutions, such as Adaptive Multi Rate and Dynamic Channel Allocation, in the near future and as yet there aren't any guidelines available. GSM, GPRS and EDGE Performance successfully fills both of these gaps.
* Explains the key parts of both ETSI GSM and 3GPP/GERAN standards
* Introduces 3GPP ALL IP architecture for future GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication)
* Examines the coverage and capacity of GSM/EDGE and AMR (Adaptive Multi Rate)
* Introduces a totally new approach for Radio Access Network automated optimisation
* Discusses positioning of GERAN and UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network)
* Highlights 3GPP Release 4 and Release 5 architecture and also illustrates ideas for future All IP architectures

About this title

From the Back Cover

GSM, GPRS and EDGE Performance provides a complete overview of the entire GSM system. It features comprehensive descriptions of GSM's main evolutionary milestones - GPRS, AMR and EDGE and such developments have now positioned GERAN (GS/EDGE Radio Access Network) as a full 3G radio standard. For the first time in one volume, the radio network performance and capabilities of GSM, GPRS, AMR and EDGE solutions are studied in-depth by using revealing simulations and field trials.

Cellular operators must now roll out new 3G technologies capable of delivering wireless Internet based multimedia services in a competitive and cost-effective way and this volume, divided into three parts, helps to explain how:

1. Provides an introduction to the complete evolution of GSM towards a radio access network that efficiently supports UMTS services (GERAN). Both the functionality and architecture are explained and the integration of GERAN within the UMTS Qos concept for 3G networks is presented.

2. Features a comprehensive study of system performance with simulations and field trials. Covers all the major features such as basic GSM, GPRS, EDGE and AMR and the full capability of the GERAN radio interface for 3G service support is envisaged. Also introduces an innovative approach for Radio Access Network automated planning and parameter optimisation tasks, together wth an in-depth analysis of automated trouble shooting.

3. Discusses different 3G radio technologies and the position of GERAN within such technologies. Also includes the potential evolution paths and descriptions of the 3G Multi-Radio Radio Access Network concept, based on the seamless integrationof GSM and WCDMA radio technologies.

Written by leading experts in the field, and endorsed with forewords from Mike Bamburak, Vice President, technology, Architecture & Standards, AT&T and Chris Pearson, Executive Vice President, 3G Americas, this performance-oriented and practical approach to the GSM system and its evolution will have far-reaching appeal to Engineering Professionals and Research & Development Engineers. It will also be an instant hit with technicla staff and Management working for cellular operators.

From the Inside Flap

GSM, GPRS and EDGE Performance provides a complete overview of the entire GSM system. It features comprehensive descriptions of GSM¡¦s main evolutionary milestones - GPRS, AMR and EDGE and such developments have now positioned GERAN (GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network) as a full 3G radio standard. For the first time in one volume, the radio network performance and capabilities of GSM, GPRS, AMR and EDGE solutions are studied in-depth by using revealing simulations and field trials.

Cellular operators must now roll out new 3G technologies capable of delivering wireless Internet based multimedia services in a competitive and cost-effective way and this volume, divided into three parts, helps to explain how:

ƒ{ Provides an introduction to the complete evolution of GSM towards a radio access network that efficiently supports UMTS services (GERAN). Both the functionality and architecture are explained and the integration of GERAN within the UMTS QoS concept for 3G networks is presented

ƒ{ Features a comprehensive study of system performance with simulations and field trials. Covers all the major features such as basic GSM, GPRS, EDGE and AMR and the full capability of the GERAN radio interface for 3G service support is envisaged. Also introduces an innovative approach for Radio Access Network automated planning, optimisation and operation. Discusses the automation of the frequency planning and parameter optimization tasks, together with an in-depth analysis of automated trouble shooting

ƒ{ Discusses different 3G radio technologies and the position of GERAN within such technologies. Also includes the potential evolution paths and descriptions of the 3G Multi-Radio Radio Access Network concept, based on the seamless integration of GSM and WCDMA radio technologies

Written by leading experts in the field, and endorsed with forewords from Mike Bamburak, Vice President, Technology, Architecture & Standards, AT&T and Chris Pearson, Executive Vice President, 3G Americas, this performance-oriented and practical approach to the GSM system and its evolution will have far-reaching appeal to Engineering Professionals and Research & Development Engineers. It will also be an instant hit with Technical staff and Management working for cellular operators.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction GERAN: Evolution towards 3G/UMTS

The wireless market has experienced a phenomenal growth since the first 2nd Generation digital cellular networks, based on GSM technology, were introduced in the early 90's. Since then, GSM has become the global second generation radio access standard. Almost 80% of today's new subscriptions take place in one of the more than 400 cellular networks that use GSM technology. This growth has taken place simultaneously as the large experienced expansion of the access to Internet and its related multimedia services.

Cellular operators now face the challenge to evolve their networks to efficiently support the forecasted demand of wireless Internet based multimedia services. In order to do this, they need to perform a rapid technology evolution rolling out new 3rd Generation Radio Access Technologies, capable to deliver such services in a competitive and cost effective way. There are multiple recognized 3G technologies, which can be summarized into two main 3G Evolution Paths. The first one to be conceived and developed, and the more widely supported, is UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System), and the second one is cdma2000.

The first part of this book will describe the evolution GSM experienced after five years of continuous standardization effort and how the result of such effort has provided GSM networks with an smooth, competitive and cost efficient evolution path towards UMTS. The first steps of this evolution took place in Release 97 standards, when GPRS was introduced to efficiently deliver packet-based services over GSM networks. Later, AMR, included in Release 98, increased the spectral efficiency and quality of speech services to remarkable limits. EDGE was introduced in Release 99 and introduced more efficient modulation, coding and retransmission schemes, boosting the data services performance. Release 99 included as well the support of the UMTS traffic classes hence providing the means for EDGE to support from the very beginning the same set of 3G services UMTS was designed for. This synergy is completed in Release 5 with the development of GERAN, a new Radio Access Network architecture, based on GSM/EDGE radio access technologies, which is fully harmonized with UTRAN and therefore integrated in the UMTS frame. Today, UMTS standardization, carried out by 3GPP standardization body, jointly develops the GERAN and UTRAN as part of the same concept, the 3G UMTS Multi-Radio networks. Chapters 1 and 2 will provide a detailed description of the GSM evolution. Chapter 3 will provide an in-depth analysis of the GERAN QoS support in different releases. Finally Chapter 4 will present the different standardized methods to support Location Services, their architecture and expected accuracy.

Figure 1-1 GSM Evolution towards 3G/UMTS

The second part of the book will thoroughly cover the performance efficiency of the technologies associated with the GSM evolution. Radio network performance is vital in order to maximize the return on investment from operators. Not only it provides the ability to increase the capacity of the networks but improves as well the Quality of Service experienced by the end users. Chapter 5 introduces the principles associated with GSM Radio Network Performance analysis. All the performance related dimensions, such as link level voice and data performance, spectral efficiency, maximum and realistic data rates and service support capabilities are studied in-depth in this part. All standardized functionality, such as AMR, GPRS and EDGE, both for voice (Chapter 6) and data (Chapter 7) services, are carefully studied in. Non-standardized solutions will be analyzed as well in order to provide an overall perspective of the potential GSM/EDGE performance when advanced functionality such as Dynamic Channel Allocation (Chapter 8) or link level enhancements (Chapter 10) techniques are introduced. Chapter 11 analyses the Signaling channels performance, since this may limit the overall network performance. A specific chapter on narrowband deployment scenarios (Chapter 9) will provide the guidelines to maximize the performance in this demanding radio conditions. With the degree of complexity the 3G Evolution will bring, planning, optimizing and operation of radio networks is a tough challenge operators have to tackle at a minimum cost. Chapter 12 presents new concepts based on Automation and Control Engineering, designed to deal with all these issues, with functionality capable of fully automate the planning, optimization and operation of radio networks, which not only decrease the Operational Expenditure (OPEX) of radio networks but maximize as well their performance.

Finally, the third part of the book introduces the principles of the main existing 3rd Generation radio technologies, benchmarking their technical capabilities and evolution paths. It covers in detail how GSM/EDGE and WCDMA FDD can be efficiently and seamlessly integrated into the UMTS Multi-Radio network to ensure the achievement of a maximum performance at a minimum cost.

Figure 1-2 illustrates the UMTS Multi-Radio technology building blocks.

Figure 1-2 UMTS Multi-Radio technology building blocks

The final chapter analyses the current global market dynamics and trends, in order to identify, from a global market perspective, the evolution paths available for different technologies.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0470844574
• ISBN 13: 9780470844571
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 585
• Editor: Halonen Timo, Romero Javier, Melero Juan