Presentation by Papua New Guinea Telecommunication & Radiocommunication Technical Authority (PANGTEL) For: PNG COMPUTER SOCIETY ANNUAL SEMINAR, 4th November 2008 Presenter : Gabriel NAKAU(assisted by Mathew Wari) Operations Department (PANGTEL)

What is GPRS? This is one of the wireless systems developed after digital TDMA and CDMA systems which are classified as B2G others are EDGE, HSCSD, iDEN, PHS and RTT

What does GPRS stand for and what is it? GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a mobile data service available to users of GSM mobile phones. It is often described as "2.5G", that is, a technology between the second and third generations of mobile telephony.

Continue…… It provides moderate speed data transfer, by using unused TDMA channels in the GSM network. The theoretical limit for packet switched data is 171.2 kbit/s (using 8 time slots and CS-4 coding). A realistic bit rate is 30–80 kbit/s, because it is possible to use max 4 time slots for downlink.

GPRS Air Interface. (When we are talking “Radio”, we are already talking: there is an “Air Interface!”) GSM not always efficient to support data traffic GPRS is solution-provide more efficient packet-based data services at higher data rates. GPRS has same basic ‘air interface’ as GSM a 200KHz channel divided into eight time slots. However, it defines 4 diff. ch. coding schemes CS-1 to CS-4 with diff. data rates.

Most common coding scheme For packet data transfer is coding scheme 2(CS-2) Enables a given time slot to carry data @ transmission rate of 13.4kbps

Advantage of GPRS Use of packet-switching technology Enables multiple users to share air interface resources Users feel their services to be “always on”

GPRS-related data traffic and control signaling Though GPRS uses basic structure as GSM, it introduces new logical channel types for Packet Common Control Channel (PCCCH) and for Packet Dedicated Control Channel (PDCCH)

Comparison of the control and traffic channels between GSM and GPRS… Common Control Channel CCH (one logical channel) PCCCH (four logical channel) Broadcast Channel Dedicated control channel BCCH DCCH PBCCH PDCCH PACCH PTCCH Dedicated traffic channel FACCH DTCH PDTCH

GPRS Network Architecture RF air interface HLR MSC/VLR SMSC BSC BTS Packet Control Unit (PCU) SGSN GGSN Charging Gateway Function SGSN PDN Billing

Therefore,…. GPRS is primarily for data communication and not for voice communication. GPRS communicates using TCP/IP protocol similar to the internet. GPRS device IP addresses are not accessible from the internet due to firewalls.

Regulation Consideration PANGTEL ensures relevant frequency is allocated Monitors interference if any, to adjacent channel Ensures equipment deploy in the systems are in compliance to standard ITU/ETSI Recommendations

Licensing Requirement Spectrum Equipment type approval if different Agreement between interest groups(wanted to use GPRS services) & GSM Operators

Regulatory consideration The radio network capacity needed for the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) in coexistence with circuit switched services and the admissible quality of service for mobile Internet users is presented. Since the GPRS is to be integrated into the GSM infrastructure, a number of physical channels has to be made available to GPRS used as fixed and on-demand packet data channels (PDCH).

Benefits Efficient - GPRS mobile devices only use the GSM network when data is transferred. The GSM connection is not dedicated to each user, therefore it can be shared with many users resulting in efficient use of the network. Fast - GPRS gives speeds of up to 5 time faster than GSM. GPRS offers maximum data rates of 56Kbps (down) and 14.4kbps (up), however this is shared bandwidth therefore actual data rates are potentially lower. Payment based on data usage - Billing is not based on time, but on the amount of data actually transferred.

Way Forward Summary… Technology is available Provisions in current GSM License allowed to explore/provide Regulator is always available and ready to assist as long as matter is within legislative framework & subject to Gov’t policies. Source: William C.Y.Lee Wireless & Cellular Telecommunications- Third Edition & PANGTEL Resources.

And Thank you…