ELECOMMUNICATIONS

GPRS Network Architecture Tutorial

- the General Packet Radio Service, GPRS network architecture is
based on that used by the basic GSM system but has additional
entities including the GGSN and SGSN to allow packet data
transmission.
GPRS TUTORIAL INCLUDES

GPRS introduction

Network architecture

Multislot classes

Radio air interface

Coding

Channels

Protocol stack

GPRS operation

With GPRS providing a move from circuit switched technology to packet switched technology, it was
necessary to upgrade the network architecture to accommodate this. To accommodate this the
GPRS network architecture added new elements including the GGSN and SGSN to the existing
GSM network to be able to accommodate this.
However it was still necessary for the GPRS network elements and those from the existing GSM
elements to work along side one another. Accordingly the introduction of GPRS technology saw the
addition of some new entities within the over network architecture.

GPRS network architecture upgrades

With GPRS providing additional connectivity in terms of packet data, there are naturally a number of
upgrades needed to the network architecture required. A number of new elements are needed for
the network, but these can operate alongside the existing elements meaning that the GPRS
capability is an upgrade to the network and not a completely new network structure.
The main new network architecture entities that are needed are:

SGSN: Serving GPRS Support Node - the SGSN forms a gateway to the services within
the network.

GGSN: Gateway GPRS Support Node, GGSN, forms the gateway to the outside world.

PCU: Packet Control Unit, PCU, which differentiates whether data is to be routed to the
packet switched or circuit switched networks.

A simplified view of the GPRS network architecture can be seen in the diagram below. From this it
can be seen that it is very similar to the more basic GSM network architecture, but with additional
elements.

GPRS network architecture

SGSN
The SGSN or Serving GPRS Support Node element of the GPRS network provides a number of
takes focussed on the IP elements of the overall system. It provides a variety of services to the
mobiles:

Packet routing and transfer

Mobility management

Attach/detach

Logical link management

Authentication

Charging data

There is a location register within the SGSN and this stores location information (e.g., current cell,
current VLR). It also stores the user profiles (e.g., IMSI, packet addresses used) for all the GPRS
users registered with the particular SGSN.

GGSN
The GGSN, Gateway GPRS Support Node is one of the most important entities within the GPRS
network architecture.
The GGSN organises the interworking between the GPRS network and external packet switched
networks to which the mobiles may be connected. These may include both Internet and X.25
networks.

The GGSN can be considered to be a combination of a gateway, router and firewall as it hides the
internal network to the outside. In operation, when the GGSN receives data addressed to a specific
user, it checks if the user is active, then forwarding the data. In the opposite direction, packet data
from the mobile is routed to the right destination network by the GGSN.

PCU
The PCU or Packet Control Unit is a hardware router that is added to the BSC. It differentiates data
destined for the standard GSM network (circuit switched data) and data destined for the GPRS
network (Packet Switched Data). The PCU itself may be a separate physical entity, or more often
these days it is incorporated into the base station controller, BSC, thereby saving additional
hardware costs.

GPRS network upgrading

One of the key elements for any network operator is the cost of capital expenditure (capex) to buy
and establish a network. Capex costs are normally very high for a new network, and operators
endeavour to avoid this and use any existing networks they may have to make the optimum use of
any capital. In addition to the capex, there are the operational costs, (opex). These costs are for
general maintenance and other operational costs that may be incurred. Increasing efficiency and
reliability will reduce the opex costs.
Any upgrade such as that from GSM to GPRS will require new investment and operators are keen to
keep this to the minimum. The upgrades for the GPRS network are not as large as starting from
scratch and rolling out a new network.
The GPRS network adds to the existing GSM network. The main new entities required within the
network are the SGSN and GGSN, and these are required as the starting point.
The base station subsystems require some updates. The main one is the addition of the PCU
described above. Some modifications may be required to the BTS, but often only a software upgrade
is required, and this may often be achieved remotely. In this way costs are kept to a minimum.
The GPRS network architecture can be viewed as an evolution of the GSM network carrying both
circuit switched and packet data. The GPRS network architecture was also used as the basis for the
3G UMTS network. In this way network operators could evolve their networks through GPRS and
possibly EDGE to the full 3G networks without having to replace and install more new equipment
than was absolutely necessary.

http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/cellulartelecomms/gprs/gprs-networkarchitecture.php