GSM Architecture and Channels:Review Study

GSM, the Global System for Mobile communications, is a digital cellular communications system that has rapidly gained acceptance and market share worldwide. In addition to digital transmission, GSM comprises many advanced services and features, including ISDN compatibility and worldwide roaming in other GSM networks. GSM architecture is a combination of three subsystems: Base Station Subsystem(BSS), Network Switching Subsystem (NSS)& Operation Support Subsystem (OSS). BSS consists of Base Transceiver System (BTS) and Base System Controller (BSC) which connects with Mobile Station (MS). NSS consists of MSC which connects with BSC. OSS maintains BSS and NSS. GSM channels are responsible for connecting two MS's. It consists of two channels: Traffic Channels (TCH) which make data flow between two MS's possible and Control Channels (CCH) which supervises the signalling and synchronization between the base station and mobile station. This paper will give an overview of GSM system architecture & its channels.