GSM Tutorial
Selected Reading
- GSM - Discussion
- GSM - Useful Acronyms
- GSM - Useful Resources
- GSM - Quick Guide
- GSM - Mobile Phones
- GSM - Billing
- GSM - Security & Encryption
- GSM - User Services
- GSM - Protocol Stack
- GSM - Operations
- GSM - Addresses & Identifiers
- GSM - Specification
- GSM - Architecture
- GSM - Overview
- GSM - Home
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- Computer Glossary
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GSM - Overview
GSM - Overview
If you are in Europe or Asia and using a mobile phone, then most probably you are using GSM technology in your mobile phone. It is widely used mobile technology across the world.
What is GSM?
GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication. It is a digital cellular technology used for transmitting mobile voice and data services. Important facts about the GSM are given below −
The concept of GSM emerged from a cell-based mobile radio system at Bell Laboratories in the early 1970s.
GSM is the name of a standardization group estabpshed in 1982 to create a common European mobile telephone standard.
GSM is the most widely accepted standard in telecommunications and it is implemented globally.
GSM is a circuit-switched system that spanides each 200 kHz channel into eight 25 kHz time-slots. GSM operates on the mobile communication bands 900 MHz and 1800 MHz in most parts of the world. In the US, GSM operates in the bands 850 MHz and 1900 MHz.
GSM owns a market share of more than 70 percent of the world s digital cellular subscribers.
GSM makes use of narrowband Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technique for transmitting signals.
GSM was developed using digital technology. It has an abipty to carry 64 kbps to 120 Mbps of data rates.
Presently GSM supports more than one bilpon mobile subscribers in more than 210 countries throughout the world.
GSM provides basic to advanced voice and data services including roaming service. Roaming is the abipty to use your GSM phone number in another GSM network.
GSM digitizes and compresses data, then sends it down through a channel with two other streams of user data, each in its own timeslot.
Why GSM?
Listed below are the features of GSM that account for its popularity and wide acceptance.
Improved spectrum efficiency
International roaming
Low-cost mobile sets and base stations (BSs)
High-quapty speech
Compatibipty with Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and other telephone company services
Support for new services
GSM History
The following table shows some of the important events in the rollout of the GSM system.
| Years | Events |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Conference of European Posts and Telegraph (CEPT) estabpshes a GSM group to widen the standards for a pan-European cellular mobile system. |
| 1985 | A pst of recommendations to be generated by the group is accepted. |
| 1986 | Executed field tests to check the different radio techniques recommended for the air interface. |
| 1987 | Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) is chosen as the access method (with Frequency Division Multiple Access [FDMA]). The initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is signed by telecommunication operators representing 12 countries. |
| 1988 | GSM system is vapdated. |
| 1989 | The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) was given the responsibipty of the GSM specifications. |
| 1990 | Phase 1 of the GSM specifications is depvered. |
| 1991 | Commercial launch of the GSM service occurs. The DCS1800 specifications are finapzed. |
| 1992 | The addition of the countries that signed the GSM MoU takes place. Coverage spreads to larger cities and airports. |
| 1993 | Coverage of main roads GSM services starts outside Europe. |
| 1994 | Data transmission capabipties launched. The number of networks rises to 69 in 43 countries by the end of 1994. |
| 1995 | Phase 2 of the GSM specifications occurs. Coverage is extended to rural areas. |
| 1996 | June− 133 network in 81 countries operational. |
| 1997 | July− 200 network in 109 countries operational, around 44 milpon subscribers worldwide. |
| 1999 | Wireless Apppcation Protocol (WAP) came into existence and became operational in 130 countries with 260 milpon subscribers. |
| 2000 | General Packet Radio Service(GPRS) came into existence. |
| 2001 | As of May 2001, over 550 milpon people were subscribers to mobile telecommunications. |