GSM/EDGE E-Book

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 749

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

With over four billion subscribers Worldwide, GSM/EDGE is by far the World's most successful communications technology of all time. Ubiquitous, deployed in every country of the World, except in Japan and South Korea, GSM/EDGE is the result of a continued evolution that has spanned over two decades.

A leading team of experts from Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks and Instituto Nokia de Tecnologia, guide you from the history of GSM standardization to the cutting-edge techniques in the latest 3GPP releases. Covering 3GPP Release 7 and Release 8, and addressing their motivation and detailing their concepts, this book also offers insights into further steps in evolution from Release 9 and beyond.

GSM/EDGE: Evolution and Performance allows you to keep apace with all of the new developments that have occurred in 3GPP on the GSM standard since the introduction of EDGE:

• Covers all the key aspects of GSM/EDGE Evolution from Release 7 until Release 9 in a systematic manner.
• Features performance evaluations derived from leading-edge simulation tools and field trials.
• Addresses network optimization techniques and environmental aspects.
• Written by leading experts in the field of GSM/EDGE evolution and standardisation.
• Contributors from Nokia, NSN, Helsinki University of Technology and Instituto Nokia de Tecnologia.

Leseprobe

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Acknowledgements

Acronyms

Part I: GSM/EDGE Standardization

1: GSM Standardization History

1.1 Introduction

1.2 History

1.3 Phase 1

1.4 Phase 2

1.5 Phase 2+

References

2: 3GPP Release 7

2.1 Introduction

2.2 EGPRS2

2.3 Downlink Dual Carrier

2.4 Mobile Station Receiver Diversity

2.5 Latency Reductions

References

3: 3GPP Release 8

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Interworking with LTE

3.3 A Interface over IP

3.4 Multi-Carrier BTS (MCBTS)

References

4: 3GPP Release 9 and Beyond

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Voice Evolution

4.3 Data Evolution

4.4 H(e)NB Enhancements

4.5 Security Improvements

4.6 Local Call Local Switch

References

Part II: GSM/EDGE Performance

5: Fundamentals of GSM Performance Evaluation

5.1 Introduction

5.2 On the GSM Radio System Performance Engineering

5.3 Simulation Tools

5.4 Key Performance Indicators

5.5 EFL Methodology

5.6 Further Reading

References

6: EGPRS2 and Downlink Dual Carrier Performance

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Overview of GSM Data Performance Evolution

6.3 EGPRS2 Link Performance

6.4 EGPRS2 System Performance

6.5 Downlink Dual Carrier Performance

6.6 DTM performance

6.7 GSM Data Evolution Performance Summary

References

7: Control Channel Performance

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Repeated SACCH

7.3 Repeated Downlink FACCH

References

8: Orthogonal Sub-Channels with AMR/DARP

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Overview of GSM Voice Evolution

8.3 AMR and SAIC Performance

8.4 OSC and VAMOS Performance

8.5 Conclusion

References

9: Wideband AMR Performance

9.1 Overview

9.2 Introduction

9.3 Audio Bandwidth Extension for More Natural Sounding Speech

9.4 End-User's Quality Perception by Listening Tests

9.5 Impact of AMR-WB on Network Planning

9.6 Network Quality and Capacity Advantage of AMR-WB over AMR-NB

9.7 Conclusion

References

10: DFCA and Other Advanced Interference Management Techniques

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Frequency Hopping Basics

10.3 Intra-Site Interference Management

10.4 Inter-Site and Intra-Site Interference Management

10.5 Dynamic Frequency and Channel Allocation

References

11: Advanced Admission and Quality Control Techniques

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Quality of Service Management

11.3 Admission Control

11.4 Quality Control

11.5 Performance of the QoS-aware GERAN Networks

11.6 Enhanced GERAN Performance towards Conversational Services

References

12: Capacity Enhancements for GSM

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Progressive Power Control for AMR

12.3 Temporary Overpower

12.4 Handover Signaling Optimization

12.5 Separate Radio Link Timeout Value for AMR

12.6 AMR HR to AMR FR Handover Optimization

12.7 Service Dependent Channel Allocation

12.8 Advanced Abis Solutions

References

13: Green GSM: Environmentally Friendly Solutions

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Energy Optimized Network Design

13.3 Coverage Improvement Techniques

13.4 Capacity Improvement Techniques

13.5 Energy Savings through Software Solutions

13.6 Energy-Efficient BTS Site

13.7 Renewable Energy Sources

13.8 Energy Savings for Controllers and Transcoders

References

Part III: Extending the GSM Paradigm

14: GSM in Multimode Networks

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Standardization of MSR Base Station for Multimode Networks

14.3 Status in Regulatory Bodies

14.4 Use of MSR Base Stations in Multimode Networks

References

15: Generic Access Network: Extending the GSM Paradigm

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Drivers for Convergence

15.3 GAN Architecture

15.4 GAN Management Functionality

15.5 Mobility Features in GAN

15.6 Voice Service over GAN

15.7 Supplementary Services and SMS over GAN

15.8 Packet Switched Data (GPRS) over GAN

15.9 Emergency Call Support in GAN

15.10 GAN in 3GPP Releases

15.11 Implementation Aspects for a GAN-enabled Device

15.12 Considerations for GAN Deployment

References

Index

This edition first published 2011 © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Säily, Mikko. GSM/EDGE : evolution and performance / Mikko Säily, Guillaume Sébire, Eddie Riddington. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-0-470-74685-1 (cloth) 1. Global system for mobile communications. I. Sébire, Guillaume. II. Riddington, Eddie. III. Title. TK5103.483.S24 2010 621.3845′6–dc22 2010019375

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Print ISBN: 9780470746851 (HB) ePDF ISBN: 9780470669617 oBook ISBN: 9781119972976

Acknowledgements

The editors would like to acknowledge the priceless work of contributors from Nokia Siemens Networks, Nokia and Instituto Nokia de Tecnologia (INdT): Carsten Ball, Alessandra Celin, Robson Domingos, David Gallegos, Cristina Gangai, Marcin Grygiel, Piotr Grzybowski, Khairul Hasan, Jon Helt-Hansen, Jürgen Hofmann, Michal Hronec, Jari Hulkkonen, Renato Iida, Kolio Ivanov, Rauli Järvelä, Carsten Juncker, Juha Karvinen, Kurt Kremnitzer, Krystian Krysmalski, Sebastian Lasek, Grzegorz Lehmann, Alexandre Loureiro, Sebastian Lysiak, Andrzej Maciolek, Krystian Majchrowicz, Robert Müllner, Markus Mummert, David Navrátil, Rafael Paiva, Sergio Parolari, Kent Pedersen, Olli Piirainen, Vlora Rexhepi-van der Pol, Sathiaseelan Sundaralingam, Fernando Tavares, Dariusz Tomeczko, Hubert Winkler, Eduardo Zacarías and Fabrizio Zizza.

We would also like to express our gratitude to our colleagues for fruitful discussions during the manuscript preparation and their support for the project, in particular: Riku Pirhonen, Timo Halonen, Peter Merz, Kari Niemelä, Eric Jones, Harry Kuosa, Jarmo Mäkinen and Kari Pehkonen.

We are indebted to Instituto Nokia de Tecnologia for joining the project with valuable contribution. We would like to thank Leonardo Aguayo and Daniel Barboni for their support.

Great thanks and a big hand go to the publishing team at Wiley: Mark Hammond, Sarah Tilley, Katharine Unwin, Sophia Travis and Alexandra King.

Our loving thanks go to our families and the families of all contributors for their patience, support and understanding during the late evenings and weekends devoted to the writing of this book.

Kiitos kaikille! Merci à tous! Thank you all!

The editors and contributors welcome comments, suggestions and improvements that could be implemented in possible forthcoming editions of this book. Please send your feedback to editors' e-mail addresses:

[email protected], [email protected] and [email protected], or use the following generic address: [email protected].

Acronyms

16QAM

Sixteen Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

2G

Second Generation

32QAM

Thirty-two Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

3G

Third Generation

3GPP

Third Generation Partnership Project

8-PSK

Octal Phase Shift Keying

α-QPSK

Alpha-QPSK

Abis

Interface between BTS and BSC

ABQP

Aggregate BSS QoS Profile

AC

Admission Control

ACCH

Associated Control Channel(s)

A-CELP

Algebraic CELP

Ack, ACK

Acknowledgement (positive)

ACR

Absolute Category Rating

AD, A/D

Analogue to Digital

ADC

AD Converter

AGC

Automatic Gain Control

AGI

Antenna Gain Imbalance

A-GNSS

Assisted GNSS

A-GPS

Assisted GPS

AM

Acknowledged Mode

AM

Amplitude Modulation

AMR

Adaptive Multi-Rate (speech)

AMR-NB

AMR Narrowband

AMR-WB

AMR Wideband

AoIP, AOIP

A interface over IP

APN

Access Point Name

AQPSK, α-QPSK

Adaptive Quadrature Phase Shift Keying

ARFCN

Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number

ARIB

Association of Radio Industries and Businesses

ARNS

Aeronautical Radio Navigation Service

ARP

Allocation Retention Priority

ARQ

Automated Repeat reQuest

ASCI

Advanced Speech Call Items

ATIS

Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions

BA

BCCH Allocation

BC

Band Category

BCC

Base Station Colour Code

BCCH

Broadcast Control Channel

BCR

Blocked Call Ratio

BEM

Block Edge Mask

BEP

Bit Error Probability

BER

Bit Error Rate

BLER

Block Error Ratio

BQC

Bad Quality Call

BQP

Bad Quality Probability

BS

Base Station

BSC

Base Station Controller

BSIC

Base Station Identity Code

BSS

Base Station Sub-system

BSSAP

Base Station Subsystem Application Part

BSSGP

Base Station Sub-system GPRS Protocol

BSSMAP

Base Station Subsystem Management Application Part

BTS

Base Transceiver Station

BTTI

Basic TTI (20 ms)

BVC

BSSGP Virtual Connection

C/I

Carrier to Interferer power ratio

CA

Certificate Authority

CAMEL

Customised Applications for Mobile networks Enhanced Logic

CAPEX

Capital Expenditures

CBC

Cell Broadcast Center

CBS

Cell Broadcast Service

CC

Convolutional Coding

CCN

Cell Change Notification

CCSA

China Communications Standards Association

CDF

Cumulative Distribution Function

CDMA

Code Division Multiple Access

CDR

Call Drop Rate

CELP

Code Excited Linear Prediction

CEPT

Conférence Européenne des Postes et Télécommunications (European conference of postal and telecommunications administrations)

CHD

Channel Decoder

CHE

Channel Encoder

CIC

Circuit Identification Code

CIR

Carrier to Interferer Ratio

CMC

Codec Mode Command

CMI

Codec Mode Indicator

CMR

Codec Mode Request

CN

Core Network

CRC

Cyclic Redundancy Check

CS

Circuit Switched

CS

Coding Scheme

CSD

Circuit-Switched Data

CSG

Closed Subscriber Group

CV_BEP

Coefficient of Variation of the Bit Error Probability

DA, D/A

Digital to Analogue

DAC

DA Converter

DAPD

Digital Adaptive Predistortion

DARP

Downlink Advanced Receiver Performance

DAS

EGPRS2-A Downlink modulation and coding scheme

DBS

EGPRS2-B Downlink modulation and coding scheme

DCA

Dynamic Channel Allocation

DCDL/DLDC

Dual Carrier Downlink

DCR

Dropped Call Ratio/Rate

DCS (DCS1800)

Digital Cellular System (in the 1800 MHz band)

DECT

Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications

DFR

Double Full Rate (OSC)

DHR

Double Half Rate (OSC)

DiffServ

Differentiated Services

DIR

Dominant to Rest Interference Ratio

DL

Downlink (network to mobile)

DMA

Dynamic MAIO Allocation

DME

Distance Measurement Equipment

DSP

Digital Signal Processor

DTAP

Direct Transfer Application Part

DTM

Dual Transfer Mode

DTS

DARP Test Scenario

DTX

Discontinuous Transmission

EAP

Extensible Authentication Protocol

ECC PT

Electronic Communications Committee Project Team

ECSD

Enhanced CSD

EDA

Extended Dynamic Allocation

EDGE

Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution

EFL

Effective Frequency Load

EFR

Enhanced Full-Rate (speech)

EGPRS

Enhanced GPRS

EGPRS2

Enhanced General Packet Radio Service 2

EGPRS2-A

EGPRS2 level A

EGPRS2-B

EGPRS2 level B

E-GSM

Extended GSM band

EMC

Electromagnetic Compatibility

EMR

Enhanced Measurement Reporting

E-OTD

Enhanced-Observed Time Difference

EPC

Evolved Packet Core (network)

EPS

Evolved Packet System

ETSI

European Telecommunications Standards Institute

E-UTRAN

Evolved UTRAN

FACCH

Fast Associated Control Channel

FANR

Fast Ack/Nack Reporting

FCC

Federal Communications Commission

FDD

Frequency Division Duplex

FEP

Frame Error Probability

FER

Frame Erasure Rate

FH

Frequency Hopping

FL

Fractional Load

FLO

Flexible Layer One

FN

Frame Number

FR

Full-Rate (speech)

FTP

File Transfer Protocol

GAN

Generic Access Network

GANC

GAN controller

GEA

GPRS Encryption Algorithm

GERAN

GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network

GGSN

Gateway GPRS Support Node

GMM

GPRS Mobility Management

GMSK

Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying

GNSS

Generic Navigational Satellite System

GPRS

General Packet Radio Service

%GPRS

General Packet Radio System

GPS

Global Positioning System

GSM

Global System for Mobile communications

GSM

Groupe Spécial Mobile (Special Mobile Group)

GSM-R

GSM Railway

HeNB

Home eNode B

HLR

Home Location Register

HNB

Home Node B

HO

Handover

HR

Half-Rate (speech)

HS

Harmonized Standard

HSCSD

High-Speed CSD

HSN

Hopping Sequence Number

HSPA

High-Speed Packet Access

HW

Hardware

ICI

Inter-Channel Interference

IE

Information Element

IETF

Internet Engineering Task Force

IF

Intermediate Frequency

IM

Intermodulation

IMD

Intermodulation Distortion

IMS

IP Multimedia Subsystem

IntServ

Integrated Services

IP

Internet Protocol

IRC

Interference Rejection Combining

ISDN

Integrated Services Data Network

ITU-T

International Telecommunication Union – Telecommunications Standardization Sector

JD

Joint Detection

KPI

Key Performance Indicator

L1

Layer 1 (Physical Layer)

L2

Layer 2 (Data Link Layer)

L2S

Link-to-System Mapping

L3

Layer 3 (Network Layer)

LAN

Local Area Network

LAPDm

Link Access Protocol on the Dm channel

LGMSK

Linearized Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying

LLC

Logical Link Control (protocol)

LNA

Low Noise Amplifier

LO

Local Oscillator

LPC

Linear Predictive Coding

LTE

Long Term Evolution

LTP

Long Term Predictor/Prediction

M3UA

MTP Level 3 (MTP3) User Adaptation Layer (SIGTRAN)

MA

Mobile Allocation

MAC

Medium Access Control (protocol)

MAIO

Mobile Allocation Index Offset

MBMS

Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service

MCBTS

Multicarrier BTS

MCPA

Multicarrier Power Amplifier

MCS

Modulation and Coding Scheme

MEAN_BEP

Mean of Bit Error Probability

MGW

Media Gateway

MIMO

Multiple Input Multiple Output

MMI

Man-Machine Interface

MOS

Mean Opinion Score

MPLS

Multi-protocol Label Switching

MS

Mobile Station

MSC

Mobile Switching Center

MSR

Multi-Standard Radio

MSRD

MS Receiver Diversity

MTP

Message Transfer Part

MTS

MUROS Test Scenario

MUROS

Multi-User Reusing One Slot

MUSHRA

MUlti Stimulus test with Hidden Reference and Anchors

NACC

Network Assisted Cell Change

Nack, NACK

Negative Acknowledgement

NB

Narrowband

NCCR

Network Controlled Cell Re-selection

NPM

Non-Persistent Mode

NRT

Non-Real-Time

OPEX

Operating expenditures

OSC

Orthogonal Sub-channels

O-TCH/WFS

Octal Traffic Channel Wideband Full-Rate Speech

O-TCH/WHS

Octal Traffic Channel Wideband Half-Rate Speech

OTD

Observed Time Difference

PA

Power Amplifier

PACCH

Packet Associated Control Channel

PAMR

Private Access Mobile Radio

PAN

Piggy-backed Ack/Nack

PAR

Peak-to-Average power Ratio

PC

Power Control

PCM

Pulse Code Modulation

PCS

Personal Communications Service

PCU

Packet Control Unit

PDAN

Packet Downlink Ack/Nack

PDCH

Packet Data Channel

PDH

Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy

PDP

Packet Data Protocol

PDTCH

Packet Data Traffic Channel

PDU

Packet Data Unit / Protocol Data Unit

PESQ

Perceptual Evaluation of Speech Quality

PFC

Packet Flow Context

PFI

Packet Flow Identifier

PFM

Packet Flow Management

P-GSM

Primary GSM band

PIN

Personal Identification Number

PLMN

Public Land Mobile Network

PM

Phase Modulation

POTS

Plain Old Telephony Service

PPC

Progressive Power Control

PS

Packet-Switch(ed)

PS

Packet Switched

PSI

Packet System Information

PSK

Phase Shift Keying

PSN

Packet Switched Network

PSTN

Public-Switched Telephone Network

PTCCH

Packet Timing Control Channel

PUAN

Packet Uplink Ack/Nack

QAM

Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

QC

Quality Control

QoS

Quality of Service

QPSK

Quadrature Phase Shift Keying

RA

Routing Area

RAT

Radio Access Technology

RB

Radio Block

RF

Radio Frequency

RFC

Request For Comment

RLC

Radio Link Control (protocol)

RLF

Radio Link Failure

RLT

Radio Link Timeout

RPE

Regular Pulse Excitation

RPE-LTP

Regular Pulse Excited Long Term Prediction

RR

Radio Resource

RRC

Radio Resource Control

RRC

Root Raised Cosine

RRH

Remote Radio Head

RRM

Radio Resource Management

RT

Real Time

RTT

Round Trip Time

RTTI

Reduced TTI (10 ms)

Rx, RX

Receive

RXLEV

Received Power level

RXQUAL

Received Quality

SABM

Set Asynchronous Balanced Mode

SACCH

Slow Associated Control Channel

SAIC

Single Antenna Interference Cancellation

SCBTS

Single carrier BTS

SCCP

Signaling Connection Control Part

SCH

Synchronization Channel

SCPIR

Sub-channel Power Imbalance Ratio

SCTP

S Common Transport Protocol

SDCA

Service Dependent Channel Allocation

SDCCH

Stand-alone Dedicated Control Channel

SDH

Synchronous Digital Hierarchy

SDU

Service Data Unit

SE

Spectrum Efficiency

SEGW

Security Gateway

SGSN

Serving GPRS Support Node

SI

System Information

SIC

Successive Interference Cancellation

SID

Silence Indicator Description

SIGTRAN

Signaling Transport protocol stack for PSTN signaling over IP

SIM

Subscriber Identity Module

SIM ATK

SIM Application Toolkit

SINR

Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio

SMA

Static Mobile Allocation

S-MIC

Successive Mono Interference Cancellation

SMLC

Serving Mobile Location Center

SMS

Short Message Service

SNDCP

Sub Network Dependent Convergence Protocol

SNR

Signal to Noise Ratio

SPD

Speech Decoder

SPE

Speech Encoder

SSID

Service Set Identifier

SSN

Starting Sequence Number

STIRC

Space Time Interference Rejection Combining

SW

Software

TAPS

TETRA Advanced Packet Service

TBF

Temporary Block Flow

TC

Transcoder

TC

Turbo Coding

TC MSG

Technical Committee Mobile Standards Group

TCH

Traffic Channel

TCH/AFS

Traffic Channel using Adaptive Multi-Rate Full Rate Speech

TCH/AHS

Traffic Channel using Adaptive Multi-Rate Half Rate Speech

TCH/EFS

Traffic Channel using Enhanced Full Rate Speech

TCH/FS

Traffic Channel using Full Rate Speech

TCH/HS

Traffic Channel using Half Rate Speech

TCH/WFS

Traffic Channel using Wideband Adaptive Multi-Rate Full Rate Speech and GMSK

TCO

Total Cost of Ownership

TCP

Transmission Control Protocol

TDD

Time Division Duplex

TDM

Time Division

TDMA

Time Division Multiple Access

TETRA

Terrestrial Trunked Radio

TFES

Task Force for ETSI ERM and MSG for Harmonized Standards for IMT-2000

TFO

Tandem Free Operation

T-GSM

Trunked GSM

THP

Traffic Handling Priority

THR

Threshold

TIA/IS

Telecommunications Industry Association / International Standard

TOA

Time Of Arrival

TOM

Tunneling of Messages

TOP

Temporary Overpower

TP

Throughput

TR

Technical Report

TRAU

Transcoder and Rate Adaptation Unit

TrFO

Transcoder Free Operation

TRX

Transceiver

TS

Technical Specification

TS

Time slot

TSC

Training Sequence Code

TSG

Technical Specification Group

TTA

Telecommunications Technology Association

TTC

Telecommunication Technology Committee

TTI

Transfer Time Interval

TUxx

Typical Urban environment with MS speed of xx km/hr

Tx; TX

Transmit

UA

Unnumbered Acknowledgement

UAS

EGPRS2-A Uplink modulation and coding scheme

UBS

EGPRS2-B Uplink modulation and coding scheme

UDP

User Datagram Protocol

UE

User Equipment

UEM

Unwanted Emission Mask

UL

Uplink (mobile to network)

UM

Unacknowledged Mode

UMA

Unlicensed Mobile Access

UMTS

Universal Mobile Telecommunication System

URL

Uniform Resource Locator

USF

Uplink State Flag

U-TDOA

Uplink Time Difference Of Arrival

UTRAN

UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network

VAMOS

Voice over Adaptive Multi-user channels on One Slot

VGCS

Voice Group Call Service

VoIP

Voice over IP

V-SELP

Vector Sum Excited Linear Prediction

WAPECS

Wireless Access Policy for Electronic Communications Services

WB

Wideband

WCDMA

Wideband Code Division Multiple Access

WG

Working Group

WLAN

Wireless LAN

WWW

World Wide Web

Part I

GSM/EDGE Standardization

1

GSM Standardization History

Guillaume Sébire

1.1 Introduction

GSM, the Global System for Mobile communications, owes its worldwide success to the continued progressive and backward-compatible evolution of its open industry standard and to visionary yet simple ideas such as global roaming – enabling, thanks to a harmonized spectrum, the use of a device with the same number outside its home network, multivendor environment – enabling different vendors to implement with sufficient freedom compatible products based on the same standard, SMS1 –enabling people to text each other, etc.

First aimed at providing mobile voice communications, GSM developed early on into a rich system offering supplementary services and other data communications, well ahead of the analogue systems then sporadically deployed in several regions of the world and which were incompatible. GSM has been and is by far the most widely used and most successful communications system of all time, enabling, at the time of writing, over four billion subscribers [1] to communicate in just about every single country of the world, just about everywhere (including airplanes) and with virtually everyone. The success of GSM is, simply put, staggering. Of all the active digital mobile subscriptions worldwide, more than 80% are GSM [2].

This chapter relates the history of GSM standardization from the early 1980s to the late 2000s and lists the main features and functionalities that have gradually been introduced in GSM specifications.

1.2 History

Initially launched as a European initiative in 1982 by CEPT,2 the Groupe Spécial Mobile (Special Mobile Group) was tasked to develop a standard for mobile telephony across Europe in the 900 MHz band. Five years later in 1987, the signature by thirteen countries3 of a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a pan-European common cellular telephony system in the 900 MHz band marked the official birth of GSM, set for service launch in 1991. ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, created in 1988 by CEPT to handle all telecommunication standardization activities, became in 1989 the sole entity responsible for the GSM standard.

By 1990, the first set of specifications, GSM Phase 1, was frozen and published. By 1995, GSM Phase 2 was available, followed a couple of years later by GSM Phase 2+ which also introduced the concept of “yearly” release. The publication of the specifications into backward-compatible phases/releases has been a cornerstone of the evolution of the GSM standard and a model for future standards. It has ensured the availability in the specifications of a same phase/release of a consistent set of services, functionalities and features on both network and terminal sides and the inherent compatibility between equipment of different phases/releases. Since the first “release” in Phase 2+, known as Release 96 (or R96), nine others have been published (or are being developed): R97, R98, R99, Release 2000 later renamed Rel-4, Rel-5, Rel-6, Rel-7, Rel-8 and Rel-9. Release 9 is still in the making at the time of writing while stage 1 requirements for Release 10 are being laid out. Release 4 marked the transfer of GSM specifications within the Third Generation Partnership Project or 3GPP in the year 2000.