What is GSM?

GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) is an open, digital cellular technology used for transmitting mobile voice and data services. GSM differs from first generation wireless systems in that it uses digital technology and time division multiple access transmission methods. GSM is a circuit-switched system that divides each 200kHz channel into eight 25kHz time-slots. GSM operates in the 900MHz and 1.8GHz bands in Europe and the 1.9GHz and 850MHz bands in the US. The 850MHz band is also used for GSM and 3GSM in Australia, Canada and many South American countries. GSM supports data transfer speeds of up to 9.6 kbit/s, allowing the transmission of basic data services such as SMS (Short Message Service). Another major benefit is its international roaming capability, allowing users to access the same services when travelling abroad as at home. This gives consumers seamless and same number connectivity in more than 210 countries. GSM satellite roaming has also extended service access to areas where terrestrial coverage is not available.

Number of Connections, GSM

Market	Q4 2005	Q1 2006	Q2 2006	Q3 2006	Q4 2006	Q1 2007
World	1,723,447,161	1,823,488,747	1,932,019,402	2,038,344,616	2,163,692,888	2,252,500,873
Africa	133,458,554	145,183,219	159,243,427	173,407,082	190,560,961	204,428,861
Americas	141,093,837	158,311,952	178,157,244	195,676,060	216,985,503	235,208,752
Asia Pacific	627,497,288	672,802,964	718,727,094	764,011,939	814,334,461	856,781,733
Europe: Eastern	268,112,584	281,735,317	299,005,076	315,507,307	337,087,995	346,037,102
Europe: Western	382,800,697	383,512,340	384,801,687	386,589,808	390,079,936	386,766,885
Middle East	94,938,276	101,981,358	108,651,609	116,126,827	123,751,070	131,242,851
USA/Canada	75,545,925	79,961,597	83,433,265	87,025,593	90,892,962	92,034,689

Wireless Intelligence 10/04/07

Mobile Terms & Acronyms

"Wireless technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace and along with it so too does the language used by the wireless industry - which at times can leave even the most accomplished wireless practitioner confused or bemused" - Rob Conway, CEO GSM Association
The following is a compiled list of mobile terms and acronyms taken from a GSM Association supported publication. For a hardback copy of Mobile Terms & Acronyms please contact GSM Publications.

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1G
The first generation of analogue mobile phone technologies including AMPS, TACS and NMT

2G
The second generation of digital mobile phone technologies including GSM, CDMA IS-95 and D-AMPS IS-136

2.5G
The enhancement of GSM which includes technologies such as GPRS

3G
The third generation of mobile phone technologies covered by the ITU IMT-2000 family

3GPP
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project, a grouping of international standards bodies, operators and vendors with the responsibility of standardising the WCDMA based members of the IMT-2000 family

3GPP2
The counterpart of 3GPP with responsibility for standardising the CDMA2000-based members of the IMT-2000 family. 3GPP2 is spearheaded by ANSI

8PSK
Octantal Phase Shift Keying

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A5/1/2/3/8X
Encryption algorithms for GSM networks

AAL
ATM Adaptation Layer

ABR
Available Bit Rate

A-bis
Interface between the BSC and BTS in a GSM network

AB
Access Burst; used for random access and characterised by a longer guard period to allow for burst transmission from a MS that does not know the correct timing advance when first contacting a network

ACTE
Approvals Committee for Terminal Equipment

ACTS
Advanced Communications Technologies and Services – a European technology initiative

ACU
Antenna Combining Unit

ADPCM
Adaptive Differential Pulse Code Modulation; a form of voice compression that typically uses 32kbit/s

AFC
Automatic Frequency Control

AGCH
Access Grant Channel; downlink only, BTS allocates a TCH or SDCCH to the MS, allowing it access to the network

Air interface
In a mobile phone network, the radio transmission path between the base station and the mobile terminal

A-interface
Interface between the MSC and BSS in a GSM network

AM
Amplitude Modulation

AMPS
Advanced Mobile Phone System, the analogue mobile phone technology used in North and South America and in around 35 other countries. Operates in the 800MHz band using FDMA technology

AMR
Adaptive Multi-Rate codec. Developed in 1999 for use in GSM networks, the AMR
has been adopted by 3GPP for 3G

Analogue
The representation of information by a continuously variable physical quantity such as voltage

ANSI
American National Standards Institute. An non-profit making US organisation which does not carry out standardisation work but reviews the work of standards bodies and assigns them category codes and numbers

ANSI-136
See D-AMPS

API
Application Program Interface

AoC
Advice of Charge

ARIB
Association of Radio Industries and Businesses. An organisation established by Japan’s Ministry of Posts and Communications to act as the standardisation authority for radio communication and broadcasting

ARPU
Average Revenue Per User

ASCII
American Standard Code for Information Interchange

ASIC
Application Specific Integrated Circuit

ASP
Application Service Provider

Asymmetric Transmission
Data transmissions where the traffic from the network to the subscriber is at a higher rate than the traffic from the subscriber to the network

A-TDMA
Advanced Time Division Multiple Access

ATM
Asynchronous Transfer Mode; a multiplexed information transfer and switching method in which the data is organised into fixed length 53-octet cells and transmitted according to each application’s instantaneous need

AUC
Authentication Centre; the element within a GSM network which generates the parameters for subscriber authentication

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Bandwidth
A term meaning both the width of a transmission channel in terms of Hertz and the maximum transmission speed in bits per second that it will support

BCH
Broadcast Channels; carry only downlink information and are mainly responsible for synchronisation and frequency correction (BCCH, FCCH and SCH)

BCCH
Broadcast Control Channel; the logical channel used in cellular networks to broadcast signalling and control information to all mobile phones within the network

B-CDMA
Broadband Code Division Multiple Access

B-ISDN
Broadband ISDN

BER
Bit Error Rate; the percentage of received bits in error compared to the total number of bits received

BERT
Bit Error Rate Test

Bit
A bit is the smallest unit of information technology. As bits are made up using the binary number system, all multiples of bits must be powers of two i.e. a kilobit is actually 1024 bits and a megabit 1048576 bits. Transmission speeds are given in bits per second (bit/s)

Bluetooth
A low power, short range wireless technology designed to provide a replacement for the serial cable. Operating in the 2.4GHz ISM band, Bluetooth can connect a wide range of personal, professional and domestic devices such a laptop computers and mobile phones together wirelessly.

BHCA
Busy Hour Call Attempts; the number of call attempts made during a network’s busiest hour of the day

BSC
Base Station Controller; the network entity controlling a number of Base Transceiver Stations

BSS
Base Station System/Subsystem

BTS
Base Transceiver Station; the network entity which communicates with the mobile station

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CAI
Common Air Interface; a standard developed for the UK’s public CT2 networks which enabled the same handset to be used on different networks

CAMEL
Customised Application for Mobile network Enhanced Logic; an IN feature in GSM networks that enables users to carry personal services with them when roaming into other networks that support CAMEL

CSE
CAMEL Service Environment

Capacity
A measure of a cellular network’s ability to support simultaneous calls

CB
Cell Broadcast

CC
Call Control; manages call connections

CCB
Customer Care and Billing

CCCH
Common Control Channels; a group of uplink and downlink channels between the MS and the BTS (see PCH, AGCH and RACH)

CCS7
Common Channel Signalling No. 7

CDMA
Code Division Multiple Access; also known as spread spectrum, CDMA cellular systems utilise a single frequency band for all traffic, differentiating the individual transmissions by assigning them unique codes before transmission. There are a number of variants of CDMA (see W-CDMA, B-CDMA, TD-SCDMA et al)

CDMAone
The first commercial CDMA cellular system; deployed in North America and Korea; also known as IS-95

CDMA2000
A member of the IMT-2000 3G family; backwardly compatible with cdmaOne

CDMA 1X
The first generation of cdma2000; the standardisation process indicated that there would be CDMA 2X and CDMA 3X but this no longer appears likely

CDMA 1X EV-DO
A variant of CDMA 1X which delivers data only

CDPD
Cellular Digital Packet Data; a packet switched data service largely deployed in the USA. The service uses idle analogue channels to carry the packetised information.

CDPSK
Coherent Differential Phase Shift Keying

CDR
Call Detail Records; the record made within the cellular network of all details of both incoming and outgoing calls made by subscribers, The CDR is passed to the billing system for action

Cell
The area covered by a cellular base station. A cell site may sectorise its antennas to service several cells from one locationCell site
The facility housing the transmitters/receivers, the antennas and associated equipment

Cell splitting
The process of converting a single cell to multiple cells by sectorising the antennas in the cell site or constructing additional cells within a cell site

CELP
Code Excited Linear Prediction; an analogue to digital voice coding scheme, there are a number of variants used in cellular systems

CEPT
Conference of European Posts and Telecommunications. A organisation of national posts, telegraphs and telephone administrations. Until 1988, when this work was take over by ETSI, the main European body for telecommunications standardisation. CEPT established the original GSM standardisation group

CF
Call Forwarding

CI
Carrier to Interference ratio

CIBER
Cellular Intercarrier Billing Exchange Roamer Record

CID
Caller Identification

Circuit switching
A method used in telecommunications where a temporary dedicated circuit of constant bandwidth is established between two distant endpoints in a network. Mainly used for voice traffic; the opposite of packet switching

CLID
Calling Line Identification

CLIP
Calling Line Identification Presentation

CLIR
Calling Line Identification Restriction

CM
Connection Management; is used to set up, maintain and take down call connections

CMOS
Complementary Metal Oxide Substrate

Codec
A word formed by combining coder and decoder the codec is a device which encodes and decodes signals. The voice codec in a cellular network converts voice signals into and back from bit strings. In GSM networks, in addition to the standard voice codec, it is possible to implement Half Rate (HR) codecs and Enhanced Full Rate (EFR) codecs

Control signal
A signal sent to a cellular phone from a base station or vice versa which carries information essential to the call but not including the audio portion of a conversation

CPE
Customer Premises Equipment; all the equipment on the end user’s side of the network interface

CPU
Central Processing Unit

CRC
Cyclic Redundancy Check

CRM
Customer Relationship Management

CSS
Customer Support System

CT
Cordless Telephony

CT0
Zero generation cordless telephony; the earliest domestic cordless phones which used analogue technology and which had severe limitations in terms of range and security

CT1
First generation cordless telephony; Improved analogue phones with greater range and security; a number of European nations produced CT1 standards

CT2
Second generation cordless telephony; Using digital technology CT2 phones offered greater range, improved security and a wide range of new functionalities. Used in both domestic and cordless PABX deployments, CT2 was standardised as an interim ETS but was overwhelmed by DECT

CT2-CAI
Second generation cordless telephony-common air interface

CTA
Cordless Terminal Adaptor; a DECT term

CTM
Cordless Terminal Mobility

CTR
Common Technical Regulation; part of the ETSI standardisation process

CUG
Closed User Group

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D/A
Digital to Analogue conversion

DAC
Digital to Analogue Convertor

DAMA
Demand Assigned Multiple Access

D-AMPS
Digital AMPS, a US wireless standard also known as IS-136

DAN
DECT Access Node

DCA
Dynamic Channel Assignment

DCCH
Dedicated Control Channels; responsible for roaming, handovers, encryption etc. (See SDCCH, SACCH and FACCH)

DCE
Data Communications Equipment

DCH
Data Clearing House

DCPSK
Differentially Coherent Phase Shift Keying

DCS1800
Digital Cellular System at 1800MHz, now known as GSM1800

DECT
Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications system, a second generation digital cordless technology standardised by ETSI

DEPSK
Differential Encoded Phase Shift Keying

DES
Digital Encryption Standard

DFSK
Double Frequency Shift Keying

Digital
a method of representing information as numbers with discrete values; usually expressed as a sequence of bits

DPCM
Differential Pulse Code Modulation

DPSK
Digital Phase Shift Keying

DQPSK
Digital Quadrature Phase Shift Keying

DS-CDMA
Direct Sequence CDMA

DSP
Digital Signal Processing

DSRR
Digital Short Range Radio; a UK standard for a low power, short range radio system designed for small voice and data networks

DTE
Data Terminal Equipment

DTMF
Dual Tone MultiFrequency; better know as Touch Tone. The tones generated by touching the keys on the phone are used for a variety of purposes including voice mail systems and voice messaging

DTX
Discontinuous Transmission

Dual Band
The capability of GSM infrastructure elements and handsets to work across both the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands. The capability to seamlessly handover between the two bands offers operators major capacity gains

DB
Dummy Burst; transmitted as a filler in unused timeslots of the carrier

Duplex
The wireless technique where one frequency band is used for traffic from the network to the subscriber (the downlink) and another, widely separated, band is used for traffic from the subscriber to the network (the uplink)

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EDGE
Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution; effectively the final stage in the evolution of the GSM standard, EDGE uses a new modulation schema to enable theoretical data speeds of up to 384kbit/s within the existing GSM spectrum. An alternative upgrade path towards 3G services for operators, such as those in the USA, without access to new spectrum. Also known as Enhanced GPRS (E-GPRS)

EEPROM
Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

EFR
Enhanced Full Rate; a alternative voice codec that provides improved voice quality in a GSM network (see codec)

EFT
Electronic Funds Transfer

EGSM
Extended (frequency range) GSM

EIR
Equipment Identity Register; a database that contains a list of all valid mobile stations within a network based on their IMEI

EIRP
Effective Isotropic Radiated Power

EPOC
The mobile phone operating system developed by Symbian. Derived from epoch-the beginning of an era-EPOC is a 32-bit operating environment which comprises a suite of applications, customisable user interfaces, connectivity options and a range of development tools

EPROM
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

Erlang
A dimensionless unit of average traffic density in a telecommunications network

ERMES
Enhanced Radio Messaging System; a paging technology developed by ETSI which was intended to allow users to roam throughout Europe. Adopted by a number of European and Middle Eastern countries, ERMES, like paging in general, was overtaken by the ubiquity of GSM

ERO
European Radiocommunications Office

ERP
Effective Radiated Power

ESMR
Enhanced Special Mobile Radio; a US PMR variant (see SMR)

ESN
Electronic Serial Number; a 32-bit number that uniquely identifies a mobile phone

ESPRIT
European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology

ETACS
Extended TACS; the extension of TACS by the addition of new frequencies

ETSI
European Telecommunications Standards Institute: The European group responsible for defining telecommunications standards

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FACCH
Fast Associated Control Channel; similar to the SDCCH but used in parallel for operation of the TCH. If the data rate of the SACCH is insufficient borrowing mode is used

FB
Frequency Correction Burst; used for frequency synchronisation of the mobile

FCC
Federal Communications Commission; the US regulatory body for telecommunications

FCCH
Frequency Correction Channel; downlink only, correction of MS frequencies, transmission of frequency standard to MS etc.

FDD
Frequency Division Duplex; a radio technique which uses paired spectrum; UMTS has an FDD element

FDMA
Frequency Division Multiple Access-a transmission technique where the assigned frequency band for a network is divided into sub-bands which are allocated to a subscriber for the duration of their calls

FEC
Forward Error Correction

FH
Frequency Hopping

FH-CDMA
Frequency Hopping CDMA

FMC
Fixed Mobile Convergence

FMI
Fixed Mobile Integration

FPLMTS
Future Public Land Mobile Telecommunications System, the original title of the ITU’s third generation concept now known as IMT-2000

FRA
Fixed Radio Access; see WLL

FSDPSK
Filtered Symmetric Differential Phase Shift Keying

FSK
Frequency Shift Keying; a method of using frequency modulation to send digital information

FSOQ
Frequency Shift Offset Quadrature Modulation

FSS
Fixed Satellite ServiceGb
The interface between the PCU and the SGSN in a GSM/GPRS network

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Gc
The interface between the GGSN and the HLR in a GSM/GPRS network

Gd
The interface between the SGSN and the SMSC in a GSM/GPRS network

Gf
The interface between the SGSN and the EIR in a GSM/GPRS network

Gi
The interface between the GGSN and the Internet in a GPRS network

Gn
The interface between the GGSN and the SGSN in a GPRS network

Gp
The interfaces between the GGSN/SGSN and the Border Gateway in a GPRS network

Gr
The interface between the SGSN and the HLR in a GPRS network

Gs
The interface between the SGSN and the MSC in a GSM/GPRS network

GAIT
GSM/ANSI 136 Interoperability Committee

GAP
Generic Access Profile; a DECT term

Gbit/s
A unit of data transmission rate equal to one billion bits per second

GMSC
Gateway Mobile Services Switching Centre; the gateway between two networks

GCF
Global Certification Forum

Geostationary
Refers to a satellite in equatorial orbit above the earth which appears from the surface to be stationary

GERAN
GSM-EDGE Radio Access Network; the name for the evolution of GSM towards 3G based on EDGE

GGRF
GSM Global Roaming Forum

GGSN
Gateway GPRS Support Node; the gateway between a cellular network and a IP network.

GHz
A unit of frequency equal to one billion Hertz per second

GMPCS
Global Mobile Personal Communications by Satellite

GMSK
Gaussian filtered Minimum Shift Keying; a refinement of FSK which minimises adjacent channel interference

GPRS
General Packet Radio Service; standardised as part of GSM Phase 2+, GPRS represents the first implementation of packet switching within GSM, which is a circuit switched technology. GPRS offers theoretical data speeds of up to 115kbit/s using multislot techniques. GPRS is an essential precursor for 3G as it introduces the packet switched core required for UMTS

GPS
Global Positioning System; a location system based on a constellation of US Department of Defence satellites. Depending on the number of satellites visible to the user can provide accuracies down to tens of metres. Now being incorporated as a key feature in an increasing number of handsets

GRX
GPRS Roaming Exchange

GSM
Global System for Mobile communications, the second generation digital technology originally developed for Europe but which now has in excess of 71 per cent of the world market. Initially developed for operation in the 900MHz band and subsequently modified for the 850, 1800 and 1900MHz bands. GSM originally stood for Groupe Speciale Mobile, the CEPT committee which began the GSM standardisation process

GSM MoU
The GSM Memorandum of Understanding, an agreement signed between all the major European operators to work together to promote GSM. The precursor of the GSM Association

GSM-R
GSM-Railway, A variant of GSM designed to meet the special communications needs of international train operators

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Handoff
The transfer of control of a cellular phone call in progress from one cell to another, without any discontinuity

Hands-free
The operation of a cellular phone without using the handset; usually installed in vehicles.

HCS
Hierarchical Cell Structure; the architecture of a multi-layered cellular network where subscribers are handed over from the macro to the micro to the pico layer depending on the current network capacity and the needs of the subscriber

HDLC
High level Data Link Control

HIPERLAN
High Performance Radio Local Access Network; a wireless local area network being standardised by ETSI (Also HIPERLAN2)

HLR
Home Location Register; the database within a GSM network which stores all the subscriber data. An important element in the roaming process

HSCSD
High Speed Circuit Switched Data; a special mode in GSM networks which provides higher data throughput By cocatenating a number of timeslots, each delivering 14.4kbit/s, much higher data speeds can be achieved

HSPSD
High Speed Packet Switched DataIub
The interface between the Node B and the RNC in a UMTS network

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Iur
The interface between RNCs in a UMTS network

Iups
The connection between the RNC and the packet switched network in a GSM/GPRS/UMTS network

Iucs
The connection between the RNC and the circuit switched network in a GSM/GPRS/
UMTS network

I-ETS
Interim European Telecommunications Standard

I-mode
A service developed by Japanese operator NTT DoCoMo, I-mode delivers a huge range of services to subscribers and has proved enormously popular with some 30 million regular users. The revenue sharing model used for I-mode is being adopted by other operators as the basis for the new services enabled by GPRS and 3G

IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity

IMSI
International Mobile Subscriber Identity; an internal subscriber identity used only by the network

IMT-2000
The family of third generation technologies approved by the ITU. There are five members of the family: IMT-DS, a direct sequence WCDMA FDD solution IMT-TC, a WCDMA TDD solution IMT-MC, a multicarrier solution developed from cdma2000 IMT-SC, a single carrier solution developed from IS-136/UWC-136 IMT-FT, a TDMA/TDD solution derived from DECT

IN
Intelligent Network

INAP
Intelligent Network Application Part

Internet
A loose confederation of autonomous databases and networks. Originally developed for academic use the Internet is now a global structure of millions of sites accessible by anyone

Intranet
A private network which utilises the same techniques as the Internet but is accessible only by authorised users

IP
Internet Protocol

IPR
Intellectual Property Rights

IPv6
The next generation of IP addressing designed to replace the current system IPv4 which uses a 32 bit address code which limits the number of possible addresses. IPv6 uses a 128 bit code ensuring that the possible number of IP addresses will be virtually limitless

IrDA
Infra red Data Association

Iridium
A low earth orbit satellite communications system developed initially by Motorola.

IS-54
The first evolution in the USA from analogue to digital technology. Used a hybrid of analogue and digital technology, superseded by IS-136

IS-95
Cellular standard know also as cdmaOne

IS-136
Cellular standard also known as TDMA or D-AMPS

ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network

ISO
International Standards Organisation

ISP
Internet Service Provider

ITU
International Telecommunications Union

ITU-R
ITU Telecommunications Radio Sector

ITU-T
ITU Telecommunications Standardisation Sector

IWF
Interworking Function

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Java
A programming language developed by Sun Microsystems Java is characterised by the fact that programs written in Java do not rely on an operating system

JPEG
Joint Photographic Experts Group

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LAN
Local Area Network

LANS
Local Area Network Services

LAP
Link Access Protocol

LEO
Low Earth Orbit; refers to satellites which orbit the Earth at around 1,000 kilometres

LMSS
Land Mobile Satellite Service

LOS
Line of Sight

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MAC
Media Access Control; the lower sublayer of the OSI system

MAN
Metropolitan Area Network

MAP
Mobile Application Part

Mbit/s
Megabit: a unit of data transmission speed equal to one million bits per second

MHz
Megahertz; a unit of frequency equal to one million Hertz

MCPA
Multi Carrier Power Amplifier

MeXe
Mobile Execution Environment; likely to be based on Java, MeXe enables WAP-enabled devices to offer a wider range of features with greater security and flexibility, as well as greater control of telephony features

MFSK
Multiple Frequency Shift Keying

MMI
Man Machine Interface

MMS
Multimedia Messaging Service; an evolution of SMS, MMS goes beyond text messaging offering various kinds of multimedia content including images, audio and video clips

MMSK
Modified Minimum Shift Keying

MNO
Mobile Network Operator

Modulation
The process of imposing an information signal on a carrier. This can be done by changing the amplitude (AM), the frequency (FM) or the phase, or any combination of these

MoU
Memorandum of Understanding-
see GSM MoU

MPEG
Motion Picture Experts Group; MPEG4 is a technology for compressing voice and video so that the information can be transmitted over normally difficult links such as mobile radio

MS
Mobile Station

MSC
Mobile Switching Centre; the switching centre of a mobile phone network, the MSC has interfaces to the BSCs, HLR, VLR and other MSCs

MSISDN
Mobile Station International ISDN Number

MSK
Minimum Shift Keying; Another term for FFSK

Multiplexing
A telecommunications technique where several channels can be combined to share the same transmission medium. The most common forms are Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) and Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

MVPN
Mobile Virtual Private Network

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N-AMPS
Narrowband AMPS

NB
Normal Burst; used to carry traffic and control channels except RACH

NET
Norme Europeenne de Telecommunications

NMT
Nordic Mobile Telephone system; an analogue cellular technology deployed in the Nordic countries in the late 1970’s; variations were also deployed in the Benelux countries and in Russia. NMT operated in the 450 and 900MHz bands and was the first technology to offer international roaming, albeit only in the Nordic countries

Node B
The element in a UMTS network which interfaces with the mobile station, analogous to a BTS in a GSM network

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OTA
Over the air activation (of services and tariff changes)

O&M
Operations and Maintenance

OMC
Operations and Maintenance Centre

OMC-R
The radio OMC

OMC-S
The switching OMC

OSI
Open Systems Interconnection; a seven layer model for protocols defined by ISO

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PACS
Personal Access Communication System; a digital cordless technology developed initially by Bell Labs in the US, PACS was designed to compete with DECT

Packet switching
A communication system wherein the information is transmitted in packets of a set size. These packets have address headers and find their way to their destination by the most efficient route through the network. Compared to circuit switching where a connection is occupied until the traffic exchange is completed, packet switching offers considerable efficiencies as connections can be used by a number of users simultaneously

PAMR
Public Access Mobile Radio; Commercial service using trunking techniques in which multiple groups of users can set up their own closed systems within a shared public network

PAP
Public Access Profile; a DECT term

PCH
Paging Channel; downlink only, the MS is informed of incoming calls by the BTS via the PCH

PCM
Pulse Code Modulation; the standard digital voice format at 64kbit/s

PCMCIA
Personal Computer Memory Card Interface Association the body responsible for defining the standards and formats for memory expansion cards for laptop computers and PDAs. Now extended to cover cards for mobile phones

PCN
Personal Communications Network; a designation initially used in the UK to refer to networks operating in the 1800MHz band (see also DCS1800). No longer in use

PCS 1900
Personal Communications Systems 1900MHz; the terminology used in the US to describe the new digital networks being deployed in the 1900MHz band; rarely used today

PCU
Packet Control Unit; an element in a GPRS/UMTS network

PDA
Personal Digital Assistant

PDC
Personal Digital Communications; a digital cellular technology developed and deployed uniquely in Japan. A TDMA technology, PDC is incompatible with any other digital cellular standard

PEDC
Pan European Digital Communications; A designation occasionally used in the early 1990’s to describe GSM. No longer in use

Penetration
The percentage of the total population which owns a mobile phone

PHS / PHP
Personal HandyPhone System/Phone; a digital cordless technology developed in Japan which achieved great success. Deployed by NTT DoCoMo and other Japanese operators PHS offered two-way communications, data services and Internet access and eventually won some 28 million customers. Now in decline as cellular’s wide area capabilities offer better service

PIN
Personal Identifier Number

PKI
Public Key Infrastructure

PLMN
Public Land Mobile Network; any cellular operator’s network

PMR
Private Mobile Radiocommunications; two-way radio technology widely used for despatch and delivery services, taxi companies and the like. See TETRA

POCSAG
Post Office Code Standardisation Group; a now defunct industry grouping which standardised pager addressing systems

PoP
Points of Presence; a method of measuring the value of a cellular licence; the approximate number of potential customers within a geographical area

POTS
Plain Old Telephone Service

PROM
Programmable Read Only Memory

PSK
Phase Shift Keying

PSRCP
Public Safety Radio Communications Project; an initiative by the UK Government to standardise all emergency services communications on to a single digital technology (see TETRA)

PSDN
Public Switched Data Network

PSPDN
Public Switched Packet Data Network

PSTN
Public Switched Telephone Network

PSU
Power Supply Unit

PTO
Public Telecommunication Operator

PTT
Posts, Telephone and Telegraph Administration

PTT
Push-to-Talk; a feature of PMR systems

PWT
Personal Wireless Telecommunications; a variant of DECT developed for use in the USA

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QAM
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

QAPSK
Quadrature Amplitude Phase Shift Keying

QCELP
Quadrature Code Excited Linear Prediction

QoS
Quality of Service; a broad term to describe the performance attributes of an end-to-end connection

QPSK
Quadrature Phase Shift Keying

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RACE
Research in Advanced Communications in Europe

RACH
Random Access Channel; uplink only, allows the MS to request an SDCCH in response to a page or for a call

RAM
Random Access Memory

RFP
Radio Fixed Part; equivalent to a base station in a DECT system

RCC
Radio Common Carrier

RELP
Regular pulse Excitation Linear Prediction coding

Reuse
The assignment of frequencies or channels to cells so that adjoining cells do not use the same frequencies and cause interference whereas more distant cells can use the same frequencies. Reuse expands the capacity of a cellular network by enabling the use of the same channels throughout the network

RP
Radio Part

RNC
Radio Network Controller; the element which controls the Node Bs within a UMTS network. It is roughly analogous to a BSC in a GSM network

Roaming
A service unique to GSM which enables a subscriber to make and receive calls when outside the service area of his home network e.g. when travelling abroad

Router
A device which forwards information in a network on a connectionless basis

RRM
Radio Resource Management, part of the UMTS infrastructure

RT
Remote Terminal

BACK TO TOP

SACCH
Slow Associated Control Channel; transmits continuous measurements in parallel with operation of TCH or SDCCH; needed for handover decisions

SAR
Specific Absorption Rate

SB
Synchronisation Burst; used for time synchronisation of the mobile

S-CDMA
Synchronous CDMA (see CDMA)

SCH
Synchronisation Channel; downlink only frame synchronisation and identification of base station

SCP
Switching/Service Control Point

SDCCH
Stand-alone Dedicated Control Channel; communications channel between the MS and the BTS. Used for signalling during call set-up before a TCH is allocated

SDLC
Synchronous Data Link Control

SDMA
Spatial Division Multiple Access

SGSN
Serving GPRS Support Node; the gateway between the RNC and the core network in a GPRS/UMTS network

SIM
Subscriber Identity Module; A smart card containing the telephone number of the subscriber, encoded network identification details, the PIN and other user data such as the phone book. A user’s SIM card can be moved from phone to phone as it contains all the key information required to activate the phone

SoHo
Small Office/Home Office

Streaming
An Internet derived expression for the one-way transmission of video and audio content

STK
SIM ToolKit: specified within the GSM standard, this allows operators to add additional functions to the phone menu in order to provide new services such as mobile banking or email

SMR
Specialised Mobile Radio; the US term for private mobile radio (See PMR)

SMS
Short Message Service; a text message service which enables users to send short messages (160 characters) to other users. A very popular service, particularly amongst young people, with 400 billion SMS messages sent worldwide in 2002

SMSC
SMS Centre-the network entity which switches SMS traffic

SMSCB
SMS Cell Broadcast

SMS-MO
SMS Mobile Originated

SMS-MT
SMS Mobile Terminated

SMS-PP
SMS Point to Point

SP
Service Provider

SQAM
Staggered Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

SQPSK
Staggered Quadrature Phase Shift Keying

SS
Supplementary Service Support; handles special services

SS7
Signalling System Number 7 (See CCS7)

SSP
Service Switching Point

STM
Synchronous Transfer Mode

Symbian
A company created by Psion, Nokia, Ericsson and Motorola in 1998 with the aim of developing and standardising an operating system which enable mobile phones from different manufacturers to exchange information
The operating system is known as EPOC. Matsushita has subsequently joined Symbian

BACK TO TOP

TACS
Total Access Communications System (an AMPS variant deployed in a number of countries principally the UK)

TAP
Transferred Account Procedure; the essential charging methodology for international GSM roaming. There have been four TAP standards, TAP1, TAP2, TAP2+ and TAP3. The latter offers variable record length and is sufficiently flexible to support all future requirements arising from the move to 3G

TBR
Technical Basis for Regulation (part of the ETSI standardisation process)

TCH
Traffic Channel

TD-CDMA
Time Division CDMA

TD-SCDMA
Time Division-Synchronous CDMA; a CDMA variant developed by Chinese vendors which is claimed to offer high data rates and greater coverage

TDD
Time Division Duplex; a radio technology for use in unpaired spectrum. WCDMA/UMTS includes a band for TDD mode usage and both PHS and DECT use this technology

TDMA
Time Division Multiple Access; a technique for multiplexing multiple users onto a single channel on a single carrier by splitting the carrier into time slots and allocating these on a as-needed basis

Telematics
A wireless communications system designed for the collection and dissemination of information, particularly refers to vehicle-based electronic systems, vehicle tracking and positioning, on-line vehicle navigation and information systems and emergency assistance

TETRA
Terrestrial Trunked Radio; a European developed digital private mobile radio technology which is now being extensively deployed worldwide

Tetrapol
A competitive digital PMR technology to TETRA developed by French vendors

TFTS
Terrestrial Flight Telephone System

Timeslot
A frame within a TDMA schema; has a time interval of 576 microseconds. Physical content of a timeslot is known as a burst. Five different burst types exist, they are distinguished by different TDMA frame divisions (see NB, FB, SB, AB and DB)

TIPHON
Telecommunications and Internet Protocol Harmonisation over Networks; an ETSI project designed to support the market for voice communications and voice band communications. In particular TIPHON will ensure that users on IP-based networks can communicate with those on circuit switched networks

TMN
Telecommunications Management Network

TMSI
Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity; covers the IMSI to prevent over-the-air interception and tracing

TRAU
Transcoder Rate Adapter Unit; the transport unit for a 16kbit/s traffic channel on the A-bis interface

Tri-band
Refers to a mobile phone able to operate on the three internationally designated GSM frequencies- 900, 1800 and 1900MHz

TrueSync
A technology which enables the optimal synchronisation of calendars, address books, action lists and memoranda. It enables multi-point, one-step synchronisation of wireless and wireline devices, desktop computers and server-based applications and services

TRX
Transmitter/receiver (transceiver)

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UI
User Interface

Um
The air interface between the BTS and the MS in a GSM network

Uu
The air interface between the Node B and the MS in a UMTS network.

UMTS
Universal Mobile Telecommunications System; the European entrant for 3G; now subsumed into the IMT-2000 family as the WCDMA technology.

UPN
Universal Personal Number

UPT
Universal Personal Telecommunications

URL
Uniform Resource Locator; the addressing system of the Internet

USO
Universal Service Obligation

UTRA
Universal Terrestrial Radio Access; the air interface component of WCDMA.

UTRAN
Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network; the UMTS radio access network comprising the RNC, Node B and the air interface

USIM
Universal Subscriber Identity Module; the 3G equivalent of the GSM SIM

UWB
Ultra Wide Band

BACK TO TOP

VAS
Value Added Services

VBR
Variable Bit Rate

VHE
Virtual Home Environment

VLR
Visitor Location Register

Vocoder
Voice coder

VoIP
Voice over Internet Protocol

VPN
Virtual Private Network

VSAT
Very Small Aperture Terminal

VSELP
Vector Sum Excited Linear Prediction

BACK TO TOP

WAP
Wireless Application Protocol; a de facto standard for enabling mobile phones to access the Internet and advanced services. Users can access websites and pages which have been converted by the use of WML into stripped-down versions of the original more suitable for the limited display capabilities of mobile phones

WARC
World Administration Radio Conference; an ITU conference held at regular intervals to determine the allocation of spectrum for various services

WCDMA
Wideband CDMA; the technology created from a fusion of proposals to act as the European entrant for the ITU IMT-2000 family

WLL
Wireless Local Loop; a technique for providing telephony and low speed data services to fixed customers using wireless. Regarded as having considerably potential for rapidly addressing the telecommunications gap in developing countries. A number of different WLL solutions have been marketed based on cellular and cordless technologies

WLAN
Wireless Local Area Network; a short range radio network normally deployed in traffic hotspots such as airport lounges, hotels and restaurants. WLAN enables suitably equipped users to access the fixed network wirelessly, providing high speed access (up to 11Mbit/s download) to distant servers. The key WLAN technologies are the IEEE802.11 family and ETSI HIPERLAN/2

WML
Wireless Markup Language; a markup language developed specifically for wireless applications. WML is based on XML

WQAM
Weighted Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

WWW
World Wide Web

BACK TO TOP

XML
eXtended Markup Language

The Consumer Mobile Glossary

Advice of charge
A service which provides the user with information on the cost of calls from a mobile phone

Airtime
The amount of time a subscriber spends using his/her mobile phone

Battery status/Battery charge display
An indication of the amount of battery life remaining

Battery
A chargeable device which provides the mobile phone with power. A variety of battery technologies have been used for mobile phones including nickel cadmium (NiCad), nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium ion (Li-ion)

Call barring
A service which enables users to bar certain incoming or outgoing calls on their mobile phones

Call timer
A service which keeps track of the amount of airtime being used by the subscriber on a cumulative basis

Call divert
The capability to divert incoming calls to another phone (fixed or mobile) or to an answering service

Call hold
The ability to put an ongoing call on hold whilst answering or making a second call

Caller ID
Caller Identification; displays the name/number of the person calling a mobile phone. Also known as CLI

CLI
See Caller ID

CLR
Clear; the key on a cellular phone which is pressed to remove information from the display

Data capable
Mobile phones which have the capability to enable transmission of data from a laptop computer or PDA via the phone

Dual band
Mobile phones which support transmission and reception of calls on the 900MHz and 1800MHz bands with seamless handover between the two frequency bands

EFR
Enhanced Full Rate (codec); an improved version of the standard voice codec used in GSM phones; offers improved speech quality without impacting on network capacity

END
The key on a cellular phone which is pressed to terminate a call

Infrared data port
A facility on a mobile phone to allow information to be exchanged with other devices e.g. a PC using infra red technology

Lock
A function on a cellular phone which, when activated, prevents use of the phone until the user enters a security code

No Service
An indication on the display of a cellular phone that indicates that the user is in an area where cellular service is unavailable

One-touch dialling
The ability to dial frequently called numbers using a single key stroke; see Speed Dialling

PCN
Personal Communications Networks; an outdated term for GSM services in the 1800MHz band

PDA
Personal Digital Assistant; a sophisticated handheld device with advanced display facilities and a range of business-oriented software programs

Phone book
A list of personal names and numbers stored in a mobile phone’s internal memory or in the SIM card. These numbers can be called by accessing the appropriate memory and making a single key stroke

PIN
Personal Identity Number; a number, usually four digits, that must be keyed into a mobile phone to make it work. A security measure to prevent unauthorised usage

RCL
The function on a cellular phone which recalls a phone number from memory

Roaming
The ability to make and receive calls on the same mobile phone when travelling outside the area of the home network operator

Smartphone
a combination of mobile phone and personal digital assistant

SND
Send; The key on a cellular phone which initiates a call or answers an incoming call

Speed dialling
See One-touch dialling

Standby time
The length of time a battery can power a mobile phone when it is switched on but not making or receiving calls

Talk-time
The length of time a battery can power a mobile phone when making or receiving calls

Voicemail
A service offered by network operators whereby calls received when the mobile is in use, switched off or out of coverage can be diverted to an answering service which can be personalised by the user

WAP
Wireless Application Protocol; a standard whereby mobile phones can gain access to specially tailored Internet websites

WML
Wireless Markup Language; a specially designed markup language used for tailoring WAP content. WML enables optimum usage of the limited display capabilities of the mobile phone

BACK TO TOP

Using GSM

This section contains information about travelling with your GSM phone, billing standards used by GSM Operators and an outline of GSM Services available to you.

There is also some information about mobile phone health and interference issues, including FAQs on general health issues,FAQS on hearing aids and the effects mobile phones have on these, plus further links to sites related to this topic.

		Travelling with your GSM

Did you know that you can be instantly contactable on your usual number in over 100 countries world wide, when you travel with your GSM phone using your own number?

The major advantage of GSM technology is that it allows you to use your GSM phone when you travel outside your own country or region. This is known as roaming.

Roaming is the ability to use your own GSM phone number in another GSM network. You can roam to another region or country and use the services of any network operator in that region that has a roaming agreement with your GSM network operator in your home region/country.

A roaming agreement is a business agreement between two network operators to transfer items such as call charges and subscription information back and forth, as their subscribers roam into each other's areas.

Find out where you can use your GSM phone worldwide, and see details of network operators worldwide, by visiting ourGSM Roaming site.

	GPRS Platform

GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is the world's most ubiquitous wireless data service, available now with almost every GSM network. GPRS is a connectivity solution based on Internet Protocols that supports a wide range of enterprise and consumer applications. With throughput rates of up to 40 kbit/s, users have a similar access speed to a dial-up modem, but with the convenience of being able to connect from anywhere. GPRS customers enjoy advanced, feature-rich data services such as colour Internet browsing, e-mail on the move, powerful visual communications such as video streaming, multimedia messages and location-based services.

For operators, the adoption of GPRS is a fast and cost-effective strategy that not only supports the real first wave of mobile Internet services, but also represents a big step towards 3GSM (or wideband-CDMA) networks and services.

GPRS Class Type

The class of the device determines the speed at which GPRS can be used.

For example, the majority of GPRS terminals will be able to download data at speeds of up to 24Kbps (kilobytes per second). At the higher end, speeds are theoretically possible up to 171.2 kbit/sec when 8 slots are assigned at the same time to a single user. In reality 40-50Kbps.

PC cards capable of GPRS will send data up to speeds of 48Kbps.

Compare this to current data speeds available:

Type	Uplink (Sending)	Downlink (Receiving)
GPRS	14 kbps	28-64 kbps
GSM CSD	9.6-14 kbps	9.6-14 kbps
HSCSD	28 kbps	28 kbps
Dial-UP	56 kbps	56 kbps
ISDN Standard	64 kbps	64 kbps
ADSL	256 kbps	512 kbps
Broadband	2 Mbps	2 Mbps

		GPRS Multislot Classes

Multislot classes are product dependant, and determine the maximum achievable data rates in both the uplink and downlink directions.

Written as (for example) 3+1 or 2+2, the first number indicates the amount of downlink timeslots (what the mobile phone is able to receive from the network).
The second number indicates the amount of uplink timeslots (how many timeslots the mobile phone is able to transmit).

The active slots determine the total number of slots the GPRS device can use simultaneously for both uplink and downlink communications.

Multislot Class	Downlink Slots	Uplink Slots	Active Slots
1	1	1	2
2	2	1	3
3	2	2	3
4	3	1	4
5	2	2	4
6	3	2	4
7	3	3	4
8	4	1	5
9	3	2	5
10	4	2	5
11	4	3	5
12	4	4	5

Futher Examples:

Class 2		Class 4
One Up, Two Down - (2+1)		One Up, Three Down - (3+1)
8-12Kbps Send - 16-24Kbps Receive		8-12Kbps Send - 24-36Kbps Receive
Mororola Accompli A008 Trium Mondo, Sirius		Motorola TimeportT260

Class 6 - Configurable between		Class 8
Two Up, Three Down		One Up, Four Down
16-24Kbps Send - 24-36Kbps Receive		8-12Kbps Send - 32-40Kbps Receive
Or Three Up, Two Down		Ericsson T39, R520 Motorola v60i, v66i Samsung Q200, S100 Siemens S45, ME45, M50 Trium Eclipse
24-36Kbps Send - 16-24Kbps Receive
Nokia 6310, 6510, 8310

Class 10- Configurable between		Class 12- Configurable between
One Up, Four Down		One Up, Four Down
8-12Kbps Send - 32-48Kbps Receive		8-12Kbps Send - 32-48Kbps Receive
Or Two Up, Three Down		Or Two Up, Three Down
16-24Kbps Send - 24-36Kbps Receive		16-24Kbps Send - 24-36Kbps Receive
Philips Fisio 820		Or Three Up, Two Down
		24-36Kbps Send - 16-24Kbps Receive
		Or Four Up, One Down
		32-48Kbps Send - 8-12Kbps Receive
		Sierra Wireless Aircard 750 GSM/GPRS PC Card

		Class A, Class B & Class C?

The class indicates the mobile phone capabilities.

Class A
Class A mobile phones can be connected to both GPRS and GSM services simultaneously.

Class B
Class B mobile phones can be attached to both GPRS and GSM services, using one service at a time. Class B enables making or receiving a voice call, or sending/receiving an SMS during a GPRS connection. During voice calls or SMS, GPRS services are suspended and then resumed automatically after the call or SMS session has ended.

Class C
Class C mobile phones are attached to either GPRS or GSM voice service. You need to switch manually between services.

GPRS Roaming Exchange (GRX)

The GSM Association (through its GPRS Working Party within the International Roaming Expert Group) has collected information on potential providers of GPRS Roaming Exchange (GRX) services.

The process used for obtaining this information is the RFI Process and is described below.

The information obtained was compiled into a single file, which you can download as a zip file. The format of the file was chosen to allow for easy comparison of the various GRX Providers' answers.*

The information will be updated by the GSM Association upon request by the respective GRX Provider in accordance with these Rules, which also apply, to companies that wish to offer GRX services in the future.

		RFI Process

The initial RFI process consisted of 2 rounds:

During the initial round potential GRX Providers were able to describe their future service offerings by answering a few fairly general questions.

Based on the results of the first round a group of experts from the GPRS Working Party (GPRSWP) of the GSMA's IREG compiled a questionnaire containing 83 detailed questions. This questionnaire was sent back to the potential GRX Providers. Additional GRX Providers who did not take part in the first round were able to join in during the second round.

The questionnaire contained two types of questions: those covering basic require-ments and those covering additional aspects.

The potential GRX Providers were requested to answer the question concerning the basic requirements, the other questions were sent in order to give an impression of which additional questions may be put by the GPRS Operators. Answers from the potential GRX Providers were compiled and the results were made available to the GSMA members.

Back to TopMilestones:

Date		Description
7th June 2000		Deadline for proposing potential GRX Providers for the 1st round
21st June 2000		RFI sent out to potential GRX Providers
12th July 2000		Deadline for answers for the 1st round of the RFI
19th July 2000		Deadline for proposals for potential GRX Providers
26th July 2000		Detailed questionnaire sent out to potential GRX Providers of the first round as well as new entrants (2nd round)
9th August 2000		Deadline for answers for the 2nd round of the RFI
30th August 2000		Publication of RFI Results for GSMA Members
5th September 2000		The GPRSWP decided on the future publishing and updating rules for the compiled information

The RFI did NOT cover commercial issues since the individual GPRS Operators entering into a Roaming relationship should negotiate those issues with the GRX Providers directly.

		Publishing and Update Rules

1.	The compiled results of the GRX RFI are published on the internet. This requires an initial legally binding statement authorizing the GSMA to "publish the information that has been and will be provided to the GSMA within the GRX RFI process on its public internet web page". Please send those statements to the surface mail address stated at the bottom. In the absence of such authorization the GSMA will not be able to publish the respective GRX Provider's information.

2.	The GSMA is NOT and will NOT be "qualifying", "evaluating", "recommending" etc. GRX Providers. There-fore the GRX Providers shall refrain from giving any such impression when advertising their services. The fact that information on their service offer is published by the GSMA does ONLY mean that they provided it in a format suitable for publication.

3.	There will be an update mechanism for the information as described below: New versions of the results shall be made available as soon as new information is available from any of the previously known and / new GRX Providers. To avoid releasing updated versions in short intervals, new releases shall only be made over the weekend. New releases will include any information received before Friday 08:00 GMT. If no new information has been received no new release will be made. In order to be included in the processing of information, the respective GRX operators have to use the most recent version of the Questionnaire and have to restrain their answers and changes to those fields of the questionnaire that are intended for that. As need arises, the GPRSWP will decide on additions to the Questionnaire. Whenever changes are introduced, the available information of every GRX Provider will be transferred to the new format and the resulting file will be forwarded to the respective GRX Provider. The version number of the answer file ("x.y.z") is used for two different purposes: "x.y" is used to reflect changes to the questionnaire and will only be changed by the GSMA while "z" is to be used by the re-spective GRX Provider to reflect changes to the information content of the answer file. Please remem-ber to increment "z" whenever you submit a new answer file. The compilation of results will be based on the most recent version of the respective answer files. Please send the information to the following email address: Brian Hunter. New GRX Providers may obtain an empty Questionnaire by sending an E-Mail to the address stated at the bottom.
4.	The GSMA will NOT host ANY original material on the GRX Providers due to the effort required to update and test the links. It was decided that the compiled results will include one (1) link to the respective page on the GRX Provider's web site. This link will be contained in the "Contact" worksheet.

5.	The "Contact" worksheet of the compiled results will also contain the date of last update of the information provided by the respective GRX Provider as well as the identification of the answer file. This information will be generated automatically during the compilation process.

		Legal Notice

The information ("the Information") that is contained in the compiled results file you are about to download ("the File") has been prepared solely for the purpose of providing information about the respective GRX Providers, and (in some cases) their affiliates and partners to interested parties.

The Information has been compiled in good faith both by the respective GRX Providers and by the GSM Association, but no representation is made or warranty given (either express or implied) as to the completeness or accuracy of the Information it contains. You should always verify the Information before you act upon it by con-tacting the respective GRX Provider's contact person. The Information must not be relied upon in connection with any investment decision and shall not be construed as an offer to enter into legal relations without additional formal contractual documentation being executed by the respective GRX Providers.

By downloading the File, you agree that neither the GSM Association nor the respective GRX Providers will be liable for any direct or indirect loss arising from the use of the Information and material contained in this File. Your access to this Information does not imply a license to reproduce and/or distribute the Information and you are not permitted to perform any such acts without the respective GRX Provider's prior written consent."

Download compiled results (Version 1.1.11) as a zip file. (224k) (updated 22.12.03)

The RFI .zip files below are from GRX providers and may not yet appear in the collated file above.

RFI form TIS - (256k)

RFI form SingTel - (237k)

RFI from Telefonica - (250k)

RFI from Concert - (56k)

RFI from Reach - (210k)

RFI from PT Comunicacoes - (229k) Email Address for Authorization Statements: Brian Hunter

GPRS Guidelines

IREG GPRS Documentation.

The following information is being provided as a resource to the GPRS industry. The information has been developed by the GSM Association's IREG and outlines various GPRS related guidelines.

GPRS Roaming Guidelines - (IR.33 v3.2.0) 144kb PDF

Inter-PLMN Backbone Guidelines - (IR.34 v3.5.0) 562kb PDF

End - to - End Functional Capability Test Spec. for Inter-PLMN GPRS Roaming - (IR.35 v3.3.1) 452kb PDF

Guidelines for IPv4 Addressing and AS Numbering for GPRS Network Infrastructure and Mobile Terminals - (IR.40 v3.1.0) 986kb PDF

For other document downloads please see the PRD area on GSM World

EDGE Platform

What is EDGE?

Further enhancements to GSM networks are provided by Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) technology. EDGE provides up to three times the data capacity of GPRS. Using EDGE, operators can handle three times more subscribers than GPRS; triple their data rate per subscriber, or add extra capacity to their voice communications. EDGE uses the same TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) frame structure, logic channel and 200kHz carrier bandwidth as today's GSM networks, which allows it to be overlaid directly onto an existing GSM network. For many existing GSM/GPRS networks, EDGE is a simple software-upgrade.

EDGE allows the delivery of advanced mobile services such as the downloading of video and music clips, full multimedia messaging, high-speed colour Internet access and e-mail on the move.

Due to the very small incremental cost of including EDGE capability in GSM network deployment, virtually all new GSM infrastructure deployments are also EDGE capable and nearly all new mid- to high-level GSM devices also include EDGE radio technology. The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) states that, as of November 2006, there were 156 commercial GSM/EDGE networks in 92 countries, out of a total of 213 GSM/EDGE deployments in 118 countries (source:www.gsacom.com).

3GSM Platform

What is 3GSM?
3GSM is the latest addition to the GSM family. 3GSM enables the provision of mobile multimedia services such as music, TV and video, rich entertainment content and Internet access. The technology on which 3GSM services are delivered is based on a GSM network enhanced with a Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) air interface - the over-the-air transmission element. Global operators, in conjunction with the 3G Partnership Project (3GPP) standards organisation, have developed 3GSM as an open standard.

3GSM Launches
Actual & planned launches by the end of 2004. Click the image to enlarge.

3GSM Statistics

According to Wireless Intelligence (www.wirelessintelligence.com), as of the end of Q1 2007 there are already over 115 million worldwide 3GSM/W-CDMA subscribers.

Number of Connections, WCDMA

Market	Q1 2006	Q2 2006	Q3 2006	Q4 2006	Q1 2007
World	59,717,701	70,338,828	82,980,633	98,869,366	115,614,482
Africa	227,705	323,508	418,383	579,495	762,091
Asia Pacific	29,994,459	35,051,447	40,453,133	46,506,347	52,917,212
Europe: Eastern	644,970	1,026,910	1,484,144	2,088,672	2,765,528
Europe: Western	28,231,652	32,973,559	39,155,057	47,524,032	55,970,735
Middle East	444,084	562,518	728,678	932,487	1,161,629
USA/Canada	174,831	400,886	741,238	1,238,333	2,037,287

Wireless Intelligence 10/04/07

The Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) states that, as of November 2006, 3GSM/W-CDMA services are available on 134 networks in 59 countries (source: www.gsacom.com).

Number of Connections by Bearer Technology

Region		Q1 2006	Q2 2006	Q3 2006	Q4 2006	Q1 2007
World	Total	2,307,147,009	2,428,452,040	2,553,991,061	2,697,680,928	2,805,413,369
	GSM	1,823,488,747	1,932,019,402	2,038,344,616	2,163,692,888	2,252,500,873
	WCDMA	59,717,701	70,338,828	82,980,633	98,869,366	115,614,482
	TDMA	38,895,173	31,173,283	25,562,709	20,038,497	15,703,669
	PDC	42,643,179	39,321,300	35,665,100	31,397,743	27,234,582
	iDEN	24,094,249	25,291,732	26,149,590	25,645,317	26,339,758
	Analog	5,500,466	4,471,714	3,838,258	3,105,544	2,538,947
	cdmaOne	34,632,555	29,336,622	25,077,918	21,100,106	18,177,885
	CDMA2000 1X	247,492,518	260,169,390	273,145,238	282,751,503	290,720,420
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	30,681,794	36,330,333	42,943,691	49,985,367	56,843,461

Wireless Intelligence 10/04/07

3GSM - Frequently Asked Questions

What is 3GSM? - Is it the same as 3G, UMTS, W-CDMA and IMT-2000, or are they different in some way?
Third generation (3G) is the generic term used for the next generation of mobile communications systems. These have been created to support the effective delivery of a range of multimedia services. In addition, they provide more efficient systems for the over-the-air transmission of existing services, such as voice, text and data that are available today.

Developed by the global GSM community as its chosen path for 3G evolution, UMTS is one of the International Telecommunications Union's (ITU's) family of third-generation mobile communications systems. UMTS uses a W-CDMA air interface, which lead some to refer to the technology as simply W-CDMA, creating confusion in the marketplace.

To alleviate this confusion and to highlight the backward compatibility of the system with second generation GSM, the GSM Association now refers to the range of high-speed multimedia services that can be delivered to users via mobile networks using UMTS/W-CDMA systems such as 3GSM, rather than simply the air interface technology.

The global 3G Partnership Project (3GPP), a collaboration of telecommunications standards bodies, is the organisation through which much of the technical specifications are devised. The GSM Association is a market representation Partner of the 3GPP, as such it provides the 3GPP with market advice and a consensus view of market requirements from the operator community.

In summary, the GSM Association's vision of 3GSM is based on today's GSM standard, but evolved, extended and enhanced to include an additional radio air interface, better suited for high speed and multimedia data services. This system will enable users of current second generation GSM wireless networks to migrate easily to the new third generation services, with minimal disruption.

What data speeds are enabled by 3GSM?
The use of the W-CDMA air interface significantly increases the data transfer rate of GSM networks, offering average downlink rates of around 300 kbit/s.

What services are enabled by 3GSM systems?
TV and video on demand, high-speed multimedia data services and mobile Internet access are just a few of the offerings available to users. 3GSM expands the potential for content-rich information and communication services, as well as providing enhanced capacity for traditional voice services. 3GSM bridges the gap between the wireless world and the computing/Internet world, creating the possibility of seamless inter-operation between the two.

Are 3GSM systems truly global?
One of the most important characteristics of 3GSM is that it has been developed to be backward compatible with GSM systems, which have been deployed by 680 operators in more than 200 countries and territories. This interoperability of systems and services will ensure the continuation of the worldwide roaming experience users have enjoyed with GSM.

What do the handsets look like?
The look and feel of 3GSM phones are now being dictated by functionality demands rather than technical constraints. For example, to support new Internet and multi-media services, larger, more convenient viewing screens are offered. As a result, the variation of form factors offered is likely to increase significantly and handsets could vary from wrist-watch style 'simple' telephone's to mini PC-type personal digital assistants (PDAs) for web-browsing usage.

Can I receive 3GSM services from my current mobile handset?
3GSM is a new technology and therefore you will not be able to access 3GSM multimedia services using your existing GSM handset. It is up to you to choose whether you want to use the 3GSM services, and you will need to upgrade your mobile to be able to use these services. However, 3GSM has been designed to be backward compatible which means that you can continue to enjoy the voice and data services delivered by GSM from a 3GSM handset, while experiencing 3GSM services where they are available. You can also continue to enjoy voice and data services using a standard GSM phone in a 3GSM network coverage area.

What's next for 3GSM?
The next step in the GSM Association's roadmap for future services is downlink performance improvement - High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). More details can be found here. HSDPA will offer operators higher data transfer speeds and greater system capacity that, in turn, will enhance their ability to provide mobile broadband multimedia services. It will also tap the generic benefits of GSM such as global roaming, seamless billing, network compatibility and huge economies of scale.

3GSM Resources

The GSM Association is an active speaker and participant at conferences and seminars throughout the world. Please note that the information is correct and current at the date of the actual conference/event.

These documents are available for download in either Adobe Acrobat or MS PowerPoint format. Larger files may have been compressed using WinZip.

Mobile Broadband: The Global Evolution of UMTS/HSDPA (1 MB)

Empowering UMTS networks with the unique HSDPA solution from Nortel (379kb PDF)

HSDPA and beyond (2365kb PDF)

GSM - UMTS Network Evolution (213kb PDF)

3G evolution - the trusted road ahead (2066kb PDF)

HSDPA (983kb PDF)

3G/W - CDMA (697kb PDF)

Making the most of UMTS with HSUPA (289kb PDF)

HSDPA - the Evolution of W - CDMA (30kb PDF)

Business benefits of WCDMA technology (783kb PDF)

Nokia High speed packet access solution (788kb PDF)

3G Evolution (208kb PDF)

HSDPA - the operator perspective (82kb PDF)
Bill Best, GSMA

Towards the next billion together (1.6MB PDF)
GSM Association Press Conference - Beijing, China, June 2004

The Challenges of Building a UMTS Network (2.1MB PDF)
David Williams, Chief Technology Officer, mmO2 Group Alain Biston, President and GM UMTS, Nortel Networks

Business experiences and network requirements in launching WCDMA & EDGE worldwideVice (2.6MB PDF)
Torbjörn Possne, Vice President, Business Unit Systems

Performance Management of 3G Wireless Networks (6.3MB PDF)
Kaj Ahlkvist, Technical Director PM, 3 Sweden & Kieran Moynihan, Chief Technology Officer, WatchMark Comnitel

From The Market Experience with 3G Handsets in Japan (3.9MB PDF)
Yukitsuna FuruyaMobile Business Planning DivisionNEC

3GSM Platform

3G Evolution & HSDPA
The 3G Evolution describes the seamless, compatible evolutionary path of enhancements to the existing 3GSM technology family. These will offer GSM operators higher data transfer speeds and greater system capacity that, in turn, will enhance their ability to provide mobile broadband multimedia services. Following an evolutionary path within the GSM family of technologies delivers the generic benefits of GSM such as global roaming, seamless billing, network compatibility and huge economies of scale. The 3G evolutionary path has a series of well defined technology enhancements. The first to be realised is the downlink performance improvement - High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA).

HSDPA Overview
HSDPA is a technology for improving the downlink performance of W-CDMA networks and is part of the evolutionary path of 3G enhancements to the GSM technology family. This well-defined path will result in higher data transfer speeds, improved spectral efficiency and greater system capacity for GSM operators. For users, HSDPA will unlock a world of mobile broadband multimedia services.

What does HSDPA deliver?
HSDPA is part of 3GPP/UTRAN-FDD Release 5 W-CDMA specifications. HSDPA is a software-based enhancement that boosts the air interface capacity of W-CDMA networks by 2 times and delivers a 4-5 fold increase in downlink data speeds. It shortens round-trip time between network and terminals and reduces variance in downlink transmission delay. The combination of faster data rates - typically of the order of 1 Mb/s and with theoretical peak rates of up to 14.4Mb/s - along with the increased spectral efficiency should result in a lower cost per data bit transmitted. Alternative access technologies cannot offer the benefits integral to the 3GSM family and may, at best, be considered by operators as complementary to the 3GSM network.

User benefits
Increased data rates provide the opportunity for operators to launch a wide range of new, added-value and media-rich applications and services. Business users can look forward to high-speed Internet access and rapid download of emails with attachments as well as access to wireless audio and video services. Consumer services could include rapid downloading of high-resolution digital images, DVD quality music downloads, full-motion video and advanced multi-player games.

HSDPA Deployments
Regular surveys from the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) confirm that there are 156 HSDPA network commitments in 72 countries/territories worldwide, including 104 commercially launched HSDPA networks in 54 countries. The GSA expects all W-CDMA network operators to activate the HSDPA upgrade in the future.

The GSA recently confirmed a rapidly expanding range and availability of HSDPA-capable user devices (PC datacards, phones and embedded laptop modules), with 254 devices from 62 suppliers already launched in the market, including 104 mobile phones and 54 datacards (source: www.gsacom.com).

Global support
The Board of the GSMA has reaffirmed its full commitment to an evolutionary path for 3G that has HSDPA as its natural next step. More details on the announcement, made at this year's 3GSM Asia World Congress, can be obtained here.

GSMA Board Members have individually underlined the weight of support behind HSDPA:

"HSDPA is the natural next step in the evolution of GSM. It will bring broadband speeds to mobile networks." Alain Harper, Group Strategy Director of Vodafone Group plc.
"Cingular's deployment of W-CDMA with HSDPA will be the first in the world and allow us to increase network capacity for voice and give customers far higher data rates. It is the only 3G technology that offers simultaneous voice and high speed data connections, which will enable us to provide a host of innovative multimedia services for consumers and businesses. Additionally, from a global perspective, HSDPA is backwards compatible with the GSM family of data technologies, giving customers the ability to use their devices to access services around the world." Bill Hague, Executive VP International, Cingular Wireless.
"HSDPA is a major enhancement to 3G and its compatibility with existing networks makes it the most compelling choice for customers." Frank Boulben, Executive VP, Brand and Consumer Marketing, Orange.
"The expectation in the industry is that all 3G W-CDMA operators will adopt HSDPA and HSUPA because of the high value it provides for end-users at a marginal incremental cost." Nokia/Vodafone White Paper, 3G Evolution - the trusted road ahead, September 2005.
"From mid-2006, our customers will be able to enjoy a range of new and enhanced services, including high-resolution interactive games, full motion video and music downloads with the same quality as DVDs, and fast wireless email exchanges with documents attached." Ignacio Camarero, Executive Director for Operations at Telefonica Moviles Espana
"The high download speeds offered by HSDPA will greatly enhance a wide range of mobile services from Web browsing to video downloads. We will have commercial HSDPA networks up and running in Europe in 2006." Matthias Schtoter, VP Roaming & Standards, T-Mobile.

What's next?
Enhancements to the uplink data speed are being standardised in the 3GPP Release 6 specification. This will be known as High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA). HSUPA technology is expected to be introduced in 2007. Jointly, downlink and uplink enhancements are referred to as HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) services. Increased downlink and uplink speeds will further enhance user experiences and increase the use of application and activities especially where data is shared between users, for example interactive multi-player games.

IP Interworking (IPI)

IP based services are central to the future growth of mobile communications. They will offer global users a wide range of new applications including innovative messaging applications and rich content delivery of simultaneous voice and images to users. The mobile IP world also presents an attractive opportunity for new business to mobile and fixed network operators as well as carriers.

The GSMA has been actively engaged in a number of projects that are leading a coordinated approach to develop technical and commercial solutions that will enable a smooth and rapid deployment of IP based services. These projects address the critical success factors for all participants in order to build a solid business from IP based services:

providing customer choice, quality and security
ensuring all of the parties involved in a value chain receive appropriate payment for the service that they provide
using the best elements (technical and commercial) from all IP based networks
motivating the creation of new value creating services to support a much wider reach
utilising the ecosystem of contributing players

Spreading the word – the IPI Communications Programme
In order to provide the industry and other interested parties with comprehensive information and assist with catalysing the mobile industry’s deployment of the IPI principals at an operational level, the Association has embarked on a communications programme. The programme is aimed at all the potential players in the IP service delivery chain: fixed and mobile network operators, carriers and ISPs.

Throughout 2007 and 2008, there will be a series of events and activities including specially organised seminars and workshops as well as international conference participation. Senior members of the GSMA’s technical groups and key industry participants in the GSMA’s IPI work programme will give more detail on the IPI proposals and the benefits to all parties: industry and users alike. In addition, specific collateral and web-based communications will be produced to support the communication programme. An events programme will be published on this website.

GSMA Seminar, 3GSM World Congress, Barcelona – February 2007
The first in a series of GSMA seminars was presented at the 2007 World Congress in Barcelona, 2007. Senior representatives from operators, carriers, industry analysts and the GSMA gave an overview of the IPI programme, its main areas of activity and the significance and benefits that it will bring to the commercial participants and to the end-users.

Seminar Agenda

Unlocking the value of IP Services – John Boden, Chair – IPI Advisory Group (GSMA), Vodafone
Concept and benefits of IPX – Brian Hunter, IPX Project Leader, Vodafone (Download PDF)
Hubbing in practice:

Download PDF

Economic Study on IP Interworking – Paul Reynolds, CRA International (Download PDF)
Implementing a wide range of IP services as a sustainable business – Adrian Dodd, Chief Engineer, GSMA (Download PDF)

Please note that some of the presentations contain complex graphical images and are, consequently, large files to download.

For more information on the GSMA’s IPI programme, please contact us by email on ipi@gsm.org.

IP Interworking (IPI)

providing customer choice, quality and security
ensuring all of the parties involved in a value chain receive appropriate payment for the service that they provide
using the best elements (technical and commercial) from all IP based networks
motivating the creation of new value creating services to support a much wider reach
utilising the ecosystem of contributing players

Seminar Agenda

Unlocking the value of IP Services – John Boden, Chair – IPI Advisory Group (GSMA), Vodafone
Concept and benefits of IPX – Brian Hunter, IPX Project Leader, Vodafone (Download PDF)
Hubbing in practice:

Download PDF

Economic Study on IP Interworking – Paul Reynolds, CRA International (Download PDF)
Implementing a wide range of IP services as a sustainable business – Adrian Dodd, Chief Engineer, GSMA (Download PDF)

Please note that some of the presentations contain complex graphical images and are, consequently, large files to download.

For more

information on the GSMA’s IPI programme, please contact us by email on ipi@gsm.org.

he IP Interworking Principles

The GSMA's and mobile industry's proposal for IP Interworking (IPI) provides a solution for operators and carriers which offers secure, high quality of service interworking that should enable all parties in the value chain to have a sustainable business. The GSMA believes four, simple concepts are the key to a successful IPI solution:

Openness - the proposals are entirely open to any potential player in the delivery of IP services: fixed and mobile network operators, carriers and ISPs.
Quality - services that are based on the GSMA's proposal will be reliably delivered in conformance with clearly defined Service Level Agreements and (SLAs) and with the capacity provision to maintain service levels
Cascading Payments - the IPI technical and commercial proposals enables identification of the data service and enables added value and consequent revenue for each player in the delivery chain
Efficient Connectivity - at the heart of the proposal is a Gateway to a managed IP network - the IP eXchange (IPX) that provides a ubiquitous, efficient and high quality of service connectivity

A brochure - IP Interworking: Unlocking the Value of IP Services - is available that gives more detail about the IPI proposal and the benefits to industry and users. Download the pdf.

Enabling Technologies and Services > IPX

The IP eXchange
As well as following the four key principles of Openness, Quality, Cascading Payments and Efficient Connectivity, the GSMA’s IP interworking proposals include the deployment of an IP eXchange (IPX) as a critical success factor. The role of the IPX is to provide a managed Quality of Service (QoS) network chain between all stakeholders.

The key commercial requirements for the IPX that have been identified include the following:

Global service interworking between fixed and mobile network operators, Internet & Application Service Providers
End-to-End service delivery, with the emphasis on Quality of Service and Universal Charging principles
Managed network access supported by interconnect service level agreements for third parties
Customer protection against spam, identity theft, fraud and the invasion of privacy
Ease of use – its role and presence should be transparent to the consumer

GSM World - the world wide web site of the GSM Association.

© GSM Association 2007
GSM and the GSM Logo are registered and owned by the GSM Association.

Anti-Trust Policy Statement | Disclaimer | Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy

* GSM customer counter, located on the homepage of GSM World is indicative only, estimated from market data collected by Wireless Intelligence. It is not a precise figure, nor usable for legal purposes

Benefits of IPX

The role of the IPX is seen as fundamental by the GSMA to a successful IP Interworking solution. It is acknowledged that there are alternative solutions that could be considered to interwork IP services: these include direct use of the Internet or a hybrid solution involving Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) managed by individual organisations.

However, it is felt that the benefits of the IPX solution clearly outweigh any alternatives:

All IP multimedia players may be connected
There is no relaxation of security
The services transported will be fully recognised and treated in accordance with their priority and QoS requirements
It enables a sustainable commercial model enabling fair remuneration to all parties involved in the service delivery underpinning the Service Level Agreement (SLA). It is highly efficient and scaleable with a single connection and commercial agreement enabling connectivity to all Services Providers connected to the IPX environment

Ultimately, the IPX is a service quality and traffic management solution that is good for a wide range of IP services between users.

The IPX Pre Commercial Implementation Trials (IPX PCI)

IPX PCI is a GSM Association project undertaken on behalf of its members, the mobile operators, and other interested parties. Pre Commercial Implementation trials are designed to ensure that as much as possible has been done before public service launches to give the highest confidence levels to operators and other key stakeholders of a successful commercial deployment of the IPX.

As the IPX PCI is an authorised GSMA project, detailed information is only available to GSMA members and associate members. However, the project's high-level objectives are as follows:

Demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of IPX
Develop stakeholder confidence in IPX
Establish IP interworking solutions for new commercial services
Collect and disseminate learning in order to develop a more mature IP interworking environment

If you would like to know more about the trials or would like to participate, please contact the IPX PCI Project Manager atipi@gsm.org .

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trials

SIP enables the delivery of converged services across multiple networks so that both basic telephony and web based services can be used simultaneously.

The uptake of IP based multimedia services in the market is growing. User expectations are also growing, as they want to experience these services with the same quality and reliability as they currently enjoy for voice.

A key challenge in achieving interworking is to ensure an efficient, high quality and cost effective delivery of IP service is delivered between all operators and across all international boundaries.

The GSM Association is leading a series of initiatives focused on defining and implementing the infrastructure enablers and services that are needed to successfully transition from the circuit switched world to the IP world. Open Interworking solutions for IP-based services will be developed, establishing a high-quality interworking environment that co-exists with the variety of other solutions developed by the market. Some projects focus on the technical and commercial specifications for specific End-to-End services such as Instant Messaging (IM), Video Sharing (VS) and others assist to facilitate the efficient delivery of IP based services. Examples here are the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) interworking trials programme with Video Share trials.

The SIP Trial Guide

A guide to the GSMA's SIP Trials has been produced to give interested parties an insight into the background to the trials; the significance of SIP, IMS and the IPX (IP eXchange) principle. It also gives an overview of the outcomes of the various trial campaigns undertaken by European and Asian operators and carriers. The SIP Trial Guide should also be helpful in identifying some of the requirements operators, carriers, service providers and vendors need to consider in order to deliver a full IP service based portfolio to their customers.

View the GSMA SIP Trial Guide (pdf)

Live Video Share Demonstration, Barcelona 2007

Show visitors at the recent 3GSM World Conference, in Barcelona, had the opportunity to experience proven inter-device, inter-network interoperability at two live Video Share demonstrations.

The events hosted by the GSMA were the most comprehensive multi-vendor demonstrations ever to be held at a public event with vendors Azaire Networks, Comneon, Ericsson, Intel, Motorola, NMS, Nokia, Samsung and Siemens all participating.

As part of the demonstration GSMA Project Manager Mark Hogan provided an introductory overview of Video Share-an exciting, feature-rich, multimedia service that will be made available globally to mobile operators by the end of 2007.

He explained that Video Share has been successfully tested by the GSM Association's SIP and IMS Interoperability Work Programme and is now a commercial reality with deployments in Hong Kong and Italy.

The vendors then showcased real-time simultaneous video and voice communications between a variety of mobile clients and in a number of contexts-mobile phone to mobile phone and mobile phone to laptop-all demonstrated using different networks.

Download the Video Share Presentation - 3GSM Congress Barcelona 2007 (PDF 243kb)

Download Video Share article - Industry Unites for Video Share Demo, Barcelona 2007 (PDF 24kb)

For more information email GSMA Project Manager Mark Hogan

Trials in Action

SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) allows the integration and combination of multiple services into the Mobile Network Operator's (MNO's) environment. It is a key component supporting the delivery of new 3G services to users.

Sample SIP based applications are:

Voice over IP
Instant Messaging
Gaming
Video Share
OMA Push to Talk over Cellular (POC)

The GSM Association has led a series of trials of SIP services. The trials have focused on using the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and an IP eXchange (IPX) proxy to allow MNOs, vendors and GRX carriers to trial SIP based services.

The SIP Trial Guide

The benefits of the trials

Running a comprehensive series of trials for a large number of operators, vendors and carriers delivers many benefits to all interested parties.

SIP Service interworking is enhanced
There is huge interest in the capabilities of SIP and IMS to deliver new services, however the challenge with these new services is to deliver interworking and interoperability from day one. A consumer should be assured that the service they use interworks with their friend's service wherever they are. Through the trials the participants get on the learning curve and can begin addressing these challenges before the full commercial launch of these services.

Combining Services
Imaginative services can be created in combination to give customers the complete package. An example of this for example is Video Share which combines an ordinary mobile call with the ability to share video. The SIP Trial will explore further combinations of such services in the future.

Faster operational deployment
The commercial deployment of services will be accelerated thanks to the insight and experience gained through the trials. Operators, infrastructure and terminal vendors as well as carriers will have a 'head-start' in terms of developing their commercial service operations. For users, the increased assurance of proven service interoperability is crucial to a rapid take-up of the service offering.

Management of services is easier
SIP is an open protocol that will easily be integrated into System Management tools. This tighter integration into the 3G environment means that the services are more transparent. Information from the trials assists the understanding of the protocol.

SIP Trial Goals

The ultimate goal is to ensure technical and commercial interoperability of SIP-based services, from day one of a commercial service. As well as demonstrating interoperability of SIP-based services across networks and platforms, they are an opportunity to demonstrate & trial candidate services and applications.

For the MNO's and carriers, the trials enable them to gain practical experience of the deployment of SIP-based services across network and platform boundaries and to verify that accounting information can be captured at the IPX carrier. Indirectly, the trials also help to raise the awareness of the level of maturity & availability of SIP-based products.

SIP Trial Campaigns

Several SIP Trial campaigns have already been concluded. Initial trials in Europe and Asia focused on basic IMS interoperability and also the hubbing model. In addition campaigns have focused on billing & accounting and performance measurements. The SIP Trial has recently begun to focus on new SIP/IMS services such as Video Share and OMA Push to Talk Over Cellular (POC) and will explore new services in the future.

Participants
Global participation has grown as the series of trials has progressed. Participants represent companies from Asia, Europe and North America.

Mobile Network Operators	Infrastructure and terminal vendors	GRX Carriers
28	20	14

For more information on the SIP trials, contact the Project Manager, Mark Hogan on mhogan@gsm.org.

Services

The successful and rapid roll-out of new IP based services depends on well defined commercial and technical packages along with a co-ordinated industry approach to interworking.

The GSM Association's IP Service related projects are focused on the commercial and technical elements necessary for users to truly enjoy the full benefit of a mobile IP world. Projects, working closely together with the GSMA Working Groups, include:

Personal Instant Messaging - instant messaging for mobile users with additional benefits from using the GSM world such as presence, initiating party pays and roaming
Video Share - sending live video as part of a conversation
Push to Talk - mobile phones are used like walkie talkies by just pushing a button
Numbering and Addressing - efficiently managing the identity of users on and between networks
Presence and Group Management - allowing users to effeciently manage communication

Video Share

With Video Share, users of 3G mobile terminals can send live video pictures to someone and talk to them at the same time. Just imagine being able to share an experience with friends or colleagues: live images of a fantastic holiday location, family groups at special celebrations or views of a potential construction site with only one hour left to sign the land purchase deal. These are just a few of the experiences that Video Share will bring.

Some operators have launched a version of Video Share already, and customer anticipation is high, waiting for a roll-out of services from several operators later in 2006.

Interoperability is essential
To work seamlessly, interoperability for the video sharing service is essential. Looking back at other new service launches, the evidence is that a good user experience is essential in order to get a rapid take-up. The GSMA's interoperability trials programme is giving assurance to operators and users of a reliable service right from the start of full commercial launch. Ensuring true interoperability is a complex process and involves the co-operation and collaboration of a number of different players in the market.

Video sharing is enabled by IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) technology. The GSM Association, on behalf of the mobile industry, has been facilitating a series of trials of this technology in advance of wide-scale deployment to ensure the compatibility of operators' IMS networks. The trials have been extremely successful.

First live interoperable video share demonstration
The GSMA convened the world's first live interoperable video share demonstration at 3GSM World Congress in February and announced the start of video sharing interoperability trials across three continents. With demand from new vendors and operators to participate, the series of trials is ongoing - each one demonstrating to its participants the successful interoperation of VS services on IMS systems provided by leading market vendors and have included over 50 key players from the mobile network operator, carrier and vendor communities.

If your company needs to know more about Video Share or is interested in joining the Video Share trials programme, email the GSMA's Project Manager Adam Collier.

Live Video Share Demonstration, Barcelona 2007

Show visitors at the recent 3GSM World Conference, in Barcelona, had the opportunity to experience proven inter-device, inter-network interoperability at two live Video Share demonstrations.

For more information, email GSMA Project Manager Mark Hogan.

		OMA Push to Talk Over Cellular (POC)

This service allows people to use their phones as walkie-talkies, merely pushing a button to talk to another user or group of users. Users can check whether their 'buddies' (people pre-selected from their contacts' list) are connected before activating the service. Only one person can talk at a time and all other participants hear the speech.

The service has been successful in the U.S. with business users and a number of European GSM operators are now considering PoC. In order to use the service, users need to be a customer of an operator that has launched PoC, and have a compatible handset that has the PoC software built into the device.

	News

To read any of the Association's Press Releases on the progress of the SIP/IMS Trials, please click on the appropriate title.

Press Releases

12.02.07 - Operators Exchange Instant Messages Across Networks

19.10.06 - IMS Service Interoperability - Real or Not?

16.06.06 - GSMA's video share trials in China prove successful

15.02.06 - GSMA Trials to Pave the Way For Global Rollout of Video Share

28.09.05 - GSMA Trials In Europe And Asia Ensure Multimedia Services Will Work Across Networks

14.02.05 - GSMA Trials Prove Interoperability of IP Multimedia Services

Links

The links below have been provided as a source of additional background information for IP based services and related commercial specifications. Sites have been selected by the GSMA for relevant industry news, trial results and interviews with telecoms executives

Telecom TV IMS webcast

It is the policy of the GSM Association to obtain permission from linked site owners.

IPI - Personal Instant Messaging

Personal Instant Messaging (Personal IM) is an initiative designed to enable mobile users worldwide to exchange instant messages across networks.

Personal IM is the next step in the evolution of both text messaging and 'traditional' instant messaging, creating a service that connects the mobile and Internet worlds and brings the convenience and immediacy of mobility to IM services. The user benefits of Personal IM will make instant messaging as popular and ubiquitous among mobile users as text messaging.

Personal IM is based on the following principles:

Interoperability - Users can send instant messages across different operator networks, creating a connected IM community that spans the mobile and fixed worlds
Real-time delivery - Personal IM services enable users to exchange messages in real-time
Security - Users are protected from spam, viruses and other malicious content
Initiating party pays - Users only pay to send messages and not to receive
Presence - Users can see when people are 'on line' and message receipt can be assured.

With Personal IM, instant messaging is no longer restricted to the fixed Internet world. It offers the opportunity to connect a mobile community in excess of 2 billion across all networks and geographic boundaries. Personal IM is not limited to specific Internet communities.

With 'Presence' functionality available through IM, users can see in real time the status of their contact list so they can get in touch with the right person, the first time.

The Personal IM Launch initiative was initiated by the GSMA Board and a steering group of operator members was established to lead the programme.

The GSMA provides momentum, facilitation, technical and commercial resources to assist operator launches of Personal IM services around the world.

For detailed information on the Personal IM campaign, downloads of relevant documents and access to the private 'operator only' Personal IM website, please click here.

IP Interworking Reference Documents

IP Interworking Reference Documents The following IPI related documents are unrestricted and may be downloaded by GSMA Members and non-Members. Click the link to download a pdf of the document.

IPI Brochure: IP Interworking - Unlocking the Value of IP Services
IPI/Overview/1.07

Agreement for IP Packet eXchange (IPX) Services
AA.80 vs2.0, Mar 2007

Inter Service Provider IP Backbone Guidelines
IR.34 vs4.1, Jan 2007

Guidelines for IPv4 Addressing and AS Numbering for GRX/IPX Network Infrastructure and User Terminals
IR.40 vs4.0, Mar 2007

DNS Guidelines for Operators
IR.67 vs2.0, Apr 2007

IMS Roaming and Interworking Guidelines
IR.65 vs3.6, Nov 2006

IPX White Paper
vs1.2, March 2007

Document Download

The following documents are GSM Association Permanent Reference Documents (PRD's) that have been classified as unrestricted for industry use. The documents are available as PDF files unless otherwise stated. Download Adobe Acrobat PDF reader here.

Flyers, papers & reports from the GSM Association | Papers & reports - general (External) | Papers & Reports on health & environment

Doc No.	Version	Date	Document Title
TD.13	4.2	Nov 06	TADIG Code Naming Conventions (46kb)
IN.01	2.0	Jan 06	Guidelines for Service Level Agreement Between Mobile Operators and Carriers (66kb)
TW 06 - This document has been renamed DG06	3.4	June 07	IMEI Allocation & Approval Guidelines (259kb)
DG 09	4.4	March 07	Battery Life Measurement Technique 4.4 (168kb pdf)
DG 11	4.3	March 07	Field Trial Guidelines version 4.3 (pdf - 1.62Mb)
TW 12	3.0.1	Sep 02	Specification of Handset Multi-Lingual Support (871kb)
IR 24	4.0	Nov 05	End-to-End Functional Capability Specification for Inter-PLMN Roaming (Stage 4 Testing) (276kb) - This document describes the specification of IREG End-to-end Functional Capability tests relating to the international roaming of a Mobile Station, belonging to a home PLMN (a), to and within a visited PLMN (b). The fundamental objective of this testing is to confirm the capability, and sample the quality of service which GSM users will receive when roaming from their Home PLMN (a) to PLMN (b). The document aims to include all necessary checks that will verify the correct working of user features and any network features required by the HPLMN (e.g. Barring). The document also includes checks to verify that the quality of transmission, absence of echo and call set-up delay is within acceptable levels.
IR 32	3.3.3	May 05	End-to-End Functional Capability Specification for Inter-PLMN CAMEL Roaming (CAMEL Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3) Part 1: test specification - Part One (668kb) Part Two (189kb)
IR 33	3.2.0	Apr 03	GPRS Roaming Guidelines (144kb)
IR 34	4.1	Jan 07	Inter-Service Provider IP Backbone Guidelines(715kb)
IR 35	3.3.1	Feb 03	End-to-End Functional Capability Test Specification for Inter-PLMN GPRS Roaming (452kb)
IR 40	3.1.0	Sep 01	Guidelines for IPv4 Addressing and AS Numbering for GPRS Network Infrastructure and Mobile Terminals (986kb)
IR 41	3.1.0	Apr 02	Identification of Quality of Service Aspects of Popular Services (GSM & 3G) (51kb)
IR 42	3.3.0	April 07	Definition of Quality of Service Parameters and their Computation (86kb)
IR 43	3.0.0	Aug 02	Typical procedures for QoS measurement equipment (74kb)
IR 44	3.0.0	Aug 02	Requirements for QoS Measurement Equipment (77kb)
IR 50	3.3	Apr 06	2G/2.5G/3G Roaming (259kb)
IR 52	3.1.0	Feb 03	MMS Interworking Guidelines (688kb)
IR 53	2.0.0	Dec 03	MMS Inter-working Tests (450kb)
IR 60	3.0.0	Jun 03	Prepaid Service Roaming Test Template (133kb)
IR 61	3.1.0	Aug 04	WLAN Roaming Guidelines (also known as InterOperator Handbook) (517kb)
IR 62	3.2.0	May 05	End-to-End WLAN Roaming Test Cases (107kb) - This document specifies a set of test cases for WLAN roaming service to confirm that it complies with GSMA Official Document IR.61 WLAN Roaming Guidelines. RADIUS shall be the protocol to be used for passing authentication, authorization and accounting data (AAA).
IR 65	3.6	Nov 06	IMS Roaming & Interworking Guidelines (423kb) - IR.65 gives common guidelines for IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem as specified by 3GPP) inter-operator connections in order to prevent non-interoperable and/or inefficient IMS services & networks. Areas covered in the document are IMS specific issues in roaming and interworking, addressing of users and network elements, routing of traffic, inter-operator related security issues, IP version usage and requirements for inter-PLMN backbone caused by IMS. Document concentrates on the network level issues.
IR 67	2.0.0	April 07	DNS Guidelines for Operators (347kb) - This document is intended to provide guidelines and technical information for those people who set up and/or maintain MNO DNS servers for MNO services. This document is not intended for those who want to learn about DNS in general.
IR 68	1.0	Aug 04	QoS Sensitive Roaming Principles (51kb) - This document includes the relevant roaming issues considering the 3GPP QoS profile. The approach is based on the four traffic classes. The current version of the document considers the background and interactive classes, but later on also the streaming and conversational classes will be included.
IR 74	1.0	March 07	Video Share Interoper abilit y Specification (384kb) - This document specifies the terminal interoperable Real-Time Live Video Share service.
AA 35	3.0.0	May 01	M-Services Guidelines Phase I (666kb)
SE 43	1.0	Oct 06	3G in Notebooks Guidelines (628kb) The purpose of this handbook is to provide a common set of guidelines for the integration of 3G technology into notebooks resulting in the following set of high level benefits for the key stakeholders: For Users: Easy and secure access to broadband connectivity anywhere where there is 3G coverage and at any time For Service Providers: Enhanced subscriber propositions and increased use of 3G network capacity - more users (notebooks), more often (ease of use), larger amount of data (compared to handsets) For Notebook Manufacturers: Increased production and sales through common guidelines facilitating design, manufacturing, testing and certification of integrated 3G Notebooks.
SE 23	3.1.0	Jan 03	The Services Group (SerG) of the GSM Association has produced a Permanent Reference Document (PRD SE.23) on Location Base Services (LBS). (1.2MB) The objective of this PRD is to: Brief the operator community at large on Location Based Services (LBS) and examples thereof. Develop guidelines and requirements for roaming and interoperability between operators. Help GSMA develop strategies to build pro-active co-operation with other significant industry fora. To provide operational guidelines to operators in advance of the availability of technical standards (e.g. inter-GMLC interface).
SE 25	3.2.0	Feb 03	M-Services Phase II Requirements (ZIP - 330kb)
SE 26	3.0.0	Jan 02	Operator Requirements for Features & Services (1.4MB)
SE 27	3.0.0	May 03	Services, Ease of Use, and Operator Considerations in Interworked WLAN-Cellular Systems (1.2MB)
SE 35	1.0.0	Dec 04	IMS Services and Applications (750kb)
SE 36	1.0.0	Sep 05	PoC Roaming and Inter-working Service Requirements (201kb) The Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) service is being introduced by GSM operators to address a new market demand and to meet the challenge of new PTT service offerings by CMDA operators. The primary motivations for PoC inter-working service are: It enables vastly expanded PoC service footprints across GSM operators within a regional, national and international geographic area. It enhances international service revenues by enabling PoC roaming service access across GSM operator networks around the globe.
SE 38	1.0.0	Jun 05	Video Telephony Circuit Switched Implementation Guidelines (344kb) The interoperability of circuit switched 3G Video Telephony (VT) systems is key to mass adoption of VT services. The purpose of this document is to accelerate the uptake of VT services by making available implementation guidelines and recommended best practice for 3G operators implementing such services
3TF01	2.0.1	Oct 03	3G Essential Features (78kb) The Essential Features for the FDD Access Mode and Core Network - spreadsheet (147kb) The Essential Features for the TDD Access Mode and Core Network - spreadsheet (74kb)

FLYERS, PAPERS & REPORTS FROM THE GSM ASSOCIATION
GSMA publishes Near Field Communications (NFC) technical guidelines white paper		Apr 07	Twenty of the largest MNOs have been working together in a GSMA initiative to develop a common vision on Mobile NFC services. They have performed an analysis of the UICC to NFC Chip interface, the Mobile to reader interface and the multi-application UICC framework. This White Paper presents the results as a series of technical guidelines intended to support NFC standardisation and technology implementation activities. The content should also provide valuable information to other third parties who are defining and developing in their roles within the Mobile NFC ecosystem.
High density SIM global deployment imminent		Nov 06	GSM Association survey shows that operators expect the rollout of high capacity SIM cards and contactless technology over the next two years. The results of the GSM Association's annual SIM survey announced in November 2006 indicate a clear trend towards higher capacity memory SIM cards and the fast adoption of new technologies. This year's survey of 46 operators, who represent more than 460 million subscribers, indicated that the trend of constantly increasing the capacity SIM cards would continue. The commonest capacity today is 64 kilobytes, but this is quickly moving towards multi megabyte SIM cards using flash memory technologies.
Introduction to dotmobi - Making the Internet Mobile		Feb 06	Dotmobi is a new top-level domain, which will bring the wealth and variety of the Internet to mobile devices. A dedicated mobile namespace (.mobi) and web development style guides will ensure that dotmobi sites work effectively on mobile devices. It is expected to lead to a wider availability of Internet-based services for mobile users, higher mobile Internet usage and increased demand for Internet access over mobile. This in turn will extend the reach of the Internet to a whole new audience of users.
True Mobility for Laptop users has arrived		Feb 06	GSMA joined by Intel for Computer Mobility Seamless and simple access to GSM and Wi-Fi networks to open up a world of connectivity for notebook users
Regulation and the Digital Divide		Feb 06	How clear and fair regulatory foundationscan stimulate greater investment in mobilenetworks and services
Micro-Payment Systems and their Application to Mobile Networks		Feb 06	In many developing countries, particularly in rural areas, access to financial services is limited resulting in a large percentage of the population operating on a cash only basis and outside of the formal banking system. However, the proliferation of mobile services in these countries has created a unique platform to provide financial services over the mobile network. In light of the growing size of international and national banking remittances, there is a great opportunity to capitalise on the benefits of such a system.
Mobile Spam Code of Practice		Feb 06	The Mobile Spam Code of Practice is a new initiative fromthe GSM Association (GSMA) and its member operators.It has been devised to protect the secure and trusted envi-ronment of mobile services to ensure customers receiveminimal amounts of spam sent via SMS and MMS.TheCode takes a firm stance on how to deal with mobile spammessages that are either fraudulent or unsolicited commer-cial messages.
Delivering the next generation of multimedia services		Feb 06	Technology solutions and commercialframeworks developed andtested by the GSMA
Open Connectivity Gathers Momentum		Feb 06	Issues in the roaming and inter-working agreement process
Seamless Access WLAN		Feb 06	Wireless LAN Technology(WLAN) is now widelydeployed in the marketplaceand being used by mobileoperators and other thirdparty providers to providemobile WLAN services.
Regulation and the Digital Divide		Feb 06	How clear and fair regulatory foundationscan stimulate greater investment in mobilenetworks and services
Tax and the Digital Divide - Tax Report		Sep 05	Earlier this year, the GSM Association (GSMA) set in motion a programme to help eradicate the barriers to accessing mobile communications for people in developing countries This programme was the direct result of research that identified the cost of the mobile phone as one of several barriers to affordability in these nations.
The GSM Association Brochure 2007		Feb 07	The mission of the GSM Association as a unique global trade association is to preserve, enhance and promote the interests of GSM mobile operators, taking a leadership role in representing its Members with one voice on a wide variety of national, regional and global issues. On 17 September 1987, network operators from thirteen countries signed a memorandum of understanding that committed them to the joint development of a cross border digital system for mobile communications – GSM. The coming together of this group also marked the creation of an organisation that would become the GSM Association. (460kb)
TAP Testing Toolkit (TTT) Brochure 2005		Mar 05	he TTT is a user-friendly interactive windows application developed by the GSM Association (GSMA). It has been developed to provide assistance in the testing required prior to launching roaming with a new roaming partner and when upgrading billing systems. The TTT makes TADIG testing (as defined in TADIG PRDs) easier, more efficient and cost effective. The TTT facilitates automation of many testing functions and is very useful in validating that TAP is created properly. The TTT supports all TAP and RAP record format versions including the latest TAP3.11. The TTT is available to full GSMA Members as a part of their membership fee. The software can be downloaded from the InfoCentre. (80kb)
The Wireless Evolution Insider from the GSMA		Jan 04	The Wireless Evolution Insider is published electronically by the GSM Association in association with Baskerville. This bi-monthly electronic newsletter contains information on wireless data issues including GPRS, EDGE and 3GSM / WCDMA. Included are listing of GPRS implementation, EDGE and even 3G as well as GPRS terminal overviews and other issues related to the wireless data sector. (4.2MB) - LAST EDITION

PAPERS & REPORTS - GENERAL (External)
Mobile Broadband: The Global Evolution of UMTS/HSDPA		July 06	The growing commercialization of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), also known as Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), has been the topic of an annual white paper by 3G Americas since 2003, when the focus was Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release '99. With both the rapid progress of the evolutionary 3GPP roadmap for UMTS to HSPA from Release 5 (2004 white paper) to Release 6 (2005 white paper) and now Release 7, and the commercial deployment of 107 UMTS/WCDMA networks worldwide with nearly 75 million customers at the writing of this paper, the need for semi-annual updates has become necessary in order to provide reasonably current information.
The Netsize Guide 2006		Mar 06	GSM Association is pleased to share with you the launch of The Netsize Guide 2006, “Small Screens Global Vision” a global mobile industry report covering in-depth statistics and analysis for 30 countries, 100 + operators. The 200 + page which normally cost €950 but GSM Association members and web visitors can download the report for free. The report also includes interviews and articles from senior industry leaders such as ABC Electronic, Arthur. D Little, AKQA, AFMM, Bouygues Telecom, BBDO, Cisco Systems, ELSPA, GSM Association, ICSTIS, Jamba, Mobile Data Association, Microsoft, PSA Peugeot Citroën and Vodafone. The report is a must read for anybody who works in the Telecommunications, IT or Media business, providing in-depth analysis of the global wireless market with the latest statistics and findings.
Incisor Newsletter Mar 06 - Bluetooth		Monthly	Incisor is a newsletter which contains news about the the Bluetooth and short range RF environment. It is published by Click I.T. Ltd - an IT industry PR and marketing company. Nov 05 - Dec 05 - Jan 06 - Feb 06 - March 06 - May 06
Africa: The Impact of Mobile Phones - Vodafone		Mar 05	New research reveals economic and social benefits of mobile communications in Africa New research released today (9 March 2005) shows that Africa has seen faster growth in mobile telephone subscriptions than any other region of the world over the last five years. The report also highlights the consequent economic and social benefits in terms of per capital GDP growth, Foreign Direct Investment and life satisfaction. (2.80MB)
IMS – IP Multimedia Subsystem - Ericsson		Dec 04	This paper outlines how IMS enables a secure service-driven approach to moving all traffic to the packet switched domain and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) logic – making the best use of circuit- and packet-switched technologies along the way. It describes how fixed and mobile operators can begin rolling out IMS-standard services that generate revenue while making use of existing investments. (240kb)
Key Business Issues in the Service Layer - Ericsson		Dec 04	This white paper looks at how the service marketplace is evolving, and at how these changes impact networks operators, their operation, partnering strategies, and establishes some key issue in vendor selection. (85kb)
The CEBR report		May 04	A report published 10^th May 2004 - the first in a series commissioned by O2 - shows how the mobile phone sector now contributes as much to GDP as the total oil and gas extraction industry. According to research by the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR), mobile contributed £22.9bn to UK GDP in 2003, 2.3% of total GDP. (7.6MB)
Options - Mobile technology in public service		Mar 04	This booklet lists just a few of the many ways in which those serving the public are using mobile technology to deliver new services to the public, and to deliver existing services more efficiently. We draw together, not just applications provided by O2, but also those enjoyed by customers of mobile networks across the globe. (3.5MB)
The Netsize Guide 2004		Mar 04	Netsize Guide covering 21 market across Europe, China and America. The guide gives detailed statistics and analysis about the markets with mobile penetration rates, operator market shares, SMS usage figures and the impact of new technologies such as MMS, JAVA and WAP Browsing. (3.4MB)
The GSM White Paper - Deutsche Bank		Feb 04	The Deutsche Bank paper, "Brilliant Past, Bright Future," describes the evolution of mobile over the last decade from a niche business to one of the largest and most important industries in the world. (955kb)
Accenture Press Release		2003	A Landmark Transformation: the GSM Association Reinvents Itself as a Commercially Focused Global Trade Association (322kb)
Citigroup Paper		Jul 03	GSM Association Reclaiming Power. (243kb)

PAPERS & REPORTS ON HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
Children and Mobile Communications		Dec 05	Many parents allow their children to use mobile phones because of the recognised safety benefits of ready contact between parents and children. However, some parents also worry about whether there are potential risks particular to children and the recommendations by some authorities to limit use.
Mobile Abstracts		Monthly	In conjunction with the Mobile Manufacturers Forum we are pleased to launch a monthly newsletter that we hope will help you stay across the publication of new scientific findings related to mobile telephony. The format is short and simple with a summary of the article taken from the published abstract and a link to the paper itself. If you are aware of any recent articles that have been published and are not included here, please email us a link or reference and we will include it in the next edition.
Expert Group and Independent Authority Reports Related to Radiofrequency (RF) Safety		Dec 05	Over more than 20 years, a significant number of independent authorities have conducted reviews of the potential health risks associated with exposure to radiofrequency fields.
GSMA Response to the WHO Precautionary Framework for Public Health Protection		Dec 05	The GSM Association (GSMA) notes that the current WHO advice is that ‘present scientific information does not indicate the need for any special precautions for use of mobile phones.’ The GSM Association supports the WHO in its consultation process aimed at providing clarity in the concept and application of precautionary approaches and we welcome opportunities to contribute constructively to this process. (138kb)
GSMA/MMF - Mobile Phone Base Stations EMF / Health Fact Pack		Aug 05	There has been a substantial growth in the use of mobile communication services over the last few years and this growth is expected to continue for the foreseeable future with the introduction of the 3rd Generation (3G) mobile technologies. With this growth comes the inevitable increase in the number of base station sites, accompanied by public concern for possible impacts of these communication systems. Therefore this document seeks to address such concerns by providing background information on the operation of mobile communication systems as well as providing answers to some of the most commonly asked questions with respect to health and safety.
Information on Mobile Phone Safety		Jul 05	Mobile or cellular phones have become an integral part of modern society helping to revolutionise how we conduct our personal and business lives. Indeed, in some parts of the world, they are the most reliable or only phones available. To individuals and the community they provide personal, business and safety benefits allowing people to keep in touch while supporting freedom of movement. However, questions have been asked about the safety of mobile communications. (15kb)
Information on Potential for Interference to Electronic Devices		Jun 05	Mobile or cellular phones have become an integral part of modern society helping to revolutionise how we conduct our personal and business lives. Indeed, in some parts of the world, they are the most reliable or only phones available. To individuals and the community they provide personal, business and safety benefits allowing people to keep in touch while supporting freedom of movement. (104kb)
Information on Wireless Device Use on Aircraft		Mar 04	The GSM Association (GSMA) recommends that passengers always follow airline safety instructions. Radio transmissions in aircraft need to be controlled to prevent potential interference with aircraft systems and ground-based radio systems. It is standard practice on aircraft to turn off electrical devices during critical parts of the flight. (73kb)
Understand SAR		Jul 02	To communicate with thenetwork, mobile phones emitlow levels of radio waves (alsoknown as radiofrequency or ‘RF’ energy) when being used.Governments around the worldhave adopted comprehensiveinternational safety guidelines,developed by independentscientific organisations,governing the exposure to RF energy. Mobile phones aredesigned to operate within thesestringent limits.
Guideline Environmental Principles		Jul 02	Maintaining the highest standards of health and safety for GSM technology is a global issue that the GSM Association is addressing as a priority in partnership with government, consumer and industry stakeholders. (103kb)

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