• Table of contents
• Different Standards
• GSM Overview by Topic
  • Core protocols between network and MS
  • A-Bis
  • A
  • SMS
  • SMS Cell Broadcast
  • Audio
  • GPRS
  • SIM
  • Lawful Interception
  • Fraud Information Gathering
  • GSM Interface (AT Commands) === UMTS ===Anyone with a base station for us?
  • Base Station System (BSS), Base Station Controller (BSC), Mobile-service Switching Center (MSC)
  • Section 1 -- Introduction, Goals
  • Section 2 -- Principals
  • Section 3 --- Networking
  • Section 4 --- (Important for us)
  • Section 5 --- Radio Interface
  • Section 6 --- Audio
  • Section 7 --- Terminal Interface
  • Section 8 --- Implementation notes (Important for us)
  • Section 13 === Section 21 --- UMTS ===
  • Section 22 --- UMTS === Section 23 --- UMTS ===
  • Section 24 --- UMTS === Section 25 --- UMTS ===
  • Section 26 --- UMTS === Section 27 --- UMTS ===
  • Section 28 --- UMTS === Section 29 --- UMTS ===
  • Section 30 --- UMTS === Section 31 --- UMTS ===
  • Section 32 --- UMTS === Section 33 --- UMTS ===
  • Section 34 --- UMTS === Section 35 --- UMTS ===
  • Section 36 --- UMTS === Section 41 --- ===
  • Section 42 --- === Section 43 --- ===
  • Section 44 --- === Section 45 --- ===
  • Section 49 ---
  • Section 51 ---
  • Section 52 ---
  • Section 55 ---

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) standardised GSM and UMTS. The standardisation for UMTS was organized differently around 1999 through the 3rd Generation Partnership Project. The projects that are part of Osmocom currently focus on the last release before the inclusion of UMTS. In standards release terminology this is roughly R99 and follows the old-style specification numbering (01.xx - 12.xx). The release numbering is described on this page, while the specification numbering schemes are explained on this page at 3GPP.

The standards can be queried and downloaded directly at the ETSI Public Download Area. A good overview which also refers to each individual spec is found at the 3GPP overview page. ETSI requires a registered e-mail address to download files in case of problems BugMeNot may provide a solution.

An overview of how some of the standards mentioned below and the different layers in GSM are linked together can be found in the OpenBTS Project description document

Different Standards¶

Technical Reports (TR), Tecnical Specification (TS), European standards for compliance with R&TTE - Directive 1999/5/EC (EN)

GSM Overview by Topic¶

Core protocols between network and MS¶

The TS 05.xx standards describe the physical layer (L1) which is implemented in the phone firmware. Low level aspects such as modulation and channel coding are part of the DSP code.

• GSM TS 04.04 - Layer 1 - General Requirements
• GSM TS 05.01 - Physical layer on the radio path; General description
• GSM TS 05.02 - Multiplexing and Multiple Access on the Radio Path
• GSM TS 05.03 - Channel coding .
• GSM TS 05.04 - Modulation
• GSM TS 05.05 - Radio Transmission and Reception
• GSM TS 05.08 - Radio subsystem link control

Layer 2 is also called the Datalink layer (DL)

• GSM TS 04.05 - Data Link (DL) Layer General Aspects
• GSM TS 04.06 - Mobile Station - Base Stations System (MS - BSS) Interface Data Link (DL) Layer Specification

TS 04.06 is based on ITU-T Q.921

Layer 3 specifications

• GSM TS 04.07 - Mobile Radio Interface Signalling Layer 3: General Aspects
• GSM TS 04.08 - Mobile Radio Interface Signalling Layer 3
• GSM TS 04.11 - Point-to-Point (PP) Short Message Service (SMS) Support on Mobile Radio Interface
• GSM TS 04.12 - Short Message Service Cell Broadcast (SMSCB) Support on the Mobile Radio Interface
• GSM TS 04.80 - Mobile Radio Interface Layer 3 - Supplementary Services Specification Formats and Coding

Call control in TS 04.08 is based on ITU-T Q.931

• GSM TS 03.22 - Functions related to Mobile Station (MS) in idle mode and group receive mode

A-Bis¶

• GSM TS 08.54 - A-bis Layer 1
• GSM TS 08.58 - A-bis Layer 2
• GSM TS 08.58 - A-bis Layer 3: Radio Subsystem Layer
• GSM TS 12.21 - A-bis Layer 3: Organization and Maintenance Layer

A¶

• GSM TS 08.01 - Introduction to the A-interface
• GSM TS 08.02 - Interface Principles
• GSM TS 08.04 - A Layer 1...
• GSM TS 08.06 - A Signalling Transport Mechanisim (ITU SCCP)
• GSM TS 08.08 - A Layer 3
• GSM TS 08.20 - Rate Adoption BSS - MSC

SMS¶

• GSM TS 04.11 - Mobile Radio Interface SMS Support
• GSM TS 03.40 - Technical Realization of the SMS (Transport Layer, Relay Layer)
• GSM TS 03.38 - Alphabets and Language Specific Information
• GSM TS 03.42 - Compression algorithm for text messaging services

SMS Cell Broadcast¶

• GSM TS 03.41 - Technical Realization of SMS Cell Broadcast

Audio¶

• GSM TS 06.10 - Full Rate (FR) Speech transcoding
• GSM TS 06.60 - Enhanced Full Rate (EFR) Speech transcoding
• GSM TS 06.90 - Adative Mult-Rate (AMR) Speech transcoding

GPRS¶

• GSM TS 01.61 - GPRS cipher algorithm requirements
• GSM TS 03.60 - Overall GRPS logical architecture (above RL and MAC)
• GSM TS 03.64 - GPRS radio interface
• GSM TS 04.60 - RLC/MAC on PDCH
• GSM TS 04.64 - MS-SGSN LLC spec (on top of RLC/MAC)
• GSM TS 04.65 - SGSN SNDCP
• GSM TS 08.14 - BSS SGSN Gb Layer 1 (Frame Relay)
• GSM TS 08.16 - BSS SGSN Gb Layer 2 (NS)
• GSM TS 08.18 - BSS SGSN BSS GPRS protocol
• GSM TS 09.95 - Interworking between modified PLMN supporting legacy GPRS and GPRS mobiles
• GSM TS 22.060 - GPRS Service Spec
• GSM TS 23.060 - GPRS Radio Service Spec
• GSM TS 29.016 - SGSN-VLR Interface Gs network interface spec
• GSM TS 29.018 - SGSN-VLR Interface Gs layer3 interface spec
• GSM TS 29.060 - GPRS Tunneling (GTP) over Gn and Gp

SIM¶

• GSM TS 11.11 - Specification of the Subscriber Identity Module - Mobile Equipment (SIM-ME) Interface
• GSM TS 11.14 - Specification of the SIM Application Toolkit (SAT) for the Subscriber Identity Module - Mobile Equipment (SIM-ME) interface

• Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM); Function characteristics
• SIM Application Programming Interface (SIM API)
• Security mechanisms for the SIM Application Toolkit; Stage 1
• Mobile Station Application Execution Environment (MExE); Service description; Stage 1
• GSM API for SIM toolkit stage 2
• Mobile Station Application Execution Environment (MExE); Functional description; Stage 2

Lawful Interception¶

• Fraud Information Gathering System (FIGS); Service requirements
• Lawful Interception requirements for GSM
• Lawful Interception - Stage 1
• Lawful interception; Stage 2

Fraud Information Gathering¶

• Fraud Information Gathering System (FIGS); Service description

GSM Interface (AT Commands) ===
UMTS ===
Anyone with a base station for us?¶

Base Station System (BSS), Base Station Controller (BSC), Mobile-service Switching Center (MSC)¶

• Example protocol stacks for interconnecting Service Centre(s) (SC) and Mobile-services Switching Centre(s) (MSC)
• Example protocol stacks for interconnecting Cell Broadcast Centre (CBC) and Base Station Controller (BSC)

GSM Overview by Chapter
Section 0 -- ICC =

• [ETSI TS 102 222]

Section 1 -- Introduction, Goals¶

• [ETSI TS 101 855|Introduction to the Series]
• General descritption of GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)
• Abbreiations and acronyms
• Fraud Information Gathering System (FIGS); Service requirements
• Lawful Interception requirements for GSM
• ISDN-based DECT/GSM interworking; Feasibility study
• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Requirements specification of GPRS
• GPRS ciphering algorithm requirements

Section 2 -- Principals¶

• Principles of telecommunication services supported by a GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)
• Bareer Services (BS) for PLMN
• Teleservices supported by PLMN
• General on supplementary services
• Types of Mobile Stations (MS)
• MS features
• Security aspects
• Service accessibility
• Internation Mobile Station Equipment Identities (IMEI)
• Subscriber Identity Modules (SIM); Function characteristics
• SIM Application Programming Interface (SIM API)
• Personalisation of GSM Mobile Equipment (ME); Mobile functionality specification
• Description of Charge Advice Information (CAI)
• Man-machine Interface (MMI) of the MS
• Fraud Information Gathering System (FIGS); Service description
• Immediate Service Termination (IST) Service description
• Lawful Interception - Stage 1
• High Speed Circuit Switch Data (HSCSD); Stage 1
• Procedure for call progress indicators
• Operator Determined Barring (ODB)
• Network Identity and Timezone (NITZ); Service description, Stage 1
• Support of Localised Service Area (SoLSA); Service description; Stage 1
• Security mechanisms for the SIM Application Toolkit; Stage 1
• Tandem Free Operation (TFO); Service Description; Stage 1
• GSM Cordless Telephony System (CTS) Phase 1; Service description; Stage 1
• Mobile Station Application Execution Environment (MExE); Service description; Stage 1
• GPRS; Service description; Stage 1
• Packet Data on Signalling channels Service (PDS) - Stage 1
• Support of Mobile Number Portability (MNP); Service description; Stage 1
• enhanced Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-emption service (eMLPP)
• Voice Group Call Service (VGCS); Stage 1
• Voice Broadcast Service (VBS); Stage 1
• Location Services (LCS); Service description, Stage 1
• Call Deflection Service description; Stage 1
• Noise Suppression for the AMR Codec; Service description; Stage 1
• Customized Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL); Service definition; Stage 1
• Support for Optimal Routeing (SOR); Service definition (Stage 1)
• Line identification Supplementary Services - Stage 1
• Call Forwarding (CF) Supplementary Services - Stage 1
• Call Waiting (CW) and Call Holding (HOLD); Supplementary Services - Stage 1
• MultiParty (MPTY) Supplementary Services - Stage 1
• Closed User Group (CUG) Supplementary Services - Stage 1
• Advice of Charge (AoC) Supplementary Services - Stage 1
• User-to-User Signalling (UUS); Service description, Stage 1
• Call Barring (CB) Supplementary Services - Stage 1
• Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) - Stage 1
• Explicit Call Transfer (ECT)
• Completion of Calls to busy Subscriber (CCBS); Service description; Stage 1
• Support of Private Numbering Plan (SPNP); Service description; Stage 1
• Name identification supplementary services; Stage 1
• Multiple Subscriber Profile (MSP) Phase 1 Service description; Stage 1

Section 3 --- Networking¶

• Network functions
• Network architecture
• Numbering, addressing and identification
• Signalling requirements relating to routeing of calls to mobile subscribers
• Technical performance objectives
• Restoration procedures
• Organization of Subscriber Data
• Handover procedures
• GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)
• Technical realization of Supplementary Services
• Location registration procedures
• Discontinuous Reception (DRX) in the GSM system
• Support of Dual Tone Multi-Frequency signalling (DTMF) via the GSM system
• Technical realization of Operator Determined Barring (ODB)
• Subscriber Data Management
• Basic call handling
• GSM API for SIM toolkit stage 2
• Security-related network functions
• Functions related to Mobile Station (MS) in idle mode and group receive mode
• Multiband operation of GSM/DCS 1 800 by a single operator
• Radio Network Planning Aspects
• Universal Geographical Area Description (GAD)
• Lawful interception; Stage 2
• High speed Circuit Switched Data (HSCSD) - Stage 2
• Immediate Service Termination (IST)
• Alphabets and language-specific information
• Technical realization of the Short Message Service (SMS) Point-to-Point (PP)
• Technical Realization of Short Message Service Cell broadcast (SMSCB)
• Compression algorithm for text messaging services
• Support of Videotex
• Support of Teletex in a GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)
• Technical realization of facsimile group 3 transparent
• Technical realization of facsimile group 3 non-transparent
• Example protocol stacks for interconnecting Service Centre(s) (SC) and Mobile-services Switching Centre(s) (MSC)
• Security mechanisms for SIM application toolkit; Stage 2
• Example protocol stacks for interconnecting Cell Broadcast Centre (CBC) and Base Station Controller (BSC)
• Transmission planning aspects of the speech service in the GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) system
• GSM Cordless Telephony System (CTS); Phase 1; Lower Layers of the CTS Radio Interface; Stage 2
• Tandem Free Operation (TFO); Service description; Stage 2
• Description for the use of a Shared Inter Working Function (SIWF) in a GSM PLMN; Stage 2
• Dual Transfer Mode (DTM); Stage 2
• GSM Cordless Telephony System (CTS); Phase 1; CTS Architecture Description; Stage 2
• Mobile Station Application Execution Environment (MExE); Functional description; Stage 2
• Characterisation, test methods and quality assessment for handsfree Mobile Stations (MSs)
• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) Service description; Stage 2
• Packet Data on Signalling channels service (PDS); Stage 2
• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Overall description of the GPRS radio interface; Stage 2
• Support of Mobile Number Portability (MNP); Technical Realisation; Stage 2
• enhanced Multi-Level Precedence and Pre-emption service (eMLPP)
• Voice Group Call Service (VGCS); Stage 2
• Voice Broadcast service (VBS); Stage 2
• Routeing of calls to/from Public Data Networks (PDN) and the GSM Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN)
• Location Services (LCS);Functional description; Stage 2
• Call Deflection (CD) Supplementary Service; Stage 2
• Support of Localised Service Area (SoLSA); Stage 2
• Customised Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic (CAMEL) Phase 2; Stage 2
• Support of Optimal Routeing (SOR); Technical realisation
• Line identification supplementary services; Stage 2
• Call Forwarding (CF) supplementary services; Stage 2
• Call Waiting (CW) and Call Hold (HOLD) supplementary services; Stage 2
• Multi Party (MPTY) supplementary services; Stage 2
• Closed User Group (CUG) supplementary services - Stage 2
• Advice of Charge (AoC) supplementary services - Stage 2
• User-to-User Signalling (UUS) Supplementary Service; Stage 2
• Call Barring (CB) supplementary services - Stage 2
• Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) - Stage 2
• Explicit Call Transfer (ECT) supplementary service; Stage 2
• Technical realization of Completion of Calls to Busy Subscriber (CCBS); Stage 2
• Name identification supplementary services; Stage 2
• Multiple Subscriber Profile (MSP) (Phase 1) - Stage 2

Section 4 --- (Important for us)¶

TODO

Section 5 --- Radio Interface¶

TODO

Section 6 --- Audio¶

TODO, Audio Coding, Quality of Service, Echo cancellation

Section 7 --- Terminal Interface¶

TODO, 07.10 GSM Multiplexer, AT commands...

Section 8 --- Implementation notes (Important for us)¶

Section 9 --- ===
Section 10 --- ===

• Lawful Interception requirements for GSM

Section 11 --- Conformance, Testing (BSC-MSC Important for us) ===
Section 12 --- Management ===
TODO

• Base Station System (BSS) Management Information
• Network Manager (NM) procedures and messages on the A-bis interface)

Section 13 ===
Section 21 --- UMTS ===¶

Section 22 --- UMTS ===
Section 23 --- UMTS ===¶

Section 24 --- UMTS ===
Section 25 --- UMTS ===¶

Section 26 --- UMTS ===
Section 27 --- UMTS ===¶

Section 28 --- UMTS ===
Section 29 --- UMTS ===¶

Section 30 --- UMTS ===
Section 31 --- UMTS ===¶

Section 32 --- UMTS ===
Section 33 --- UMTS ===¶

Section 34 --- UMTS ===
Section 35 --- UMTS ===¶

Section 36 --- UMTS ===
Section 41 --- ===¶

Section 42 --- ===
Section 43 --- ===¶

Section 44 --- ===
Section 45 --- ===¶

Section 46 --- ===
Section 48 --- (Important for us) ===

• General Aspects on the BSC-MSC Interface
• Base Station Sstem - Mobile Services Switching Centre (BSS-MSC) Interface - Interface Principles
• Base Station System - Mobile Services Switching Centre (BSS-MSC) Interface Layer 1 Specification
• Signalling Transport Mechanism Specification for the Base Station System - Mobile Services Switching Centre (BSS-MSC) interface
• Mobile Switching Centre - Base Station system (MSC-BSS) Interface Layer 3 Specification
• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Base Station System (BSS) Serving GPRS Support Node SGSN) interface; Gb Interface Layer 1
• general Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Base Station System (BSS) Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) interface; Network service
• General Packet Radio Service (GPRS); Base Station System (BSS) Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN); BSS GPRS Protocol
• Rate Adaption on the Base Station System Mobile Service Switching Centre (BSS-MSC) Interface
• Location Services LCS; Serbing Mobile Location Centre Saving Mobile Location Centre (SMLC - SMLC); SMLCPP specification
• Base Station Controller - Base Transceiver Station (BSC-BTS) Interface General Aspects
• Base Station Controller - Base Transceiver Station (BSC-BTS) Interface - Interface Principles
• Base Station Controller - Base Transceiver Station (BSC - BTS) interface; Layer 1 structure of physical circuits
• Base Station Controller - Base Transceiver Station (BSC - BTS) interface; Layer 2 specification
• Base Station Controller - Base Transceiver Station (BSC-BTS) Interface Layer 3 Specification
• In-band control of remote transcoders and rate adaptors for full rate traffic channels
• In-band control of remote transcoders and rate adaptors for half rate traffic channels
• Location Services (LCS); Serving Mobile Location Centr Base Station System (SMLC-BSS) interface; Layer 3 specification

Section 49 ---¶

• General network interworking scenarios
• Application of the Base Station System Application Part (BBSAP) on the E-Interface
• Location Services (LCS); Base Station System Application Part LCS Extension (BSSAP-LE)
• Interworking between modified PLMN support GPRS and legacy GPRS mobiles.

Section 51 ---¶

• Mobile Station (MS) conformance specification; Part 1: Conformance specification
• Specification of the Subscriber Identity Module Mobile Equipment (SIM-ME) interface
• Test specification for Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Application Programming Interface (API) for Java Card
• Specification of the SIM Application Toolkit for the Subscriber Identit Mobile Equipment (SIM - ME) interface
• Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) test specification
• Base Station System (BSS) equipment specification; Radio aspects
• GSM Repeater Equipment Specification.

Section 52 ---¶

• Telecommunication management; GSM subscriber and equioment trace
• Network Management (NM) Procedures and messages on the A-bis interface
• Location Services (LCS); Location services management
• Telecommunication management; Performance Management (PM); Performance measurements - GSM

Section 55 ---¶

• Specification of A8_V MILENAGE Algorithm: An example algorithm for the key generation function A8_V