11-05-2012, 03:09 PM
High Speed Data in Mobile Networks seminar report
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ABSTRACT
Currently, almost all network operators worldwide are upgrading their GSM networks in order to provide high speed mobile data to their subscribers. The ever increasing growth rate of data applications such as e-mail and the internet is confronting mobile network operators worldwide with the challenge to upgrade their networks to high bandwidth capable "bit pipes" in order to provide for all kinds of mobile data applications. High speed mobile data will combine two of today's most rapidly growing technologies, mobility and the internet.
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) and HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data) have been designed primarily as upgrades to the well known and widely used GSM standard. In the 1980s and early 1990s, when the GSM system was designed and standardized, data transmission capabilities were of minor importance compared to voice. Besides, at that time, the maximum transmission speed of 9.6 kbit/s that GSM offered, appeared to be sufficient and was comparable with analog wireline modems.
Starting with HSCSD, the first high speed mobile data upgrade to be standardized, higher rates of transmission can be provided to mobile customers. EDGE has a transmission speed of up to 384 kbit/s and GPRS is able to support up to 160 kbit/s.
INTRODUCTION
Currently, almost all network operators worldwide are upgrading their GSM networks in order to provide high speed mobile data to their subscribers. This subclause focuses on providing you with an overview of some typical applications for high speed mobile data. We also would like to make you aware of some of the general advantages and risks. When are HSCSD and EDGE available for commercial applications? What are some of the general aspects that all high speed mobile data options have in common?
. THE NEED FOR HIGH SPEED MOBILE DATA
Why High Speed Mobile Data?
The ever increasing growth rate of data applications such as e-mail and the internet is confronting mobile network operators worldwide with the challenge to upgrade their networks to high bandwidth capable "bit pipes" in order to provide for all kinds of mobile data applications. High speed mobile data will combine two of today's most rapidly growing technologies, mobility and the internet.
Let us compare the situation on the mobile side with the progress that has been made on the fixed end. While even today's analog modems operate at 56 kbit/s and, indeed, ISDN transmits up to 128 kbit/s, mobile users are still limited to 9.6 kbit/s in of GSM. The rollout of XDSL improves the situation even further on the wireline side, thereby broadening the gap between wireline and wireless.
Bandwidth Requirements
The figure below presents the bandwidth requirements for some typical data transfer applications. Note that these requirements apply to both wireline and mobile usage. Obviously, GSM can barely cope with surfing the web and video-conferencing is totally unfeasible.
Customer Potential
With regard to mobile data, not just the typical pattern of use by today's businessmen on the move shall be addressed: Today's GSM-networks are also used by many consumers for the largest growing mobile data application of the late 1990's, SMS. Therefore, the new mobile data technologies need to address both consumer groups, the private customer and the business user. In the first instance, most network operators intend to attract their high-end business subscribers, their long term goal being, however, to bring high speed mobile data to the mass market.
High Speed Data Options for GSM
The figure below illustrates the evolution of data services in GSM. Please note that packet-switched services are illustrated in red while circuit-switched services are shown in blue. The following sections will provide a technical introduction to these new services.
AN HISTORICAL VIEW
GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) and HSCSD (High Speed Circuit Switched Data) have been designed primarily as upgrades to the well known and widely used GSM standard. In the 1980s and early 1990s, when the GSM system was designed and standardized, data transmission capabilities were of minor importance compared to voice. Besides, at that time, the maximum transmission speed of 9.6 kbit/s that GSM offered, appeared to be sufficient and was comparable with analog wireline modems.
Starting with HSCSD, the first high speed mobile data upgrade to be standardized, higher rates of transmission can be provided to mobile customers. EDGE has a transmission speed of up to 384 kbit/s and GPRS is able to support up to 160 kbit/s.
THE APPLICATION PERSPECTIVE
Applications for High Speed Mobile Data
Today, many business and marketing experts worldwide are seeking the ultimate "killer application" to justify the huge investments in high speed data upgrades and 3G-technology. People generally focus on e-mail, file transfer and accessing the WWW for the usual internet transactions when considering applications for high speed mobile data. These applications will, of course, be important but there will also be new applicatons which will suit the specific needs of mobile usage. Despite this, many new applications will only come into being when the mobile networks have been upgraded. For those applications, the mobile device, as we know it, will not be deployed. However, even today, entirely new mobile data applications that do not involve the common mobile user or usage are already emerging. Let us examine a few of these applications.
TELEMETRIC APPLICATIONS
Beverage or snack machines may be equipped with high speed mobile data devices in order to transmit the remaining level of stock. Thus, time-consuming and expensive "drive-ins" will only be carried out when necessary. What is more, the customer will always find his/her preferred choice. With the advent of high-speed mobile data and an underlying IP protocol stack, the internet and packet-switched transmission can be used to transfer telemetric information. This will keep prices low and makes telemetric applications available to a wide range of new customers.
TOLL ROAD SERVICES
Nowadays, tolls are generally collected in a time-consuming and, hence, costly fashion. In the future of high speed mobile data, cars may be equipped with a mobile data device and rechargeable electronic cash in order to pay the toll by merely passing through the toll station. Again, the underlying IP protocol stack and the use of the internet will make this application cheap and reliable.
Surveillance Cameras:
Another interesting application for high speed mobile data is a webcam-based surveillance of homes or people. For instance, one can keep an eye on the household whilst on vacation or watch the children whilst they are at playschool. The installation of these cameras is simple because they are wireless devices and their operation is even simpler because the network connectivity is provided via the internet.
Advantages of High Speed Mobile Data:
Some of the aforementioned applications have already been evaluated and some have indeed been implemented using the existing wireless infrastructure. However, in most cases, the technicians were faced with the unresolvable issue of connectivity. In other cases, a network for providing a connection was available but simply was not designed for data applications. These required the development of an entirely new protocol stack. With regard to the upcoming high speed mobile data services, well-known and well-understood protocol stacks such as IP may be used to develop the applications.
Focus on Applications
It will be the application side that provides the impetus to high speed mobile data. As such, an operator's decision on whether to implement GPRS, EDGE or even UMTS, should not be top priority . The services that operators intend to provide to their subscribers through their wireless high speed data channels is far more important. Indeed, the question of speed is ultimately not all too important. Most applications that people have in mind for UMTS also work well on EDGE or even GPRS. Accordingly, the commercial service of GPRS will show whether high speed mobile data pays off for operators and subscribers. If GPRS is not a success, it is highly unlikely that UMTS will be a success.
THE VALUE CHAIN TODAY AND WITH HIGH SPEED MOBILE DATA
With today's focus on speech services, it is mainly the network operators and service providers who generate their revenue from the mass mobile market. In future, there will be a third party who will enter the market: This third party consists of the content providers who will provide the applications for high speed mobile data. These applications will require all the airtime of high speed mobile data networks.
PROBLEMS OF HIGH SPEED MOBILE DATA
High speed mobile data will certainly improve the existing mobile networks greatly. GPRS and EDGE, in particular, will write a new chapter in mobile communications history. However, there are various problems which need addressing in order to make high speed mobile data a commercial success.
Firstly, who shall provide all the necessary IP-addresses when many people are permanently online? Even today, a shortage of IP addresses is becoming evident. The only solution to this issue is an upgrade to IP version 6 but the question is when IP version 6 become a reality will.
Another problem is the short span between GPRS, EDGE and UMTS. Even before the demand for GPRS has been proven, the technical evolution has already found successors to GPRS, namely EDGE and UMTS. Perhaps the market will not be ready for UMTS when it becomes available in 2002.
Most importantly, however, there is one fundamental question: Is there really a market for high speed mobile data or will GPRS, EDGE and UMTS suffer like the mobile satellite networks?
The latter is the issue which really needs to be addressed. On the one hand, the content providers need to examine this issue and on the other hand, the network and service operators need to be willing to accept changes to the value chain so that content providers can also prosper from the mobile communications market.