24-07-2012, 01:10 PM
General Packet Radio Service
[attachment=28667]
GPRS
GPRS is expected to profoundly change the mobile data services that GSM, CDMA and TDMA
(ANSI-I36) network operators can offer. GPRS will increase opportunities for higher revenues
and enable new, differentiated services and tariff dimensions to be offered (such as a charge for
the number of kilobytes of data transferred). GPRS combines mobile access with Internet
protocol (IP)-based services, using packet data transmission that makes highly efficient use of
radio spectrum and enables high data speeds. It gives users increased bandwidth, making it
possible and cost-effective to remain constantly connected, as well as to send and receive data
as text, graphics and video.
What is GPRS?
GPRS (general packet radio service) is a packet-based data bearer service for wireless
communication services that is delivered as a network overlay for GSM, CDMA and TDMA (ANSI-
I36) networks. GPRS applies a packet radio principle to transfer user data packets in an efficient
way between GSM mobile stations and external packet data networks. Packet switching is where
data is split into packets that are transmitted separately and then reassembled at the receiving
end. GPRS supports the world's leading packet-based Internet communication protocols, Internet
protocol (IP) and X.25, a protocol that is used mainly in Europe. GPRS enables any existing IP or
X.25 application to operate over a GSM cellular connection. Cellular networks with GPRS
capabilities are wireless extensions of the Internet and X.25 networks.
GPRS gives almost instantaneous connection set-up and continuous connection to the Internet.
GPRS users will be able to log on to an APN (Access Point Name) and have access to many
services or an office network (without the need to dial-up) and remain continuously connected
until they log off, only paying when data is actually transmitted. A physical end-to-end connection
is not required because network resources and bandwidth are only used when data is actually
transferred. This makes extremely efficient use of available radio bandwidth. Therefore, GPRS
packet-based services should cost users less than circuit-switched services since communication
channels are being shared and are on a ‘as-packets-are-needed’ basis rather than dedicated to
only one user at a time. It should also be easier to make applications available to mobile users
because the faster data rate means that middleware currently needed to adapt applications from
fixed line rates to the slower speed of wireless systems will no longer be needed.
GPRS data speeds will range from 14.4 kbit/s (using one radio timeslot) to 115kbit/s (by
amalgamating timeslots) and offer continuous connection to the Internet for mobile phone and
computer users. GPRS data speeds are likely to average at about 56 kbit/s, with between 28 and
40 kbit/s initially. The higher data rates will allow users to take part in video conferences and
interact with multimedia web sites and similar applications using mobile handheld devices as well
as notebook computers.
The key drivers for operators to evolve to GPRS networks are to:
• increase revenues by moving into the mobile data market, especially since the voice market
has had profit margins squeezed with the commoditization of voice services
• gain new subscribers who require mobile data services or do not want to invest in a PC to
gain Internet access
• retain current subscribers by offering new services
• reduce costs due to the efficient use of network resources
• ease of adapting applications for mobile users because high data speeds mean that
middleware is no longer required to convert fixed applications for mobile use.
The overall benefits of GPRS networks for mobile operators are discussed below.
GPRS is based on GSM communication and will complement existing services such as circuit-
switched cellular phone connections and the Short Message Service (SMS). It will also
complement Bluetooth, a standard for replacing wired connections between devices with wireless
radio connections.
How is GPRS different to GSM?
GPRS is different to GSM because it offers the following key features:
• higher bandwidth and, therefore, data speeds
• seamless, immediate and continuous connection to the Internet – ‘always on-line’
• new text and visual data and content services (due to data speeds and the Internet), such as
email, chat, still and moving images, information services (stock prices, weather reports, train
times), video conferencing, e-commerce transactions (buying flight and cinema tickets) and
Internet-based remote access to corporate intranets and public networks (rather than dial-up
remote access which incurs long distance phone calls)
• packet-switching rather than circuit-switching, which means that there is higher radio
spectrum efficiency because network resources and bandwidth are only used when data is
actually transmitted even though it is always connected
• different mediation, rating and billing requirements such as collecting records from GPRS and
IP networks, charging for volumes of data transferred rather than connection time and new
and multiple members of the billing value chain
• support for leading Internet communications protocols - Internet protocol (IP) and X. 25
• additional components and protocols to the GSM network – the key elements are SGSN
(serving GPRS support node), GGSN (gateway GPRS support node) and a charging gateway
• different devices (not GSM phones) - GPRS will be available from laptops or handheld
computers that are either connected to GPRS-capable cellular phones, external modems or
that have PC card modems, smart phones that have full screen capability and cellular phones
that have WAP microbrowsers. All of these devices have user interfaces that will allow users
to utilise GPRS services
• the first important step on the path to 3G.
GPRS Today
It is expected that half of all network operators will have introduced packet-switched services by
the end of 2000. Network operators are in the process of awarding trial and full contracts with
GPRS vendors such as Nokia, Ericsson, Siemens, Alcatel, Nortel and Motorola.
Ericsson is promoting the development and testing of GPRS applications, in conjunction with
software companies, through the GPRS Application Alliance (GAA), which it formed last June.
The GAA provides centres in Sweden, the United States and Singapore where operators can try
out new applications across pilot GPRS networks.
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), operators and billing companies
are working to develop billing systems that will enable operators to bill in real-time according to
volumes of data and other new tariff plans, rather than by the duration of the call.
Omnipoint in the USA, SmarTone in Hong Kong and BT Cellnet in the UK have announced plans
to launch commercial GPRS services during 2000. BT Cellnet is conducting a trial for a 500-user
corporate service and believes GPRS is the best 2.5G mobile data platform. It claims that it is
superior to alternative technologies, specifically HSCSD, which has been favoured by its UK rival,
Orange. BT Cellnet has not revealed its tariffing plans, although the operator confirmed that it
[attachment=28667]
GPRS
GPRS is expected to profoundly change the mobile data services that GSM, CDMA and TDMA
(ANSI-I36) network operators can offer. GPRS will increase opportunities for higher revenues
and enable new, differentiated services and tariff dimensions to be offered (such as a charge for
the number of kilobytes of data transferred). GPRS combines mobile access with Internet
protocol (IP)-based services, using packet data transmission that makes highly efficient use of
radio spectrum and enables high data speeds. It gives users increased bandwidth, making it
possible and cost-effective to remain constantly connected, as well as to send and receive data
as text, graphics and video.
What is GPRS?
GPRS (general packet radio service) is a packet-based data bearer service for wireless
communication services that is delivered as a network overlay for GSM, CDMA and TDMA (ANSI-
I36) networks. GPRS applies a packet radio principle to transfer user data packets in an efficient
way between GSM mobile stations and external packet data networks. Packet switching is where
data is split into packets that are transmitted separately and then reassembled at the receiving
end. GPRS supports the world's leading packet-based Internet communication protocols, Internet
protocol (IP) and X.25, a protocol that is used mainly in Europe. GPRS enables any existing IP or
X.25 application to operate over a GSM cellular connection. Cellular networks with GPRS
capabilities are wireless extensions of the Internet and X.25 networks.
GPRS gives almost instantaneous connection set-up and continuous connection to the Internet.
GPRS users will be able to log on to an APN (Access Point Name) and have access to many
services or an office network (without the need to dial-up) and remain continuously connected
until they log off, only paying when data is actually transmitted. A physical end-to-end connection
is not required because network resources and bandwidth are only used when data is actually
transferred. This makes extremely efficient use of available radio bandwidth. Therefore, GPRS
packet-based services should cost users less than circuit-switched services since communication
channels are being shared and are on a ‘as-packets-are-needed’ basis rather than dedicated to
only one user at a time. It should also be easier to make applications available to mobile users
because the faster data rate means that middleware currently needed to adapt applications from
fixed line rates to the slower speed of wireless systems will no longer be needed.
GPRS data speeds will range from 14.4 kbit/s (using one radio timeslot) to 115kbit/s (by
amalgamating timeslots) and offer continuous connection to the Internet for mobile phone and
computer users. GPRS data speeds are likely to average at about 56 kbit/s, with between 28 and
40 kbit/s initially. The higher data rates will allow users to take part in video conferences and
interact with multimedia web sites and similar applications using mobile handheld devices as well
as notebook computers.
The key drivers for operators to evolve to GPRS networks are to:
• increase revenues by moving into the mobile data market, especially since the voice market
has had profit margins squeezed with the commoditization of voice services
• gain new subscribers who require mobile data services or do not want to invest in a PC to
gain Internet access
• retain current subscribers by offering new services
• reduce costs due to the efficient use of network resources
• ease of adapting applications for mobile users because high data speeds mean that
middleware is no longer required to convert fixed applications for mobile use.
The overall benefits of GPRS networks for mobile operators are discussed below.
GPRS is based on GSM communication and will complement existing services such as circuit-
switched cellular phone connections and the Short Message Service (SMS). It will also
complement Bluetooth, a standard for replacing wired connections between devices with wireless
radio connections.
How is GPRS different to GSM?
GPRS is different to GSM because it offers the following key features:
• higher bandwidth and, therefore, data speeds
• seamless, immediate and continuous connection to the Internet – ‘always on-line’
• new text and visual data and content services (due to data speeds and the Internet), such as
email, chat, still and moving images, information services (stock prices, weather reports, train
times), video conferencing, e-commerce transactions (buying flight and cinema tickets) and
Internet-based remote access to corporate intranets and public networks (rather than dial-up
remote access which incurs long distance phone calls)
• packet-switching rather than circuit-switching, which means that there is higher radio
spectrum efficiency because network resources and bandwidth are only used when data is
actually transmitted even though it is always connected
• different mediation, rating and billing requirements such as collecting records from GPRS and
IP networks, charging for volumes of data transferred rather than connection time and new
and multiple members of the billing value chain
• support for leading Internet communications protocols - Internet protocol (IP) and X. 25
• additional components and protocols to the GSM network – the key elements are SGSN
(serving GPRS support node), GGSN (gateway GPRS support node) and a charging gateway
• different devices (not GSM phones) - GPRS will be available from laptops or handheld
computers that are either connected to GPRS-capable cellular phones, external modems or
that have PC card modems, smart phones that have full screen capability and cellular phones
that have WAP microbrowsers. All of these devices have user interfaces that will allow users
to utilise GPRS services
• the first important step on the path to 3G.
GPRS Today
It is expected that half of all network operators will have introduced packet-switched services by
the end of 2000. Network operators are in the process of awarding trial and full contracts with
GPRS vendors such as Nokia, Ericsson, Siemens, Alcatel, Nortel and Motorola.
Ericsson is promoting the development and testing of GPRS applications, in conjunction with
software companies, through the GPRS Application Alliance (GAA), which it formed last June.
The GAA provides centres in Sweden, the United States and Singapore where operators can try
out new applications across pilot GPRS networks.
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), operators and billing companies
are working to develop billing systems that will enable operators to bill in real-time according to
volumes of data and other new tariff plans, rather than by the duration of the call.
Omnipoint in the USA, SmarTone in Hong Kong and BT Cellnet in the UK have announced plans
to launch commercial GPRS services during 2000. BT Cellnet is conducting a trial for a 500-user
corporate service and believes GPRS is the best 2.5G mobile data platform. It claims that it is
superior to alternative technologies, specifically HSCSD, which has been favoured by its UK rival,
Orange. BT Cellnet has not revealed its tariffing plans, although the operator confirmed that it