The GSM Evolution: Mobile Packet Data Services

In the context of the evolution towards 3rd Generation (3G) mobile radio networks, packet switched data services like the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and the Enhanced GPRS (EGPRS) are currently being introduced into GSM and TDMA/136 systems world-wide. For network operators, equipment vendors and system integrators dimensioning rules have to be developed to plan and estimate the needed radio capacity that is needed for the predicted amount of user data. "The GSM Evolution" comprehensively provides the basics of GPRS and EGPRS comprising the radio interface and the system and protocol architecture will be described in detail. Besides the introduction of WCDMA and UMTS as 3rd Generation Mobile Radio Networks, the further developed GSM networks, including GPRS and EDGE capabilities will be able to provide 3G services as well. Such enhanced GSM networks will be introduced in the next few years world-wide and will stay operational beyond 2010. This book presents the basics of GPRS and EGPRS - the radio interface and system and protocol architecture. It provides an in-depth description of GPRS, EDGE and GERAN networks. It describes the evolution of GSM/GPRS networks towards GSM/EDGE Radio Access Networks (GERAN) and the GERAN standard. It highlights the modulation and coding techniques for EDGE and network architecture for GERAN. It discusses the traffic performance of GSM/GPRS and GERAN and the suitability of the performance results for radio network dimensioning. This book is ideal for all practitioners in the area of mobile radio and networking, network operators, planners, system integrators, vendors and application developers, researchers in the area of mobile radio and networking and also electrical engineering and computer science students, content providers, technical managers, regulators and sales personnel.