GPRS FAQs, GPRS Phones

Q. What is gprs?

The General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) is a new non-voice value added service that allows Mobile Phones to be used for sending and receiving data over an Internet Protocol (IP)-based network. GPRS as such is a data bearer that enables wireless access to data networks like the Internet, enabling users to access E-mail and other Internet applications using Mobile Phones

Q. How does it work?

GPRS is packet based, wherein GPRS data is handled as a series of "packets" that can be routed over several paths through the network, rather than as a continuous bit-stream over a dedicated dial-up connection. With GPRS, the information is split into separate but related "packets" before being transmitted and reassembled at the receiving end. The Internet itself is an example of a packet data network, the most famous of many such network types.

In second-generation mobile networks, calls are handled using traditional circuit-switching technology. A dedicated "circuit", or "timeslot", is allocated between two points for the duration of a call. No other phone can use this circuit during the call, regardless of whether any data is being transmitted or not.

The GPRS standard is delivered in a very elegant manner - with network operators needing only to add a couple of new infrastructure nodes and making a software upgrade to some existing GSM network elements.

Q. What are the Features of GPRS?

1.Internet on the Mobile : For the first time, GPRS fully enables Mobile Internet functionality by allowing interworking between the existing Internet and a new GPRS network. Any service that is used over the fixed Internet today- File Transfer Protocol (FTP), web browsing, chat, email, telnet- will be as available over the mobile network because of GPRS.

2.Rich Media Applications : GPRS facilitates several new applications that have not previously been available over GSM networks due to the limitations in speed of Circuit Switched Data (9.6 kbps) and message length of the Short Message Service (160 characters). GPRS will fully enable the Internet applications you are used to on your desktop, from web browsing to chat over the mobile network.

3.Speed : GPRS allows large amounts of data to be sent over mobile networks at speeds three to four times greater than conventional GSM systems. Theoretical maximum speeds of up to 171.2 kilobits per second (kbps) are achievable with GPRS using all eight timeslots at the same time. This is about three to four times as fast as the data transmission speeds possible over today's fixed telecommunications networks and ten times as fast as current Circuit Switched Data services on GSM networks.

4.Always On : GPRS facilitates instant connections whereby information can be sent or received immediately as the need arises, subject to radio coverage. No dial-up modem connection is necessary. This is why GPRS users are sometimes referred to be as being "always connected". Immediacy is one of the advantages of GPRS (and SMS) when compared to Circuit Switched Data.

Q. What is the number of simultaneous GPRS connections?

A single carrier cell can support 6 simultaneous voice or circuit switched (CS) data calls each at 9.6kb/s raw (approx. 8kb/s user). Subsequent carriers can support up to 8 simultaneous voice calls or CS data calls. A single carrier cell can support 6 simultaneous voice or circuit switched (CS) data calls each at 9.6kb/s raw (approx. 8kb/s user). Subsequent carriers can support up to 8 simultaneous voice calls or CS data calls
A single carrier cell could carry up to 6x13.4kb/s= 80.4kb/s raw GPRS data or approx. 48kb/s user data in each direction (uplink and downlink are independent in GPRS). This could be grown with the addition of further carriers if needed. This total capacity is shared with other users, e.g. normal voice calls.

Q. Does GPRS create any delay?

GPRS does have its own latency/throughput characteristic. The target round trip delay is 2-3 seconds for initial GPRS data transmission (where radio resource is initially requested, i.e. the first packet transmitted) and <1 second (round trip) for ongoing data transmission (where radio resource has been allocated and retained). This is based on a 500 byte IP packet size

Q. What is an APN?

APN stands for Access Point Number (also Access Point Name, or Access Point Node). The mobile network must connect to two points in order to make a call, a mobile unit (known as a Mobile Station, or MS), and a destination network to connect to (whether that is an ISP, or a private intranet). The destination network must be connected to the GPRS network via a fixed line. The point at which this fixed line connects to the network is known as an APN. When a GPRS phone is connected to the network, the connection specifies various details, i.e. mobile number, SIM number, services (voicemail, bars etc). The APN number is one of the details specified with this connection. Before the GPRS phone can be used to make a GPRS call, the handset must also be programmed with certain information, including the APN. Once both the network and the phone are programmed correctly, a GPRS session can be automatically routed to the correct destination, without a dialup connection being necessary.

Q. Is GPRS secure?


Very. GPRS uses a number of features to create a secure environment. For a start, SIM cards use a separate ciphering key for GPRS use, known as GPRS-Kc, and GPRS-CKSN (Ciphering Key Sequence Number). The purpose of this cipher is to safely encrypt the signal between the mobile unit and the network. Once on the GPRS network, the most secure method of connection is via a secure 'fixed link' to the private network, rather that via the internet. Certain security policies are enforced by the GGSN, using a set of IP filtering rules. In addition to this, IPsec is deployed, along with the use of both transparent and non-transparent access.

Q. How does GPRS affect me?

As a consumer, GPRS will enable you to access real internet services from your mobile phone. The speed of transmission involved will allow you to transmit emails, MP3s, pictures, even short films, to and from your mobile phone. Given that the nature of packet data is that you are charged for the actual sending of information, and not the amount of time spent ‘on line’, you can stay logged on to the internet all day, for free, and only get charged for downloading information. In addition to this, GPRS will improve the quality of services available to you. WAP has been criticised throughout the industry for it’s text based, monochrome design, and slow delivery. The poor visual quality is due in part to the slow speed of transmission over it’s current bearer – GSM (9.6kbit/sec). The higher transmission speed of GPRS (over 100kbit/sec), will allow not only the forthcoming ‘WAP2’ (which will include full colour, graphics, java based interoperability etc), but also the highly sophisticated HTML-based internet services. As a corporate user, GPRS can give you instant, secure, real time access to all of your companies IT systems. GPRS will allow you to get emails as soon as they are sent to you, without you having to ‘log on’ every time you want to check your email account. GPRS gives you instant, high speed access to your suppliers and customers, and doesn’t charge you just for staying connected.

Q. What are the performance statistics of GPRS?

GPRS can hit a maximum speed of well over 100 kbit/sec. However, the likelihood of this depends on several factors. The biggest factors that can effect performance are the allocation of Coding Standards, and the amount if timeslots available. Coding Standards: A coding standard is a classification that dictates the speed at which a timeslot can carry data. Which coding standard given depends on error correction and data compression.

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