Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)

    FDMA                           

Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)

Frequency Division Multiple Access or FDMA is a channel access method used in multiple-access protocols as a channelization protocol. FDMA gives users an individual allocation of one or several frequency bands, or channels. It is particularly commonplace in satellite communication. FDMA, like other Multiple Access systems, coordinates access between multiple users.

Each FDMA subscriber is assigned a specific frequency channel. No one else in the same cell or a neighboring cell can use the frequency channel while it is assigned to a user. This reduces interference, but severely limits the number of users.

    Advantage of FDMA                         
 
* FDMA technique doesn't need any base-control station.
* Data that transfeered between each station to another during the transmission process will not be lost.
* After the transmission of data,the effect ot the delay distortion will be so small and it can be ignored.
* There is no need for network timing.
* The channel operations in FDMA are simple.
* In FDMA,the reduction of the information bit rate has a good effect on the capacity.
* No need for any equalization.
* Because of the transmission is continuous,there is almost no need for bits that are responsible for synchronization.
* Simplicity in FDMA algorithms.

    Disadvantages of FDMA                   

* In the FDMA technique,it is impossible for the stations to receive data from more than one transmission source.
* One of most important thing in communication systems is the maximum data rate which is small and fixed for every channel in FDMA.
* Because of the guard bands,the capacity of the FDMA will be decreased.
* Increasing the cost of FDMA,since the band filters are narrow that can't be recognized by VLSI.
* FDMA requires special filters to avoid any interference between the narrow channels.


    TDMA                        
    CDMA                       
    SDMA                        

Reference:

    * Wikipedia
    * CDMA University
    * WEBOPEDIA
    * How Stuff Works   

" Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) " !

Multiple Access Systems

    Why Multiple Access?  
 
Multiple Access systems coordinates access between multiple users.Wireless telecommunications has dramatically increased in popularity, resulting in the need for technologies that allow multiple users to share the same Bandwidth.
The following Multiple Access Systems have very different approaches to the bandwidth problem. 

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

     TDMA                       

Short for Time Division Multiple Access, a technology for delivering digital wireless service using time-division multiplexing (TDM). TDMA works by dividing a radio frequency into time slots and then allocating slots to multiple calls. In this way, a single frequency can support multiple, simultaneous data channels.
The users transmit in rapid succession, one after the other, each using its own time slot. This allows multiple stations to share the same transmission medium (e.g. radio frequency channel) while using only a part of its channel capacity. TDMA is used in the digital 2G cellular systems such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), IS-136, Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) and iDEN, and in the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) standard for portable phones. It is also used extensively in satellite systems, combat-net radio systems, and PON networks for upstream traffic from premises to the operator.
TDMA is a type of Time-division multiplexing, with the special point that instead of having one transmitter connected to one receiver, there are multiple transmitters. In the case of the uplink from a mobile phone to a base station this becomes particularly difficult because the mobile phone can move around and vary the timing advance required to make its transmission match the gap in transmission from its peers.
 
    Advantages of TDMA                       

The radio part of the mobile only needs to listen and broadcast for its own time slot. For the rest of the time, the mobile can carry out measurements on the network, detecting surrounding transmitters on different frequencies. This allows safe inter frequency handovers, something which is difficult in CDMA systems, not supported at all in IS-95 and supported through complex system additions in Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). This in turn allows for co-existence of microcell layers with macrocell layers.


    Disadvantages of TDMA                 

TDMA systems create interference at a frequency which is directly connected to the time slot length. This is the buzz which can sometimes be heard if a TDMA phone is left next to a radio or speakers.Another disadvantage is that the "dead time" between time slots limits the potential bandwidth of a TDMA channel. These are implemented in part because of the difficulty in ensuring that different terminals transmit at exactly the times required. Handsets that are moving will need to constantly adjust their timings to ensure their transmission is received at precisely the right time, because as they move further from the base station, their signal will take longer to arrive. This also means that the major TDMA systems have hard limits on cell sizes in terms of range, though in practice the power levels required to receive and transmit over distances greater than the supported range would be mostly impractical anyway.


    FDMA                        
    CDMA                       
    SDMA                        

Reference:
    
    * Wikipedia 
    * CDMA University
    * WEBOPEDIA
    * How Stuff Works


" Multiple Access Systems " !

Cell Phone Network Coverage

Network coverage

A key part of any mobile phone specification is its operating frequency bands. The supported frequency bands determine
whether a certain handset is compatible with a certain network carrier.

Cell Phone Network Coverage

Beside the mobile phone specifications, GSM Arena is happy to also provide you with its own country-based frequency band directory. It's not operator-specific and it's helpful if you are choosing a handset to use in your home country or if you are making sure your phone will work in the country you are heading to.
You select the country you are interested in - as an example i selected Egypt - :

EGYPT

GSM 850     GSM 900     GSM 1800     GSM 1900     UMTS 850     UMTS 1900     UMTS 2100
  No               Yes               Yes                 No                  No                   No                    Yes   


Making calls, sending text messages and using GPRS/EDGE mobile data connection in the country of your choice requires a mobile phone that supports at least the frequency band filled as “Required” below.

2G capabilities

Required   GSM 900
Recommended   GSM 900 and GSM 1800

Making video calls and using a high-speed 3G data connection in the country of your choice, requires a mobile phone that supports at least the frequency band filled as “Required” below .

3G capabilities

Required   UMTS 2100


Make note that for complete accuracy you should always check with your home service provider or with the local service providers in the country you are staying at.

Check Network Coverage for your Country GSM Arena - Network Bands

Source:
                  * GSM Arena



" Cell Phone Network Coverage " !

GSM Architecture and Definitions (3)

    The Operation and Support System 

The operations and maintenance center (OMC) is connected to all equipment in the switching system and to the BSC. The implementation of OMC is called the operation and support system (OSS). The OSS is the functional entity from which the network operator monitors and controls the system. The purpose of OSS is to offer the customer cost-effective support for centralized, regional, and local operational and maintenance activities that are required for a GSM network. An important function of OSS is to provide a network overview and support the maintenance activities of different operation and maintenance organizations.

GSM Operation and Support System (OSS)

OSS: The operations and maintenance center (OMC) is connected to all equipment in the switching system and to the BSC. The implementation of OMC is called the operation and support system (OSS).
       Here are some of the OMC functions:
       * Administration and commercial operation (subscription, end terminals, charging and statistics).
       * Security Management.
       * Network configuration, Operation and Performance Management.
       * Maintenance Tasks.    

GSM Architecture and Definitions

GPRS (General Packet Radio Services)

     GPRS General Packet Radio Services

GPRS is a data network that overlays a second-generation GSM network. This data overlay network provides packet data transport at rates from 9.6 to 171 kbps. Additionally, multiple users can share the same air-interface resources simultaneously.

GPRS attempts to reuse the existing GSM network elements as much as possible, but to effectively build a packet-based mobile cellular network, some new network elements, interfaces, and protocols for handling packet traffic are required.

GSM Architecture and Definitions

External Networks
  PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network
  ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network
  PDN: Packet Data Network

Refferance:
   * Alcatel-Lucent
   * Private Line
   * Tutorials Point 
  * SS7 Training


" GSM Architecture and Definitions (3) " !

GSM Architecture and Definitions (2)

    The Network Switching System  
 
The Network switching system (NSS) is responsible for performing call processing and subscriber-related functions. The switching system includes the following functional units.

GSM Architecture and Definitions

MSC: Mobile Switching Center a switching exchange whose main functions are:
       – Call Handling
       – Specific GSM functions such as:
         • Mobility Management: Communication with the Location Databases (VLR
           and HLR)
         • Handover execution when involved
       – Gateway Function for Terminating Call (TC)
    VLR: Visitor Location Register is associated with one or more MSC. It is a local database with the following
         information:
         – Copy of the HLR data for visiting subscribers
         – More precise location of the Mobile Station (an area of the network called
           “Location Area” which is a group of cells
         – Call re-direction data

GSM Architecture and Definitions

                                                                                                                                                      Next  
Refferance:    
                   * Alcatel-Lucent    
                   * Private Line    
                   * Tutorials Point    
                   * SS7 Training




" GSM Architecture and Definitions (2) " !

GSM Architecture and Definitions (1)

    What is GSM?           

GSM, which stands for Global System for Mobile communications, reigns as the world’s most widely used cell phone technology. Cell phones use a cell phone service carrier’s GSM network by searching for cell phone towers in the nearby area.

The origins of GSM can be traced back to 1982 when the Groupe Spécial Mobile (GSM) was created by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) for the purpose of designing a pan-European mobile technology.


It is approximated that 80 percent of the world uses GSM

GSM Architecture and Definitions

technology when placing wireless calls, according to the GSM
Association (GSMA), which represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry. This amounts to nearly 3 billion global people.

    GSM Network Structure   

The network is structured into a number of discrete sections:

   *  The Base Station Subsystem (the base stations and their controllers).
   *  The Network and Switching Subsystem (the part of the network most similar to a fixed network). This is sometimes also just called the core network.
   * The GPRS Core Network (the optional part which allows packet based Internet connections).
   *  The Operations support system (OSS) for maintenance of the network.
 
Now,We will explain the meaning of the GSM Network shortcuts.

PLMN: Public Land Mobile Network is area covered by one network operator. A PLMN can contain one or more MSCs.
GSM: Global System for Mobile communication
  MS: Mobile Station is used by the subscriber for calling another subscriber either in the fixed network or in the mobile network.A Mobile Station (MS) is composed of a Mobile Termination (MT) and a Subscriber Module Identity (SIM) card.
   MT: Mobile Termination.The MT performs the following functions:
       - radio transmission termination;
       - radio transmission channel management;
       - terminal capabilities, including presentation of a  man-machine interface to a user;
       - speech encoding/decoding;
       - error protection for all information sent across the radio path;
       - flow control of signalling and user data;
       - rate adaptation of user data between the radio channel rate and user rates;
       - multiple terminal support;
       - mobility management.

SIM: SIM card stores information concerning the subscriber such as subscriber identity,services subscribed, parameters for security procedures and information on the location of the subscriber (dynamically refreshed according to its movements).
  Um > The Radio Interface between MS and Base Station.
     UpLink: The Path of the Data from MS to Base Station.
     DownLink: The Path of the Data from Base Station to MS.

GSM Architecture and Definitions

GSM Architecture and Definitions

                                                                                                   Next
Refferance:
   * Alcatel-Lucent
   * Private Line
   * Tutorials Point 
  * SS7 Training


" GSM Architecture and Definitions (1) " !