Huawei GPRS Complete Solution

The increasing demand on mobile data services led to the development of mobile Internet, this is achieved by the development of the sophisticated General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). Compared with GSM, GPRS has greatly improved the rate of subscriber access to wireless Internet, boosting many advantages such as continuous online connection, QoS (quality of service) guarantee, efficient wireless channel utilization, flexible charging mode, etc. It introduces traditional Internet services into mobile communications, opens up enormous profit margins for mobile Internet industry, and meanwhile provides carriers with a means to secure and raise market position.

System description

GPRS is the integration of traditional telecommunication , mobile communication, IP and packet techniques. Huawei GPRS is composed of Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN), Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), packet control unit PCU, OMC-G, charging gateway, DNS and RADIUS server, firewall, border router, etc. Huawei's complete set of telecommunication-level GPRS solutions realizes the smooth transition to 3G only through the software upgrading of the existing GSM system. GPRS system structure is shown in the following figure:

GPRS system structure

Equipment and its features:

Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) Huawei SGSN is based on Huawei universal broadband switching platform and incorporates Huawei's technical strength in developing ATM switching, high-end router, multi-service access platform, etc. The system is composed of expandable central core packet switching network and functional units. Major functional units are GBIU (Gb Interface Processing Unit), IPPU (Internet Protocol Processing Unit), GSPU (GSN Signaling Processing Unit), GOMU (GSN Operation Maintenance Unit), route functional unit, etc. Huawei GPRS SGSN is based on the same platform as 3G SGSN and can truly effect the smooth transition from GPRS to 3G.

SGSN logical structureSGSN provides functions such as mobility management, dialog management, security management, GPRS subscriber packet data route, charging, etc. Huawei SGSN has the following features:

Provision of various physical interfaces such as E1/T1, STM-1, ATM, E3/T3, high-speed serial port, high-speed Ethernet port, thus enabling networking plans of different structures and reducing the need for external equipments in complex networking.

The interfaces such as Gb, Gs, Gr, Gn/Gp, Gd, etc. are developed in accordance with standard protocol.

Guarantee of high reliability: Key components are of 1+1 backup protection and the others are of N+1 backup protection.

Supporting QoS as defined in the specification. Supporting complete smooth expansion.

Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) Huawei GGSN is based on Huawei's mature universal route platform, implementing functions such as route selection, IP address allocation, conversion with external network protocols, charging, etc. Huawei GGSN also supports combination with SGSN. It has the following features:

Providing a variety of physical interfaces, such as E1/T1, STM-1, ATM, E3/T3, high-speed serial port, high-speed Ethernet port, thus enabling networking plans of different structures and reducing the need for external equipments in complex networking.

Supporting such routing protocols as OSPF, RIP, BGP, IGRP, EIGRP, etc. no need of external router.

Supporting L2TP and GRE tunneling protocol, making it possible to realize wireless VPN.

Security, reliability, supporting Firewall, IPSec, etc. Supporting static and dynamic allocation of IP addresses. Supporting QoS policies such as DiffServ, etc. Large processing capacity

GPRS base station system Based on existing GSM base station system, GPRS base station system can be implemented by upgrading BSC and BTS softwares  or directly by adopting a base station system which supports GSM/GPRS service. Packet Control Unit (PCU)PCU is the functional entity of GPRS system wireless network part, It transmits data packets between GPRS mobile station and GPRS service support node SGSN. Huawei PCU has the following major features:

Supporting smooth expansion. Minimum configuration is 120 packet timeslot. It is capable of smooth upgrading to 7200 packet timeslots as required by subscribers.

Flexible networking. It can connect one or more BSCs, and can be placed with BSC or with SGSN.

Optimized resource management and supporting dynamic allocation of wireless resources between circuit service and packet service.

GPRS operation & maintenance center OMC-G It is based on Huawei integrated NM platform (iManager), preserves the advantages of GSM network management, and supports the smooth evolution to 3G network management system. Huawei OMC-G adopts full English graphical interface and visual NE (Network Element) topological management, and supports three-level operation maintenance and NM structure: equipment level--remote and local command line operation maintenance terminal; OMC level--OMC Shell integration; NM level--supports integrated NM (Network Management) platform of such NM interfaces as SNMP, etc.

Abbreviations

EDGE Enhanced Data Rate for GSM Evolution

OSPF Open Shortest Path First

RIP route information protocol

BGP Border Gateway Protocol

IGRP Interior Gateway Routing Protocol

EIGRP Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol

MPLS Multi-protocol Label Switch

L2TP Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol

GRE Generic Routing Encapsulation

IPSec Internet Protocol Security

DiffServ Differentiated Services