Public land mobile network
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In telecommunication, a public land mobile network (PLMN) is a network that is established and operated by an administration or by a recognized operating agency (ROA) for the specific purpose of providing land mobile telecommunications services to the public.
Access to PLMN services is achieved by means of an air interface involving radio communications between mobile phones or other wireless enabled user equipment and land based radio transmitters or radio base stations
PLMNs interconnect with other PLMNs and Public switched telephone networks (PSTN) for telephone communications or with internet service providers for data and internet access.
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[edit] Introduction
A public land mobile network (PLMN) is any wireless communications system intended for use by terrestrial subscribers in vehicles or on foot. Such a system can stand alone, but often it is interconnected with a fixed system such as the PSTN). The most familiar example of a PLMN end user is a person with a cell phone. However, mobile and portable Internet use is also becoming common.
The ideal PLMN provides mobile and portable users with a level of service comparable to that of subscribers in a fixed network. This can be a special challenge in regions where the terrain is irregular, where base station sites are hard to find and maintain, and in urban environments where there are numerous obstructions such as buildings, and myriad sources of radio-frequency (RF) radiation that can cause noise and interference. Most systems today use digital technology rather than the older analog methods. This transition has resulted in improved communications coverage and reliability, but as anyone who regularly uses a cellular telephone knows, perfection has yet to be achieved.
[edit] Public switched telephone network
public switched telephone network (PSTN) is the world's collection of interconnected voice-oriented public telephone networks, both commercial and government-owned, in much the same way that the Internet is the concentration of the world's public IP-based packet-switched networks. PSTN service is referred to as Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). This aggregation of circuit-switching telephone networks has evolved from the days of Alexander Graham Bell, and in the late 20th century became almost entirely digital in technology except for the final link from the central (local) telephone office to the user. Nowadays it includes mobile as well as fixed telephones. In relation to the Internet, the PSTN actually furnishes much of the Internet's long-distance infrastructure and, for the majority of users, the access network as well. Because Internet service providers ISPs pay the long-distance providers for access to their infrastructure and share the circuits among many users through packet-switching, Internet users avoid having to pay usage tolls to anyone other than their ISPs.
Many observers believe that the long term future of the PSTN is to be just one application of the Internet - however, the Internet has some way to go before this transition can be made. The Quality of Service guarantee is one aspect that needs to be improved in Voice over IP technology.
The PSTN is largely governed by technical standards created by the ITU-T, and uses E.163/E.164 addresses (usually called telephone numbers) for addressing. A number of large private telephone networks are not linked to the PSTN, usually for military purposes. There are also private networks run by large companies which are linked to the PSTN only through limited gateways including large private branch exchanges.
PLMN need to connect to PSTN in order to route calls.
[edit] Specifications
A GSM PLMN may be described by a limited set of access interfaces and a limited set of GSM PLMN connection types to support the telecommunication services described in the GSM 02-series of specifications. The basic lower layer capabilities of a GSM PLMN are represented by a set of GSM PLMN connection types. The definition of a set of GSM PLMN connection types provides the necessary input to identify network capabilities of a GSM PLMN.
In addition to describing network capabilities of a GSM PLMN, the identification of connection types facilitates the specification of network-to-network interfaces. It may also assist in the allocation of network performance parameters.
PLMN is network that is established and operated by an administration or by a recognized operating agency (ROA) for the specific purpose of providing land mobile telecommunications services to the public. A PLMN may be considered as an extension of a fixed network, e.g. the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or as an integral part of the PSTN. This is just one view-point on PLMN. PLMN mostly refers to the whole system of hardware and software which enables wireless communication, irrespective of the service area or service provider. Sometimes separate PLMN is defined for each country or for each service provider. Its case is same as that of PSTN. Sometimes it refers to the whole circuit-switched system, or else specific to each country.
PLMN is not a term specific to GSM. In fact GSM can be treated as an example of a PLMN system. These days (as of January, 2006) much discussions are going on to form the structure of UMTS PLMN for the third generation systems. Access to PLMN services is achieved by means of an air interface involving radio communications between mobile phones or other wireless enabled user equipment and land based radio transmitters or radio base stations PLMNs interconnect with other PLMNs and PSTNs for telephone communications or with internet service providers for data and internet access.
A public land mobile network may be defined as a number of mobile services switching centre areas within a common numbering plan and a common routing plan. With respect to their functions, the PLMNs may be regarded as independent communications entities, even though different PLMNs may be interconnected through the PSTN/ISDN for the forwarding of calls or network information. The MSCs of a PLMN can be interconnected similarly to allow interaction. It should be noted that a PLMN may have several interfaces with the fixed network (e.g. one for each MSC). Inter-working between two PLMNs may be performed via an international switching centre. The PLMN is connected via an NCP to the PSTN/ISDN. If there are two mobile service suppliers in the same country, they can be connected through the same PSTN/ISDN.
[edit] Objectives of a GSM PLMN
The general objective of a PLMN is to facilitate wireless communication and to interlink the wireless network with the fixed wired network. The PLMN was specified by the European Telecommunications Standard Institute (ETSI) following-up with their GSM specification. Even as times changed, the GSM PLMN objectives conceptually remained the same.
- To give access to the GSM network for a mobile subscriber in a country that operates the GSM system.
- To provide facilities for automatic roaming, locating and updating of mobile subscribers.
[edit] Management infrastructure
Every PLMN Organisation has its own Management Infrastructure. Each Management Infrastructure will contain different functionality depending on the role-played and the equipment used by that Entity. However, the core management architecture of the PLMN Organisation is very similar.
Every PLMN Organisation:
- provides services to its customers;
- needs an infrastructure to fulfil them (advertise, ordering, creation, provisioning,...);
- assures them (Operation, Quality of Service, Trouble Reporting and Fixing,...);
- bills them (Rating, Discounting,...).
Not every PLMN Organisation will implement the complete Management Architecture and related Processes. Some processes may be missing dependent on the role a particular Organisation is embodying. Processes not implemented by a particular Organisation are accessed via interconnections to other organisations, which have implemented these processes. The Management architecture itself does not distinguish between external and internal interfaces.
For roaming relations the following abbreviations are additionally used:
- HPLMN denotes the Home PLMN (the PLMN the customer belongs to).
- VPLMN denotes the Visited PLMN (the PLMN the customer is roaming in).
A PLMN requires special security measures because a wireless system is inherently more susceptible to eavesdropping and unauthorized use than a hard-wired system. Smart cards containing user data, encryption/decryption, and biometric verification schemes can minimize this problem.
[edit] Services
- Bearer Services : These services give the subscriber the capacity required to transmit appropriate signals between certain access points (user-network interfaces).
- Tele Services : Provide subscriber with necessary capabilities including terminal equipment function to communicate with other subscribers.
- Supplementary Services : Modify or supplement basic telecommunication services and are offered together or in association with basic communication services.
[edit] Architecture
GSM architecture is basically the PLMN architecture itself as the subject is GSM PLMN. Various interfaces between the GSM subsystems are to be considered, along with the signaling system and the various components (both hardware and software).
[edit] Subsystems
The GSM PLMN is divided into signaling network and mobile network. Each of these has various subsystems, which are grouped under three major systems: the network switching system (NSS), the base station system (BSS), and the operation and support system (OSS).
[edit] The Network Switching System (NSS)
The Network Switching System (NSS) or simply the switching system (SS) is responsible for performing call processing and subscriber-related functions. The switching system includes the following functional units:
- home location register (HLR)-The HLR is a database used for storage and management of subscriptions. The HLR is considered the most important database, as it stores permanent data about subscribers, including a subscriber's service profile, location information, and activity status. When an individual buys a subscription from one of the *mobile services switching center (MSC)-The MSC performs the telephony switching functions of the system. It controls calls to and from other telephone and data systems. It also performs such functions as toll ticketing, network interfacing, common channel signaling, and others.
- visitor location register (VLR)-The VLR is a database that contains temporary information about subscribers that is needed by the MSC in order to service visiting subscribers. The VLR is always integrated with the MSC. When a mobile station roams into a new MSC area, the VLR connected to that MSC will request data about the mobile station from the HLR. Later, if the mobile station makes a call, the VLR will have the information needed for call setup without having to interrogate the HLR each time.
- authentication center (AUC)-A unit called the AUC provides authentication and encryption parameters that verify the user's identity and ensure the confidentiality of each call. The AUC protects network operators from different types of fraud found in today's cellular world.
- equipment identity register (EIR)-The EIR is a database that contains information about the identity of mobile equipment that prevents calls from stolen, unauthorized, or defective mobile stations.
The AUC and EIR are implemented as stand-alone nodes or as a combined AUC/EIR node.
[edit] Base Station System (BSS)
All radio-related functions are performed in the BSS, which consists of base station controllers (BSCs) and the base transceiver stations (BTSs).
- BSC-The BSC provides all the control functions and physical links between the MSC and BTS. It is a high-capacity switch that provides functions such as handover, cell configuration data, and control of radio frequency (RF) power levels in base transceiver stations. A number of BSCs are served by an MSC.
- BTS-The BTS handles the radio interface to the mobile station. The BTS is the radio equipment (transceivers and antennas) needed to service each cell in the network. A group of BTSs are controlled by a BSC.
[edit] Operation and Support System (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). 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.
[edit] Additional functional elements
Other functional elements shown are as follows:
- message center (MXE)-The MXE is a node that provides integrated voice, fax, and data messaging. Specifically, the MXE handles short message service, cell broadcast, voice mail, fax mail, email, and notification.
- mobile service node (MSN)-The MSN is the node that handles the mobile intelligent network (IN) services.
- gateway mobile services switching center (GMSC)-A gateway is a node used to interconnect two networks. The gateway is often implemented in an MSC. The MSC is then referred to as the GMSC.
- GSM interworking unit (GIWU)-The GIWU consists of both hardware and software that provides an interface to various networks for data communications. Through the GIWU, users can alternate between speech and data during the same call. The GIWU hardware equipment is physically located at the MSC/VLR.
There are three viewpoints of interoperability between PLMN and PSTN:
- PLMN can be treated as an integral part of PSTN, extending the services offered by PSTN to wireless networks.
- PSTN can be treated as an integral part of PLMN, through which it facilitates call routing.
- PLMN and PSTN can be treated as two separate systems, which depends on each other or connects to each other for the purpose of call routing.
[edit] Conclusion
A PLMN is essential for the effective working of any wireless network, just like the need for PSTN in wireline networks. PLMN facilitates interoperation with its own subsystems in order to perform operation of the GSM system in particular and any wired network in general.
