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Glossary
3G- 3rd Generation
3G is the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology, after 2G. And 3G technologies enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency. Services include wide-area wireless voice telephony and broadband wireless data, all in a mobile environment.
3GPP - Third generation partnership project:
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations, to make a globally applicable third generation (3G) mobile phone system. 3GPP standardization encompasses architecture of Mobile operators' infrastructure and services.
APN- Access Point Name:
APN is the name of an access point for accessing various services such as GPRS, WAP and MMS. There may be several types of APNs such as the WAP APN enabling access to the WAP content, a WEB APN facilitating Internet browsing.
B-ISDN - Broadband ISDN:
Broadband Integrated Services Digital Network (B-ISDN) is designed to handle high-bandwidth applications. B-ISDN currently uses ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technology to provide data rates from 155 to 622Mbps and beyond, contrast with the traditional narrowband ISDN (or N-ISDN), which is only 64 kbps basically and up to 2 Mbps.
BSC - Base Station Controller:
The BSC is the functional entity within the GSM architecture that allocates radio channels to Mobile Stations, receives measurements from the mobile phones, and controls handovers from one cellular Base Station to another.
CB - Call Barring:
1. Barring of Outgoing Calls. This service makes it possible for a mobile subscriber to prevent all outgoing calls.
2. Barring of Incoming Calls. This function allows the subscriber to prevent incoming calls. The following two conditions for incoming call barring exist: baring of all incoming calls and barring of incoming calls when roaming outside the home PLMN.
CB - Cell Broadcast
Cell Broadcast messaging is a mobile technology feature defined by the ETSI's GSM committee and is part of the GSM standard. It is also known as Short Message Service - Cell Broadcast (SMS-CB). Cell Broadcast is designed for simultaneous delivery of messages to multiple users in a specified area. Whereas the Short Message Service - Point to Point (SMS-PP) is a one-to-one and one-to-a-few service, Cell Broadcast is a one-to-many geographically focused messaging service.
CC- Country Code
Country codes are short alphabetic or numeric geographical codes (geocodes) developed to represent countries and dependent areas, for use in data processing and communications. Useful when making international calls.
CDMA - Code Division Multiple Access
CDMA is an air interface technology that assigns a code to digitized speech, sends a scrambled transmission of the encoded speech over the air and reassembles the speech to its original form at the other end.
CF- Call Forwarding:
This service gives the subscriber the ability to forward incoming calls to another number if the called mobile unit is not reachable, if it is busy, if there is no reply, or if call forwarding is allowed unconditionally.
CFB- Call forwarding when mobile subscriber busy:
If CFB is active, all incoming calls while a subscriber is engaged on a call will be redirected to the telephone number specified by the subscriber.
CFNRc - Call forwarding on mobile subscriber not reachable:
When this function is enabled, a subscriber will have incoming calls destined to his cellular number to be redirected to another telephone number, when the mobile phone is switched off or not in a coverage area.
CFNRy- Call forwarding on No reply:
When this function is enabled, a subscriber will have incoming calls destined to the subscriber's cellular number redirected to another telephone number, if the subscriber does not answer the phone.
CFU- Call forwarding unconditional:
This capability enables a subscriber to have all incoming calls destined for the subscriber's cellular number to be redirected to another telephone number as specified by the user. When this function is activated calls are forwarded to the specified telephone number regardless of the status of the subscriber's cellular phone (i.e., regardless of whether the cellular phone is on or off).
CH- Call hold
This service enables the subscriber to interrupt an ongoing call and then subsequently reestablish the call. The call hold service is only applicable to normal telephony.
CLI - Calling Line Identification presentation/restriction:
These services supply the called party with the integrated services digital network (ISDN) number of the calling party. The restriction service enables the calling party to restrict the presentation. The restriction overrides the presentation.
CUG - Closed User Groups:
CUGs are generally comparable to a PBX. They are a group of subscribers who are capable of only calling themselves and certain numbers.
CW- Call Waiting
This service enables the mobile subscriber to be notified of an incoming call during a conversation. The subscriber can answer, reject, or ignore the incoming call. Call waiting is applicable to all GSM telecommunications services using a circuit-switched connection.
D-AMPS- Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Services:
D-AMPS is a digital version of AMPS (Advanced Mobile Phone Service), the original analog standard for cellular telephone phone service. D-AMPS adds time division multiple access (TDMA) to AMPS to get three channels for each AMPS channel, tripling the number of calls that can be handled on a channel.
ECT- Explicit Call Transfer:
This service allows a user who has two calls to connect these two calls together and release its connections to both other parties.
EDGE- Enhanced Data Rates for Global Evolution:
EDGE is a technology that gives GSM the capacity to handle services for the third generation of mobile telephony. Using EDGE operators can handle three-times more subscribers than GPRS, by either tripling their data rate per subscriber, or adding extra capacity to their voice communications.
GPRS- General Packet Radio Service
GPRS is a standard for packet-based wireless communications service that promises data rates from 56 up to 114 Kbps and continuous connection to the Internet and other data communications for mobile phone and computer users. This is particularly suited for sending and receiving small bursts of data, such as e-mail and Web browsing, as well as large volumes of data. This service is usually charged based on the data volume, i.e. per kilo bytes.
GSM- Global System for Mobile Communications:
GSM, first introduced in 1991, is the leading digital cellular system. It uses narrowband TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) where 8 simultaneous calls can occupy the same radio frequency. It provides integrated voice mail, high-speed data, fax, paging and Short Message Services (SMS) capabilities, as well as secure communications.
LR- Home Location Register:
The HLR is a central database that contains details of each mobile phone subscriber that is authorized to use the GSM core network. The HLR stores detail of every SIM card issued by the mobile phone operator and uses those to provide routing information for calls, SMS, GPRS, etc. These details include;
- IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity)
- The telephone number/s or MSISDNs (Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number) assigned
- GSM services that the subscriber has requested or been given
- GPRS settings to allow the subscriber to access packet services
- Current Location of subscriber (VLR and SGSN)
- Call divert settings applicable for each associated MSISDN
HSDPA- High-Speed Downlink Packet Access
High-Speed Downlink Packet Access is a 3G mobile telephony communications protocol, which allows networks based on Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) to have higher data transfer speeds and capacity. Current HSDPA deployments support down-link speeds of 1.8, 3.6, 7.2 and 14.4 Mbit/s.
HTTP - Hyper Text Transfer Protocol
Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a communications protocol used to transfer or convey information on the World Wide Web. Its original purpose was to provide a way to publish and retrieve HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) pages. HTTP defines how messages are formatted and transmitted, and what actions Web servers and browsers should take in response to various commands.
IMEI - International Mobile Equipment Identity
IMEI is a number unique to every GSM and UMTS mobile phone which is usually found printed on the phone underneath the battery and can also be found by dialing the sequence *#06# into the phone. The IMEI number is used by the GSM network to identify valid devices and therefore can be used to stop a stolen phone from accessing the network.
IMSI - International Mobile Subscriber Identity
An IMSI is a unique number associated with all GSM and Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network mobile phone users which is stored in the Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) inside the phone and is sent by the phone to the network to acquire details of the mobile in the Home Location Register (HLR) or as locally copied in the Visitor Location Register (VLR).
An IMSI is usually 15 digits long, but can be shorter. The first 3 digits are the Mobile Country Code (MCC: "413" for Sri Lanka), and followed by the Mobile Network Code (MNC: "01" for Mobitel), either 2 digits (European standard) or 3 digits (North American standard). The remaining digits are the mobile subscriber identification number (MSIN) within the network's customer base.
IN- Intelligent Network:
IN is a telephone network (for both fixed and mobile) architecture in which the service logic for a call is located separately from the switching facilities, allowing services to be added or changed without having to redesign switching equipment. It allows operators to differentiate themselves by providing value-added services in addition to the standard telecom services such as GSM services on mobile phones. Examples of the kind of custom services which could be offered are:
- Toll free calls
- Prepaid calling
- Private-number plans (with numbers remaining unpublished in directories)
- Call screening
IP- Internet Protocol:
The Internet Protocol specifies the format and address scheme of information packets sent over the internet. IP allows you to label a package with the destination address of the receiver and have the network carry the packet to that destination, but there's no direct link between sender and receiver (IP is a 'connectionless' protocol).
ISDN- Integrated Services Digital network
ISDN is a circuit-switched telephone network system, designed to allow digital transmission of voice and data over ordinary telephone copper wires, resulting in better quality, higher speeds and advanced call features than that which is available with the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) system.
ISP- Internet Service Provider:
An ISP is a business or organization that provides to consumers access to the Internet and related services. ISPs support one or more forms of Internet access, ranging from traditional modem dial-up to DSL and cable modem broadband service to dedicated leased lines. In addition to basic connectivity, many ISPs also offer related Internet services like email, Web hosting and access to software tools.
KSI- Key set Identifier:
KSI is used in the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) authentication process to enable a mobile to be ciphered without the continual need for re-authentication. The equivalent in a GSM network is the CKSN (Cipher Key Sequence Number).
LAN- Local Area Network
A local area network (LAN) is a group of computers and associated devices that share a common communications line or a wireless link. Ethernet over unshielded twisted pair cabling, and Wi-Fi are the two most common technologies used today. Typically, connected devices share the resources of a single processor, server, files, printers, games or other applications within a small geographic area (for example, within an office building).
MSISDN- Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number
The MSISDN stands for Mobile Station International ISDN Number where ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network. The MSISDN refers to the telephone number of a mobile subscriber which has to be at most 15 digits long and consists of:
- CC - Country Code ( 1-3 digits e.g. "94" for Sri Lanka)
- NDC - National Destination Code (e.g. 2-3 digits: e.g. "71" for Mobitel )
- SN - Subscriber Number (e.g. remaining digits)
SMS- Short Message Service:
Sending a message in the form of text through your mobile phone at a time where making a call can be quite inconvenient. Its a simpler, faster and cheaper way you can keep in touch with your friends.
TDMA- Time Division Multiple Access:
TDMA is a channel access method for a shared medium (usually radio) networks. 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. TDMA is used in the digital 2G cellular systems such as the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications).
UMTS- Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems:
UMTS is one of the third-generation (3G) mobile systems being developed within the International Telecommunications Union's IMT-2000 framework and implemented with WCDMA technology.
UMTS AKA- UMTS Authentication and Key Agreement:
UMTS AKA is a security mechanism used to accomplish the authentication process and runs typically on a USIM (UMTS Subscriber Identity Module). This mechanism is based on a challenge/response authentication protocol conceived in such a way as to achieve maximum compatibility with GSM's subscriber authentication and key establishment protocol, in order to make easier the transition from GSM to UMTS.
RL- Uniform Resource Locator:
A URL is used to specify an address on the World Wide Web. A URL is the fundamental network identification for any resource connected to the web (e.g., hypertext pages, images, and sound files). URLs have the following format:
"protocol://hostname/other_information" (Eg: http://www.yahoo.com/)
VLR- Visitor Location Register:
The VLR is a temporary database of the subscribers who have roamed into the particular area which it serves. Each Base Station in the network is served by exactly one VLR, hence a subscriber cannot be present in more than one VLR at a time. The data stored in the VLR has either been received from the HLR, or collected from the Mobile Station (MS). Data stored in the VLR includes:
- IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) - the subscriber's identity number
- authentication data
- MSISDN (Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number) - the subscriber's phone number
- GSM services that the subscriber is allowed to access
- GPRS Access Point subscribed
- the HLR address of the subscriber
VMSC- Visited MSC:
The Visited Mobile Switching Centre is the term given to the MSC (Mobile Switching Centre) that is serving a mobile in the VPLMN (Visited Public Land Mobile Network), i.e. location updated in another operator's MSC, while roaming internationally. Also VMSC can be a MSC of the same operator (except for a Gateway MSC), where the called party is location updated in to.
VoIP- Voice over Internet Protocol:
VoIP services convert voice into a digital signal that travels over the Internet. If the called party is a regular phone number, the signal is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reaches the destination. VoIP allows making a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP phone, or a traditional phone connected to a special adapter.
VPN- Virtual Private Network:
VPN is a communications network tunneled through a public telecommunication infrastructure, and dedicated for a specific network. One common application is secure communications through the public Internet, to provide remote offices or individual users with secure access to their organization's network.
WAP- Wireless Application Protocol:
WAP is a free, unlicensed protocol for wireless communications that makes it possible to create advanced telecommunications services and to access internet pages from a mobile telephone. WAP devices understand the WML (Wireless Markup Language) language that is optimized for small screens and navigation without a keyboard.
WCDMA- Wideband Code Division Multiple Access:
WCDMA is a wideband spread-spectrum 3G mobile telecommunication air interface that utilizes code division multiple access. WCDMA is the technology behind the 3G UMTS standard and is closely allied with the 2G GSM standard. It provides new service capabilities, increased network capacity and reduced cost for voice and data services.
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