PAPER: General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)

By Peter Rysavy, Rysavy Research, for GSM Data Today online journal.

September 30, 1998

Wireless communications lets people live and work in ways never before possible. With
over two hundred million cellular subscribers worldwide, users have overwhelmingly
embraced the concept of having a telephone that is always with them. And now business
users also want a data connection with the office wherever they go, so that they can
have access to e-mail, the Internet, their files, faxes and other data wherever and
whenever it is needed, giving them a competitive advantage and more flexible lifestyles.
A number of wireless data services are available today, but none are as exciting as a
forthcoming data service for GSM networks called General Packet Radio Service (GPRS).

GPRS refers to a high-speed packet data technology, which is expected to be deployed in

the next two years. It is expected to profoundly alter and improve the end-user
experience of mobile data computing, by making it possible and cost-effective to remain
constantly connected, as well as to send and receive data at much higher speeds than
today. Its main innovations are that it is packet based, that it will increase data
transmission speeds from the current 9.6 Kbps to over 100 Kbps, and that it will extend
the Internet connection all the way to the mobile PC -- the user will no longer need to
dial up a separate ISP. GPRS will complement rather than replace the current data
services available through today’s GSM digital cellular networks, such as circuit-switched
data and Short Message Service. It will also provide the type of data capabilities planned
for "third generation" cellular networks, but years ahead of them.

In this paper, we take a look at

• Why is GPRS Important?

• The User Experience
• Platforms and GPRS
• GPRS and Remote Access
• The Road Map
• GPRS Details for Network Managers
Why is GPRS Important?

The most important aspects of GPRS are that it allows data transmission speeds to over 100 Kbps, that it is
packet based, and that it supports the world's leading Internet communications protocols, Internet
Protocol (IP) and X. 25.

The fact that GPRS will operate at much higher speeds than current networks should provide a huge
advantage from a software perspective. Today, wireless middleware is often required to allow slow speed
mobile clients to work with fast networks for applications such as e-mail, databases, groupware or Internet
access. With GPRS, wireless middleware will often be unnecessary, and thus it should be easier to deploy
wireless solutions than ever before.

Whereas today’s wireless applications tend to be text oriented, the high throughput offered by GPRS will
finally make multimedia content, including graphics, voice and video practical. Imagine participating in a
video conference while waiting for your flight at the airport, something completely out of the question with
today’s data networks.

Why is packet data technology important? Because packet provides a seamless and immediate connection
from a mobile PC to the Internet or corporate intranet allowing all existing Internet applications such as e-
mail and Web browsing to operate smoothly without even needing to dial into an Internet service provider.
The advantage of a packet-based approach is that GPRS only uses the medium, in this case the precious
radio link, for the duration of time that data is being sent or received. This means that multiple users can
share the same radio channel very efficiently. In contrast, with current circuit-switched connections, users
have dedicated connections during their entire call, whether or not they are sending data. Many
applications have idle periods during a session. With packet data, users will only pay for the amount of data
they actually communicate, and not the idle time. In fact, with GPRS, users could be "virtually" connected
for hours at a time and only incur modest connect charges. For detailed information about how GPRS
works, see "For Network Managers" below.

While packet-based communications works well with all types of communications applications, it is
especially well suited for frequent transmission of small amounts of data, what some call short and bursty,
such as "real time" e-mail and dispatch. But packet is equally well suited for large batch operations, and
other applications involving large file transfers.

GPRS will support the widely used Internet Protocol (IP) as well as the X.25 protocol. IP support is becoming
increasingly important as companies are now looking to the Internet as a way for their remote workers to
access corporate intranets. For further discussion about remote access, see "GPRS and Remote Access"
below.

The IP protocol is ubiquitous and familiar, but what is X.25, and why is support for it important? X.25
defines a set of communications protocols that prior to the Internet constituted the basis of the world’s
largest packet data networks. These X.25 networks are still widely used, especially in Europe, and so
wireless access to these networks will benefit many organizations. But what does this really mean? Quite
simply it means that any existing IP or X.25 application will now be able to operate over a GSM cellular
connection. You can think of cellular networks with GPRS service as wireless extensions of the Internet and
existing X.25 networks, as shown in figure one.
 Figure one: GPRS as an extension of other packet networks.

The User Experience

We now look more closely at how the user takes advantage of GPRS. We have already emphasized the
packet nature of GPRS, which makes a GPRS connection similar in many ways to a local area network (LAN)
connection. Just as with a LAN connection, once a GPRS mobile station registers with the network, it is
ready to send and receive packets. A user with a laptop computer could be working on a document without
even thinking about being connected, and then automatically receive new e-mail. The user could decide to
continue working on their document, then half an hour later read the e-mail message and reply to it. All
this time the user has had a network connection and not once had to dial in, as he or she must today with
circuit-switched connections. Furthermore, GPRS allows for simultaneous voice and data communication,
so the user can still receive incoming calls or make outgoing calls while in the midst of a data session.

Since there is almost no delay before sending data, GPRS is ideally suited for applications such as extended
communications sessions, e-mail communications, database queries, dispatch, and stock updates to name
just a few. In addition, the high throughput of GPRS will remove many of the obstacles from the use of
multimedia, graphical web-based applications. For example, mobile users will be able to easily use
graphically intensive web-based map application to get directions while traveling. Furthermore, with
almost no transmission delay and high throughout, it will be more practical to use enterprise applications
such as SAP* wirelessly and remotely.

Platforms and GPRS

Because GPRS supports standard networking protocols, configuring computers to work with GPRS will be
very straightforward. In the case of IP communications, you will be able to use existing TCP/IP protocol
stacks, such as the stack that comes with Windows 95 or Windows 98, Windows CE and Windows NT.
TCP/IP stacks are readily available for most other platforms as well. With all the developments in the
handheld computer area, you can expect a multitude of hardware platforms to take advantage of GPRS:
 • Laptops or handheld computers connected to GPRS-capable cellphones or external modems
• Laptops or handhelds with GPRS-capable PC Card modems
• Smart phones that have full screen capability (e.g. Nokia* 9000)
• Cellphones employing microbrowsers using the Wireless Application Protocol
• Dedicated equipment with integrated GPRS capability, e.g. mobile credit-card swipers

GPRS coincides with another important technology development: the replacement of a cable connection to
a cellphone by a short radio link. Intel, Ericsson, Nokia, IBM, Toshiba and others are already working on
such wireless connections in an initiative called "Bluetooth".

As we discuss next, GPRS is also complementary with an important industry trend associated with remote
access: the transition from dial-up remote access to Internet-based remote access.

GPRS and Remote Access

Traditionally companies have provided remote access for their workers using dial-up modem connections
into corporate modem pools. But as companies have established high speed connections to the Internet,
and as remote workers have an increasing number of options for connecting to the Internet, companies are
now looking to the Internet as a way for their remote workers to access corporate intranets. This is
especially effective because most communications applications today work over IP networks -- including
many originally designed for modem dial-up connections. It can be highly cost effective to use the Internet
instead of making long distance phone calls, and in the case of international connections, much more
reliable. But this Internet-based technique does raise an issue of privacy from hackers. A new technology is
emerging which addresses privacy and authentication concerns, referred to as a virtual private network
(VPN).

A VPN is a method of having private communications across public networks. It adds additional software at
each end of the connection -- in our case the mobile computer and the corporate network. This software
establishes what are called "tunnels". Within this tunnel, information is encrypted and additional
information is added to each packet to prevent tampering. Various standards are available or being
finalized to define interoperability between VPN products, including the Point to Point Tunneling Protocol
(PPTP), Layer Two Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), SOCKS and IPsec (Secure IP). A wide range of companies
already offer VPN solutions today, including router vendors, network software providers, firewall suppliers
and companies specializing in this area. Since most VPN solutions are quite flexible in their feature set,
corporate IT can choose the level and type of protection desired, such as 56 bit encryption or 128 bit
encryption.

Almost all VPN technologies operate independently of the communications link, meaning the same VPN
technology will work with a dial-up modem connection, Ethernet connections, ISDN connections and most
importantly for us, wireless connections. See figure two.
 Figure two: tunneling with VPN technology

Companies using VPNs will be able to smoothly migrate from existing wireless technologies to GPRS. Today
their users can make circuit-switched connections to an Internet service provider, and then establish a VPN
connection. Once GPRS becomes available, the Internet connection will extend to the mobile computer and
the user will no longer need to dial a separate ISP. The net result is wireless connectivity that works hand in
hand with VPN technologies to let remote workers easily access corporate resources and to stay in touch
with their work teams.

The Road Map

According to Kevin Holley, the chair for the GSM SMG4 committee, which develops GPRS standards, the
first version of the GPRS standard is complete, while a next version of the standard that adds advanced
features such as point-to-multipoint communications is in development. Most GSM vendors such as
Alcatel, Ericsson, Lucent, Motorola, Nokia, Nortel, and Siemens have been active in the standards process
and many are developing the necessary infrastructure elements. Field trials are expected in 1999 and
deployment will begin in the year 2000. Though the GPRS standard specifies support for both X.25 and IP, it
is likely that vendors and operators will emphasize IP service. It is also likely that GPRS will first roll out in
European countries. As of late 1998, no operators have announced when they will deploy GPRS service, but
it is very likely that many will do so, especially since the infrastructure cost of deploying the service is
relatively modest. At this time no cellphones or modems that support GPRS have been announced but it is
possible that eventually all new GSM phones will support GPRS.

Where does GPRS fit in with other GSM data developments, as well as data capabilities for other wireless
networks? The first improvement with GSM data is increasing existing circuit-switched data speeds from
9600 bps to 14.4 kbps. The addition of V.42 bis compression over the airlink will further increase
throughput by about a factor of two. After that, and before GPRS is available, some carriers will begin
offering high speed circuit-switched data (HSCSD) which like GPRS combines multiple voice channels to
offer higher data rates. SingTel in Singapore announced in May of 1998 that using HSCSD technology it will
soon be offering data rates of up to 38.4 kbps.
Another development is referred to by some as "direct IP access". The user makes a circuit-switched data
call, but rather than switching the call into the public switched telephone network, the carrier terminates it
at a router that is connected to the Internet. From the user perspective, the carrier appears like an Internet
service provider offering dial-up service. This hybrid circuit/packet type of service is a good stepping-stone
to GPRS and will also work with HSCSD.

And GSM standards bodies are already defining data networking technologies that will build upon GPRS.
One such technology is called Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution (EDGE) which will offer a maximum
theoretical rate of 384 kbps, though normal operating speeds will be about half this rate. Beyond EDGE,
third generation cellular systems will eventually offer data rates to 2 Mbps. The table below summarizes all
these developments.

ROAD MAP OF DATA SERVICES FOR GSM

(as forecast by Rysavy Research)

Timeframe Capabilities Notes

9.6 kbps service Available today Circuit-switched data and Service available from most
fax GSM operators today.

14.4 kbps service Available over Higher speed circuit- Should work identically to 9.6
next 12 months switched data and fax kbps service only at higher
speed. V.42 bis compression
will further increase
throughput by about 200%.

Direct IP Access Available from Circuit-switched Reduces call set-up time and
some carriers connection directly to provides a stepping stone to
today Internet packet data. Will also be
available for high-speed
circuit-switched data services.

High-speed Available within High speed rates to 56 A software-only upgrade for

circuit-switched 12 months kbps carriers not requiring
data service expensive infrastructure.
(HSCSD) Operators will need to decide
whether to offer this service or
GPRS or both.

GPRS Available within High speed packet data Extremely capable and flexible
two years with transmission speeds mobile communications.
over 100 Kbps, with most
user devices offering
about 56 kbps
 EDGE Available within High speed packet data Final high-speed data
three years which will triple the rates technology for existing GSM
available with GPRS networks. Will also be used
with IS-136 TDMA networks.

Third generation Available within High speed packet data to Completely new airlink.
cellular three to five years 2 Mbps

Data services similar to those for GSM are also being developed for IS-136 TDMA and CDMA networks. But
as a more mature digital technology, GSM has a strong head start. When GPRS is deployed, no other
wireless data technology will be able to match its capabilities. But it is also important to remember that
GSM already offers excellent data and fax capabilities that provide more than sufficient capability for many
types of applications. As technologies like GPRS become available, the scope of data applications that are
practical for wireless connectivity will only increase.

GPRS Details for Network Managers

To better understand GPRS, we take a quick tour beginning with the mobile PC and traversing through the
network. First, we have a notebook computer connected to a GPRS-capable cellphone or modem, either
through a serial cable or other type of connection such as Universal Serial Bus (USB) or local wireless link.
Or perhaps the connection device is in the form of a PC Card. The GPRS phone or modem communicates
with GSM base stations, but unlike circuit-switched data calls which are connected to voice networks by
the mobile switching center, GPRS packets are sent from the base station to what is called a Serving GPRS
Support Node (SGSN). The SGSN is the node within the GSM infrastructure that sends and receives data to
and from the mobile stations. It also keeps track of the mobiles within its service area. The SGSN
communicates with what is called the Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN), a system that maintains
connections with other networks such as the Internet, X.25 networks or private networks. See figure two. A
GPRS network can use multiple serving nodes, but requires only one gateway node for connecting to an
external network such as the Internet.

Figure three: GPRS system.

When the mobile station sends packets of data, it is via the SGSN to the GGSN, which converts them for
transmission over the desired network, which could be the Internet, X.25 networks or private networks. IP
packets from the Internet addressed for the mobile station are received by the GGSN, forwarded to the
SGSN and then transmitted to the mobile station.

To forward IP or X.25 packets between each other, the SGSN and GGSN encapsulate these packets using a
specialized protocol called the GPRS tunnel protocol (GTP) which operates over the top of standard TCP/IP
protocols. But the details of the SGSN and GGSN are both invisible and irrelevant to the user who simply
experiences a straightforward IP or X.25 connection that just happens to be wireless.

An interesting aspect of GPRS is how it achieves its high speeds to over 100 kbps when circuit-switched
data today is limited to 9600 or 14.4 kbps. GPRS uses the same radio channel as voice calls, a channel that
is 200 kHz wide. This radio channel carries a raw digital radio stream of 271 kbps which for voice calls is
divided into 8 separate data streams, each carrying about 34 kbps. After protocol and error correction
overhead, 13 kbps is left for each voice connection or about 14 kbps for data. Circuit-switched data today
uses one voice channel. GPRS can combine up to 8 of these channels, and since each of these can deliver
up to 14 kbps of data throughput, the net result is that users will be able to enjoy rates over 100 Kbps. But
not all eight-voice channels have to be used. In fact, the most economical phones will be ones that are
limited to 56 kbps. The GPRS standard defines a mechanism by which a mobile station can request the
amount of bandwidth it desires at the time it establishes a data session.

Peter Rysavy is the president of Rysavy Research, a consulting firm that works with companies developing
new communications technologies and those adopting them.

Copyright Rysavy Research 1998. All rights reserved.

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