The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) created the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard to define the protocols for second-generation (2G) digital cellular networks, which are utilized by mobile devices like tablets and phones. The GSM Association is also the owner of the trademark GSM. Globally, GSM has emerged as the most used mobile communication protocol.
It served as a prototype for later mobile technologies and is still an essential component of the world's communications network. The majority of 2G GSM networks run in the 900 MHz or 1800 MHz bands. GSM networks function in a variety of carrier frequency ranges (divided into GSM frequency ranges for 2G and UMTS frequency bands for 3G).
What is GSM?
GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communication. It is a standard developed by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute(ETSI) to describe protocols for 2G networks. It acted as a replacement for 1G cellular networks. GSM is basically an open, digital cellular radio network and operates in almost all countries. It is not only used for voice calls but also for data computing and text messages. While CDMA(Code Division Multiple Access) doesn't support calls and data computing at the same time.
Characteristics
- GSM makes use of the narrowband Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technique for transmitting signals.
- GSM is a circuit-switching system that works by dividing each 200 kHz channel into eight 25 kHz time slots.
- GSM operates on the mobile communication bands 900 MHz and 1800 MHz in most parts of the world.
Examples of GSM
- Voice calls
- SMS (Short Message Service)
- International Roaming
- GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
- Mobile Banking
- Location Based Services
- SIM technology
- Network Security
Advantages
- It is highly secured as facilities cannot be duplicated as all the information is stored on a sim card.
- It is compatible with a wide range of devices.
- Allows use of voice calls and data at the same time, unlike CDMA technology.
- Clarity of voice calls is another interesting and demanding feature.
Disadvantages
- As multiple users share same bandwidth, the transmission can face interference. Due to these newer cellular networks like 3G makes use of CDMA technology.
- It can also interfere with electronics equipment as it makes use of pulse transmission technology.Therefore we are told to put our cellphones on airplane mode in airplanes and hospitals so as to avoid this electronic interference.
- Also it is a highly complicated system.
Conclusion
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) is a digital mobile network commonly utilized by mobile phone users in Europe and around the world. GSM, the most popular of the three digital wireless telephony systems (TDMA, GSM, and CDMA), is a version of time division multiple access (TDMA). GSM converts and compresses data before sending it along a channel with two other streams of user data, each with its time slot. GSM is an open and digital cellular technology used for mobile communication. It uses 4 different frequency bands 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 1900 MHz. It uses the combination of FDMA and TDMA.