GSM-GPRS radio access dimensioning

Abstract

This paper describes a method for the radio access dimensioning of a GSM-GPRS network. GPRS (general packet radio service) is a data service providing a high speed packet radio access for a GSM mobile station (MS) and a packet switched routing functionality in the GSM infrastructure. Packet switched technology optimises usage of network resources for bursty data transfer and occasional transmission of large volumes of data. Simultaneous presence of voice and data (circuit and packet traffic) does not permit us to evaluate the dimensioning and performance of a GSM cell using the traditional Erlang-B formulas. To solve this problem an ad-hoc model has been developed using queuing theory.