Training Solutions

Overview of GPRS (e) *RETIRED*

GSM has the lion’s share of the world’s wireless market. GSM has currently deployed circuit-switched data that provide (theoretically) a data rate of 14.4 kbps. However, circuit-switched data does not meet the bandwidth demands of the Internet’s data-hungry applications. The answer to GSM’s “need for speed” is the General Packet Radio System (GPRS). GPRS provides an architecture that allows for higher data rates. This course presents an overview of the GPRS network, including the motivation for GPRS, the key GPRS features and the achievable data rates of GPRS. The architecture of GPRS is presented, including the new components that support packet data services, and the necessary modifications to the current components so they can support GPRS. Since GPRS is on the evolutionary path of GSM to UMTS, the requirements are also presented.

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Learning Objectives

After completing this course, the student will be able to:
• Distinguish circuit switched voice and packet data
• Explain the limitations of using a circuit to support packet data
• Specify the types of applications that will be used in GPRS
• Describe why a separate network is needed for data
• List the new GPRS components
• Describe the components that were changed to support data
• Identify the key differences between supporting voice and data from the mobile's perspective
• Discuss the deployment needs in the GSM network to support GPRS
• Identify the evolution strategy to UMTS

Intended Audience

This course is intended for anyone seeking an overview of GPRS, its features, and capabilities. This includes those in a design, test, systems engineering, sales engineering, network engineering, or verification role.

Suggested Prerequisites

• Overview of 3G Wireless Networks (eLearning)

Course Length

3 hours of eLearning

Course Outlines / Knowledge Knuggets

1. Motivation for GPRS
1.1. Limitations of a circuit switched network
1.2. Requirement to support packet switched data
1.3. The limitations of Circuit Switched Data
1.4. New GPRS applications

2. GPRS Key Features
2.1. Overview of GPRS
2.2. Overview of the enhancements provided by EDGE
2.3. GPRS and EDGE expected data rates

3. GPRS Architecture
3.1. Overview of GSM
3.2. Introduction to the new GPRS components SGSN GGSN
3.3. Required modifications to the existing network components

4. GPRS Mobiles
4.1. Main types of GPRS mobiles
4.2. Requirements on the mobile to support packet data services

5. A day in the life of a GPRS mobile
5.1. Mobile synchronization with the radio network
5.2. Operations between the mobile and the GPRS core network

6. Evolution of GSM to GPRS and GPRS to UMTS
6.1. Impact of GPRS on GSM
6.2. Strategy to evolve to GSM/GPRS to UMTS

7. Summary

Put It All Together
Assess the knowledge of the participant based on the objectives of the course

CATALOG

Download our course catalog!

2010 Catalog,
pdf format (7.8 MB)