SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003

• Abstract:

  This European Telecommunication Standard (ETS) defines the physical channels of the radio sub-system required to support the logical channels. It includes a description of the logical channels and the definition of frequency hopping, TDMA frames, timeslots and bursts.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Nov-2003
• ICS: 33.040.20 - Transmission systems
• ICS: 33.070.50 - Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)
• Technical Committee: SS EIT - Technical Board for the electrotechnical, information technology and telecommunications fields
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Due Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Completion Date: 01-Dec-2003
• Ref Project: ETSI ETS 300 574 ed.4 (1996-08) - Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2) (GSM); Multiplexing and multiple access on the radio path (GSM 05.02)

SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003 is the Slovenian standard for GSM Phase 2 radio-path multiplexing and multiple access, adopted from ETS 300 574 Edition 4. It defines the physical channels of the radio subsystem that support GSM logical channels, and it sets out frequency hopping, TDMA frames, timeslots, bursts, and their mapping for people designing, configuring, or testing GSM radio access.

What does SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003 specify?

SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003 specifies how the GSM radio subsystem uses frequency and time to carry logical channels. It describes the logical channels themselves, the physical resources they use, and the rules for mapping channels onto radio frequency channels and TDMA structure.

The document is organized into:

• Clause 1 - scope, normative references, and abbreviations
• Clause 2 - general principles
• Clause 3 - logical channels
• Clause 4 - the physical resource
• Clause 5 - physical channels
• Clause 6 - mapping of logical channels onto physical channels
• Annex A - Phase 2 mobiles in a Phase 1 infrastructure

Annex	What it covers
Annex A (Normative)	Phase 2 mobiles operating in a Phase 1 infrastructure, including TCH filling options, dummy bursts, half burst filling, stealing flags, and allowed combinations

In practice, this structure matters because the standard moves from channel definitions to the timing and frequency structure, then to exact channel assignment rules. That lets a reader find either the concept, the physical layer resource, or the mapping rule they need.

What are the key requirements of SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003?

SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003 defines the GSM Phase 2 radio channel structure in a layered way: logical channels first, then physical resources, then the mapping rules. For implementation work, the key point is that the standard ties together channel type, burst type, timeslot, frame number, and frequency allocation.

Logical channels and their roles

Clause 3 groups logical channels into traffic channels and control channels. Traffic channels carry encoded speech or user data, while control channels carry signalling or synchronization data.

This matters because equipment must treat speech, user data, paging, access, and dedicated signalling differently. The standard names the channel types that must be supported, including TCH/FS, TCH/HS, TCH/F9.6, TCH/F4.8, TCH/H4.8, TCH/H2.4, FCCH, SCH, BCCH, PCH, RACH, AGCH, SACCH, FACCH, SDCCH, and CBCH.

Physical resource, timing, and frame structure

Clause 4 defines the radio resource as spectrum divided in frequency and time. It states that a timeslot has a fixed duration, that eight timeslots form a TDMA frame, and that TDMA frames are numbered cyclically up to the hyperframe.

In practice, this is the timing base for schedulers, burst timing, synchronisation, and measurement tools. It also explains how downlink and uplink frame timing are staggered so the mobile can transmit and receive without overlap.

Bursts and burst formats

Clause 5 defines the burst types used on the air interface: normal burst, frequency correction burst, synchronization burst, dummy burst, and access burst. Each burst type has a specific bit layout, training sequence, tail bits, and guard period.

That matters because radio hardware, baseband processing, and conformance test cases depend on the exact burst structure. The standard also links the burst type to the channel type, so the implementer can choose the correct burst for a given logical channel.

Frequency hopping and channel assignment

Clause 6.2 defines the frequency hopping procedure using the cell allocation, mobile allocation, mobile allocation index offset (MAIO), hopping sequence number (HSN), and the TDMA frame number. The clause includes the hopping sequence generation method and a table of random numbers used by the algorithm.

For implementation, this is the part that drives channel hopping in the BTS and the mobile. It also states that hopping is not permitted on the BCCH carrier for channels supporting BCCH, which affects cell planning and configuration.

Time mapping and permitted combinations

Clause 6.3 and Clause 6.4 define how logical channels map in time onto physical channels and which channel combinations are allowed on a basic physical channel. The tables show, for each channel, the direction, allowed timeslots, allowed RF channel assignment, burst type, repeat length, and interleaved block mapping.

This is the practical reference for channel packing, scheduling, and air-interface verification. It tells the engineer which channels may share a carrier, how paging and broadcast messages are placed in the multiframe, and how dedicated channels are interleaved.

Paging, access, and SMSCB operation

Clause 6.5 defines how common control channels operate, including CCCH_GROUP and PAGING_GROUP assignment from IMSI, paging block selection, and access grant reservation. It also defines how SMSCB is sent on CBCH over four consecutive multiframes.

That matters for network behaviour in idle mode and for broadcast messaging. The operator or test engineer uses these rules to check paging load, access capacity, and cell broadcast scheduling.

Phase 2 mobiles in a Phase 1 infrastructure

Annex A gives normative rules for Phase 2 mobiles operating in Phase 1 networks when downlink DTX is used with frequency hopping. It covers C0 filling on TCH, half burst filling, dummy burst stealing flags, half burst filling stealing flags, and the allowed combinations.

This is important for interoperability and backward compatibility. It tells implementers how a Phase 2 mobile should behave when it meets older infrastructure.

What terms does SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003 define?

• TCH (Traffic Channel) - A channel used to carry encoded speech or user data.
• BCCH (Broadcast Control Channel) - A downlink channel that carries cell-wide information needed for cell selection and operation.
• SCH (Synchronization Channel) - A broadcast channel that carries frame synchronization information and base transceiver station identity.
• BSIC (Base transceiver station identity code) - A 6-bit identity in the SCH that combines the PLMN colour code and BS colour code.
• RFN (Reduced TDMA frame number) - The shortened frame numbering information carried in the SCH and derived from T1, T2, and T3'.
• CA (Cell allocation) - The set of radio frequency channels assigned to a cell.
• MAIO (Mobile allocation index offset) - The offset used in hopping sequence generation to select the active frequency from the mobile allocation.
• HSN (Hopping sequence number) - The generator number that controls the hopping sequence when cyclic hopping is not used.

Who uses SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003?

SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003 is used by GSM radio engineers, base station designers, handset implementers, and conformance test teams. It also matters to network operators and planners who assign carriers, paging capacity, and channel combinations in live cells.

In practice, these users apply it when:

• configuring BCCH, CCCH, SDCCH, TCH, and hopping parameters
• validating burst timing and multiframe placement
• checking paging and access channel loading
• verifying interoperability between mobile stations and base transceiver stations
• designing or reviewing Phase 2 to Phase 1 compatibility behaviour

Which standards are used with SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003?

SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003 relies on these normative references:

• GSM 01.04 - abbreviations and acronyms used throughout the specification
• GSM 03.03 - numbering, addressing, and identification, including items such as BSIC
• GSM 04.03 - MS-BSS interface channel structures and access capabilities, including allowed channel combinations
• GSM 04.06 - MS-BSS interface data link layer specification
• GSM 04.08 - mobile radio interface layer 3 specification, including broadcast parameters and message use
• GSM 05.03 - channel coding, used for burst-embedded bits and signalling fields
• GSM 05.04 - modulation, used with burst and signal characteristics
• GSM 05.05 - radio transmission and reception, including RF channels and ramping behaviour
• GSM 05.08 - radio subsystem link control, including SID frame mapping
• GSM 05.10 - radio subsystem synchronisation, including frame-number calculation and alignment

What does the SIST ETS 300 574 E4:2003 document contain?

The document contains the channel definitions, timing rules, burst structures, and mapping tables needed to implement the GSM radio path. It gives the detailed bit layouts for the burst types, the hopping sequence procedure, and the multiframe placement of broadcast, paging, access, and dedicated channels.

It also contains:

• tables for logical channel combinations
• tables for mapping logical channels to physical channels
• the random-number table used in hopping generation
• the formulas and procedures for CCCH_GROUP and PAGING_GROUP assignment
• the Annex A compatibility rules for Phase 2 mobiles in Phase 1 infrastructure

For a buyer or engineer, that means the standard is primarily a radio interface and channel-structure reference. It is the document to use when the question is how GSM Phase 2 logical channels are carried on the air interface, not when the question is about speech coding, higher-layer signalling, or network services.

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2003
'LJLWDOQLFHOLþQLWHOHNRPXQLNDFLMVNLVLVWHPID]D±0XOWLSOHNVLUDQMHLQVRGRVWRS
QDUDGLMVNLSRWL*60
Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2) (GSM); Multiplexing and multiple
access on the radio path (GSM 05.02)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ETS 300 574 Edition 4
ICS:
33.040.20 Prenosni sistem Transmission systems
33.070.50 Globalni sistem za mobilno Global System for Mobile
telekomunikacijo (GSM) Communication (GSM)
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EUROPEAN ETS 300 574
TELECOMMUNICATION August 1996
STANDARD Fourth Edition
Source: ETSI TC-SMG Reference: RE/SMG-020502PR3
ICS: 33.060.50
Key words: Digital cellular telecommunications system, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM)
Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2);
Multiplexing and multiple access on the radio path
(GSM 05.02)
ETSI
European Telecommunications Standards Institute
ETSI Secretariat
Postal address: F-06921 Sophia Antipolis CEDEX - FRANCE
Office address: 650 Route des Lucioles - Sophia Antipolis - Valbonne - FRANCE
X.400: c=fr, a=atlas, p=etsi, s=secretariat - Internet: [e-mail]
Tel.: [phone] - Fax: [phone]
Copyright Notification: No part may be reproduced except as authorized by written permission. The copyright and the
foregoing restriction extend to reproduction in all media.
© European Telecommunications Standards Institute 1996. All rights reserved.

Page 2
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
Whilst every care has been taken in the preparation and publication of this document, errors in content,
typographical or otherwise, may occur. If you have comments concerning its accuracy, please write to
"ETSI Editing and Committee Support Dept." at the address shown on the title page.

Page 3
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
Contents
Foreword .5
1 Scope .7
1.1 Normative references .7
1.2 Abbreviations .7
2. General.7
3. Logical channels.8
3.1 General .8
3.2 Traffic channels .8
3.2.1 General.8
3.2.2 Speech traffic channels.8
3.2.3 Data traffic channels.8
3.3 Control channels.8
3.3.1 General.8
3.3.2 Broadcast channels.9
3.3.2.1 Frequency correction channel (FCCH).9
3.3.2.2 Synchronization channel (SCH).9
3.3.2.3 Broadcast control channel (BCCH) .9
3.3.3 Common control type channels, known when combined as a common
control channel (CCCH): .10
3.3.4 Dedicated control channels.10
3.3.5 Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH).10
3.4 Combination of channels .10
4. The physical resource .10
4.1 General .10
4.2 Radio frequency channels .10
4.2.1 Cell allocation and mobile allocation .10
4.2.2 Downlink and uplink .10
4.3 Timeslots and TDMA frames.11
4.3.1 General.11
4.3.2 Timeslot number .11
4.3.3 TDMA frame number.11
5. Physical channels.11
5.1 General .11
5.2 Bursts.12
5.2.1 General.12
5.2.2 Types of burst and burst timing.12
5.2.3 Normal burst (NB) .12
5.2.4 Frequency correction burst (FB).13
5.2.5 Synchronization burst (SB).13
5.2.6 Dummy burst.13
5.2.7 Access burst (AB).14
5.2.8 Guard period .14
5.3 Physical channels and bursts .14
5.4 Radio frequency channel sequence.15
5.5 Timeslot and TDMA frame sequence.15
5.6 Parameters for channel definition and assignment .15
5.6.1 General.15
5.6.2 General parameters .15
5.6.3 Specific parameters .15
6. Mapping of logical channels onto physical channels.16
6.1 General .16

Page 4
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
6.2 Mapping in frequency of logical channels onto physical channels . 16
6.2.1 General . 16
6.2.2 Parameters . 16
6.2.3 Hopping sequence generation. 16
6.2.4 Specific cases. 18
6.2.5 Change in the frequency allocation of a base transceiver station . 18
6.3 Mapping in time of logical channels onto physical channels. 18
6.3.1 General . 18
6.3.2 Key to the mapping table of section 7. 18
6.3.3 Mapping of TCH/F9.6, TCH/F4.8, TCH/H4.8 and TCH/H2.4 . 19
6.3.4 Mapping of BCCH data. 19
6.3.5 Mapping of SID Frames. 19
6.4 Permitted channel combinations. 19
6.5 Operation of channels and channel combinations . 20
6.5.1 General . 20
6.5.2 Determination of CCCH_GROUP and PAGING_GROUP . 21
6.5.3 Determination of specific paging multiframe and paging block index. 21
6.5.4 Short Message Service Cell Broadcast (SMSCB). 22
Annex A (Normative): Phase 2 mobiles in a phase 1 infrastructure. 36
A.1 Scope. 36
A.2 Implementation options for TCH channels . 36
A.2.1 C0 filling on the TCH . 36
A.2.2 Half burst filling. 36
A.2.3 Dummy burst Stealing flag . 37
A.2.4 Half burst Filling Stealing flag. 37
A.2.5 Allowed combinations. 37
A.3 Idle Channels. 37
History. 38

Page 5
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
Foreword
This European Telecommunication Standard (ETS) has been produced by the Special Mobile Group
(SMG) Technical Committee (TC) of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).
This ETS defines the physical channels of the radio sub-system required to support the logical channels
used within the Digital cellular telecommunications system (Phase 2).
This ETS correspond to GSM technical specification, GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0.
The specification from which this ETS has been derived was originally based on CEPT documentation,
hence the presentation of this ETS may not be entirely in accordance with the ETSI/PNE rules.
Reference is made within this ETS to GSM Technical Specifications (GSM-TSs) (note).
NOTE: TC-SMG has produced documents which give the technical specifications for the
implementation of the Digital cellular telecommunications system. Historically, these
documents have been identified as GSM Technical Specifications (GSM-TSs). These
TSs may have subsequently become I-ETSs (Phase 1), or ETSs (Phase 2), whilst
others may become ETSI Technical Reports (ETRs). GSM-TSs are, for editorial
reasons, still referred to in GSM ETSs.
Transposition dates
Date of adoption of this ETS (doa): 31 August 1996
Date of latest announcement of this ETS (doa): 30 November 1996
Date of latest publication of new National Standard
or endorsement of this ETS (dop/e): 31 May 1997
Date of withdrawal of any conflicting National Standard (dow): 31 May 1997

Page 6
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
Blank page
Page 7
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
1 Scope
This European Telecommunication Standard (ETS) defines the physical channels of the radio sub-system
required to support the logical channels. It includes a description of the logical channels and the definition
of frequency hopping, TDMA frames, timeslots and bursts.
1.1 Normative references
This ETS incorporates by dated and undated reference, provisions from other publications. These
normative references are cited at the appropriate places in the text and the publications are listed
hereafter. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of any of these publications
apply to this ETS only when incorporated in it by amendment or revision. For undated references, the
latest edition of the publication referred to applies.
[1] GSM 01.04 (ETR 100): "Digital cellular telecommunication system (Phase 2);
Abbreviations and acronyms".
[2] GSM 03.03 (ETS 300 523): "Digital cellular telecommunication system
(Phase 2); Numbering, addressing and identification".
[3] GSM 04.03 (ETS 300 552): "Digital cellular telecommunication system
(Phase 2); Mobile Station - Base Station System (MS - BSS) interface Channel
structures and access capabilities".
[4] GSM 04.06 (ETS 300 555): "Digital cellular telecommunication system
(Phase 2); Mobile Station - Base Station System (MS - BSS) interface Data Link
(DL) layer specification".
[5] GSM 04.08 (ETS 300 557): "Digital cellular telecommunication system
(Phase 2); Mobile radio interface layer 3 specification".
[6] GSM 05.03 (ETS 300 575): "Digital cellular telecommunication system
(Phase 2); Channel coding".
[7] GSM 05.04 (ETS 300 576): "Digital cellular telecommunication system
(Phase 2); Modulation".
[8] GSM 05.05 (ETS 300 577): "Digital cellular telecommunication system
(Phase 2); Radio transmission and reception".
[9] GSM 05.08 (ETS 300 578): "Digital cellular telecommunication system
(Phase 2); Radio subsystem link control".
[10] GSM 05.10 (ETS 300 579): "Digital cellular telecommunication system
(Phase 2); Radio subsystem synchronisation".
1.2 Abbreviations
Definitions and abbreviations used in this specification are listed in GSM 01.04.
2. General
The radio subsystem is required to support a certain number of logical channels that can be separated
into two overall categories as defined in GSM 04.03:
i) The traffic channels (TCH's).
ii) The control channels.
Page 8
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
More information is given about these logical channels in section 3 which also defines a number of special
channels used by the radio sub-system.
Section 4 of this document describes the physical resource available to the radio sub-system, section 5
defines physical channels based on that resource and section 6 specifies how the logical channels shall
be mapped onto physical channels. Figure 1 depicts this process.
3. Logical channels
3.1 General
This section describes the logical channels that are supported by the radio subsystem.
3.2 Traffic channels
3.2.1 General
Traffic channels (TCH's) are intended to carry either encoded speech or user data. Two general forms of
traffic channel are defined:
i) Full rate traffic channel (TCH/F). This channel carries information at a gross rate of 22.8
kbits/s.
ii) Half rate traffic channel (TCH/H). This channel carries information at a gross rate of 11.4
kbit/s.
The specific traffic channels available in the categories of speech and user data are defined in the
sections following.
3.2.2 Speech traffic channels
The following traffic channels are defined to carry encoded speech:
i) Full rate traffic channel for speech (TCH/FS).
ii) Half rate traffic channel for speech (TCH/HS).
3.2.3 Data traffic channels
The following traffic channels are defined to carry user data:
i) Full rate traffic channel for 9.6 kbit/s user data (TCH/F9.6).
ii) Full rate traffic channel for 4.8 kbit/s user data (TCH/F4.8).
iii) Half rate traffic channel for 4.8 kbit/s user data (TCH/H4.8).
iv) Half rate traffic channel for ≤ 2.4 kbit/s user data (TCH/H2.4).
v) Full rate traffic channel for ≤ 2.4 kbit/s user data (TCH/F2.4)
3.3 Control channels
3.3.1 General
Control channels are intended to carry signalling or synchronization data. Three categories of control
channel are defined: broadcast, common and dedicated. Specific channels within these categories are
defined in the sections following.

Page 9
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
3.3.2 Broadcast channels
3.3.2.1 Frequency correction channel (FCCH)
The frequency correction channel carries information for frequency correction of the mobile station. It is
required only for the operation of the radio sub-system.
3.3.2.2 Synchronization channel (SCH)
The synchronization channel carries information for frame synchronization of the mobile station and
identification of a base transceiver station. It is required only for the operation of the radio sub-system.
Specifically the synchronization channel shall contain two encoded parameters:
a) Base transceiver station identity code (BSIC): 6 bits (before channel coding) consists of 3 bits
of PLMN colour code with range 0 to 7 and 3 bits of BS colour code with range 0 to 7 as
defined in GSM 03.03.
b) Reduced TDMA frame number (RFN): 19 bits (before channel coding) =
T1 (11 bits) range 0 to 2047 = FN div ( 26 x 51)
T2 (5 bits) range 0 to 25  = FN mod 26
T3' (3 bits) range 0 to 4   = (T3 - 1) div 10
where
T3 (6 bits) range 0 to 50 = FN mod 51
and
FN = TDMA frame number as defined in section 4.3.3.
GSM 04.06 and GSM 04.08 specify the precise bit ordering, GSM 05.03 the channel coding of the above
parameters and GSM 05.10 defines how the TDMA frame number can be calculated from T1, T2, and
T3'.
3.3.2.3 Broadcast control channel (BCCH)
The broadcast control channel broadcasts general information on a base transceiver station per base
transceiver station basis. Of the many parameters contained in the BCCH, the use of the following
parameters, as defined in GSM 04.08 are referred to in section 6.5:
a) CCCH_CONF which indicates the organization of the common control channels:
From this parameter, the number of common control channels (BS_CC_CHANS) and
whether or not CCCH or SDCCH are combined (BS_CCCH_SDCCH_COMB = true or false)
are derived as follows:
CCCH_CONF BS_CC_CHANS BS_CCCH_SDCCH_COMB
000 1 false
001 1 true
010 2 false
100 3 false
110 4 false
b) BS_AG_BLKS_RES which indicates the number of blocks on each common control channel
reserved for access grant messages:
3 bits (before channel coding) range 0 to 7.

Page 10
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
c) BS_PA_MFRMS which indicates the number of 51 TDMA frame multiframes between
transmission of paging messages to mobiles of the same paging group:
3 bits (before channel coding) range 2 to 9.
3.3.3 Common control type channels, known when combined as a common control channel
(CCCH):
i) Paging channel (PCH): Downlink only, used to page mobiles.
ii) Random access channel (RACH): Uplink only, used to request allocation of a SDCCH.
iii) Access grant channel (AGCH): Downlink only, used to allocate a SDCCH or directly a TCH.
3.3.4 Dedicated control channels
i) Slow, TCH/F associated, control channel (SACCH/TF)
ii) Fast, TCH/F associated, control channel (FACCH/F)
iii) Slow, TCH/H associated, control channel (SACCH/TH)
iv) Fast, TCH/H associated, control channel (FACCH/H)
v) Stand alone dedicated control channel (SDCCH/8)
vi) Slow, SDCCH/8 associated, control channel (SACCH/C8)
vii) Stand alone dedicated control channel, combined with CCCH (SDCCH/4)
viii) Slow, SDCCH/4 associated, control channel (SACCH/C4)
3.3.5 Cell Broadcast Channel (CBCH)
The CBCH, downlink only, is used to carry the short message service cell broadcast (SMSCB). The
CBCH uses the same physical channel as the SDCCH.
3.4 Combination of channels
Only certain combinations of channels are allowed as defined in GSM 04.03. Section 6.4 lists the
combinations in relation to basic physical channels.
4. The physical resource
4.1 General
The physical resource available to the radio sub-system is an allocation of part of the radio spectrum. This
resource is partitioned both in frequency and time. Frequency is partitioned by radio frequency channels
(RFCHs) divided into bands as defined in GSM 05.05. Time is partitioned by timeslots and TDMA frames
as defined in section 4.3 of this document.
4.2 Radio frequency channels
4.2.1 Cell allocation and mobile allocation
GSM 05.05 defines radio frequency channels (RFCHs), and allocates numbers to all the radio frequency
channels available to the system. Each cell is allocated a subset of these channels, defined as the cell
allocation (CA). One radio frequency channel of the cell allocation shall be used to carry synchronization
information and the BCCH, this shall be known as BCCH carrier. The subset of the cell allocation,
allocated to a particular mobile, shall be known as the mobile allocation (MA).
4.2.2 Downlink and uplink
The downlink comprises radio frequency channels used in the base transceiver station to mobile station
direction.
Page 11
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
The uplink comprises radio frequency channels used in the mobile station to base transceiver station
direction.
4.3 Timeslots and TDMA frames
4.3.1 General
A timeslot shall have a duration of 3/5200 seconds (≈ 577 μs). Eight timeslots shall form a TDMA frame (≈
4.62 ms in duration).
At the base transceiver station the TDMA frames on all of the radio frequency channels in the downlink
shall be aligned. The same shall apply to the uplink (see GSM 05.10).
At the base transceiver station the start of a TDMA frame on the uplink is delayed by the fixed period of 3
timeslots from the start of the TDMA frame on the downlink (see Figure 2).
At the mobile station this delay will be variable to allow adjustment for signal propagation delay. The
process of adjusting this advance is known as adaptive frame alignment and is detailed in GSM 05.10.
The staggering of TDMA frames used in the downlink and uplink is in order to allow the same timeslot
number to be used in the downlink and uplink whilst avoiding the requirement for the mobile station to
transmit and receive simultaneously. The period includes time for adaptive frame alignment, transceiver
tuning and receive/transmit switching (see Figure 4).
4.3.2 Timeslot number
The timeslots within a TDMA frame shall be numbered from 0 to 7 and a particular timeslot shall be
referred to by its timeslot number (TN).
4.3.3 TDMA frame number
TDMA frames shall be numbered by a frame number (FN). The frame number shall be cyclic and shall
have a range of 0 to FN_MAX where FN_MAX = (26 x 51 x 2048) -1 = 2715647 as defined in GSM 05.10.
The frame number shall be incremented at the end of each TDMA frame.
The complete cycle of TDMA frame numbers from 0 to FN_MAX is defined as a hyperframe. A
hyperframe consists of 2048 superframes where a superframe is defined as 26 x 51 TDMA frames. A 26
TDMA frame multiframe is used to support traffic and associated control channels and a 51 TDMA frame
multiframe is used to support broadcast, common control and stand alone dedicated control (and their
associated control) channels. Hence a superframe may be considered as 51 traffic/associated control
multiframes or 26 broadcast/common control multiframes.
The need for a hyperframe of a substantially longer period than a superframe arises from the
requirements of the encryption process which uses FN as an input parameter.
5. Physical channels
5.1 General
A physical channel uses a combination of frequency and time division multiplexing and is defined as a
sequence of radio frequency channels and time slots. The complete definition of a particular physical
channel consists of a description in the frequency domain, and a description in the time domain.
The description in the frequency domain is addressed in section 5.4, the description in the time domain is
addressed in section 5.5.
Page 12
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
5.2 Bursts
5.2.1 General
A burst is a period of R.F. carrier which is modulated by a data stream. A burst therefore represents the
physical content of a timeslot.
5.2.2 Types of burst and burst timing
A timeslot is divided into 156.25 bit periods. A particular bit period within a timeslot is referenced by a bit
number (BN), with the first bit period being numbered 0, and the last (1/4) bit period being numbered 156.
In the sections following the transmission timing of a burst within a timeslot is defined in terms of bit
number. The bit with the lowest bit number is transmitted first.
Different types of burst exist in the system. One characteristic of a burst is its useful duration. This
document, in the sections following, defines four full bursts of 147 bits useful duration, and one short burst
of 87 bits useful duration. The useful part of a burst is defined as beginning from half way through bit
number 0. The definition of the useful part of a burst needs to be considered in conjunction with the
requirements placed on the phase and amplitude characteristics of a burst as specified in GSM 05.04 and
05.05.
The period between bursts appearing in successive timeslots is termed the guard period. Section 5.2.8
details constraints which relate to the guard period.
5.2.3 Normal burst (NB)
Bit Number Length Contents Definition
(BN) of field of field
0 - 2 3 tail bits (below)
3 - 60 58 encrypted bits (e0 . e57) 05.03
61 - 86 26 training sequence bits (below)
87 - 144 58 encrypted bits (e58 . e115) 05.03
145 - 147 3 tail bits (below)
(148 - 156 8,25 guard period (bits) section 5.2.8)
- where the 'tail bits' are defined as modulating bits with states as follows:
(BN0, BN1, BN2) = (0, 0, 0) and
(BN145, BN146, BN147) = (0, 0, 0)
- where the 'training sequence bits' are defined as modulating bits with states as given in the following
table according to the training sequence code, TSC. For broadcast and common control channels,
the TSC must be equal to the BCC, as defined in GSM 03.03 and as described in this technical
specification in section 3.3.2.
Training Training sequence bits
Sequence (BN61, BN62 . BN86)
Code (TSC)
0 (0,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,1,1,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,1,1)
1 (0,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,1,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,1,0,1,1,0,1,1,1)
2 (0,1,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,0,1,1,1,0,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,1,1,1,0)
3 (0,1,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,0,1,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,0,1,1,1,1,0)
4 (0,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,1,1,0,0,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,1,0,1,0,1,1)
5 (0,1,0,0,1,1,1,0,1,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,0,1,0,0,1,1,1,0,1,0)
6 (1,0,1,0,0,1,1,1,1,1,0,1,1,0,0,0,1,0,1,0,0,1,1,1,1,1)
7 (1,1,1,0,1,1,1,1,0,0,0,1,0,0,1,0,1,1,1,0,1,1,1,1,0,0)
Under certain circumstances only half the encrypted bits present in a normal burst will contain complete
information. For downlink DTX operation on TCH-FS and TCH-HS, when a traffic frame (as defined in
GSM 06.31) is scheduled for transmission and one of its adjacent traffic frames is not scheduled for
transmission, the other half of the encrypted bits in the normal bursts associated with the scheduled traffic
frame shall contain partial SID information from any associated SID frame, with the appropriate stealing
flags BN60 or BN87 set to 0. In other cases the binary state of the remaining bits is not specified.

Page 13
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
5.2.4 Frequency correction burst (FB)
Bit Number length Contents Definition
(BN) of field of field
0 - 2 3 tail bits (below)
3 - 144 142 fixed bits (below)
145 - 147 3 tail bits (below)
(148 - 156 8,25 guard period (bits) section 5.2.8)
- where the 'tail bits' are defined as modulating bits with states as follows:
(BN0, BN1, BN2) = (0, 0, 0) and
(BN145, BN146, BN147) = (0, 0, 0)
- where the 'fixed bits' are defined as modulating bits with states as follows:
(BN3, BN4 . BN144)   = (0, 0 . 0)
NOTE: This burst is equivalent to unmodulated carrier with a +1625/24 kHz frequency offset,
above the nominal carrier frequency.
5.2.5 Synchronization burst (SB)
Bit Number Length Contents Definition
(BN) of field of field
0 - 2 3 tail bits (below)
3 - 41 39 encrypted bits (e0 . e38) 05.03
42 - 105 64 extended training sequence bits (below)
106 - 144 39 encrypted bits (e39 . e77) 05.03
145 - 147 3 tail bits (below)
(148 - 156 8,25 guard period (bits) section 5.2.8)
- where the 'tail bits' are defined as modulating bits with states as follows:
(BN0, BN1, BN2) = (0, 0, 0) and
(BN145, BN146, BN147) = (0, 0, 0)
- where the 'extended training sequence bits' are defined as modulating bits with states as follows:
(BN42, BN43 . BN105) = (1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0,
0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0,
1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1)
5.2.6 Dummy burst
Bit Number Length Contents Definition
(BN) of field of field
0 - 2 3 tail bits (below)
3 - 144 142 mixed bits (below)
145 - 147 3 tail bits (below)
(148 - 156 8,25 guard period (bits) section 5.2.8)
- where the 'tail bits' are defined as modulating bits with states as follows:
(BN0, BN1, BN2) = (0, 0, 0) and
(BN145, BN146, BN147) = (0, 0, 0)

Page 14
ETS 300 574: August 1996 (GSM 05.02 version 4.7.0)
- where the 'mixed bits' are defined as modulating bits with states as follows:
(BN3, BN4 . BN144) = (1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1,
0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0,
0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0,
0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0,
0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1,
1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 1, 0)
5.2.7 Access burst (AB)
Bit Number Length Contents Definition
(BN) of field of field
0 - 7 8 extended tail bits (below)
8 - 48 41 synch. sequence bits (below)
49 - 84 36 encrypted bits (e0.e35) 05.03
85 - 87 3 tail bits (below)
(88 - 156 68,25 extended guard period (bits) section 5.2.8)
- where the 'extended tail bits' are defined as modulating bits with the following states:
(BN0, BN1, BN2 . BN7) = (0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0)
- where the 'tail bits' are defined as modulating bits with the following states:
(BN85, BN86, BN87
...