Radio access protocol of the new GSM land mobile communication standard

A new digital public land mobile network (PLMN) standard is being specified by working group GSM (Groupe Special Mobile) of CEPT (Conference Europeen des Administrations des Postes et des Telecommunications). This standard defines the digital cellular access to voice and nonvoice services provided by the fixed public networks. The key interface of the new standard is the mobile station to base station interface (radio interface). It is specified in a way to offer high-traffic capacity combined with a high quality of service and to accommodate vehicle-mounted and hand-held mobile stations. The authors discuss the PLMN standard with emphasis on the design principles and performance aspects of the control functions and protocols used at the radio interface.<>