Performance evaluation of GSM and GPRS systems based on measurement campaigns and statistical analysis

Today we are moving toward the deployment of new services, mainly based on high-speed data communication. The circuit-switched networks are about to come to the end of their lifecycle and the rapidly increased number of subscribers give a boost to development of new technologies. GPRS is the first step towards this milestone and most cellular GSM operators have already launched services based on GPRS. It is expected that both GSM and GPRS will continue to be operated in a diversified radio environment of the forthcoming years. In this paper we present an in-depth study performed in a cellular DCS system, both for the circuit- and the packet-switched part. We identify problems so that we can indirectly trigger further development of the systems.