GPRS-features and packet random access channel performance analysis

Mobile data communications (convergence of Internet and mobile communications) seems natural as popularity of both technologies increase. Our purpose in this article was twofold. First, we reviewed GSM, HSCSD, GPRS and EDGE. Second, performance of PRACH was analyzed with respect to quality of service parameters: network access delay, throughput, and failure probability. We derived the overall GPRS traffic channel utilization as a function of the access throughput and channel holding time. EDGE introduction will decrease the holding time of GPRS terminals due to multilevel encoding and resulting higher throughput. Thus, in order to maintain GPRS channel efficiency, PRACH efficiency must be boosted. Thus packet-capturing is introduced to offset access collisions on (P)RACH and increase its efficiency. We noted that the capture effect decreases with access throughput in contrary to access delay and failure rate. These QoS parameters are indicative of network performance, hence crucial for novel network planning.