Challenges of real-time IP support in GSM/EDGE radio access network

The next, evolutionary step for GSM/EDGE wireless system, includes a definition of the so-called GSM/EDGE radio access network (GERAN) in the coming releases of the standard. It enables the common evolution of GSM and TDMA/136 towards the third generation wireless systems. To successfully meet the requirements, the third-generation wireless systems must be designed to offer a multitude of services, providing considerable flexibility and cost-effective access through having a structured quality of service handling. Still, coverage with high radio spectral efficiency needs to be assured. The offered services include conversational multimedia that also comprises basic voice service, the service that has so far been the main income source for the cellular operators and is definitely going to be one for time to come. The design challenges named above have to be taken care of in the future, evolution of GSM/EDGE standard in ETSI/3GPP for release 2000, both regarding the radio access network and the common 3G UMTS/GPRS core network