Radio access network
Encyclopedia
A radio access network is part of a mobile Telecommunication
system. It implements a radio access technology. Conceptually, it resides between a device such as a Mobile phone
, a computer, or any remotely controlled machine and provides connection with its core network
(CN). Depending on the standard mobile phone and other wireless connected devices are varyingly known as user equipment (UE), terminal equipment, mobile station (MS), etc.. Run functionality is typically provided by a silicon chip residing in both the core network as well as the user equipments.
See the following diagram:
Examples of radio access network types are:
Note that it is also possible for a single handset/phone to be simultaneously connected to multiple radio access networks. Handsets capable of this are sometimes called dual-mode handsets. For instance it is common for handsets to support both GSM and UMTS (a.k.a. "3G") radio access technologies. Such devices seamlessly transfer an ongoing call between different radio access networks without the user noticing any disruption in service.
Telecommunication
Telecommunication is the transmission of information over significant distances to communicate. In earlier times, telecommunications involved the use of visual signals, such as beacons, smoke signals, semaphore telegraphs, signal flags, and optical heliographs, or audio messages via coded...
system. It implements a radio access technology. Conceptually, it resides between a device such as a Mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
, a computer, or any remotely controlled machine and provides connection with its core network
Core network
A core network, or network core, is the central part of a telecommunication network that provides various services to customers who are connected by the access network. One of the main functions is to route telephone calls across the PSTN....
(CN). Depending on the standard mobile phone and other wireless connected devices are varyingly known as user equipment (UE), terminal equipment, mobile station (MS), etc.. Run functionality is typically provided by a silicon chip residing in both the core network as well as the user equipments.
See the following diagram:
CN
/ \
/ \
RAN RAN
/ \ / \
UE UE UE UE
Examples of radio access network types are:
- GRANGran-Places:*Gran, the historical German name for Esztergom, a city and primatial seat of Hungary.*Gran, Norway-Other:*Widely used, predominantly British abbreviation for grandmother*Gran children's animation from the early 80's...
- GSMGlobal System for Mobile CommunicationsGSM , is a standard set developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to describe technologies for second generation digital cellular networks...
radio access network - GERANGERANGERAN is an abbreviation for GSM EDGE Radio Access Network. The standards for GERAN are maintained by the 3GPP...
- essentially the same as GRAN but specifying the inclusion of EDGE packet radio services - UTRANUtranUtran is a census town in Surat district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Utran is located at . It has an average elevation of 12 metres .-Demographics:...
- UMTSUniversal Mobile Telecommunications SystemUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System is a third generation mobile cellular technology for networks based on the GSM standard. Developed by the 3GPP , UMTS is a component of the International Telecommunications Union IMT-2000 standard set and compares with the CDMA2000 standard set for...
radio access network
Note that it is also possible for a single handset/phone to be simultaneously connected to multiple radio access networks. Handsets capable of this are sometimes called dual-mode handsets. For instance it is common for handsets to support both GSM and UMTS (a.k.a. "3G") radio access technologies. Such devices seamlessly transfer an ongoing call between different radio access networks without the user noticing any disruption in service.