h capacity network to support a large number Hagen, Germany. of users at low cost. Microcellular techniques will certainly be Van der Arend, P.C.J. (1988) Security aspects and the implementa- needed, and in order to keep costs down, the concept of regional tion in the GSM System. In Proceedings of the Digital Cellular service, and local access to the PSTN is being considered. IN Radio Conference, October 12-14, Hagen, Germany. techniques may offer personal numbering across a variety of net- Vary, P. (1988) GSM Speech Codec. In Proceedings of the Digital works. Cellular Radio Conference, October 12-14, Hagen, Germany. This page intentionally left blank Personal communications networks PJ Marnick BSc (Hons) CEng MIEE Hutchison Microtel Ltd R G Russell BSc (Hons)CEng MIEE Hutchison Microtel Ltd Contents Introduction 48/3 History 48/3 PCN definition 48/3 Overview of the PCN network Call set up 48/4 Planning a PCN 48/5 48.7 Mobility 48/7 Radio channel coding 48/8 48.9 PCN base station design 48/9 48.10 Microcells 48/11 48.11 Bibliography 48/12 This page intentionally left blank Introduction 48/3 48.1 Introduction ESTI GSM standard and expressed their intention to bring in service during 1992. Personal Communications Networks or PCN is a unique concept in that a commercial requirement has driven the development of a telecommunications standard. This commercial requirement has 48.3 PCN definition resulted in the development of a standard within 18 months. Con- trast this with ISDN where standards have been evolving for 10 PCN is a system which provides the ability for customers to make years and only now are networks being introduced. and receive telephone calls from their pocket radio telephone: This chapter will explain what PCN is and why it came about. anytime, anywhere in the country. The system is based upon GSM, but operates within the 1.8GHz frequency band. It provides all the services you would expect from a modern digital telephone net- 48.2 History work. People can use the service in the car, or on the train,