COMMON CONTROL CHANNELS

GSM Glossary

GSM — Common Control Channels

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Information on Common Control Channels

The GSM common control channels are used to inform mobile stations of incoming calls and to request and grant channels. The GSM paging channel (PCH), which exists only on the downlink, is used to inform the MS of an incoming call. The GSM access grant channel (AGCH), which also only exists on the downlink, is used to allocate a stand-alone dedicated control channel or traffic channel to a mobile station. The GSM random access channel (RACH), which exists only on the uplink, allows the mobile station to request allocation of a stand-alone dedicated control channel. Unlike other GSM channels, for which capacity is allocated by the network, the random access channel (RACH) allows random access. Collisions can therefore occur if multiple mobile stations attempt to transmit at the same time.


Other topics in our resources on GSM related to Common Control Channels include: 
 
  • signalling channels
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