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3GPP Release 4 Architecture

1. Access Network Entities

Base Station Subsystem

BSC – Base Station Controller
BTS – Base Transceiver Station

Radio Network Subsystem

RNC – Radio Network Controller
Node B

2. Core Network Entities

Entities in both PS and CS domains

HLR – Home Location Register
VLR – Visitor Location Register
AuC – Authentication Centre
EIR – Equipment Identity Register
SGW – Signalling Gateway Function

Entities in the CS domains

MSC – Mobile service Switching Centre
MSC Server – Mobile service Switching Centre Server
CS-MGW – Circuit Switched Media Gateway Function
GMSC – Gateway MSC
GMSC Server – Gateway MSC Server

Entities in the PS domains

SGSN – Serving GPRS Support Node
GGSN – Gateway GPRS Support Node

3. Network Interfaces

Mobile terminal and mobile network interfaces

Um-interface: Interface between the mobile terminal and the BSS.
Uu-interface: Interface between the mobile terminal and the RNS.

Access network interfaces

Abis-interface: Interface between the BSC and the BTS.
Iubis-interface: Interface between the RNC and the Node B.
Iur-interface: Interface between two RNCs.

CS core network and access network interfaces

A-interface: Interface between the MSC and the BSS.
IuCS-interface: Interface between the MSC and the RNS.

CS core network interfaces

B-interface: Interface between the MSC and its associated VLR.
C-interface: Interface between the HLR and the MSC.
D-interface: Interface between the HLR and the VLR.
E-interface: Interface between MSC servers.
F-interface: Interface between the MSC and the EIR.
G-interface: Interface between VLRs.
H-interface: Interface between the HLR and the AuC.
Nb-interface: Call control interface between two MSC servers or MSC server and GMSC server.
Nc-interface: Bearer control interface between two CS-MGWs.
Mc-interface:Interface between the (G)MSC server and the CS-MGW.

PS core network and access network interfaces

Gb-interface: Interface between the SGSN and the BSS.
IuPS-interface: Interface between the SGSN and the RNS.

PS core network interfaces

Gr-interface: Interface between the SGSN and the HLR.
Gn-interface: Interface between the SGSN and the GGSN, in the same PLMN.
Gp-interface: Interface between the SGSN and the GGSN, in different PLMNs.
Gc-interface: Interface between the GGSN and the HLR.
Gf-interface: Interface between the SGSN and the EIR.
Gi-interface: Interface between the GGSN and external data networks.
Gs-interface: Interface between the SGSN and the MSC/VLR.

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