Prepared by Abdulrahman Fady

L3 Messages is the messages transferred

between MS and Network (BSC or MSC ) to
control the MS behavior in idle mode and in
dedicated mode as well as tell MS when to do
Location update
L3 Messages are UL and DL and conveyed on
Control channels

BCCH
PCH
SDCCH
SACCH
FACCH

CM

MM

L3
Messages

RR

SI

What are system Information Messages

Downlink messages
sent on BCCH channel or SACCH channel
Used to inform MS by all the needed information to
enable it to do its operations in normal way
SI messages transmitted periodically from BTS and
MS reads them every 30 sec for serving cell and
every 5 minutes for six strongest cells
There are a lot of SI types e.g. SI type 1, SI type 2

Direction : DL
Channel : BCCH
Contents
BCCH Frequency
Available frequencies
RACH Control
parameters as MAXRET
Cell Barring
Emergency

Direction : DL
Channel : BCCH
Contents
BCCH frequency
MAXRET
Call re-establishment
control
NCC permitted range
Cell Barring

Direction : DL
Channel : BCCH
Contents
PLMN ID (MCC & MNC)
Cell ID
LAC
MFRMS
AGBLK
Mapping Method
ATT
T3212
RL_timeout

Selection Parameters
ACCMIN
MAX-TX-PWR-UL
CRH
Cell reselection
CRO
PT
TO
Half rate support
SI scheduling

Direction : DL
Channel : BCCH
Contents
PLMN ID (MCC & MNC)
Cell ID
LAC
Cell Selection Parameters
Cell Reselection Parameters

Direction : DL
Channel : BCCH
Contents
Other Band BA list

Direction : DL
Channel : BCCH
Contents
Same Band BA list

Direction : DL
Channel : BCCH
Contents
GPRS Information
EGPRS Supported
Power control
Network Mode

Direction : DL
Channel : SACCH
Contents
GPRS Information
Cell ID
LAC
PLMN ID
RL timeout
DTX info
Band

Direction : DL
Channel : SACCH
Contents
BA list

Direction : DL
Channel : SACCH
Contents
Part from Active BA
list

Direction : DL
Channel : SACCH
Contents
Part from Active BA
list
Multi band
reporting

Immediate Assignment
SDCCH assignment during Call Setup

Measurement Report
MS should report 6 strongest neighbors cells to BSC

Handover Command
BSC instruct the MS to do HO to certain Cell

Handover Access
MS starts HO process

Handover Complete
Message sent after HO completed Successfully

Direction : DL
Channel : AGCH
Contents
Inform MS about
SDCCH that will be
used in call Setup

Direction : UL
Channel : SACCH
Contents
Six strongest
neighbors

Direction : DL
Channel : SACCH
Contents
Instruct the MS to
handover to a
certain cell by
sending its
information
BCCH
BSIC
MAIO /HSN

Direction : UL
Channel : FACCH
Contents
MS tries to access
the new cell using
this message

Direction : UL
Channel : FACCH
Contents
MS inform the
network that the
HO has been
completed
successfully