for GSM plus the packet switched elements that are used for GPRS and EDGE. Thus the core
network is divided into circu it switched and packet switched domains. Some of the circuit
switched elements are Mobile services Switching Centre (MSC), Visitor Location Register (VLR) and
Gateway MSC. Packet switched elements are Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) and Gateway
GPRS Support Node (GGSN). Some network elements, like EIR, HLR, VLR and AUC, mentioned
in Chapters 4 and 6, are shared by both domains and operate in the same manner that they did
with GSM.
The Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) is specified for UMTS core transmission.
The architecture of the core network may change when new services and features are introduced.
The Number Portability DataBase ...