a system called the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) was devised. Rather than using a circuit
switched scheme, where a complete circuit is dev oted to a user, this scheme uses packet data and
enables a far greater level of efficie ncy to be obtained.
In addition to this, the data world is now very focused on the Internet and the protocols that it has
adopted. The 3G services have an IP-based structure, and with this in place it is easier to migrate to
the 3G standards such as UMTS/W-CDMA.
GPRS network structure
In order for the GPRS network structure to provide a packet-based service, the core network
structure has to be upgraded from what is used for GSM. The network between the BSC and BTS
is similar, but behind this, new infrastructure is required ...