ANR
Automatic Neighbor Relation (ANR) is a procedure for a cell to detect neighboring cells. A cell performs ANR by instructing UEs to detect and measure the cells around them and report back their results.
Further reading: https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Handbook_LTE_ANR.html
GSM
The oldest cell network still widely used, AKA 2G. Only supports calling/texting, but in 2.5G data was introduced.
3G
Improved on GSM by having faster data rates and some improved security. AKA UMTS or CDMA2000.
BCCH
Broadcast Control Channel
DCCH
Dedicated Control Channel
SCH
Shared Channel
MBMS
Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service
PCCH
Paging Control Channel
LTE
Long-Term Evolution standard. Offers significant improvements to 3G in security and performance. AKA 4G or WiMax.
5G
Next-generation standard, aka 5G New Radio.
LAC
In GSM , Location Area Codes are IDs given to individual Location Areas.
TAC
In 4G, Tracking Area Codes are IDs given to individual Tracking Areas.
EARFCN
E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number is a carrier frequency identifier ranging from 0-65535. Each EARFCN uniquely identifies an LTE band and carrier frequency.
Further reading:
PCI
Physical Cell ID is an identifier for LTE cells. The ID is designed to allow UEs differentiate between neighboring cells, minimize interference between them, and are assigned by network operators in a way to prevent collisions.
In LTE, the PCI is a 9 bit value from 0-503, and in 5G it's a 24 bit value from 0 to 1007.
Further reading:
Paging
Paging is the mechanism for a network to send data to a UE .
Further reading:
RACH
Random Access Channel is the first message from UE to eNB when you power it on.
Further reading:
RAN
The cellular radio access network (RAN) refers to the wireless portion of the network that connects the mobile phones to the core network through cells.
from [1]
eNodeB
Base stations are called eNodeB in LTE.
RRC
Radio Resource Control manages the connection between a phone and a base station (eNodeB ) [1]
NAS
Non-Access Stratum manages the connection between a phone and the core network's MME . [1]
MME
Mobile Management Entity manages mobility management and user authentication in 4G LTE [1].
IMSI
International Mobile Subscriber Identity, connected w/ a user's SIM card
IMEI
International Mobile Equipment Identity, correlated w/ a mobile device
TMSI
Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity, a more temporary type of IMSI generated by UEs
CGI
Cell Global Identity
MCC
Mobile Country Code
MNC
Mobile Network Code
SIB
System Information Blocks (SIB) are data sent by cells containing tons of different of information relevant to the UE . There's 13 types of SIBs in LTE , each with different purposes and payloads. They contain cell and administrative area identifiers, MCC and MNC , and radio channel info required for the phones to connect to the network [1].
Further reading:
- https://cafetele.com/system-information-block-lte/
- https://www.sharetechnote.com/html/Handbook_LTE_SIB.html
SINR
Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio = (S / (N + I))
RSRP
Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP). See https://www.cablefree.net/wirelesstechnology/4glte/rsrp-rsrq-measurement-lte/
RSSI
Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI). See https://www.cablefree.net/wirelesstechnology/4glte/rsrp-rsrq-measurement-lte/
RSRQ
Reference Signal Received Quality. See https://www.cablefree.net/wirelesstechnology/4glte/rsrp-rsrq-measurement-lte/
UE
User Equipment (UE) refers to a mobile device, such as a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or other wireless device that's used to access the network (https://inseego.com/resources/5g-glossary/what-is-ue/). Uniquely identified with an IMSI and IMEI .