Traffic performance analysis of multimedia applications in evolved GSM networks

This paper presents traffic performance results for different traffic mixes in cellular packet radio networks. These results are useful to estimate the radio capacity that is needed during the evolution of GSM networks towards third-generation (3G) mobile communication systems like GSM/EDGE Radio Access Networks (GERAN). First a traffic mix of applications based on the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and conventional Internet applications like WWW browsing and e-mail over the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) are regarded. In the next step traffic performance results for Streaming applications over GPRS and EGPRS are presented and the feasibility of Streaming with coexisting interactive and background applications like WWW and e-mail is examined. Simulation results for quality of service measures for the different applications and GPRS system measures are based on the simulation tool GPRSim that models the application and user behavior, the TCP/IP and WAP protocol architecture, the GPRS protocol architecture and the radio channel.