Editing GPRS

{{Short description|Packet oriented mobile data service on 2G and 3G}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023|cs1-dates=y}}

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[[File:GPRS symbol One UI.png|thumb|GPRS sign shown in notification bar of a [[Samsung Galaxy]] smartphone]]
{{List of mobile phone generations}}
'''General Packet Radio Service''' ('''GPRS'''), also called '''2.5G''', is a [[mobile data]] standard on the [[2G]] [[cellular communication]] network's [[Global System for Mobile Communications|global system for mobile communications]] (GSM).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) 2G, 3G or 4G? – Commsbrief |url=https://commsbrief.com/is-general-packet-radio-service-gprs-in-gsm-2g-3g-or-4g/ |access-date=2023-07-16 |language=en-US}}</ref> Networks and mobile devices with GPRS started to roll out around the year 2001;<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-05-18 |title=Q&A: GPRS phones |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1338172.stm |access-date=2023-07-16 |language=en-GB}}</ref> it offered, for the first time on GSM networks, seamless data transmission using [[Packet switching|packet data]] for an "always-on" connection (eliminating the need to "dial-up"),<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-03-23 |title=Industry's mobile hopes |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1237079.stm |access-date=2024-06-18 |language=en-GB}}</ref> so providing improved [[Internet access]] for [[World Wide Web|web]], [[email]], [[Wireless Application Protocol|WAP]] services, [[Multimedia Messaging Service]] (MMS) and others.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-05-18 |title=Q&A: GPRS phones |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1338172.stm |access-date=2024-06-18 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Up until the rollout of GPRS, only [[circuit switched]] data was used in cellular networks, meaning that one or more radio channels were occupied for the entire duration of a data connection. On the other hand, on GPRS networks, data is broken into small packets and transmitted through available channels.<ref>https://www.solartradesales.co.uk/Cache/Downloads/Sunny-Webbox-GSM-information.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=May 2025}}</ref> This increased efficiency also gives it theoretical data rates of 56–114&nbsp;[[Kilobit|kbit]]/s,<ref>{{Cite web |title=General packet radio service from Qkport |url=http://about.qkport.com/g/general_packet_radio_service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128100744/http://about.qkport.com/g/general_packet_radio_service |archive-date=2010-01-28 |access-date=2009-12-14}}</ref> significantly faster than the preceding [[Circuit Switched Data]] (CSD) technology. GPRS was succeeded by [[Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]] ("2.75G") which provided improved performance and speeds on the 2G GSM system.

== Technical overview ==
{{See also|GPRS Core Network}}
The GPRS core network allows [[2G]], [[3G]] and [[WCDMA]] [[mobile telephony|mobile networks]] to transmit [[Internet Protocol|IP packets]] to external networks such as the [[Internet]]. The GPRS system is an integrated part of the [[GSM]] [[network switching subsystem]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)? Meaning, Working, Advantages, and Applications |url=https://www.spiceworks.com/tech/networking/articles/what-is-gprs/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Spiceworks |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Bhandari">{{Cite web |author=Sandeep Bhandari |date=2021-09-17 |title=Difference Between GSM and GPRS |website=askanydifference.com |url=https://askanydifference.com/difference-between-gsm-and-gprs-with-table/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=4G vs GPRS: What is the difference between 4G LTE and GPRS? |website=Commsbrief |url=https://commsbrief.com/4g-vs-gprs-what-is-the-difference-between-4g-lte-and-gprs/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>

GPRS is a [[best-effort service]], implying variable [[throughput]] and [[latency (engineering)|latency]] that depend on the number of other users sharing the service concurrently, as opposed to [[circuit switching]], where a certain [[quality of service]] (QoS) is guaranteed during the connection. It uses unused [[time-division multiple access]] (TDMA) channels in the GSM system for efficiency. Unlike older circuit switching data, GPRS was sold according to the total volume of data transferred instead of time spent online,<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC - Bristol - Digital Future - WAP gets a rocket |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/digitalfuture/2002/02/06/gprs.shtml |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> which is now standard. 

=== Services offered ===
[[File:SonyEricssonK310-GPRS-Wikipedia.jpg|thumb|Sony Ericsson K310a showing [[Wikipedia]]'s [[homepage]] on the Internet transmitted using a GPRS connection]]
GPRS extends the GSM Packet circuit switched data capabilities and makes the following services possible:
* SMS messaging and broadcasting
* "Always on" internet access
* Multimedia messaging service (MMS)
* Push-to-talk over cellular (PoC)
* Instant messaging and presence—wireless village
* Internet applications for smart devices through wireless application protocol (WAP)
* Point-to-point (P2P) service: inter-networking with the Internet (IP)
* Point-to-multipoint (P2M) service: point-to-multipoint multicast and point-to-multipoint group calls

If SMS over GPRS is used, an SMS transmission speed of about 30 SMS messages per minute may be achieved. This is much faster than using the ordinary SMS over GSM, whose SMS transmission speed is about 6 to 10 SMS messages per minute.

=== Frequencies ===
As the GPRS standard is an extension of GSM capabilities, the service operates on the [[2G]] and [[3G]] [[cellular communication]] GSM frequencies.<ref name=Bhandari/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Ofcom UK Frequency Allocation (UKFAT) Page |website=static.ofcom.org.uk |url=http://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/spectrum/fat.html |access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref> GPRS devices can typically use (one or more) of the frequencies within one of the frequency bands the radio supports (850, 900, 1800, 1900&nbsp;MHz). Depending on the device, location and intended use, regulations may be imposed either restricting or explicitly specifying authorised frequency bands.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-07 |title=What frequency does the data traffic use in GPRS? |website=Honeywell AIDC |url=https://support.honeywellaidc.com/s/article/What-frequency-does-the-data-traffic-use-in-GPRS |publisher=Honeywell |access-date=2023-05-01  |archive-date=2023-05-01  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501041408/https://support.honeywellaidc.com/s/article/What-frequency-does-the-data-traffic-use-in-GPRS |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Spectrum Assignments by Country |website=CellMapper Wiki |url=https://docs.cellmapper.net/mw/Mobile_Spectrum_Assignments_by_Country |access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref>

GSM-850 and GSM-1900 are used in the United States, Canada, and many other countries in the Americas. GSM-900 and GSM-1800 are used in: Europe, Middle East, Africa and most of Asia. In South Americas these bands are used in Costa Rica (GSM-1800), Brazil (GSM-850, 900 and 1800), Guatemala (GSM-850, GSM-900 and 1900), El Salvador (GSM-850, GSM-900 and 1900). There is a more comprehensive record of [https://docs.cellmapper.net/mw/Mobile_Spectrum_Assignments_by_Country international cellular service frequency assignments]

=== Protocols supported ===
GPRS supports the following protocols:
* [[Internet Protocol]] (IP). In practice, built-in [[mobile browser]]s use [[IPv4]] before [[IPv6]] is widespread.
* [[Point-to-Point Protocol]] (PPP) is typically not supported by [[mobile phone operator]]s but if a cellular phone is used as a [[modem]] for a connected computer, PPP may be used to tunnel IP to the phone. This allows an IP address to be dynamically assigned (using [[Internet Protocol Control Protocol|IPCP]] rather than [[Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol|DHCP]]) to the mobile equipment.
* [[X.25]] connections are typically used for applications like wireless payment terminals, although it has been removed from the standard. X.25 can still be supported over PPP, or even over  IP, but this requires either a network-based [[Router (computing)|router]] to perform encapsulation or software built into the end-device/terminal; e.g., user equipment (UE).

When [[Internet protocol suite|TCP/IP]] is used, each phone can have one or more [[IP address]]es allocated. GPRS will store and forward the IP packets to the phone even during [[handover]]. The TCP restores any packets lost (e.g. due to a radio noise induced pause).

=== Hardware ===
Devices supporting GPRS are grouped into three classes:
;Class A: Can be connected to GPRS service and GSM service (voice, SMS) simultaneously. Such devices are now available{{as of?|date=June 2018}}.
;Class B: Can be connected to GPRS service and GSM service (voice, SMS), but using only one at a time. During GSM service (voice call or SMS), GPRS service is suspended and resumed automatically after the GSM service (voice call or SMS) has concluded. Most GPRS mobile devices are Class B.
;Class C: Are connected to either GPRS service or GSM service (voice, SMS) and must be switched manually between one service and the other.

Because a Class A device must service GPRS and GSM networks together, it effectively needs two radios. To avoid this hardware requirement, a GPRS mobile device may implement the [[Dual Transfer Mode|dual transfer mode (DTM)]] feature. A DTM-capable mobile can handle both GSM packets and GPRS packets with network coordination to ensure both types are not transmitted at the same time. Such devices are considered pseudo-Class A, sometimes referred to as "simple class A". Some networks have supported DTM since 2007{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}.

[[Image:Huawei E220 (Three).jpg|right|thumb|[[Huawei E220]] 3G/GPRS Modem]]
[[File:Wireless GPRS Modem.jpg|thumb|A [[PC Card]] GPRS modem for use with a notebook computer]]
USB 3G/GPRS modems have a [[terminal software|terminal]]-like interface over [[USB]] with [[V.42bis]], and {{IETF RFC|1144}} data formats. Some models include an external [[antenna (radio)|antenna]] connector. Modem cards for laptop PCs, or external USB modems are available, similar in shape and size to a [[computer mouse]], or a [[pendrive]].

=== Addressing ===
A GPRS connection is established by reference to its [[Access Point Name|access point name]] (APN). The APN defines the services such as [[Wireless Application Protocol|wireless application protocol]] (WAP)
access, [[Short Message Service|short message service]] (SMS), [[Multimedia Messaging Service|multimedia messaging service]] (MMS), and for [[Internet]] communication services such as [[email]] and [[World Wide Web]] access.

In order to set up a GPRS connection for a [[Mobile broadband modem|wireless modem]], a user must specify an APN, optionally a user name and password, and very rarely an [[IP address]], provided by the network operator.

=== GPRS modems and modules ===
GSM module or GPRS modules are similar to modems, but there's one difference: the modem is an external piece of equipment, whereas the GSM module or GPRS module can be integrated within an electrical or electronic equipment. It is an embedded piece of hardware. A GSM mobile, on the other hand, is a complete embedded system in itself. It comes with embedded processors dedicated to provide a functional interface between the user and the mobile network.

== Coding schemes and speeds ==
The upload and download speeds that can be achieved in GPRS depend on a number of factors such as:

* the number of [[Base Transceiver Station|BTS]] TDMA time slots assigned by the operator
* the channel encoding used.
* the maximum capability of the mobile device expressed as a [[Multislot Class|GPRS multislot class]]

=== Multiple access schemes ===
The [[multiple access method]]s used in GSM with GPRS are based on [[frequency-division duplex]] (FDD) and TDMA. During a session, a user is assigned to one pair of up-link and down-link frequency channels. This is combined with time domain [[statistical multiplexing]] which makes it possible for several users to share the same frequency channel. The '''packets''' have constant length, corresponding to a GSM time slot. The down-link uses [[first-come first-served]] packet scheduling, while the up-link uses a scheme very similar to [[reservation ALOHA]] (R-ALOHA). This means that [[slotted ALOHA]] (S-ALOHA) is used for reservation inquiries during a contention phase, and then the actual data is transferred using [[dynamic TDMA]] with first-come first-served.

=== Channel encoding ===
The channel encoding process in GPRS consists of two steps: first, a cyclic code is used to add parity bits, which are also referred to as the Block Check Sequence, followed by coding with a possibly punctured [[convolutional code]].<ref name="TS45001">{{cite web |url=http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/45001.htm |title=3GGP TS45.001: Technical Specification Group GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network; Physical layer on the radio path; General description |author=3rd Generation Partnership Project |version=12.1.0 |date=November 2014 |access-date=2015-12-05}}</ref> The Coding Schemes CS-1 to CS-4 specify the number of parity bits generated by the cyclic code and the puncturing rate of the convolutional code.<ref name="TS45001"/> In Coding Schemes CS-1 through CS-3, the convolutional code is of rate 1/2, i.e. each input bit is converted into two coded bits.<ref name="TS45001"/> In Coding Schemes CS-2 and CS-3, the output of the convolutional code is [[punctured code|punctured]] to achieve the desired code rate.<ref name="TS45001"/> In Coding Scheme CS-4, no convolutional coding is applied.<ref name="TS45001"/> The following table summarises the options.

{| class="wikitable" align=center
! GPRS<br />Coding scheme
! Bitrate including RLC/MAC overhead{{efn|name=gross|This is rate at which the RLC/MAC layer [[protocol data unit]] (PDU) (called a radio block) is transmitted. As shown in TS 44.060 section 10.0a.1,<ref name="TS44060-section-10.0a.1">{{cite web |url=http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/45001.htm |title=3GGP TS45.001: Technical Specification Group GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network; Mobile Station (MS) - Base Station System (BSS) interface; Radio Link Control / Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) protocol; section 10.0a.1 - GPRS RLC/MAC block for data transfer |author=3rd Generation Partnership Project |version=12.5.0 |date=June 2015 |access-date=2015-12-05}}</ref> a radio block consists of MAC header, RLC header, RLC data unit and spare bits. The RLC data unit represents the payload, the rest is overhead. The radio block is coded by the convolutional code specified for a particular Coding Scheme, which yields the same PHY layer data rate for all Coding Schemes.}}{{efn|name=usf|Cited in various sources, e.g. in TS 45.001 table 1.<ref name="TS45001"/> is the bitrate including the RLC/MAC headers, but excluding the uplink state flag (USF), which is part of the MAC header,<ref name="TS44060-section-10.2.1">{{cite web |url=http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/45001.htm |title=3GGP TS45.001: Technical Specification Group GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network; Mobile Station (MS) - Base Station System (BSS) interface; Radio Link Control / Medium Access Control (RLC/MAC) protocol; section 10.2.1 - Downlink RLC data block |author=3rd Generation Partnership Project |version=12.5.0 |date=June 2015 |access-date=2015-12-05}}</ref> yielding a bitrate that is 0.15 kbit/s lower.}}<br />(kbit/s/slot)
! Bitrate excluding RLC/MAC overhead{{efn|name=net|The net bitrate here is the rate at which the RLC/MAC layer payload (the RLC data unit) is transmitted. As such, this bit rate excludes the header overhead from the RLC/MAC layers.}}<br />(kbit/s/slot)
! [[Modulation]]
! Code rate
|- align=center
| CS-1
| 9.20
| 8.00
| GMSK
| 1/2
|- align=center
| CS-2
| 13.55
| 12.00
| GMSK
| ≈2/3
|- align=center
| CS-3
| 15.75
| 14.40
| GMSK
| ≈3/4
|- align=center
| CS-4
| 21.55
| 20.00
| GMSK
| 1
|}

{{notelist}}

The least robust, but fastest, coding scheme (CS-4) is available near a [[Base Transceiver Station|base transceiver station]] (BTS), while the most robust coding scheme (CS-1) is used when the mobile station (MS) is further away from a BTS.

Using the CS-4 it is possible to achieve a user speed of 20.0&nbsp;kbit/s per time slot. However, using this scheme the cell coverage is 25% of normal. CS-1 can achieve a user speed of only 8.0&nbsp;kbit/s per time slot, but has 98% of normal coverage. Newer network equipment can adapt the transfer speed automatically depending on the mobile location.

In addition to GPRS, there are two other GSM technologies which deliver data services: [[Circuit Switched Data|circuit-switched data]] (CSD) and [[high-speed circuit-switched data]] (HSCSD). In contrast to the shared nature of GPRS, these instead establish a dedicated circuit (usually billed per minute). Some applications such as [[video calling]] may prefer HSCSD, especially when there is a continuous flow of data between the endpoints.

The following table summarises some possible configurations of GPRS and circuit switched data services.

:{| class="wikitable" align=center
! Technology
! Download (kbit/s)
! Upload (kbit/s)
! TDMA timeslots allocated (DL+UL)
|- style="text-align:center;"
| CSD
| 9.6
| 9.6
| 1+1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| HSCSD
| 28.8
| 14.4
| 2+1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| HSCSD
| 43.2
| 14.4
| 3+1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| GPRS
| 85.6
| 21.4 (Class 8 & 10 and CS-4)
| 4+1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| GPRS
| 64.2
| 42.8 (Class 10 and CS-4)
| 3+2
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[EGPRS]] (EDGE)
| 236.8
| 59.2 (Class 8, 10 and MCS-9)
| 4+1
|- style="text-align:center;"
| [[EGPRS]] (EDGE)
| 177.6
| 118.4 (Class 10 and MCS-9)
| 3+2
|}

=== Multislot Class ===
The multislot class determines the speed of data transfer available in the [[Uplink]] and [[Downlink]] directions. It is a value between 1 and 45 which the network uses to allocate radio channels in the uplink and downlink direction. Multislot class with values greater than 31 are referred to as high multislot classes.

A multislot allocation is represented as, for example, 5+2. The first number is the number of downlink timeslots and the second is the number of uplink timeslots allocated for use by the mobile station. A commonly used value is class 10 for many GPRS/EGPRS mobiles which uses a maximum of 4 timeslots in downlink direction and 2 timeslots in uplink direction. However simultaneously a maximum number of 5 simultaneous timeslots can be used in both uplink and downlink. The network will automatically configure for either 3+2 or 4+1 operation depending on the nature of data transfer.

Some high end mobiles, usually also supporting [[UMTS]], also support GPRS/[[EDGE (telecommunication)|EDGE]] multislot class 32. According to [[3GPP]] TS 45.002 (Release 12), Table B.1,<ref name="TS45002">{{cite web |url=http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/html-info/45002.htm |title=3GGP TS45.002: Technical Specification Group GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network; Multiplexing and multiple access on the radio path (Release 12) |version=12.4.0 |author=3rd Generation Partnership Project |date=March 2015 |access-date=2015-12-05}}</ref> mobile stations of this class support 5 timeslots in downlink and 3 timeslots in uplink with a maximum number of 6 simultaneously used timeslots. If data traffic is concentrated in downlink direction the network will configure the connection for 5+1 operation. When more data is transferred in the uplink the network can at any time change the constellation to 4+2 or 3+3. Under the best reception conditions, i.e. when the best EDGE [[modulation and coding scheme]] can be used, 5 timeslots can carry a bandwidth of 5*59.2&nbsp;kbit/s = 296&nbsp;kbit/s. In uplink direction, 3 timeslots can carry a bandwidth of 3*59.2&nbsp;kbit/s = 177.6&nbsp;kbit/s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mobilesociety.typepad.com/mobile_life/2007/04/gprs_and_edge_m.html |title=GPRS and EDGE Multislot Classes |access-date=2010-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127153600/http://mobilesociety.typepad.com/mobile_life/2007/04/gprs_and_edge_m.html |archive-date=2010-11-27 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Multislot Classes for GPRS/EGPRS ====
:{| class="wikitable"
! Multislot Class
! Downlink TS
! Uplink TS
! Active TS
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 2
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 2
| 2
| 1
| 3
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 3
| 2
| 2
| 3
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 4
| 3
| 1
| 4
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 5
| 2
| 2
| 4
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 6
| 3
| 2
| 4
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 7
| 3
| 3
| 4
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 8
| 4
| 1
| 5
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 9
| 3
| 2
| 5
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 10
| 4
| 2
| 5
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 11
| 4
| 3
| 5
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 12
| 4
| 4
| 5
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 30
| 5
| 1
| 6
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 31
| 5
| 2
| 6
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 32
| 5
| 3
| 6
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 33
| 5
| 4
| 6
|- style="text-align:center;"
| 34
| 5
| 5
| 6
|}

==== Attributes of a multislot class ====
Each multislot class identifies the following:
* the maximum number of Timeslots that can be allocated on uplink
* the maximum number of Timeslots that can be allocated on downlink
* the total number of timeslots which can be allocated by the network to the mobile
* the time needed for the MS to perform adjacent cell signal level measurement and get ready to transmit
* the time needed for the MS to get ready to transmit
* the time needed for the MS to perform adjacent cell signal level measurement and get ready to receive
* the time needed for the MS to get ready to receive.

The different multislot class specification is detailed in the Annex B of the 3GPP Technical Specification 45.002 (Multiplexing and multiple access on the radio path)

== Usability ==
The maximum speed of a GPRS connection offered in 2003 was similar to a [[modem]] connection in an analog wire telephone network, about 32–40&nbsp;kbit/s, depending on the phone used. [[Latency (engineering)|Latency]] is very high; round-trip time (RTT) is typically about 600–700 ms and often reaches 1s. GPRS is typically prioritized lower than speech, and thus the quality of connection varies greatly.

Devices with latency/RTT improvements (via, for example, the extended UL TBF mode feature) are generally available. Also, network upgrades of features are available with certain operators. With these enhancements the active round-trip time can be reduced, resulting in significant increase in application-level throughput speeds.

== History ==
GSM was designed for voice, not data. It did not provide direct access to the Internet and it had a limited capacity of 9600 bauds per second.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~lewis/teaching/Tik-111.htm | title=Tik-111 }}</ref> The limitations of [[Circuit Switched Data]] (CSD) also included higher costs. GPRS opened in 2000<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1UW7Y6zj17wC&dq=gprs+2000&pg=PA32 | title=Internet Management Issues: A Global Perspective: A Global Perspective | isbn=9781591400158 | last1=Haynes | first1=John D. | date=July 2001 | publisher=Idea Group Inc (IGI) }}</ref> as a packet-switched data service embedded in the channel-switched cellular radio network [[GSM]]. GPRS extends the reach of the fixed Internet by connecting mobile terminals worldwide.

GPRS was established by [[European Telecommunications Standards Institute]] (ETSI) in response to the earlier [[CDPD]] and [[i-mode]] packet-switched cellular technologies and is integrated into GSM Release 97 and newer releases. It is now maintained by the [[3rd Generation Partnership Project]] (3GPP).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to the World of Standards! |url=https://www.etsi.org/index.php |website=ETSI}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=3GPP – The Mobile Broadband Standard |url=https://www.3gpp.org/ |website=3GPP}}</ref>

{{anchor|CELLPAC}}The CELLPAC<ref name="Walke-Mende-Hatziliadis_1991" /> protocol developed 1991–1993 was the trigger point for starting in 1993 the specification of standard GPRS by ETSI [http://www.gsma.com/aboutus/history SMG]. Especially, the CELLPAC Voice & Data functions introduced in a 1993 ETSI Workshop contribution<ref name="Decker-Walke_1993" /> anticipate what was later known to be the roots of GPRS. This workshop contribution is referenced in 22 GPRS-related US patents.<ref>Program “Publish or Perish”, see [http://www.harzing.com/pop.htm] returns to a search for P. Decker, B. Walke, their most cited paper that unveils US patents referencing that paper.</ref> Successor systems to GSM/GPRS like W-CDMA ([[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]]) and [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] rely on key GPRS functions for mobile Internet access as introduced by CELLPAC.

According to a study on history of GPRS development,<ref name="Walke_2013"/> [[Bernhard Walke]] and his student Peter Decker are the inventors of GPRS&nbsp;— the first system providing worldwide mobile Internet access.

== Enhanced GPRS ==
{{excerpt|Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution|template=-List of mobile phone generations}}

== See also ==
* [[Code-division multiple access]] (CDMA)
* [[GPRS core network]]
* [[High Speed Packet Access]] (HSDPA)
* [[IP Multimedia Subsystem]]
* [[List of interface bit rates]]
* [[SNDCP|Sub-network dependent convergence protocol]] (SNDCP)
* [[UMTS]]

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Walke-Mende-Hatziliadis_1991">{{cite conference |author-first1=Bernhard H. |author-last1=Walke |author-link1=Bernhard Walke |author-first2=Wolf |author-last2=Mende |author-first3=Georgios |author-last3=Hatziliadis |title=CELLPAC: A Packet Radio Protocol Applied to the Cellular GSM Mobile Radio Network |conference=Proceedings of 41st IEEE Vehicular Technology Conference |date=19–22 May 1991 |pages=408–413 |isbn=0-87942-582-2 |issn=1090-3038 |doi=10.1109/VETEC.1991.140520 |publisher=[[IEEE]] |publication-place=St. Louis, Missouri, USA |url=http://www.comnets.rwth-aachen.de/downloads/publications/1991WaMeHacellpac.pdf |access-date=2021-11-27 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117195241/http://www.comnets.rwth-aachen.de/downloads/publications/1991WaMeHacellpac.pdf |archive-date=2021-11-17}} (6 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Decker-Walke_1993">{{cite conference |author-first1=Peter |author-last1=Decker |author-first2=Bernhard H. |author-last2=Walke |author-link2=Bernhard H. Walke |title=A General Packet Radio Service proposed for GSM |conference=ETSI SMG Workshop "GSM in a Future Competitive Environment" |location=Helsinki, Finland |date=1993-10-13 |pages=1–20 |url=http://www.comnets.rwth-aachen.de/downloads/publications/DeWaETSIHelsinki93.pdf |access-date=2021-11-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918230645/http://www.comnets.rwth-aachen.de/downloads/publications/DeWaETSIHelsinki93.pdf |archive-date=2021-09-18}} (11 pages)</ref>
<ref name="Walke_2013">{{cite journal |author-first=Bernhard H. |author-last=Walke |author-link=Bernhard H. Walke |title=The Roots of GPRS: The First System for Mobile Packet-Based Global Internet Access |journal=[[IEEE Wireless Communications]] |publisher=[[ComNets Research Group]] |date=October 2013 |location=Aachen, Germany |pages=12–23 |url=http://www.comnets.rwth-aachen.de/downloads/publications/Roots_of_GPRS_final.pdf |access-date=2021-11-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918230659/http://www.comnets.rwth-aachen.de/downloads/publications/Roots_of_GPRS_final.pdf |archive-date=2021-09-18}} (19 pages)</ref>
}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.3gpp.org/FTP/Specs/archive/27_series/27.007/27007-841.zip 3GPP AT command set for user equipment (UE)]
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209213430/http://www.gprssecurity.com/ |date=February 9, 2008 |title=GPRS security information }}
* [http://www.telecomspace.com/datatech-gprs.html Free GPRS resources] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607080912/http://www.telecomspace.com/datatech-gprs.html |date=2010-06-07  }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050207090121/http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/gprs/intro.shtml GSM World, the trade association for GSM and GPRS network operators].
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010608033941/http://www.palowireless.com/gprs/ Palowireless GPRS resource center]
* [http://www.eventhelix.com/RealtimeMantra/Telecom/gprs_attach_pdp_sequence_diagram.pdf GPRS attach and PDP context activation sequence diagram] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100101083737/http://www.eventhelix.com/RealtimeMantra/Telecom/gprs_attach_pdp_sequence_diagram.pdf |date=2010-01-01  }}

{{Internet access}}
{{Mobile telecommunications standards}}

[[Category:3GPP standards]]
[[Category:ETSI]]
[[Category:Link protocols]]
[[Category:Telecommunications-related introductions in 1997]]

[[ja:GSM#GPRS]]