SS7 Protocols for GSM

Length: 4.5 days

Overview

Description: The SS7 Protocols course provides an in-depth look at the structure and supporting documents of this widely-deployed signaling protocol.  A thorough understanding of its structure, use and deployment is essential to anyone operating, managing or maintaining today’s complex telephony network.  Emphasis is placed on underlying documentation that supports the protocol’s structure and use in trunk setup and the GSM application service.

Course Outline

CCS Architecture

  • Network nodes
  • Link configurations
  • Low-speed and high-speed links
  • Interconnection issues
  • Support systems
  • Introduction to the SS7 protocol

SS7 Protocol – MTP

  • Supporting documentation
  • Signal Unit structure
  • Data Link layer
  • Link layer
  • Network layer
    • Routing and SLS
  • Network Management
    • Link Management
    • Route Management
    • Traffic Management
    • Congestion control

SS7 Protocol – ISDN-UP

  • Supporting Documentation
  • Structure of ISDN-UP
  • Messages used by ISDN-UP
  • Trunk maintenance
  • Sample call flow scenarios

SS7 Protocol – SCCP

  • Supporting Documentation
  • Connectionless and connection-oriented services used
  • SCCP in GSM Networks
  • Structure of SCCP
  • Global Title Translation
  • Global Title routing
  • Signaling on the A-Interface
  • BSSMAP and DTAP

SS7 Protocol – ITU-T TCAP

  • Supporting Documentation
  • Structure of ITU-T TCAP
  • TCAP Services
  • TCAP Forms
  • Local and Global Reference

GSM Application

  • Architecture Overview
  • GSM Identities and numbering
  • 3GPP Standards
  • GSM MAP Specifications Document
  • GSM MAP Operations
  • GSM MAP Parameters
  • Handovers
  • Call flow scenarios

Many exercises, including hands-on, are provided throughout the course, reinforcing a practical understanding of the material.  This gives the student practice in analyzing the SS7 protocol and understanding how the data being sent and received is used.

What You Will Learn

This course will give the student the structure of the protocol down to the binary level.  Emphasis is placed on giving the student the ability to isolate and sectionalize troubleshooting in the Common Channel Signaling (CCS) network.  There is also a thorough examination of GSM services that are deployed today and how the network and the SS7 protocol support those services.

Who Will Benefit From This Course

This course will be an invaluable tool for those individuals responsible for maintenance and surveillance of the voice or signaling network.  This is especially true for personnel working in a control center environment such as the NOC, INAC, ESAC, etc.  Anyone responsible for maintaining services on the intelligent network platform would also benefit.  Others would include network or traffic engineers, technical support and interconnection specialists.

Course Prerequisites

A basic knowledge of telephony and signaling would be helpful, but not essential.

Instructors

All of our instructors have years of experience developing and teaching technical courses at Telcordia Technologies (Bellcore) Learning Services in Lisle, IL.  They are all SS7 certified and CompTIA CTT+ Certified Professionals.

* This course is provided through special agreement with Telecom Training Associates, Inc.