Implementing a quality GSM radio system

Cellnet are implementing a GSM system in the UK. It is the radio interface that poses the largest potential threat to the speech quality perceived by the GSM subscriber if not designed properly. Cellnet have a test and measurement programme which involves theoretical and field trial studies of the GSM radio design variables. This will enable a high quality implementation of the GSM radio system. The first step in this process is to link subjective speech quality with known radio interface parameters. Field analysis then allows the `on the ground´ speech quality to be logged against C/N and C/I. There are then a number of enhancements to the basic radio design that can be explored. In particular slow frequency hopping and diversity offer distinct quality improvements