Difference between GSM and GPRS

GPRS is an upgraded basic feature of GSM technology, it allows mobile handsets to obtain much higher data speed than GSM. Here this article gives information about the difference between GSM and GPRS to know more details about it.

What is Global Positioning System(GSM)?

The Global system for mobile communication(GSM) is a worldwide, mobile communication is mostly supported by this technology.  Secondgeneration|(2G) digital mobile systems are represented by the GSM standard set, which was created by the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI). After the third generation(3G) UMTS standard, developed by the 3GPP was developed, The GSM standard was further developed.

What is General Packet Radio Service(GPRS)?

General packet radio service(GPRS) is a global positing system(GSM) features upgrade that provides substantially faster data speeds and easier wireless access to packet data networks than standard GSM. It is the one that sets the standard for 2.5 technology. It allows users to connect to the internet directly. Multimedia messaging services are one of its most well-known offerings (MMS). But only in established areas with strong network connections are GPRS services available.

Difference between GSM and GPRS

  1. Stands for: GSM is called a global system for mobile communication while GPRS stands for general packet radio services.
  2. Architecture: GSM is in general circuit switch architecture, and GPRS is in general packet switch architecture.
  3. Bit rate: GSM has a lower bit rate while GPRS is a higher bit rate.
  4. Data rate: In GSM data rates up to in the range of 9.6 kbps, GPRS data rates up to a range of 14.4 to 15.2 kbps.
  5. Service: GSM is a point-to-point service, GPRS is a multi-point service.
  6. Technology: GSM is a standard bearer of 2G technologies, and GPRS is the upgrade over the basic GSM features. It allows the mobile handset to obtain much higher data speed than what standard GSM can offer.
  7. Traffic: GSM is used for circuit-switching traffic while GPRS is used for packet-switching traffic.
  8. States: In GSM UE will be two states, i.e., idle as well as ready while in GPRS UE will be in three states called idle, ready and standby.
  9. Area: In GSM location area-based concept is used while In GPRS routing area-based concept is used.
  10. Time slot: In GSM time slot is allocated both in uplink and downlink. Due to these radio resource allocation in GSM is called a symmetric type while in GPRS radio resource allocation is asymmetric, for example, it is possible to allocate the time slot only in downlink not in up-link when a user is only downloading the file.
  11. Billing: GSM has time-based billing while GPRS has traffic-based billing.
  12. Bandwidth: GSM has reserved bandwidth, and GPRS has shared bandwidth.
  13. Resources: GSM is an inefficient use of resources while GPRS is an efficient use of resources.
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