GPRS Full Form

GPRS Full Form

Edited By Team Careers360 | Updated on Mar 02, 2023 12:45 PM IST

What is the full form of GPRS?

GPRS, or General Packet Radio Service, is a wireless service that offers data transmission capabilities and is used to transfer data between two devices. It is a mobile data communication technology that was developed in the late 1990s and has been widely adopted in the modern world. GPRS is the most commonly used technology for wireless data transmission and is used for services such as email, web browsing, file sharing, VoIP, and more.

GPRS works by using packet switching to send data from the source device to the destination and is capable of providing speeds of up to 114 kbps. It is a great technology for businesses and consumers alike, as it provides fast and reliable data transmission. GPRS is also relatively inexpensive compared to other mobile data communication technologies.

History of GPRS

  • As a packet-switched data service integrated into the channel switched cellular radio network GSM, GPRS first appeared in the year 2000. GPRS links mobile terminals all across the world, extending the reach of the Fixed Internet.

  • The CELLPAC protocol, developed between 1991 and 1993, served as the fundamental impetus for ETSI SMG to start configuring standard GPRS in 1993. Particularly, the 1993 ETSI Workshop-dedicated CELLPAC Voice & Data features foreshadow what would later be known as GPRS origins.

  • 22 US patents for GPRS-related inventions mention workshop suggestions. For mobile Internet access, GSM/GPRS successor systems like W-CDMA (UMTS) and LTE, as implemented by CELLPAC, are dependent on crucial GPRS activities.

  • According to studies on the development of GPRS, Bernhard Walke and Peter Decker, who were the first to make the system accessible to mobile internet globally, are the creators of GPRS.

How does GPRS work

Since GPRS has made it easier to access packet data networks like the internet, it replaces wired connections. In order to transfer user data packets between GSM mobile stations and external packet data networks in a structured manner, GPRS uses the packet radio concept. From the GPRS mobile stations, these packets can be immediately sent to the packet-switched networks.

GPRS Technology Features

Depending on the sort of coding mechanism employed, it overlays over the current GSM network to offer high-speed data service. With GPRS, a data rate of up to 150 kbps is feasible. The GPRS technology may provide data speeds ranging from 14.4 kbps to 171.2 kbps, enabling convenient internet access. Both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint packet services are supported by GPRS. The GPRS system is layered on top of the current infrastructure, thus the operator need not upgrade any hardware. Networks based on GPRS have a lot of bandwidth.

Email, traffic, telemetry, communications, broadcast services, and web surfing are examples of bursty applications that GPRS is made to enable. GPRS provides a quick connection and is configured with a method that gives the impression that the connection is "always on." As a result, GPRS devices are known as "always connected gadgets." User authentication, user access control, user information confidentiality, and user identity security are among the security features offered by GPRS.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages: Where Internet connectivity is not easily available but the mobile network is, GPRS-enabled mobile phones serve as portable Internet connections for laptops. Remote areas can have GPRS connectivity, and using it to communicate is less expensive than using the conventional GSM network. You can also use GPRS to transmit messages more cheaply by using mobile email and instant messaging services.

Disadvantages: Most of the time, when the connection is active, calls and other network-related features cannot be performed since GPRS technology uses the cellular network's GSM frequency to carry the data. The data session will move into standby mode, which is a feature exclusive to Class B GPRS devices. Due to GPRS's technical constraints, most connections are slower than 56K connections on computers. Although some improvements have been made, the speed still cannot match that of a connected network connection or an alternate mobile Internet connection.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the services of GPRS?

The GPRS offers two different services: Point-to-point (PTP) and Point-to-multipoint (PTM).

2. How data routing is done in GPRS?

It directs the external data network protocol packet wrapped to the SGSN currently providing service to the MS across the GPRS backbone.

3. What Gross data rate does GPRS provide?

The data rate is per megabyte of traffic, GPRS offers a gross data rate per time slot of 22.80 KBPS whereas voice only consumes 13 KBPS each time slot.

4. Other advanced technology after GPRS in the real-time world?

GPRS download speed is 114 kbps and is a 2G technology, in real-time world, there are advanced networks like 3G, 4G and LTE.

5. How GPRS give quality service?

To ensure quality and accuracy, GPRS has employed SIM (Subsurface Investigation Methodology).

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