Updated February 27, 2023
Difference Between GSM vs GPRS
GSM vs GPRS, A standard with all the protocols for second-generation mobile networks is called Global System for Mobile communications or GSM. It was developed by European Telecommunications Standard Institute that came into existence in 1991. All the data pass through GSM where it is compressed and send to the useful channels. The architecture that works as a network to allow passage of data is called GPRS Architecture. It has settings for packet data at a faster rate of 171 kbps. Multiple users can enter the network and use the resources judiciously. Involved from GPS, General Packet Radio Service provides packet service in 2G or 3G mobile data services.
Head to Head Comparison Between GSM vs GPRS (Infographics)
Below are the top 14 Comparisons between GSM and GPRS:
Key Differences of GSM vs GPRS
Let us study some important key differences between GSM and GPRS:
- 2G mobile services including all the basics come under GSM where it is handled and the data is separated into two different streams to connect and collect information. Mobile phones are connected all over the world through GSM. GPRS is involving internet data into GSM and handling it through the details of GSM. With the internet, mobiles can communicate with each other through GPRS in GSM.
- Traffic and signaling have different standards in GSM and GPRS. 26 frame MF and 51 frames MF is used respectively for traffic and signaling in GSM. One multiframe is a single unit and the multi frames are located all over in GSM structure. While in GPRS, there is only one multiframe used and this is 52 frame MF throughout the whole structure.
- Through user equipment, the user communicates to the network and this helps to understand the needs of the user. GSM user equipment has only two states in the communication and they are idle and ready. GPRS user equipment has three states such as idle, ready, and standby. These states are dependent on the location and help the network to trace its location by the states. When the location is known only at the RA level, the state is standby and when it is known at the network and cell level, it is in a ready state. When the location is not used or not modified, then the state is idle.
- Resource allocation in GSM is symmetric and in GPRS it is asymmetric. Because, in GSM time slot is allocated in both uplink and downlink whereas, in GPRS, it is only in the downlink. Communication from the ground to the satellite is called uplink and from satellite to the ground is called the downlink. Symmetric communication happens when both uplink and downlink are involved in communication.
- While considering the communication rates in both networks, GPRS offers cheap data charges than GSM. GSM allows only short messages for communication while GPRS has the provision of instant messages and email to send longer messages and to manage the services so that the charges are lesser when compared with the other.
- Connectivity is offered in GPRS in a continuity mode. As GPRS can be used wherever there is GSM, it provides connectivity to both GPRS and GSM. But GSM offers connectivity only when there is a GSM network. GPRS is an upgrading of GSM and can be used for all the applications of GSM as well as its applications.
Comparison Table of GSM vs GPRS
Below is the comparison table:
| GSM | GPRS |
| The frequency bands used in the system are 900 MHz and 1800 MHz that helps to identify the communication channels and manage the protocols associated. | There are 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz to manage the system frequency and to support the communication. 850 and 1900 MHz is used in America and other frequencies in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the middle east. |
| GSM is good at controlling circuit switching traffic and manages all the circuits in the network to control the traffic of the mobile devices. | GPRS is good at handling packets and even the data is transferred in the form of packets. Hence, the traffic is also controlled as packets and manages the packets in the network of GPRS. |
| The location area concept is used so that the mobiles are traced and communicated with a location within the GSM network. | The routing area concept is used as the data is transferred as packets and these are used in the communication of the mobile devices. |
| It takes a long time to connect with any network through GSM as it has circuit switching and manages it through the symmetric mode of transmission. The data transmission is monitored and managed through circuits in the network. | A network connection is done faster in the system as packet data is used in GPRS. Data transmission through packets makes the system to manage the data and send messages in the asymmetric mode of transmission. The maximum speed is 114 kbps. |
| Internet service is not provided in GSM and this makes communication harder in the system. Communication has to be done through messages or calls. | Internet services are provided in GPRS and this is done with wireless systems. Hence the internet can be used even in remote areas and communication is done through emails or other messaging services with the internet. |
| GSM does not have GPRS incorporated in the system and hence it need not manage other services when GSM is in use. This makes communication simple. | GPRS incorporates GSM in the network but the communication is made simple by allowing GSM services even when the user is using GPRS services. Thus, GPRS modifies the GSM network. |
| GSM is used in almost all countries and remote areas. Hence, GSM provides its service to the fullest to the users. | GPRS services cannot be offered in all the countries and remote areas. This makes GPRS confined to developed areas with a proper network connection. |
| Single time slots are allowed per user in the system. | Multiple time slots are allowed to the user in the system and this makes the user use different applications at a time. |
Conclusion
GSM and GPRS are used in many new technologies including IoT and Artificial Intelligence so that communication and traffic control can be managed and understood well by those who use them on a daily basis. Also, new technologies incorporate methods to use them to the full potential.
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This is a guide to GSM vs GPRS. Here we discuss the difference between GSM vs GPRS, a;png with the Key differences, and the top comparisons. You can also go through our other related articles to learn more –
