What are the functions of a mobile switching center in cellular telephone?

The Mobile Switching Center sets up and releases the end-to-end connection, handles mobility and hand-over requirements during the call and takes care of charging and real time pre-paid account monitoring.

In the GSM mobile phone system, in contrast with earlier analogue services, fax and data information is sent directly digitally encoded to the Mobile Switching Center. Only at the Mobile Switching Center is this re-coded into an "analogue" signal (although actually this will almost certainly mean sound encoded digitally as PCM signal in a 64-kbit/s timeslot, known as a DS0 in America).

There are various different names for Mobile Switching Centers in different contexts which reflects their complex role in the network, all of these terms though could refer to the same MSC, but doing different things at different times.

The Gateway MSC (G-MSC) is the MSC that determines which "visited MSC (V-MSC)" the subscriber who is being called is currently located at. It also interfaces with the PSTN. All mobile to mobile calls and PSTN to mobile calls are routed through a G-MSC. The term is only valid in the context of one call since any MSC may provide both the gateway function and the Visited MSC function, however, some manufacturers design dedicated high capacity MSCs which do not have any BSSs connected to them. These MSCs will then be the Gateway MSC for many of the calls they handle.

The visited MSC (V-MSC) is the MSC where a customer is currently located. The VLR associated with this MSC will have the subscriber's data in it.

The anchor MSC is the MSC from which a handover has been initiated. The target MSC is the MSC toward which a Handover should take place. A mobile switching center server is a part of the redesigned MSC concept starting from 3GPP Release 4.

MSC full form Mobile Switching Center is the centerpiece of an NSS full form network switching subsystem. 


MSC most commonly used with a communications switching function, such as call set-up, release, and routing. 


MSC is a telephone exchange that makes the connection between mobile users within the network, from mobile users to the public switched telephone network and also from mobile users to other mobile networks.

is a Switch used to connect End Office Switches to interexchange Carrier Switches. Qwest's Access Tandem Switches are also used to connect and switch traffic between and among Central Office Switches within the same LATA and may be used for the exchange of local traffic.

  • means a radio communication service carried on between mobile stations or receivers and land stations, and by Mobile Stations communicating among themselves, and includes (a) both one-way and two-way radio communication services, (b) a mobile service which provides a regularly interacting group of base, mobile, portable, and associated control and relay stations (whether licensed on an individual, cooperative, or multiple basis) for private one-way or two-way land mobile radio communications by eligible users over designated areas of operation, and (c) any service for which a license is required in a personal communications service established pursuant to the FCC proceeding entitled ''Amendment to the Commission's Rules to Establish New Personal Communications Services'' (GEN Docket No. 90-314; ET Docket No. 92-100), or any successor proceeding.

  • means a building or structure or part thereof open to the public where motor vehicles are washed, serviced, repaired, fueled, leased, sold or displayed and may include, but are not limited to a gas bar, car wash, body shop or general or specialty repair shops;

  • means an out-of-band, packet-switched, signaling network used to transport supervision signals, control signals, and data messages. It is a special network, fully separate from the transmission path of the public switched network. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, the CCS protocol used by the Parties shall be SS7.

  • which are used to connect and switch trunk circuits between and among other Central Office Switches. A Central Office Switch may also be employed as a combination End Office/Tandem Office Switch.

  • or “Tandem(s)” are used to connect and switch trunk circuits between and among other Central Office Switches. A Tandem Switch does not include a PBX.

  • means any site or service delivering Content on or through the Internet, including, without limitation, any on-line service such as America Online, Compuserve, Prodigy and the Microsoft Network.

  • (SS7) means a signaling protocol used by the CCS Network.

  • means every corporation, association, joint stock association, person, firm or partnership, their lessees, directors, receivers, trustees, appointees by any court whatsoever, or the heirs, executors, administrators, or personal representatives or assignees of any deceased owner, owning, controlling, operating or managing any mobile food vending unit.

  • means Content Customer or End Users load or use on the APEX Service. Customer Content does not include configuration, performance, and/or usage data that Dell collects in connection with the APEX Service.

  • means a management program covering the duration of a state permit for a municipal separate storm sewer system that includes a comprehensive planning process that involves public participation and intergovernmental coordination, to reduce the discharge of pollutants to the maximum extent practicable, to protect water quality, and to satisfy the appropriate water quality requirements of the CWA and regulations, and this article and its attendant regulations, using management practices, control techniques, and system, design, and engineering methods, and such other provisions that are appropriate.

  • (“EOs”) are switches from which end user Telephone Exchange Services are directly connected and offered.

  • means Software that provides the operating and management instructions for the underlying hardware and other components, and is identified as such in Appendix 4 of the Contract Agreement and such other Software as the parties may agree in writing to be Systems Software. Such System Software includes, but is not restricted to, micro-code embedded in hardware (i.e., “firmware”), operating systems, communications, system and network management, and utility software.

  • means a signaling protocol used by the CCS Network.

  • means a distinguishable component of an enterprise that is engaged in the supply of individual goods or services or a group of related goods or services which is subject to risks and returns that are different from those of the other business verticals.

  • means those areas within the Building used for stairs, elevator shafts, flues, vents, stacks, pipe shafts and other vertical penetrations (but shall not include any such areas for the exclusive use of a particular tenant).

  • means the mobile telecommunications service which we provide you under Part D and as specified in your Application.

  • or "BGS" means electric generation

  • means a conveyance or system of conveyances (including roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, or storm drains):

  • The term “pupil-generated content” means materials or content created by a pupil during and for the purpose of education including, but not limited to, essays, research reports, portfolios, creative writing, music or other audio files, photographs, videos, and account information that enables ongoing ownership of pupil content.

  • means the Customer's information technology infrastructure, including computers, software, hardware, databases, electronic systems (including database management systems), and networks, whether operated by Customer or through the use of third-party services.

  • means any distinct, subscription-based, hosted, supported and operated on-demand solution provided by SAP under an Order Form.

  • means any machinery, appliance or other similar device that is able to move independently, and Is used for the purpose of performing construction work on a construction site;

  • means a residential or commercial customer that owns (or leases or contracts) and operates an electric generating facility that: (a) has a capacity of not more than 1000 kilowatts; (b) uses renewable resources, cogeneration, fuel cells, or microturbines; (c) is located on the customer's premises; (d) is interconnected with the Electric Company's transmission and distribution facilities; and(e) is intended primarily to offset all or part of the customer's own electricity requirements.

  • means a wireless communications service that provides the right to utilize mobile wireless service as well as other nontelecommunications services, including the download of digital products delivered electronically, content and ancillary services, which must be paid for in advance, and that is sold in predetermined units or dollars of which the amount declines with use in a known amount.

    What are the functions of mobile switching Centre?

    The mobile switching center (MSC) is the primary service delivery node for GSM/CDMA, responsible for routing voice calls and SMS as well as other services (such as conference calls, FAX, and circuit-switched data).

    What is the main component of the mobile switching center?

    A mobile switching center (MSC) is the centerpiece of a network switching subsystem (NSS). The MSC is mostly associated with communications switching functions, such as call set-up, release, and routing.

    What is MSC and BSC in telecom?

    A base station controller (BSC) is a network element that controls and monitors a number of base stations and provides the interface between the cell sites and the mobile switching center (MSC).

    What is GMSC in mobile communication?

    The Gateway Mobile Switching Center (GMSC) is a type of Mobile Switching Center (MSC) that is used to route calls outside the mobile network. Mobile Switching Center Servers (MSC-S) provide control of high-capacity switching in mobile circuit core networks for operators to control services and switching.