The voice group call service (VGCS) is a mobile communication service for
GSM
The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation ( 2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile devices such ...
, that allows subscribers to communicate to multiple other subscribers at the same time. For this special mobiles are required that support this function. A first deployment was seen with European Railways. This service is a feature of ASCI (Advanced Speech Call Items) in
GSM
The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) is a standard developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) to describe the protocols for second-generation ( 2G) digital cellular networks used by mobile devices such ...
.
Description
This service allows speech conversation of a predefined group of service subscribers in half duplex mode on the radio link taking into account multiple mobile service subscribers involved in the VGCS call per cell.
The VGCS is applicable to all mobile stations in a certain network and area which have the technical capability and the corresponding subscription, respectively, to participate in a VGCS call.
Background
The first commercial use was for Railways. For GSM-Railway this is one of the most important features. VGCS is important to compete with
TETRA
Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA; formerly known as Trans-European Trunked Radio), a European standard for a trunked radio system, is a professional mobile radio and two-way transceiver specification. TETRA was specifically designed for use by ...
for
Professional Mobile Radio
Professional mobile radio (also known as private mobile radio (PMR) in the UK) are person-to-person two-way radio voice communications systems which use portable, mobile, base station, and dispatch console radios. PMR radio systems are based on ...
(PMR). This service is location dependent and therefore different from the
Push to talk
Push-to-talk (PTT), also known as press-to-transmit, is a method of having conversations or talking on half-duplex communication lines, including two-way radio, using a momentary button to switch from voice reception mode to transmit mode.
H ...
service.
Specification
This service is specified in the ''3rd Generation Partnership Project'' (
3GPP) since release 00 (R00) and in EIRENE.
3GPP TS 42.069
:3rd Generation Partnership Project;
:Technical Specification Group Services and system Aspects;
:Voice Broadcast Service (VBS);
:Stage 1
3GPP TS 43.069
:3rd Generation Partnership Project;
:Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals;
:Voice Broadcast Service (VBS);
:Stage 2
3GPP TS 44.069
:3rd Generation Partnership Project;
:Technical Specification Group Core Network;
:Broadcast Call Control (BCC) protocol
EIRENE Functional Requirements Specification
EIRENE System Requirements Specification
See also
*
GSM-R
GSM-R, Global System for Mobile Communications – Railway or GSM-Railway is an international wireless communications standard for railway communication and applications.
A sub-system of European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS), it is us ...
External links
GSM-R Standards at UIC
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vgcs
GSM standard