Packet data service over GSM networks with dynamic stealing of voice channels

The emerging demand for low-cost data services over GSM networks has driven the ETSI to promote the definition of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), in which data traffic is carried according to the packet switched mode. We compare the performance of two possible GPRS implementations, respectively based on the static and dynamic allocation of traffic channels. In the dynamic allocation case, packet data services use traffic channels temporarily unused by circuit switched services, without affecting their performance. Moreover, the combined use of the static and dynamic schemes is evaluated and shown to provide enhanced performance for GPRS.