GSM gateway

A GSM Gateway (also known as a GSM Router, Fixed Cellular Terminal, Fixed Wireless Terminal, Cellular Gateway) is a device enabling a GSM SIM card (Subscriber Identity Module) to be utilised from a fixed line handset as though it was calling from the GSM Mobile telephone/Cellular Telephone. The use of a GSM gateway is called GSM termination or origination. When using a fixed handset with a GSM gateway, users make and receive calls, from the fixed line handset, through a Mobile/Cellular Network.

Background

The uptake of cellular telephones has exceeded that of fixed line telephones worldwide. In most instances the charges for a call from a fixed telephone service to a cellular telephone service exceed the charges for a call from a cellular telephone service to a cellular telephone service (fixed-mobile calls are more expensive than mobile-mobile calls). In the highly competitive cellular phone market the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) have lowered rates to call from cellular telephones as an incentive to bring consumers to their networks. Some MNOs allow "free" or uncharged calls to others on the same network. It is also a common practise for the MNOs to offer "capped plans" enticing consumers to use mobile phones more and more.

Reason for using a GSM gateway:

A GSM gateway enables cheap mobile-mobile calls instead of expensive fixed-mobile calls. The gateway can e.g. be connected to a PBX system. So all calls into cellular networks will be routed via the gateway instead of via the PSTN (Public Switched Telephony Network). GSM gateways use integrated wireless modules (the same types of wireless modules are used in standard cellular phones) as well as integrated antennas and one or even multiple SIM cards per wireless module.

GSM Termination

GSM termination is the process of sending voice calls to the gsm network via GSM Gateways, and not sending it to the GSM operator's network directly. The whole activity is due to the price difference between the interconnect price -the price the gsm network operator request from its interconnecting partners- and the price that the network operator charges its pre- and postpaid subscribers -the minute price paid by the subscribers using their own SIM cards.

History of GSM termination

GSM termination is nearly as old as the GSM networks. Nearly most of the enterprises use GSM gateways for they soon realised that sending the traffic to their local incumbent provider is far too expensive. At the very beginning analog to GSM gateways were manufactured. These were connected to the enterprise PBX and all calls from the extensions heading towards GSM directions, were routed to these gateways. Later appeared the ISDN BRI and PRI gateways, Providing better quality, and more channels.The latest version are the VoIP GSM gateways.

Business benefits

Not only enterprise customers realised the savings inherent in gsm gateways but other companys dedicated to terminating traffic only popped up. They owned hundreds of SIM cards, and put them into their gateways. Sometimes the traffic was coming from abroad other times they were coming from inside the country from the partners of the gsm termination company.

Enterprise customers can also benefit from the use of GSM gateways and fixed cellular terminals by using them for remote locations, mobile offices and site offices to connect to PBX systems or as stand alone devices for the connection of analogue telephone and fax devices to make and receive calls and faxes using the GSM mobile phone network.

Quality problems

Using GSM gateways to terminate calls has problematic effects for customers. Most commonly, they will not be able to see a CLI when receiving a call. Particularly when overseas, this presents unlimited scenarios where operators lose revenue (missed calls not returned, calls not picked up as they dont know the caller). Calls can be disrupted mid way though, and cut out. Sometimes calls are not even connected.

Another problem for operators is that in the location of the SIM box, the towers get inundated with more traffic than usual, and other calls are disrupted.

Legality

GSM Gateways are illegal in most countries, with illegal SIM Box operators being successfully prosecuted around the world . Mobile operators are able to detect the illegal use of their SIM cards through complex testing patterns, and can immediately cut the lines of the illegal SIM cards.

Some operators have agreements with companies to allow them to use a commercial GSM Gateway to reduce their costs.

Additional information:

Ofcom converning GSM gateways: 1

de:Mobilfunk-Gateway pl:Bramka GSM