A 2G core network is the central part of a GSM mobile network behind its radio access system. It manages subscribers and mobility, switches circuit-switched calls, and—when GPRS packet service is supported—handles mobile data through additional packet-core functions.
What the 2G core network does
The core connects radio access to the operator’s network services. It performs network-side tasks such as managing subscriber information and mobility, routing calls, and carrying packet-data sessions. The radio equipment that connects a handset over the air is the access network, not the core.
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For the standardized architecture, see 3GPP TS 23.002, Network architecture, version 18.0.0 (Release 18, April 2024). Specific implementations can depend on the standard’s release and the services an operator supports.
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It is clearer to describe GSM’s core as related service domains than as one fixed list of equipment. Circuit-switched services and GPRS packet data use different core functions.
| Service domain | Core functions | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit-switched | MSC and VLR | The Mobile Switching Centre (MSC) handles call control and switching. Its associated Visitor Location Register (VLR) holds subscriber and service data for mobiles in the area it serves. |
| Subscriber data | HLR | The Home Location Register (HLR) is the network’s central subscriber database. |
| GPRS packet-switched | SGSN and GGSN | The Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) serves mobile stations and supports authentication, authorization, mobility management, and related subscriber procedures. The Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) provides a gateway toward external packet networks, such as the Internet. |
The GPRS node roles are also described in RFC 3314 (September 2002), an informational reference rather than a replacement for current 3GPP specifications. For GPRS service architecture, consult 3GPP TS 23.060.
Is GPRS part of every 2G core?
No. GPRS is an added packet-data capability, not a requirement of every GSM network. A network supporting GPRS packet service includes the relevant SGSN and GGSN functions; a GSM network without that service does not need to be described as having those packet-core nodes. The 3GPP architecture specifies these functions for networks supporting the relevant GPRS service with GERAN or UTRAN access.
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How the core differs from GSM radio access
The Base Station Subsystem (BSS), also known as GERAN in the GSM radio-access context, provides the radio link between mobile stations and the network. BTS and BSC equipment belongs to that access side. The core sits behind it and handles switching, subscriber data, mobility-related network functions, and—if GPRS is available—packet-data service and gateways. In GPRS, the access network communicates with the packet core over specified interfaces; that does not make BTS or BSC core nodes.
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A simple way to read a 2G network diagram
- Identify the radio access side first: BSS/GERAN is not the core.
- For voice and other circuit-switched services, look for MSC/VLR and the HLR subscriber database.
- For GPRS packet data, look for SGSN and GGSN; their presence reflects packet-service support.
- Check the cited 3GPP release when interpreting detailed architecture or implementation-specific diagrams.
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