GGSN

The Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) is a main component of the GPRS network. The GGSN is responsible for the interworking between the GPRS network and external packet switched networks, like the Internet and X.25 networks.

From the external networks’ point of view, the GGSN is a router to a sub-network, because the GGSN ‘hides’ the GPRS infrastructure from the external network. When the GGSN receives data addressed to a specific user, it checks if the user is active. If it is, the GGSN forwards the data to the SGSN serving the mobile user, but if the mobile user is inactive, the data are discarded. On the other hand, mobile-originated packets are routed to the right network by the GGSN.

To do all this,the GGSN keeps a record of active mobile users and the SGSN the mobile users are attached to. It allocates IP addresses to mobile users and last but not least, the GGSN is responsible for the billing.