Basic telecommunication service

Description

The term 'basic telecommunication service' is used in 3GPP as an umbrella term that collectively refers to both bearer services and teleservices. Bearer services provide the transmission capabilities between network access points, focusing on the transport of user data without interpreting its content. Teleservices, on the other hand, provide the complete communication capability, including terminal functions, enabling end-to-end communication such as voice telephony or facsimile. By grouping these under a single term, 3GPP facilitates high-level discussions about the fundamental services that a network must support.

This term is defined in 3GPP TS 21.905 (Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications) and TS 22.105 (Services and Service Capabilities). TS 21.905 provides the authoritative definitions for terms used across 3GPP specifications, ensuring consistent terminology. TS 22.105 describes the services and service capabilities from a user perspective, outlining the requirements for basic telecommunication services in various network contexts.

The concept is rooted in the early GSM specifications, where basic services were distinguished from supplementary services. As networks evolved, the need to refer to both bearer and teleservices collectively became apparent, especially when discussing service capabilities and requirements without specifying the technical realization. This abstraction allows for a technology-agnostic approach to service definition, which is particularly valuable in multi-access environments.

In practice, basic telecommunication services form the foundation upon which supplementary services and value-added services are built. They are subject to regulatory requirements, such as emergency call support, and are often the basis for interconnection agreements between operators. The term continues to be relevant in the context of IMS and 5G, where the distinction between bearer and teleservice may blur, but the need to identify core services remains.

Over the releases, the definition has remained remarkably stable, underscoring its fundamental nature. The term is used in various 3GPP documents to categorize services and to set requirements for service provisioning, charging, and quality of service.

Purpose & Motivation

The term 'basic telecommunication service' was created to provide a unified reference for the essential services that a telecommunication network must offer. It solves the problem of having to repeatedly list both bearer services and teleservices when discussing fundamental service requirements. This is particularly useful in specifications that define service capabilities or regulatory requirements, where the distinction between bearer and teleservice is not the focus.

Historically, as GSM evolved into UMTS and later LTE and 5G, the service landscape became more complex. However, the fundamental need to distinguish core services from supplementary ones persisted. The term allows for clear communication in standards documents, ensuring that when requirements are stated for 'basic telecommunication services,' they apply to both bearer and teleservices without ambiguity.

Moreover, this term facilitates interoperability and roaming, as it provides a common vocabulary for operators and vendors. It also aids in the development of consistent charging principles, as basic services are typically charged differently from supplementary services. Thus, the term continues to serve as a cornerstone in 3GPP service definitions.