5.2 Network Interworking

23.0603GPPGeneral Packet Radio Service (GPRS)Release 17Service descriptionStage 2TS

Network interworking is required whenever a packet domain PLMN and any other network are involved in the execution of a service request. With reference to Figure 1, interworking takes place through the Gi or SGi reference point and the Gp or S8 interface.

The internal mechanism for conveying the PDP PDU through the PLMN is managed by the PLMN network operator and is not apparent to the data user. The use of the GPRS service may have an impact on and increase the transfer time normally found for a message when communicated through a fixed packet data network.

5.2.1 Internet (IP) Interworking

GPRS shall support interworking with networks based on the Internet protocol (IP). IP is defined in RFC 791 [40]. The packet domain may provide compression of the TCP/IP header when an IP datagram is used within the context of a TCP connection.

Mobile terminals offered service by a service provider may be globally addressable through the network operator’s addressing scheme.