GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)

General Packet Radio Service, often labelled 2.5G, added packet-switched data on top of GSM with theoretical rates around 114 kbit/s. It introduced the SGSN and GGSN as the first packet-core elements and the GTP tunnelling protocol that survives in evolved form into 5G. GPRS data is encrypted with the GEA family of ciphers, of which GEA1 has been shown to be deliberately weakened. Most operators have decommissioned or are phasing out GPRS as part of broader 2G/3G sunset.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkCore NetworkSignaling

GPRS in context

The radio access network is the layer where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations, downgrade attacks and jamming, and defenses hinge on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

The mobile core is where subscriber sessions, mobility and policy live. In 4G it is the EPC (MME, HSS, S/PGW); in 5G it is the Service-Based Architecture with AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM and the NRF. Core exposure is the difference between a single-subscriber leak and a fleet-wide breach.

To place GPRS in the wider telecom-security picture, review Diameter, GSM, GTP, LTE, MVNO and SRVCC.

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