Numbering & Routing

Numbering
Mobile Identifiers
Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number
(MSISDN)
Mapping to Mobile Station Roaming Number (MSRN) by
HLR
International Mobile Subscriber Identify
(IMSI)
Stored in SIM/HLR

Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity

(TMSI)
Assigned by VLR, Stored in VLR

International Mobile Equipment Identity

(IMEI)
Mobile Addresses
Several mobile numbers are needed
IMSI - International Mobile Subscriber Identity
Mobile Country Code (MCC) + Mobile Network Code (MNC) + Mobile
Subscriber
Identification Number (MSIN)
uniquely identifies the user (SIM card)
TMSI - Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity
32 bits
local number allocated by VLR; may be changed periodically
hides the IMSI over the air interface; transmitted instead of IMSI
MSRN - Mobile Station Roaming Number
Visitor Country Code (VCC) + Visitor National destination Code
(VNDC) + Current
MSC code + temporary subscriber number
generated by VLR for all visiting users
helps HLR to determine current location area
hides the IMSI inside the network
MSISDN
Mobile Station ISDN Number(real
telephone number)
The MSISDN is registered in the telephone directory and used
by the calling party for dialing.
MSISDN shall not exceed 15 digits.
NDC--National Destination Code
SN--Subscriber Number

It is stored centrally in the HLR

to 3 digits 1 Variable Variable
CC NDC SN

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IMSI
International mobile subscriber
Identity
The IMSI is an unique identity which is
used internationally and used within the
network to identify the mobile subscribers.
The IMSI is stored in the subscriber
identity module (SIM), the HLR, VLR
database.

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 ID-Numbers (cont.)
IMSI = MCC + MNC + MSIN
IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity
MCC Mobile Country Code
MNC Mobile Network Code
MSIN Mobile Station Identification Number
IMEI
International Mobile Equipment
Identity
The IMEI is an unique code allocated to each
mobile equipment. It is checked in the EIR.
(Only one EIR per PLMN.)

IMEI check List

White list : IMEI, assigned to valid ME.
Black list : IMEI reported stolen
Gray list : IMEI having problems like
faulty software, wrong make of equipment etc.

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 ID-Numbers (cont.)
IMEI = TAC + FAC + SNR + spare
IMEI Internal Mobile Equipment Identity
TAC Type Approval Code, determined by a central
GSM/PCS body
FAC Final Assembly Code, identifies the
manufacturer
SNR Serial Number, uniquely identifies all
equipment within each TAC and FAC

IMEISV = TAC + FAC + SNR + SVN

IMEISV International Mobile Equipment Identity and
Software Version Number
SVN Software Version Number
MSRN
Mobile Station Roaming Number
The MSRN is used in the GMSC to set up a
connection to the visited MSC/VLR.
MSRN--is a temporary identity which is
assigned during the establishment of a call
to a roaming subs.

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 ID-Numbers (cont.)
MSRN = CC + NDC + SN
MSRN Mobile Station Roaming Number
VCC Visitor Country Code
VNDC Visitor National Destination Code
SN Subscriber Number. In this case, the address to
the serving MSC
Temporary Mobile subscriber Identity

TMSI is a temporary IMSI no. made

known to an MS at registration.
The VLR assigns a TMSI to each mobile
subscribers entering the VLR area.
Assigned only after successful
authentication.

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 Network
Identifiers
Mobile Network Code (MNC)
Location Area Identity (LAI)
MCC - Mobile Country Code, e.g. Ireland = 272 (3
decimal digits)
MNC - Mobile Network Code, e.g. Eircell = 01 (2
decimal digits)
LAC - Location Area Code (max. 5 decimal digits)
Routing Area Identity (RAI) - similar to LAI
Cell Identity (CI), (5 decimal digits)
LAI
Global=Cell
MCC + MNC
Identity +CILAC
= LAI +
MCC Mobile Country Code
MNC Mobile Network Code
LACLocation Area Code
 Network
Identifiers
Base Station Identity Code (BSIC)
6 bit number consisting of
Network Colour Code - NCC, 3 bits
Base Station Colour Code - BCC, 3 bits
allows MS to distinguish between neighbour
base stations
Regional Subscription Zone Identifier (RSZI)
consists of CC, MNC, ZC (2 octets fixed size)
 ID-Numbers (cont.)
CGI = MCC + MNC + LAC + CI
CGI Cell Global Identity
CI Cell Identity
BSIC = NCC + BCC
BSIC Base Station Identity Code
NCC Network Color Code (3bits)
BCC Base Station Color Code (3bits)

RSZI = CC + NDC + ZC
RSZI Regional Subscription Zone Identity
CC Country Code
NDC National Destination Code
ZC length of the Zone code (2 octets)
 SIM Card

Microcontroller based smart card

MS = SIM + ME (mobile equipment)
SIM card personalizes the mobile equipment
SIM architecture
mController + RAM of 256 - 512 Byte, will
to grow to 2KB (2000) several OS are in use
ROM - 16 - 24kB (1997), will to grow to
64kB (2000)
EEPROM - 16kB (1997), will grow to 64KB
(2000)
I/O ports
SIM power and clock supplied by ME
 SIM Card
SIM Card (Subscriber Identity Module)
Uniquely associated to a user
Stores user and location addresses
IMSI - International Mobile Subscriber Identity
TMSI - Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity
LAI - Location Area Identification
Supports authentication and encryption
mechanisms
PIN - Personal Identity Number
PUK - PIN Unblocking Key
Ki - subscriber secret authentication key
A3 - authentication algorithm
A8 - cipher key generation algorithm
Contains personal data
list of subscribed services
RAM for user directory
 Location Management
GSM is a cellular system and as such divided
into location areas to facilitate efficient paging
Location areas are identified by the LAI
LAI is broadcast within SYSTEM-INFO
message on BCCH
Size of a location area depends on expected
subscriber
Every time MS detects a change of LAI, that
is the LAI
temporarily stored in the SIM is different to LAI
in SYSTEM_INFO message, location update is
performed
Home Location Register
(HLR)
Home Location Register (HLR)
Central master database
data from every user that has subscribed to the
operator
one database per operator
may be replicated
Subscriber data
IMSI - International Mobile Subscriber Identity
List of subscribed services with parameters and
restrictions
Location data
current MSC/VLR address
Home Location Register(HLR)
Permanent data in HLR
Data stored is changed only by commands.

IMSI, MS-ISDN number.

Category of MS ( whether pay phone or not )

Roaming restriction ( allowed or not ).

Supplementary services like call forwarding

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Home Location Register(HLR)

Temporary data in HLR

The data changes from call to call & is
dynamic

MSRN

RAND /SRES and Kc

VLR address , MSC address.

Messages waiting data used for SMS

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Visitor Location Register
(VLR)
Visitor Location Register (VLR)
Local database
data about all users currently in the domain of
the VLR
includes roamers and non-roamers
associated to each MSC
Subscriber identity
IMSI - International Mobile Subscriber Identity
Temporary location
LAI - Location Area Identification
Temporary addresses
MSRN - Mobile Station Roaming Number
TMSI - Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity
Data in VLR
IMSI & TMSI
MSISDN
MSRN.
Location Area
Supplementary service parameters
MS category
Authentication Key

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 Routing
Information resident in MS & SIM
IMSI, TMSI, IMEI, and misc.
information
Routing Information used by
Network
MSISDN, MSRN