MSISDN

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MSISDN (pronounced as /'em es ai es di en/ or MISS-den) is a number uniquely identifying a subscription in a Global System for Mobile communications or a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System mobile network. It is the mapping of the telephone number to the subscriber identity module in a mobile or cellular phone. This abbreviation has several interpretations, the most common one being "Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number". [1]

Contents

The MSISDN and international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) are two important numbers used for identifying a mobile subscriber. The IMSI is stored in the SIM (the card inserted into the mobile phone), and uniquely identifies the mobile station, its home wireless network, and the home country of the home wireless network. The MSISDN is used for routing calls to the subscriber. The IMSI is often used as a key in the home location register ("subscriber database") and the MSISDN is the number normally dialed to connect a call to the mobile phone. A SIM has a unique IMSI that does not change, while the MSISDN can change in time, i.e. different MSISDNs can be associated with the SIM.

The MSISDN follows the numbering plan defined in the International Telecommunication Standard Sector recommendation E.164.

Abbreviation

Depending on source or standardization body, the abbreviation MSISDN can be written out in several different ways. These are today the most widespread and common in use.

OrganizationMeaningSource
3GPP
ITU
OMA 		Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number 01151601062Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications (new) [2]
ITU-T Rec. Q.1741-4 (10/2005) [3]
Dictionary for OMA Specifications [4]
CSPS
ITU
GSMA 		Mobile Station International ISDN Number(s)MSISDN Format and Details [5]
ITU-T Rec. Q.1741-4 (10/2005) [3]
Mobile Terms & Acronyms [6]
ITU Mobile International ISDN NumberVocabulary of Switching and Signalling Terms [7]

MSISDN format

The ITU-T recommendation E.164 limits the maximum length of an MSISDN to 15 digits. 1-3 digits are reserved for country code. Prefixes are not included (e.g., 00 prefixes an international MSISDN when dialing from Sweden). Minimum length of the MSISDN is not specified by ITU-T but is instead specified in the national numbering plans by the telecommunications regulator in each country.

In GSM and its variant DCS 1800, MSISDN is built up as

MSISDN = 88 + 017 + SN<24847575>
CC = Country Code<88>
NDC = National Destination Code, identifies one or part of a PLMN
SN = 24847575

In the GSM variant PCS 1900 , MSISDN is built up as

MSISDN = 88 + 017 + SN<24847575>
CC = Country Code<88>
NPA = Number Planning Area<017>
SN = 24847575

The country code identifies a country or geographical area, and may be between 1-3 digits. The ITU defines and maintains the list of assigned country codes.

Example

Example Number: +880 15 00121121 (Teletalk Hotline Number) Has the following subscription number:

MSISDN=8801500121121
MSISDN=CCCXXN1N2N3N4N5N6N7N8

CC/ISD CodeCCC (Example: 880)Bangladesh
NDC/NPA CodeXX (Example: 15)As allocated by the Government of Bangladesh:
Teletalk: 015
Grameenphone: 017 & 013
Banglalink: 019 & 014
Robi: 018 & 016
SNN1N2N3N4N5N6N7N8
(example: 00121121)

For further information on the MSISDN format, see the ITU-T specification E.164.

See also

Related Research Articles

In telecommunication, a public land mobile network (PLMN) is a combination of wireless communication services offered by a specific operator in a specific country. A PLMN typically consists of several cellular technologies like GSM/2G, UMTS/3G, LTE/4G, offered by a single operator within a given country, often referred to as a cellular network.

The international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) is a number that uniquely identifies every user of a cellular network. It is stored as a 64-bit field and is sent by the mobile device to the network. It is also used for acquiring other details of the mobile in the home location register (HLR) or as locally copied in the visitor location register. To prevent eavesdroppers from identifying and tracking the subscriber on the radio interface, the IMSI is sent as rarely as possible and a randomly-generated TMSI is sent instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SIM card</span> Integrated circuit card for a mobile device

A SIM card is an integrated circuit (IC) intended to securely store the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number and its related key, which are used to identify and authenticate subscribers on mobile telephony devices. Technically the actual physical card is known as a universal integrated circuit card (UICC); this smart card is usually made of PVC with embedded contacts and semiconductors, with the SIM as its primary component. In practice the term "SIM card" refers to the entire unit and not simply the IC.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Mobile Equipment Identity</span> Cellphone identification code

The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a numeric identifier, usually unique, for 3GPP and iDEN mobile phones, as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone but can also be displayed on-screen on most phones by entering the MMI Supplementary Service code *#06# on the dialpad, or alongside other system information in the settings menu on smartphone operating systems.

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Network switching subsystem (NSS) is the component of a GSM system that carries out call out and mobility management functions for mobile phones roaming on the network of base stations. It is owned and deployed by mobile phone operators and allows mobile devices to communicate with each other and telephones in the wider public switched telephone network (PSTN). The architecture contains specific features and functions which are needed because the phones are not fixed in one location.

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The mobile identification number (MIN) or mobile subscription identification number (MSIN) refers to the 10-digit unique number that a wireless carrier uses to identify a mobile phone, which is the last part of the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI). The MIN is a number that uniquely identifies a mobile phone working under TIA standards for cellular and PCS technologies. It can also be called the MSID or IMSI_S.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobile station</span> Imsi catcher

A mobile station (MS) comprises all user equipment and software needed for communication with a mobile network.

An international mobile subscriber identity-catcher, or IMSI-catcher, is a telephone eavesdropping device used for intercepting mobile phone traffic and tracking location data of mobile phone users. Essentially a "fake" mobile tower acting between the target mobile phone and the service provider's real towers, it is considered a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack. The 3G wireless standard offers some risk mitigation due to mutual authentication required from both the handset and the network. However, sophisticated attacks may be able to downgrade 3G and LTE to non-LTE network services which do not require mutual authentication.

Universal personal telecommunications (UPT) was a special segment of the international telephone number space which had been set aside for universal personal telephone numbers. This service had been allocated country code +87810 and was completed by a 10-digit subscriber number which provided 10 billion unique numbers. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) introduced this concept in 2001, referring to it as "global number portability".

The Reporting Body Identifier is the first two digits of a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) Type Allocation Code, and indicates the GSMA-approved organization that registered a given mobile device, and allocated the model a unique code.

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A Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) is a database of mobile equipment identifiers. Such an identifier is assigned to each SIM slot of the mobile device.

All of Finland, including Åland, has the same country code, +358.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telephone numbers in Thailand</span>

Thailand's telephone numbering plan in Thailand is managed by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) in accordance with International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) recommendation E.164.

References

  1. ↑ The conclusion ("most common") is drawn from the recent documentation from 3GPP and Open Mobile Alliance, please see the Abbreviation section above
  2. ↑ 3GPP Vocabulary
  3. 1 2 ITU-T Q.1741-4
  4. ↑ OMA Dictionary
  5. ↑ "MSISDN - How to check mobile number from sim- Msisdn vs IMSI". 2018-03-26. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  6. ↑ GSMA Acronyms Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ ITU Vocabulary


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