IMSI

An International Mobile Subscriber Identity or IMSI is a unique identification associated with all GSM and UMTS network mobile phone users. It is stored as a 64 bit field in the SIM inside the phone and is sent by the phone 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 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.

The IMSI is used in any mobile network that interconnects with other networks. This number is provisioned in the phone directly or in the R-UIM card (a CDMA analogue equivalent to a SIM card in GSM).

An IMSI is usually presented as a 15 digit long number, but can be shorter. For example MTN South Africa's old IMSIs that are still being used in the market are shown as 14 digits. The first 3 digits are the Mobile Country Code (MCC), and is followed by the Mobile Network Code (MNC), either 2 digits (European standard) or 3 digits (North American standard). The length of the MNC depends on the value of the MCC. The remaining digits are the Mobile Subscription Identification Number (MSIN) within the network's customer base.

The IMSI conforms to the ITU E.212 numbering standard.

Examples of IMSI numeric presentation

IMSI:404685505601234

MCC	404	India
MNC	68	MTNL delhi
MSIN	5505601234

IMSI: 310150123456789

MCC	310	USA
MNC	150	AT&T Mobility
MSIN	123456789

IMSI: 460001234567890

MCC	460	CHINA
MNC	00	CMCC
MSIN	1234567890

IMSI analysis

IMSI analysis is the process of examining a subscriber's IMSI to identify the network the IMSI belongs to, and whether subscribers from that network may use a given network (if they are not local subscribers, this requires a roaming agreement).

If the subscriber is not from the provider's network, the IMSI must be converted to a Global Title, which can then be used for accessing the subscriber's data in the remote HLR. This is mainly important for international mobile roaming. Outside North America the IMSI is converted to the Mobile Global Title (MGT) format, standard E.214, which is similar to but different from E.164 number (more or less a telephone number). E.214 provides a method to convert the IMSI into a number that can be used for routing to international SS7 switches. E.214 can be interpreted as implying that there are two separate stages of conversion; first determine the MCC and convert to E.164 country calling code then determine MNC and convert to national network code for the carrier's network. But this process is not used in practise and the GSM numbering authority has clearly stated that a one stage process is used [1].

In North America, the IMSI is directly converted to an E.212 number with no modification of its value. This can be routed directly on American SS7 networks.

After this conversion, SCCP is used to send the message to its final destination. For details, see Global Title Translation.

Example of outside World Area 1

This example shows the actual practice which is not clearly described in the standards.

Translation rule:

• match numbers starting 28401 (Bulgaria mobile country code + MobilTel MNC)
• identify this as belonging to MobilTel-Bulgaria network
• remove first five digits (length of MCC+MNC)
• add 35988 (Bulgaria E.164 country code + a Bulgarian local prefix reaching MobilTel's network)
• mark the number as having E.214 numbering plan.
• route message on Global Title across SCCP network

so we get 284011234567890 becomes 359881234567890 numbering plan E.214.

Translation rule:

• match numbers starting 310150 (America first MCC + Cingular MNC)
• remove first six digits (length of MCC+MNC)
• add 14054 (North America E.164 country code + Network Code for Cingular)
• mark the number as having E.214 numbering plan.
• route message on Global Title across SCCP network

so we get 310150123456789 becomes 14054123456789 numbering plan E.214.

The result is an E.214 compliant Global Title, (Numbering Plan Indicator is set to 7 in the SCCP message). This number can now be sent to Global Title Analysis. by onmobile

Example inside World Area 1 (North America)

Translation rule:

• match numbers starting 28401 (Bulgaria MCC + MobilTel MNC)
• identify this as belonging to MobilTel-Bulgaria network
• do not alter the digits of the number
• mark the number as having E.212 numbering plan.
• route message on Global Title across SCCP network

so we get 284011234567890 becomes 284011234567890 numbering plan E.212.

This number has to be converted on the ANSI to ITU boundary. For more details please see Global Title Translation.

Home Network Identity

The Home Network Identity (HNI) is the combination of the MCC and the MNC. This is the number which fully identifies a subscriber's home network. This combination is also known as the PLMN.

See also

• IMEI
• MEID
• Electronic Serial Number
• MSISDN
• IMSI-catcher

External links

• "Cellular Networking Perspectives" article in Wireless Telecom Magazine
• IMSI oversight council responsible for allocating IMSI ranges in the USA
• IMSI Lookup Utility
• Explanation of GSM numbering plans
• IMSI formats