TELECOMS GLOSSARY
Terms Definitions
1xEV-DO cdma2000 Evolution, Data Optimized (aka Access Authentication)
1xRTT cdma2000 Radio Transmission Technology
2G Second generation wireless digital technology. Fully digital 2G networks have replaced analog 1G, which originated in the 1980s
2,5G It's a stepping stone that bridged 2G to 3G wireless technology and is sometimes used to describe those evolved technologies that were first considered as being 2G. While 2G and 3G have been officially defined as wireless standards by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2.5G has not been defined and was created only for the purposes of marketing.
3DES Triple Data Encryption Standard
3G It is the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology. 3G supersedes 2G technology and precedes 4G technology. Current 3G systems have been established through ITU’s project on International Mobile Telecommunications 2000 (IMT-2000). UMTS-HSPA is the world’s leading 3G technology
3,5G Similar to the 2.5G acronym, the reference to 3.5G is not an officially recognized standard by the ITU. It is an interim or evolutionary step to the next generation of cellular technology that will be known as IMT-Advanced according to definitions by the ITU. IMT-Advanced will comprise the fourth generation of cell phone technology. The acronym 3.5G is also known as “beyond 3G.” 4G Americas does not use the terms 3.5G (or 2.5G) in respect of the official definitions provided by the ITU. The technologies within the GSM family that are considered as beyond 3G include HSPA+ and LTE. These 3.5G technologies are often called pre-4G as well
3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project
3GPP2 Third Generation Partnership Project 2
4G Fourth generation of mobile wireless services that has been defined by the ITU and its Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) and established as an agreed upon and globally accepted definition in IMT-Advanced. Current LTE and WiMAX implementations are often cited in the marketplace as 4G, although they don't fully comply with the planned requirements of 1 Gbps for stationary reception and 100 Mbps for mobile. The common argument for branding LTE and WiMAX systems as 4G is that they use different frequency bands to 3G technologies; that they are based on a new radio-interface paradigm; and that the standards are not backwards compatible with 3G, while some of the standards are expected to be forwards compatible with "real" 4G technologies. See also LTE and WiMAX
AAA Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting
AC Authentication Center
ACCESS AUTHENTICATION cdma2000 Evolution, Data Optimized (aka 1xEV-DO)
ACQUISITION TABLE An indexed list of frequencies on which the device may search for particular systems. The idea behind the acquisition table is to optimize the acquisition time by identifying only the frequencies that should be searched, rather than searching the entire frequency spectrum. The information contained in each acquisition table entry includes an index, the network type, and associated channel blocks
ACTIVE PILOT Base station(s) currently serving a call. A base station usually has 3 pilot numbers. Also See PN Offset
AGREEMENT Refers to the International Roaming Agreement, including all attachments and appendices attached thereto and each Party’s “Technical Data Sheet (TDS),” provided from time to time, to which general terms and conditions for roaming are attached. Also See IRA
AH Authentication Header
AKA Authentication and Key Agreement
AMBR Aggregate Max Bit Rate
AMPS Advanced Mobile Phone System
AN Access Network
ANCHOR MSC Anchor Mobile Switching Center
ANI Automatic Number Identification
ANID Access Network Identifiers
ANSI American National Standards Institute
ANSI-41 See TIA-41
API Application Programming Interface
APN Access Point Name
ARP Authorized Receipt Point
ARP Alternative Roaming Provider
AS Autonomous System
ASCII American Standard Code for Information Interchange
AT Access Terminal
ATM Asynchronous Transfer Mode
AUTHENTICATION Process used to verify the authenticity of mobile devices
AUTHORIZATION Process of verifying that a roamer is allowed to use the serving network and allowed to access particular features
AUTHORIZED ROAMER A roamer using equipment with (a) the IRM listed in accordance with Section 3.1 of Appendix A, Doc #144 or (b) the MBI/MIN combinations listed in accordance with Section 3.1 of Appendix A, Doc #144 for whom the Serving Carrier has received a positive validation in accordance with the provisions thereof.
AUTHU Authentication Signature Response
AUTOMATIC CALL DELIVERY A feature that allows subscribers to receive incoming calls when they are roaming outside of their home coverage area.
AUTOMATIC ROAMING The ability of a serving network support roaming without requiring actions to be taken by the subscriber or the party calling the subscriber
AUTONOMOUS REGISTRATION A timer-based registration mode in which the MS periodically registers with the network without requiring action to be taken by the subscriber. This feature allows a roamer whose MS is turned on to be automatically registered for call delivery and validation without receiving or placing a call and without having to dial a star (*) code. Aka Power-up registration, timer-based registration
A12 AUTHENTICATION a.k.a. Access Authentication (for 1xEV-DO)
A-KEY Authentication Key
BAAA Broker Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting
BAND A group of radio traffic channels reserved for the use of wireless service providers within a given service area.
BANDCLASS A set of frequency channels and a numbering scheme for these channels
BBS Base station subsystem
BCD Binary Coded Decimal
BG Border Gateway
BGP Border Gateway Protocol
BID Billing Identification
BILLID BillingID
BREW Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless
BROKER The third-party vendor used by both Parties to enable packet data services, including AAA broker services, data billing support services, and detail reporting of packet data services.
BSA Base Station Almanac
BSC Base Station Controller
BSC/RNC Subordinate to MTSO are responsible for assigning frequencies to each call, reassigning frequencies for handoffs, controlling handoffs so a mobile phone leaving one cell (formally known as BTS)'s coverage area, can be switched automatically to a channel in the next cell.
BSID Base Station Identifier
BTS Base Transceiver Station
BILATERAL “Two way”
C7 Common Channel Signaling 7 (CCS7 or C7), also known as Signaling System #7 (SS7)
CALL DISCONNECT The process of requesting the release of a connection between two or more network addresses.
CALLER ID A supplementary service that allows a caller’s phone number to be displayed when an incoming call is received so that the recipient can see who is calling before deciding whether to answer the call. a.k.a. Caller Display, Caller Number Display (CND), Calling Line Identification (CLI), Calling Line Identification Presentation (CLIP), Calling Number Identification (CNID)
CALL RELEASE The process of relinquishing the facilities and circuits used during a call
CALL TERMINATION The process of connecting a subscriber to an incoming call.
CAMEL Customized Application for Mobile network Enhanced Logic
CANDID Current ANID: a triplet consisting of the SID, NID, and PZID, that uniquely identifies an HRPD access network
CAVE Cellular Authentication and Voice Encryption
CAVE-based authentication a.k.a. HLR Authentication, 2G Authentication, Access Authentication (for CDMA/1xRTT). Access authentication used in CDMA/1xRTT systems
CCDIR Call Control Directive
CDG CDMA Development Group
CDMA Code division multiple access
CDMA2000 CDMA2000 (also known as C2K or IMT Multi ‑ Carrier (IMT ‑ MC)) is a family of 3G mobile technology standards, which use CDMA channel access, to send voice, data, and signaling data between mobile phones and cell sites. The name CDMA2000 actually denotes a family of standards that represent the successive, evolutionary stages of the underlying technology
CDR Call Detail Record
CDR Charging Data Record
CELL SITE The physical location of a cell’s radio equipment and supporting systems. This term is also used to refer to the equipment located at the cell site. The basic geographic coverage area of a wireless system. When a wireless phone crosses the boundary from one cell to another, a handoff to the new cell and another radio frequency occurs.
CEP Central Exchange Points
CFCA Communications Fraud Control Association
CHAP Challenge-handshake authentication protocol
CIBER Cellular Intercarrier Billing Exchange Roamer
CLIENT OPERATOR A Public Mobile Network operator that wishes to enter into a commercial relationship with the Provider in order to have International Roaming with Elected Connected Operators.
CLEARING A process for exchanging billing records among roaming partners. During clearing, billing records may be converted from one format to another, validated or edited for errors, and processed for calculation and reporting of financial positions among roaming partners by a third party entity.
CLEARING HOUSE An entity that acts as an Authorized Receipt Point (ARP) for a roaming operator to receive billing records on behalf of that operator for purposes of settlement and exchange with the operator’s roaming partners. A clearinghouse may provide wholesale and retail rating of billing records, as well as financial net settlement. See also DCH
CLI Calling Line Identification - See Caller ID
CLIP Calling Line Identification Presentation - See Caller ID
CLLI Common Language Location Identifier
CLONE
CLONES Common Language Central Location Online Entry System - see CLLI
CLONING FRAUD Use of a clone to illegally obtain wireless service. If authentication is not performed, a clone will be able to mimic a legitimate MS. When this happens, all charges accrued by the clone are billed to the legitimate subscriber whose ESN and MSID are being illegally used. In a roaming scenario, cloning fraud is a significant concern because of the wholesale billing that occurs between roaming partners
CLOSED PRL See PRL
CMEA Cellular Message Encryption Algorithm
CMS Card Management System
CND Caller Number Display - See Caller ID
CNID Calling Number Identification - See Caller ID
CNIP Calling Number Identification Presentation
CoA Care-of-Address - See Mobile IP
CONNECTED OPERATOR A Public Mobile Network operator which is connected to the Client Operator through their HUB or to a Third Party Roaming Hub Provider.
CONNRES Connect Resource
CPE Customer Premises Equipment
CPP Calling Party Pays
CRH CDMA Roaming Hub, See CDG
CRIET CDMA Roaming Information Exchange Tool
cRTP Enhanced Compressed RTP
CRX CDMA Packet Data Roaming Exchange
CS Circuit Switched
CSCF Call Session Control Function - See IMS
CSIM CDMA Subscriber Identity Module: Defined in 3GPP2 C.P0065, an RUIM on UICC Smartcard Platform
CSR Customer Service Representative
CTIA Cellular Telecom. & Internet Association
DACC Directory Assistance Call Completion
D-AMPS Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System
DCH Data Clearing House. See also Clearing House
DCS Data Clearing Service
DES Data Encryption Standard
DH1 Diffie-Helman group 1 key exchange
DH2 Diffie-Helman group 2 key exchange
Diameter Extension protocol of RADIUS (AAA)
DN Digital Network
DNS Domain Name System
DO See 1xEV-DO
DP Detection Point
DRRR Direct Routing for Roamer to Roamer
DSCP Differentiated Service Code Point
DSL Digital Subscriber Line
DTMF Dual-tone multi-frequency signaling
Dual mode handset A handset that supports two different air interface technologies. Traditionally, dual mode referred to the ability to support both analog and digital systems. However, because of the large number of air interface technologies now deployed, the term “multi-mode” has become common for handsets that support more than one technology.
EDI Electronic Data Interchange
EDGE Enhanced Data for Global Evolution
EDT Electronic Data Transfer
ELECTED CONNECTED OPERATOR A Connected Operator elected by the Client Operator
ENCRYPTION The process of obscuring (i.e., encrypting) information using a secret key and algorithm. Once encrypted, a reverse processes (i.e., decryption) must be performed on the obscured information using the correct secret key and algorithm to make it readable again.
ENHANCED PRL A PRL that supports system records identified by SID/NID or MCC/MNC. Using MCC/MNC rather than SID/NID reduces the size and complexity of the PRL since one MCC may be used for an entire country instead of potentially tens or hundreds of SID values. Handsets receive MCC and MNC (IMSI_11_12) values in the Extended System Parameters Mesage (ESPM) broadcast by the network base station. a.k.a. ePRL
EPC Evolved Packet Core
EPDG Enhanced Packet Data Gateway
ERI Enhanced Roaming Indicator - See Roaming Indicator
ESA Enhanced Subscriber Authentication - See AKA
ESN Electronic Serial Number
ESP Encapsulating Security Payload
ESPM Extended System Parameters Message
ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute
E-UTRAN Evolved - UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network
EV-DO Evolution - Data Optimized, See 1xEV-DO
FA Foreign Agent - See Mobile IP
FCH Financial Clearing House
FINANCIAL LIABILITY Where the HUB agrees to take Financial Liability for invoicing, charging, billing and payment in respect of the Client Operator’s use of Elected Connected Operators’ IR Services on the basis of the applicable IOT as set out in the Roaming Hubbing Agreements.
FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT Financial reconciliation between operators for providing roaming services to each other’s customers
FNO Fixed Network Operators
FOTA Firmware Over-the-Air - See OTA
FQDN Fully Qualified Domain Name
FR Frame Relay
FREQUENCY BLOCK A set of frequency channels within a Band Class indicated by a Frequency Block Designator (e.g., A, B, C, D, E, F)
GBR Guaranteed Bit Rate
GERAN GSM/Edge Radio Access Network
GGSN Gateway GPRS Support Node
GLOBAL CHALLENGE See CAVE-based Authentication
GLOBAL TITLE See GTT
GMT Greenwich Mean Time
GPRS General Packet Radio Service
GRE Generic Routing Encapsulation
GRQ Global Roaming Quality
GRX GPRS Roaming Exchange
GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
GTA Global Title Address
GTP GPRS Tunneling Protocol
GTT Global Title Translation
HA Home Agent - See Mobile IP
HAAA Home Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting
HANDOFF Process by which a call in progress on a radio channel may be transferred to another radio channel without interruption to the ongoing communication. Process by which a wireless data session interface is moved from one entity to another while maintaining continuity of IP bindings or PPP link layer state
HDCL High-level Data Link Control
HDR High Data Rate
HGGSN Home Gateway GPRS Support Node
HLR Home Locator Register
HMAC-MD5 keyed-Hash Message Authentication Code using MD5
HMAC-SHA-1 keyed-Hash Message Authentication Code using SHA-1
H-MPC Home Mobile Positioning Center
HLR Home Location Register
HNI Home Network Identifier - See IMSI
HO a.k.a. Handover, see Handoff
HOME CARRIER A party that provides, either directly or through its exercise of control over a licensee, wireless services to its (or its Licensee’s) customers in a market.
HOME ADDRESS See Mobile IP
HOME SID/NID LIST A list of home systems in a handset’s NV-RAM
HOME SYSTEM From the MS perspective, the home system is the system that transmits a SID value recognized by the MS as its home SID. When a user is not roaming, they are in their home system. a.k.a. Home Network
H-PDE Home Positioning Determination Entity
HPMN Home Public Mobile Network: a party who is providing mobile telecommunications services to its Roaming Customers in a geographic area where it holds a license or has a right to establish and operate a Public Mobile Network
HRPD High Rate Packet Data - See 1xEV-DO
HRPD SESSION Refers to a shared state between a 1xEV-DO AT and the AN. This shared state stores the protocols and configuration data that were negotiated for communications between the AT and AN
HSS Home Subscriber Server - See IMS
HUB An entity which provides the technical and commercial means to facilitate the deployment and operation of International Roaming Services between the Client Operator and Elected Connected Operators
HUR High Usage Report
HYBRID DEVICE A device capable of operating on both 1xRTT and 1xEV-DO access networks. a.k.a. Hybrid MS/AT, Hybrid Terminal
IAM Initial Address Message
ICC International Chamber of Commerce
I-CSCF Interrogating-CSCF
IDD International Direct Dialing
IDD Iterative Detection and Decoding
IETF Internet Engineering Task Force
IFAST International Forum on ANSI-41 Standards Technology
IIF Interworking and Interoperability Function
IKE Internet Key Exchange
IMEI International Mobile Equipment Identity
IMF International Monetary Fund
IMM Instant Multi-Media
IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem
IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identity
IMSI 11 12 The 11th and 12th digits of the IMSI. a.k.a. MNC (if a two digit MNC is being used)
IMSI S Short IMSI
IMT-2000 International Mobile Telecommunications-2000
INBOUND ROAMER From an operator’s perspective, someone else’s subscriber that has roamed into that operator’s network and is receiving service. For example, if a subscriber from operator A roams into operator B’s network, that subscriber is an inbound roamer from operator B’s perspective
INF Industry Negative File
INSTREQ Instruction Request
INTERCONNECTION The routing of telecommunications traffic between the networks of different communications companies
INTER-STANDARD ROAMING While generically, inter-standard roaming refers to roaming between any two different mobile technology standards, it most commonly refers to roaming between CDMA and GSM networks
IOT Inter Operator Tariff
IP Internet Protocol
IP Intelligent Peripheral
IPCP Internet Protocol Control Protocol
IPLC International Private Leased Circuit
IPR Intellectual Property Rights
IPsec IP Security Protocol
Ipsec SA IPSec Security Association
Ipsec SPI IPSec Security Parameter Index
IPv4 Internet Protocol Version 4
IPX Internet Packet Exchange
IR International Roaming
IRA International Roaming Agreement
IRM International Roaming MIN
IRT International Roaming Team
IREG International Roaming Expert Group
ISP Internet Service Provider
IS-2000 1xRTT air interface, superseded by TIA-2000
IS-41 Superseded by TIA-41
IS-835 Network specification for cdma2000 wireless IP network architecture. IS-835 is the basis for supporting packet data roaming between operator networks
IS-856 Superseded by TIA-856
IS-865 1xEV-DO air interface
IS-95 Air interface specification for CDMA
ISAKMP Internet Security Association and Key Management Protocol
ISDN Integrated Servuces Digital Network
ISG International Signaling Gateway
ISUP Integrated Services User Part
ITU International Telecommunications Union
ITU-T Telecommunication Standardization Sector
IVR Interactive Voice Response
J-STD-038 TIA standard for network interworking between GSM MAP and ANSI-41 MAP
KEY An algorithmic pattern used by a sender to encrypt messages, and by a recipient to decrypt them
L2TP Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol
LAC L2TP Access Concentrator - See L2TP
LAN Local Area Network
LBS Location Based Service
LCP Link Control Protocol
LICENSEE A license or permit holder authorized by governmental authorities to operate a wireless system and provide wireless services in the relevant market(s)
LINE RANGE Consecutive sequence of phone numbers assigned to the same MSC (i.e., associated with the same NPA-NXX). For example, a line range from 858-248-0000 to 858-248-9999 specifies a line range of 10,000 phone numbers, all belonging to the MSC identified by NPA 858 and NXX 274. International voice roaming partners must exchange line ranges of potential roamers so that they can be provisioned in each other’s networks. If a line range containing a user’s phone number has not been provisioned in a partner network, the user will not be able to roam in that network.
LLC Leased Line Circuit
LNS L2TP Network Server - See L2TP
locreq Location Request RETURN RESULT
LOCREQ Location Request INVOKE
LSB Least Significant Bit
LTE Long Term Evolution
MABEL Major Account Billing Exchange Logistical
MAIN SERVICE INSTANCE See Service Instance
MAP Mobile Application Part - See TIA-41
MARKET (a) The geographical area, identified by a SID, BID, or other like governmental identifier, in which a Person has a license or permit to provide Wireless Services, or (b) the licenses and/or permits and associated wireless system assets a Person owns or leases and deploys to provide Wireless Service in a geographical area identified by a SID, BID, or other like governmental identifier
MBI MIN Block Identifier
MBWA Mobile Broadband Wireless Access
MC Message Center - See SMS
MCC Mobile Country Code
MD5 Message-Digest algorithm 5
MDN Mobile Directory Number
ME Mobile Equipment
MEID Mobile Equipment Identifier
MGCF Media Gateway Control Function
MGW Media Gateway
MIN Mobile Identification Number
MIP Mobile IP - See Mobile IP
MMD Multimedia Domain
MME Mobile Management Entity
MMS Multimedia Messaging Service
MN Mobile Node
MNC Mobile Network Code
MNO Mobile Network Operators
MN ID Mobile Node Identifier - See A12 Authentication
MO Mobile Originated
MOBILE IP Defined by IETF RFC 3344, Mobile IP is an architecture that allows a mobile device to move from one network to another while maintaining the same IP address. a.k.a. MIP, MIPv4 (MIP for IPv4), MIPv6 (MIP for IPv6)
MRFC Multimedia Resource Function Controller
MRFP Multimedia Resource Function Processor
MS Mobile Station
MS/AT Mobile Station/ Access Terminal
MSB Most Significant Bit
MSC Mobile Switching Center
MSCID Mobile Switching Center Identification
MSCIN MSC Identification Number
MSID Mobile Station Identity or Identifier
MSISDN Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number
MSIN Mobile Subscription Identification Number
MSL Master Subsidy Lock
MSRN Mobile Subscriber Roaming Number
MT Mobile Terminated
MTP Message Transfer Part
MTSO Mobile Telephone Switching Office - See MSC
MULTI-BAND HANDSET A handset that operates in multiple frequency bands
MULTI-MODE HANDSET A handset that supports multiple air interface technologies
MVNO Mobile Virtual Network Operator
NAI Network Access Identifier
NAM Number Assignment Module
NANP North American Numbering Plan
NAS Network Access Server
NAT Network Address Translation
NATIONAL ZONES Coverage space that is national and is bound to the license/ authorisation of that country/region
NCP Network Control Protocol
NDD National Direct Dial
NEGATIVE SYSTEM See PRL
NET SETTLEMENT The monthly accumulation of financial positions between roaming partners, identifying total payables and receivable position of each operator. In GSM, the normal settlement period is a calendar month.
NID Network Identification
NLoS Non-Line-of-Sight
NMSI National Mobile Station Identity
NON TERRESTRIAL OPERATORS Operators that are wholly independent from any Terrestrial network and operate in International Zones and National Zones where they are authorised to do so
NON TERRESTRIAL ROAMING Roaming service provided by Non Terrestrial Operators
NTNE Non-Terrestrial Network Extensions. A Non-Terrestrial Network Extension is where a Host Operator (where the Host Operator may be Terrestrial or Non-Terrestrial) extends its network into Non-terrestrial areas e.g. in International Zones and National Zones where they are authorised to do so. The extension is known as the Client Operator and considered a Non-Terrestrial Network Extension or NTNE
NPA-NXX See NANP
NRTDRE It is a GSMA initiative, being adopted by Operators, that reduces the risk of roaming fraud
NS Name Server
OC Open Connectivity
OMA Open Mobile Alliance
OPEN PRL See PRL
OTA Over-The-Air Programming
OTA SP Over-The-Air Service Provisioning
OUTBOUND ROAMER From an operator’s perspective, an outbound roamer is one of their subscribers that has roamed out of their home network and is receiving service from a partner’s network. For example, if a subscriber from operator A roams into operator B’s network, that subscriber is an outbound roamer from operator A’s perspective
PAAA Proxy AAA
PACKET DATA SERVICE A general term used for any packet switched data service offered by an access provider network to a user through the user’s MS
PACKET DATA SERVICE OPTION A service option value that identifies a packet switched data service
PACKET DATA SESSION An instance of use of packet data service by a mobile user. A packet data session begins when the user invokes packet data service. A packet data session ends when the user or the network terminates packet data service
PaDIRT Packet Data International Roaming Team, transitioned to the Technical Working Group (TWG)
PANID Previous ANID
PAP Password Authentication Protocol
PC Point Code
PCF Packet Control Function
PERMISSIVE MODE See PRL
PCS Personal Communications Service
P-CSCF See IMS
PDE Position Determination Entity
PDN Packet Data Network
PDN GW Packet Data Network Gateway
PDP Packet Data Protocol
PDSN Packet data serving node
PIN Personal Identification Number - See RVR
PLUS CODE DIALING Code dialing. a.k.a. +
PMIP6 Proxy Mobile IPv6
PMN Public Mobile Network
PN Offset Offset is one of the 512 short code sequences used to differentiate sectors on base stations for communication with mobile units. PN stands for pseudo random noise that appears in a repetitive manner. The PN sequence forms a “short” code that is 32,768 chips in length and repeats every 26.666 milliseconds
PoC Push to Talk over Cellular
POINT OF ATTACHMENT See Mobile IP
P-P PDSN-PDSN interface
PPM Pilot Phase Measurements
PPP Point-to-Point Protocol
PPP SERVICE INSTANT See Service Instance
PPP SESSION Point-to-Point Protocol Session
PPTP Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol
PRD Permanent Reference Document
PREFERRED ROAMING Process by which a mobile operator decides which partner their subscribers will use whilst roaming.Today there are two main methods in use: network based and SIM based steering. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Some operators will use both approaches together. See also Steering of Roaming
PREFERRED SYSTEM See PRL
PRL Preferred Roaming List
PROFILING Fraud detection technique that compares current calling activity against a variety of dynamic factors to identify abnormal activity that may indicate fraud
PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
PTC Push to Chat
PTT Push to Talk, see PoC
PV Pre-Call Validation
PVI Packet Voice Interconnect
PZID Packet Zone Identification
QoS Quality of Service
RAEX Roaming Agreement Exchange
RAP Reject Account Procedure
RADIUS Remote Authentication Dial In User Service
RADIUS SERVER See AAA
RAN Radio Access Network - See AN
REGNOT Registration Notification
REPLAY A replay attack involves reuse of previous messaging (e.g. MIP registration request). Systems that do not provide sequence integrity are vulnerable to these types of attacks
RESTRICTIVE MODE See PRL
RFC Request For Comments
RLP Radio Link Protocol
RN Radio Network - See AN
RNC Radio Network Controller
ROAMING Service in an international location that is different from the home network location
ROAMING BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE Analysis based on TAP or DC, FC, NRTRDE Data used to help Operators learn about their traffic patterns
ROAMING AGREEMENT A legally binding document executed between two operators that specifies the terms and conditions by which service will be provided to each other’s roaming subscribers
ROAMING CUSTOMER A person or entity with a legal relationship with the Client Operator using a GSM SIM and/or a GSM USIM for use by that person or entity of mobile telecommunications service(s) of a VPMN Operator internationally and in a geographic area outside the area served by that person's or entity's HPMN Operator.
ROAMING HUB The technical infrastructure, hardware and software platform through which the Roaming Hub Provider provides the Service
ROAMING HUBBING PROVIDER An entity which provides the technical and commercial means to facilitate the deployment and operation of International Roaming Services between the Client Operator and Elected Connected Operators
ROAMING INDICATOR An 8-bit field in a PRL system record that identifies the roaming status of the system so that an indication can be displayed to the user. a.k.a. Roam_Ind
ROHC Robust Header Compression
routreq RoutingRequest RETURN RESUL
ROUTREQ RoutingRequest INVOKE
R-P RN-PDSN interface
R&R Rejects & Returns
RSP Roaming Service Provider
RTP Real-time Transport Protocol
RUIM Removable User Identity Module
RVR Roamer Verification and Reinstatement
RTS Roaming Test SIM cards
SCP Service Control Point
S-CSCF Serving Call Session Control Session, see IMS
SDN Switched Data Network
SDO Standards Development Organization
SDR Special Drawing Rights
SE Denotes a Services Group PRD
SECTOR ID A 128-bit value broadcast by a 1xEV-DO system in the Sector Parameters Message to identify itself to mobile devices
SEIZERES SeizeResource
SERVICE INSTANCE A connection between a MS and PDSN that is used to transport user data for a packet data service
SERVICE OPTION dentifies the service being provided. Service options may be used on both control and traffic channels and allow various voice and non-voice services to be defined and specified independently within the confines of the physical layer and multiplex sub-layer interface
SERVICE CARRIER The party that provides, either directly or through its control of a licensee, wireless service for customers of the other party, while such customers are out of their home carrier’s market and in the market of the serving carrier
SERVICE SYSTEM The MSC which currently has the MS obtaining service at one of its cell sites within its coverage area. The serving system may be either the home or a visited system. a.k.a. Serving Network
SERVING BID A unique identifier used to determine the network where the call event was originally created (BID stands for Billing Identifier)
SERVING LOCATION DESCRIPTION A text description giving the geographical location of the terminal equipment
SERVING NETWORK FIELD A unique identifier used to determine the network where the call event was originally created
SG Signaling Gateway
SiG Services Interest Group
SGSN Serving GPRS Support Node
SGW Signaling Gateway function
SHA-1 Secure Hash Algorithm 1
SID System ID
SID/NID LOCKOUT LIST A list of forbidden systems in a handset’s NV-RAM. While it is possible for operators to designate systems as negative systems using a SID/NID Lockout List, this method is not recommended since it affects system selection outside of the PRL. The preferred method is to identify these systems as negative (i.e. Not Preferred) in the PRL system table using the Preferred / Not Preferred field
SIM Subscriber Identity Module
SIP Session Initiation Protocol
SIP Simple IP
SMDPP SMS Message Service Delivery Point to Point
SMS Short Message Service
SMSC Short Message Service Center - See SMS
SO Service Option
SO33 Service Option 33 - See Service Option
SO59 Service Option 59 - See Service Option
SOFT HANDOFF a.k.a. Softhandover
SRF Specialized Resource Function
SRFDIR Specialized Resource Function Directive
SS7 Signaling System 7
SS-7 POINT CODE Signaling System #7 point code
SSD Service Support Data
SSD Shared Secret Data
SSN Sub-System Number
SSPR System Selection for Preferred Roaming
SOR Steering of Roaming. Process by which a mobile operator decides which partner their subscribers will use whilst roaming.Today there are two main methods in use: network based and SIM based steering. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. Some operators will use both approaches together. See also Preferred Roaming
STP Signal Transfer Point
SUBNET ID A 128-bit value used in the PRL system table to uniquely identify a 1xEV-DO system
SUPL Secure User Plane
SUPPLEMENTARY SERVICE A variety of phone features such as call forwarding, three way calling, etc
SYSTEM TABLE See PRL
TADIG Transferred Account Data Interchange Group
TAL Trigger Address List
TAP Transferred Account Procedure
TCAP Transaction Capabilities Application Part
TCC Testing Completion Certificate
TCP Transmission Control Protocol
TDEA a.k.a. Triple Data Encryption Standard
TDES a.k.a. Triple Data Encryption Standard
TDO TimeDateOffset
TDS Technical Data Sheet
TERRESTRIAL ROAMING Roaming to a Territory as identified by the ITU
TIA Telecommunications Industry Association
TIA-2000 Air interface specification for 1xRTT. Available from the 3GPP2 website. a.k.a. TIA/EIA-2000, IS-2000 (previous version)
TIA-41 Cellular Radio-Telecommunications Intersystem Operations
TIA-856 Air interface specification for 1xEV-DO. The standard is available from the 3GPP2 website as C.S0024. a.k.a. TIA/EIA-856, IS-856 (previous version)
TIA-878 Interoperability specification (IOS) for HRPD access network interfaces. The standard is available from the 3GPP2 website as A.S0008
TLDN Temporary Local Directory Number
TMSI Temporary Mobile Station Identity
TRIGADDRLIST Trigger Address List
TRIPLE DES Triple Data Encryption Standard
TUFF Telecommunications UK Fraud Forum
UDP User Datagram Protocol
UDR Usage Data Records
UE User equipment
UICC Universal Integrated Circuit Card in defined in 3GPP2 C.S0074
UIFN Universal International Freephone Number
UIM User Identity Module - See RUIM
UIMID UIM Identifier - See RUIM
UMTS Universal Mobile Telephone System
UNILATERAL “One way”, one direction
UNIQUE CHALLENGE See CAVE-based Authentication
URI Uniform Resource Identifier
VAAA Visited AAA
VERIFICATION See RVR
VHUB Visited Roaming Hubbing Provider
VISITED SYSTEM A system that is not a subscriber’s home system. a.k.a. Visited Network
VLR Visitor Location Register
V-MPC Visited Mobile Positioning Center
VoIP Voice Over IP
VoLTE Voice over long-term evolution (Voice over LTE/VoLTE) is a technology specification that defines the standards and procedures for delivering voice communication and data over 4G LTE networks
V-PDE Visited Position Determination Entity
VPMN Visited Public Mobile Network
VPN Virtual Private Network
VSA Vendor-specific attributes
VSGN Visitor Serving GPRS Support Node
VSWG Voice and SMS Working Group, transitioned to the Business Working Group (BWG)
WAP Wireless Application Protocol
WBA Wireless Broadband Alliance
W-CDMA Wideband Code Division Multiple Access
WiFi Local area wireless technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data or connect to the internet using 2.4 GHz UHF and 5 GHz SHF radio waves.
WiMAX Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access
WIN Wireless Intelligent Network
WINCAP Wireless Intelligent Network Capability
WLAN Wireless local area network that links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method (typically spread-spectrum or OFDM radio), and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider Internet
WRIX Wireless Roaming Intermediary Exchange