Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Main points from report prepared for
the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS)
Copenhagen 4 March 2014
Overview and scope
Background
Analysis
Conclusions
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
2
Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Overview
A study carried out by Cybercom for the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS).
Operators / market participants consulted:
• MNOs – infrastructure based (RAN & Core)
• Shared infrastructure operators
• MVNOs – traditional services (voice & data)
• Specialised Service Providers
(Telematics/M2M)
• Operators of private small cell networks
(typically for in-house coverage)
• SMS Service providers (SMS-SP)
• Telematics equipment developers and solution
providers (e.g. automotive sector)
• Analysis based on consultations with Swedish operators
and other market participants
• Overview of expected demand for MNC resources
– New services and applications
– New business models
– Technology evolution
• Main focus on mixed use of 2 and 3-digit MNCs
• Also considered:
– Shared MNCs
(leading digits of MSIN used to designate service provider)
– MNCs under shared MCCs (“90X”)
• Mobile network equipment vendors
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Overview and scope
Background
Analysis
Conclusions
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
4
Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Developments driving the need for MNC resources
The need for more MNC numbering resources is driven by a range of various developments
that create opportunities for new service providers.
Telematics / M2M
Unbundling/
decoupling of
services
Small cell
networks /
private networks
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
•
•
•
•
•
Utilities
Security
Healthcare
Automotive
etc.
• Specialised / customised services
• Special requirements (coverage,
network redundancy, etc.)
• Avoid operator (MNO) “lock-in”
effect
• SMS
• Roaming
• OTT/VoIP
• Deregulation
• New technical and
market opportunities
• In-house coverage
solutions
• Hotspots
• Private networks
• Unlicensed / shared spectrum
• Capacity demands (data) / service
quality
• Technical evolution, adoption of
common technologies
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Non- Access
Access
Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Telematics – Utilities, Security
The need for customised service offerings and support adapted to new business models
create opportunities for specialised service providers.
Customer
Customer
• Largest telematics (M2M) sector
– More than 3/4 of cellular connected devices
MVNO
MNOs
MVNO
MNOs
• Require specialised / customised
services
• A different business model
– Few large customer, large numbers of
termination points
– Telematics focus vs. individual user focus
• High reliability and coverage
requirements
Specialised
MVNOs will
require
MNC
resources
– National roaming requirements
• Devices mostly in fixed locations
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Telematics – Automotive
eCall will be a catalyst for widespread deployment, but the market will eventually be more
than eCall.
SIM for Pan-European eCall
Embedded
• Typical IVS might may be dualfunction
– eCall + Proprietary services
eCall SIM
In-Vehicle
System (IVS)
Telematics SIM
Telematics SIM for:
• Private value added services
(from vehicle manufacturer)
• Third Party Service (TPS)
emergency services
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
Embedded
or
Tethered
(SIM card
slot)
• eCall mandatory, but
telematics module with
proprietary premium services
could enable car manufacturer
to recover cost
• eCall do not require roaming,
but the other services will do
• Very complex connectivity and
provisioning requirements
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Specialised
MVNOs will
require
MNC
resources
Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Unbundling/ decoupling of services
Technical and regulatory evolution increasingly open opportunities for services to be offered
by independent service providers.
• MNCs resources may be
required for:
OTT / VoIP
SMS
– traffic termination
– Billing purposes
• Services typical international by
nature
Roaming
MNOs
MNOs
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Independent
service
providers
will require
MNC
resources
Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Small cells and private networks
Small cell networks are deployed for improved capacity and quality and private networks
should also be expected to increasingly deploy 3GPP compatible technology.
• In-house coverage
• Hotspots
MNO
Public
networks
Independent
providers
3GPP
technology /
spectrum:
MNO
operated
Private
networks Independent
providers
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
– Support high data
usage, etc.)
• Private networks
• Spectrum
– Unlicensed
– Shared, etc.
3GPP technology / •
spectrum
LTE /LTE Advanced
WiMAX / WiFi
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MNC resources
required for:
New
operators
may require
MNC
resources
– Independent
providers
– Private
networks
– Interoperability
– Various technical
reasons
Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Summary of MNC requirements
The list of new potential users of MNC resources can never be complete as service and
technology innovation are continuous processes.
• Commercial and technical trends described here are just examples of developments which may result
in growing demand for MNC numbering resources.
• It is important to ensure that technical aspects such as numbering do not unreasonably constrain
competition, service development and innovation.
• Services without own radio access network (RAN) may represent a very substantial part of demand for
new MNC resources
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Increasing MNC resources
A number of ways are currently being discussed for creating more MNC resources and to
use existing MNC resources more efficiently.
Mixed use
2 and 3-digit MNCs
• Using both 2-digit and
3-digit MNCs under
same MCC
• Will create more MNC
resources depending
on the amount of still
unused 2-digit codes
(as 2 and 3-digit
codes must not
“overlap”)
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
MNCs under shared
MCCs
Embedded SIM
• “90X” MCCs may be
attractive way to
create more MNCs
resources1
• Suitable for services
which naturally
transcend borders
• MNCs under new
MCCs could be 3 digit
from start
• More effective
management of
subscriptions through
remote provisioning of
SIM profiles
• Can be used to avoid
“operator lock-in” of
M2M customers with
large number of
connected devices
Shared MNCs
• More efficient use of
existing MNCs
• Using leading digits of
MSIN to denote
operator or service
provider
• An “HLR Proxy”
solution proposed in
Netherlands can be
used as “gateway” in
order to make the
sharing invisible to
other operators.
1
11
901 exists already
902 proposed by
Sweden for SMS-SPs
Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Overview and scope
Background
Analysis
Conclusions
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Possible mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs in Sweden
The study evaluated a plan for mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs under Sweden’s country
code (MCC) 240.
MNC
Sweden’s number plan under MCC 240:
00
Not used
01 – 64
2 digit assignments
65 – 66
Shared use for closed networks
67 – 68
Shared use for test purpose
69
Allocated for crisis management after decision by
the Swedish Post- and Telecom Authority
70 – 99
For future use
700 – 999
3 digit assignments
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
• 70 to 99 would be 700 to 999
• 2-digit codes already assigned will not change
• 3-digit codes will not “overlap” with 2-digit
codes
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Assessment of impact on existing operations
The analysis and discussions with Swedish operators and other market participants indicate
minor problems, except for issues related to 3GPP specification TS 23.122 concerning
HPLMN matching criteria.
Areas of operation
Impact Assessment
Core and access network systems
• Compliance of all network components with
updated specifications need to be verified
• Specific issues with terminals need investigation
and solution, ref 3GPP spec TS 23.122, etc)
Billing and mediation systems
• Expect only minor impact (verification required)
Roaming arrangements and agreements
• Expect in principle no impact
(although verification required)
Interconnection arrangements
• Expect no impact
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
A change of specifications will be needed
Current 3GPP specifications generally assume that a mixture of 2 and 3 digit MNCs within a
single MCC area will not occur.
TS 23.003 assume mix of 2 and 3-digit
MNCs will not occur under same MCC
Mix of 2 and 3-digit MNCs require
specifications to be amended
General assumption is used in various
other 3GPP specifications (e.g. TS
23.122, HPLMN Matching criteria)
Products and systems would need to be
updated accordingly
3GPP compliant systems and products
are based on these assumptions
Full review of specifications needed to
understand exact nature of issues
But, some systems and products may
potentially require minimal or no changes
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Possible scenarios for further study
We might be able to distinguish between two scenarios with regard to potential complexity:
operators with own radio access (RAN) versus MVNO/roaming scenarios.
Own RAN
(MNO, small
cells, private
networks, etc.)
Broadcast of
PLMN ID
(MCC + MNC)
Virtual operator
(MVNO, etc.)
Essentially
similar to
roaming
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
• Specific issues related to TS 23.122
• Impact on networks as well as the entire
terminal population (new and old terminals)
• Seems less complicated
• But system compliance need verification
• Early implementations on local/national
basis could be possible
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Scope of the study
Background
Analysis
Conclusions
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Utilize full range of MNC resource alternatives
To meet demand for MNC resources, it is important to work with all available alternatives
depending on the nature of services and business models.
2 digit MNCs /
3 digit MNCs /
geographic MCC geographic MCC
Shared MNCs
(“HLR Proxy”)
MNCs /shared
MCCs (“90X”)
Utilities/security –
Specialised MVNOs


Automotive –
Specialised MVNOs


Public small cell
networks
Private small cell
networks
SMS Service
Providers
Roaming Service
Providers
OTT VoIP Service
Providers

















Embedded
SIMs




• 3-digit MNCs may (at
least in the near term) be
most suitable for MVNO
type operators
• MNCs under “90X”
MCCs would be suitable
for services that typically
transcend borders
Most suitable for the service/application and efficient use of MNC numbering resources.
Possible/suitable for the service/application, but not the most efficient use of MNC numbering resources.
Possible alternative, but not best option for service/application.
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs
Gradual introduction of 3-digit MNCs
Develop guidelines for best use of the (at any time) available MNC resources, while working
with standardisation bodies to obtain the specification changes required for mixed use of 2
and 3-digit MNCs under same MCCs.
Manage limited 2
digit MNC
resources for
operators / service
providers which
cannot use 3 digit
MNCs
Assignment
guidelines
per service,
application,
etc.
• Aim at introducing 3-digit
MNCs for virtual operators
(MVNOs) as soon as possible
• Operators with radio access
networks might require 2-digit
MNCs for a longer period until
3-digit MNCs can be
supported
• Also create and assign MNC
resources under shared
MCCs (“90X”) for services of
international nature
– 3-digit MNC for all new MCCs
Copenhagen, 4 March 2014
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Mixed use of 2 and 3 digit MNCs