LTE SIM Configuration

SIM Card Setting Intro

• International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI): 15 digit unique identifying number that is used to identify the subscriber to the service. Typically issued by the operator. IMSI consists of:
  • MCC: Mobile Country Code - identifies geographic region of the SIM card
  • MNC: Mobile Network Code - identifies the operator
  • MSIN: Mobile Subscriber Identifier - identifies individual subscriber

Typically ​MCC and MNC are 5, 6 or 7 digit combination leaving 10, 9 or 8 digits for the subscriber serial number.

• Authentication Algorithm: A number of ​standard security algorithms are sued in cellular networks. The two that are related to SIM configuration are:
  • XOR - Mostly used for testing
  • ​Mileanage - Mostly used in production. Parameters stored in SIm realated to authentication are:
    • Ki: Subscriber Authentication Key (128 bit)
    • OP: Operator Code - same for all SIMs from a single operator
    • OPc: ​Derived operator code unique for each SIM

These keys ​should be validated before deployment.

• Integrated Circuit Card Identifier (ICCID): ​up to 22-digit number uniquely identifying the SIM card. Consist of:
  • Issuer identification number (IIN): Up to 7 digits with
    • Major Industry Identifier (2 digit): Hard-coded to "89" identifying telecommunication
    • Country code (1-3 digit): SIM Issuer Country Code
    • Issuer Identifier (1-4 digit): SIM Issuer (operator) Code
    Valid IINs are published in ​the Annex of the ITU Operational Bulletin.
  • Individual Account Identifier (variable length):
  • Checksum (1 digit) : One digit ​Luhn algorithm check code.

• Answer To Reset (ATR): Information message that helps reader access the card information (i.e. describes ​how to read the SIM card).

NOTE: International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is not related to SIM but is rather a unique identifier of the device.

ORBIT Configuration

We use AAAA SIM cards with the following: