Virtual Roaming Systems for GSM, GPRS and UMTS
Open Connectivity in Practice

1. Edition November 2009
338 Pages, Hardcover
Professional Book
Short Description
Written by a pioneer in the field, this book focuses on the implementation of virtual roaming systems. It generalizes the previous SS7 SMS interworking architectures to voice and data, GPRS, and 3G virtual roaming; extending the discussion of virtual roaming to include location based services, optimal routing and 4G perspectives. This book will serve as an invaluable reference for network and networking engineers, handset developers, systems implementers, systems integrators, systems software engineers and programmers, wireless specialists and anybody else seeking a comprehensive and practical guide to the basics of virtual roaming systems.
This book provides a detailed technical guide to the virtual and optimised roaming systems for mobile networks
Written by a pioneer in the field, this book focuses on the implementation of virtual roaming systems. It generalizes the previous SS7 SMS interworking architectures to voice and data, GPRS, and 3G virtual roaming; extending the discussion of virtual roaming to include location based services, optimal routing and 4G perspectives. The author provides a thorough and detailed technical explanation of the topic covering subjects such as 'Over the Air' (OTA) provisioning and detailed geo-localisation systems in a virtual roaming environment. Finally, this book addresses the application of MAP, CAMEL, TCAP, SCCP, and GTP.
Key Features:
* Provides a thorough and detailed technical coverage of virtual and optimised roaming systems for mobile networks
* Explores the application of MAP, CAMEL, TCAP, SCCP, and GTP
* Discusses previous SMS Hubs architecture used for SMS interworking and generalises to voice, data, and 3G virtual roaming
* Includes material on pre-paid case with CAMEL parameter transformations, SMS, Supplementary Services and USSD implementation
* Focuses on roaming hubs (including an, introduction to Sigtran configuration) and transparent networks of hubs
This book will serve as an invaluable reference for network and networking engineers, handset developers, systems implementers, systems integrators, systems software engineers and programmers, wireless specialists and anybody else seeking a comprehensive and practical guide to the basics of virtual roaming systems.
1.1 Mobile services concerned by virtual roaming
1.2 Virtual roaming hub for inbound visitors service (single IMSI)
1.3 Virtual roaming hub for outbound subscribers: multi-IMSI
1.4 Brief introduction to the standard bi-lateral roaming procedures
1.5 Principles of the SS7 protocol layers used in the roaming procedures
2 Architecture of virtual roaming systems
2.1 SCCP, MAP, CAP and GTP Transformation principle in the Roaming Hub
2.2 Procedures for the virtual roaming visitors service (single IMSI)
2.3 Restriction of virtual roaming by the roaming hub
2.4 Procedures for the virtual roaming visitors service (multi- IMSI)
2.5 IS 41<->MAP GSM Inter-standard roaming hubs
2.6 Various MAP and CAMEL transformation methods
2.7 Appendix of Chapter 1
3 Connecting the VPLMN MNOs to a virtual roaming supplier
3.1 MNO configuration vs Roaming Hub supplier configuration
3.2 Connection to the roaming hub service, MNO point of view: using the "alias GT" method
3.3 Details of E212->E214 MNO configuration with the GT translation methods
3.4 Connection to the roaming hub service, MNO point of view: using the "MTP Tunneling transparent" method
3.5 Roaming Hub supplier point of view: different modes of connection of the MNO clients
3.6 Implementation of a Roaming Hub with several Point Codes
3.7 SS7 stack architecture for a robust integrated system with several Point Codes
3.8 SIGTRAN introduction and practical configuration
3.9 M3UA: only a small asymmetry between AS and SG
3.10 Tuning SIGTRAN parameters
3.11 Standard MTP3 load distribution algorithm
4 Networks of Roaming Hubs
4.1 Cooperation of several Roaming Hubs
4.2 Problem raised by the Mobile Number Portability(MNP)
4.3 Use of the TCAP Dialog part to provide an end-to-end routing capability
5 Hosted Roaming Hubs with virtual GTs
5.1 Purpose
5.2 TCAP dialog implementation constraints
6 Location Based services and virtual roaming
6.1 "Spyware measurements" in the handset
6.2 Network MAP based location obtention methods
6.3 Simple BSS based SMLC architecture using the mobile measurements
6.4 Annex
7 Roaming costs Inter Operator Traffic charges suppression systems and other service improvements
7.1 VMS anti-tromboning: large financial savings in GSM and UMTS
7.2 Call back and local calls optimization
8 SIM cards "Over The Air" provisioning
8.1 principles of SIM OTA using SMS: download and upload
8.2 OTA SIM provisioning interface examples
8.3 Coding the binary payload to download (write) and upload (read) files of the SIM card (access with Remote File Manager)
8.4 Coding the binary payload to download (write) and upload (read) data of the SIM card (access with Applet File Manager)
8.5 Coding a binary payload which triggers the execution of a remote SIM Toolkit (using the Applet File Manager)
8.6 More details on OTA formats
8.7 Details for the upload of a big SIM address book (multiple entries) using concatenated SMS
8.8 security keys, how to use the card vendor provided data ?
9 Handset "Over The Air" provisioning of the GPRS profiles
9.1 The data access path in GSM: purpose of GPRS profile settings
9.2 Obtaining the IMEI of a handset for device management
9.3 Method to remotely control that a loaded GPRS profile works
9.4 Architecture of a classical OTA GPRS server
9.5 Stochastic automatic GPRS profile type learning OTA server
9.6 Stochastic convergence
9.7Best order to try an unknown handset GPRS profile type
10 4G prospective: GSM-UMTS <-> VoIP roaming
10.1 Pirate techniques?
10.2 Seamless "Free roaming?" GSM-UMTS with SS7 <-> VoIP gateways
10.3 Attracting the visitors and forcing them to roam immediately in a given VPLMN
10.4 IMS, the all IP network architecture
10.5 Making an "IP call" 4G to a mobile
11 Worked-out examples
11.1 Examples of Chapter1
11.2 Examples of Chapter 3: Roaming Hub with several Point Codes
11.3 Examples of Chapter 4
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS