In telecommunication, a public land mobile network ( PLMN ) is a combination of wireless communication services offered by a specific operator in a specific country. A PLMN typically consists of several cellular technologies like GSM / 2G , UMTS / 3G , LTE / 4G , NR/5G, offered by a single operator within a given country, often referred to as a cellular network .
8-404: A PLMN is identified by a globally unique PLMN code, which consists of a MCC (Mobile Country Code) and MNC (Mobile Network Code) . Hence, it is a five- to six-digit number identifying a country, and a mobile network operator in that country, usually represented in the form 001-01 or 001–001. A PLMN is part of a: Note that an MNC can be of two-digit form and three-digit form with leading zeros. It
16-512: A SIM or USIM for one subscriber, typically starts with the PLMN code. For example, an IMSI belonging to the PLMN 262-33 would look like 262330000000001. Mobile phones use this to detect roaming , so that a mobile phone subscribed on a network with a PLMN code that mismatches the start of the USIM's IMSI will typically display an "R" on the icon that indicates connection strength. A PLMN typically offers
24-543: A globally unique Broadband Operator ID can be derived from the MCC/MNC tuple. TETRA networks use the mobile country code from ITU-T Recommendation E.212 together with a 14-bit binary mobile network code (T-MNC) where only values between 0 and 9999 are used. However, a TETRA network may be assigned an E.212 network code as well. Some network operators do not have their own radio access network at all. These are called mobile virtual network operators (MVNO) and are marked in
32-479: Is administered by the respective national numbering plan administrator. From PLMN assignments, it is apparent that such dualities of two-digit and three-digit MNCs with the same number value are avoided (see the list of mobile country codes and mobile network codes ). An example for an actual three-digit/two-digit MNC with leading zeros is in Bermuda MCC , 350-007 and 350-00, 350-01. The IMSI , which identifies
40-572: Is not the same as MNC of 01). The first digit of the mobile country code identifies the geographic region as follows (the digits 1 and 8 are not used): An MCC is used in combination with an MNC (a combination known as an "MCC/MNC tuple") to uniquely identify a mobile network operator (carrier) using the GSM (including GSM-R ), UMTS , LTE , and 5G public land mobile networks . Some but not all CDMA , iDEN , and satellite mobile networks are identified with an MCC/MNC tuple as well. For WiMAX networks,
48-474: The following services to a mobile subscriber: The availability, quality and bandwidth of these services strongly depends on the particular technology used to implement a PLMN. Mobile Country Code The ITU-T Recommendation E.212 defines mobile country codes (MCC) as well as mobile network codes (MNC). The mobile country code consists of three decimal digits and the mobile network code consists of two or three decimal digits (for example: MNC of 001
56-582: The geographic area that it was assigned to (e.g. Digicel uses the Jamaica MCC throughout the Caribbean). ITU-T updates an official list of mobile network codes in its Operational Bulletins which are published twice a month. ITU-T also publishes complete lists: as of January 2024 list issued on 15 November 2023 was current, having all MCC/MNC before 15 November 2023. The official list is often incomplete as national MNC authorities do not forward changes to
64-507: The tables as such. Note that MVNOs without their own MCC/MNC (that is, they share the MCC/MNC of their host network) are not listed here. The following tables attempt to provide a complete list of mobile network operators. Country information, including ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes is provided for completeness. Mostly for historical reasons, one E.212 MCC may correspond to multiple ISO country codes (e.g., MCC 362 corresponds to BQ, CW, and SX). Some operators also choose to use an MCC outside
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