Roaming: Basics

Dheeraj Kumar

12/03/2009

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 What is Roaming?

> Roaming is a general term in wireless

telecommunications that refers to the extending of
connectivity service in a location that is different from
the home location where the service was registered.

> Roaming is defined as the ability for a cellular customer

to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and
receive data, or access other services when traveling
outside the geographical coverage area of the home
network, by means of using visited network.

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 Types of Roaming

> National Roaming: If the visited network is in the

same country as the home network, this is
known as National Roaming.
> International Roaming: If the visited network is
outside the home country, this is International
Roaming (the term Global Roaming has also
been used).

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 Roaming Agreements

> Roaming is technically supported by mobility

management, authentication and billing procedures.
> The legal roaming business aspects negotiated between
the roaming partners for billing of the services obtained
are usually stipulated in so called Roaming Agreements.
> An agreement between two or more wireless telephone
companies outlines the terms and conditions under
which the participating companies will provide wireless
service to each others subscribers.

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 Roaming process

> When the mobile device is turned on or is transferred via

a handover to the network, this new "visited" network
sees the device, notices that it is not registered with its
own system, and attempts to identify its home network.

> If there is no roaming agreement between the two

networks, maintenance of service is impossible, and
service is denied by the visited network.

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 Roaming process contd.

> The visited network contacts the home network and

requests service information (including whether or not
the mobile should be allowed to roam) about the
roaming device using the IMSI number.

> If successful, the visited network begins to maintain a

temporary subscriber record for the device. Likewise,
the home network updates its information to indicate
that the mobile is on the host network so that any
information sent to that device can be correctly routed.

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 HLR

> A Home Location Register (HLR) is a database of user

(subscriber) information, i.e., customer profiles, used in
mobile (cellular) networks.
> It is a key component of mobile networks such as GSM,
TDMA, and CDMA networks. A HLR contains user
information such as account information, account status,
user preferences, features subscribed to by the user,
user’s current location, etc.
> HLRs are used by the Mobile Switching Centers (MSCs)
to originate and deliver arriving mobile calls.

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 VLR

> A Visiting Location Register (VLR) is a

database, similar to a HLR, which is used by the
mobile network to temporarily hold profiles of
roaming users (users outside their home area).
> This VLR data is based on the user information
retrieved from a HLR.
> MSCs use a VLR to handle roaming users.

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 How are the HLR and VLR used?

> Each mobile network has its own HLRs and VLRs.
When a MSC detects a mobile user’s presence in the
area covered by its network, it first checks a database to
determine if the user is in his/her home area or is
roaming, i.e., the user is a visitor.
> User in Home Area: HLR has the necessary information for
initiating, terminating, or receiving a call.
> User is Roaming: VLR contacts the user’s HLR to get the
necessary information to set up a temporary user profile.

> The user’s location is recorded in the HLR, and in case

the user roaming, it is also recorded in the VLR.

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 Making and Receiving a call

> The user wants to make a call:

> User in Home Area: MSC contacts the HLR prior to setting up
the call.
> User is Roaming: MSC contacts the VLR prior to setting up the
call.

> There is a call for the user (call goes to the home MSC):
> User in Home Area: Home MSC delivers the call immediately.
> User is Roaming: Home MSC contacts the VLR to determine
the appropriate switch in the roaming area to handle the
arriving call and then transfers the call to the roaming area
MSC.

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 Billing

> The usage by a subscriber in a visited network is

captured in a file called the TAP (Transferred Account
Procedure) for GSM / CIBER (Cellular Intercarrier Billing
Exchange Roamer) for CDMA, AMPS etc... file and is
transferred to the home network.

> A TAP/CIBER file contains details of the calls made by

the subscriber viz. location, calling party, called party,
time of call and duration, etc.

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 Billing contd.

> The TAP/CIBER files are rated as per the tariffs

charged by the visited operator.

> The home operator then bills these calls to its

subscribers and may charge a mark-up/tax
applicable locally.

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Thank you

Information Security Level 2 – Sensitive © 2008 – Proprietary and Confidential Information of Amdocs