Communication Between a VPLMN VLR and

an HPLMN HLR (Roaming in a GSM

Network)
When a roamer switches ON a mobile station (MS) for the first time in a VPLMN, the VLR
initiates the update location procedure with the roamer’s HLR. The only information available to
the VPLMN VLR at this time is the IMSI of the roamer. The VPLMN VLR uses this to derive
routing information (SCCP addressing) for communicating with the HPLMN HLR. The derived
address is known as the mobile global title (MGT) or E.214 address.
When responding to the VPLMN VLR, the HPLMN HLR inserts its own E.164 address in the
CgPA of the SCCP message. The E.164 part, as defined in the ITU-T E.164 Recommendation, is
used to identify the country and PLMN or PLMN and HLR, where the roamer is registered.
On receiving an initial response from the HPLMN HLR, a VPLMN VLR then derives the
routing information for subsequent communication with the HPLMN HLR from the calling party
address in the received response.
This means that the VPLMN VLR is able to address the HPLMN HLR using an E.214 MGT that
has been originally derived from the roamer’s IMSI and an E.164 HLR address.
An E.214 MGT translation is done either at the application level or at the SCCP level in the VLR
using a routing table.
As shown in Figure 6.5., the MGT is of variable length. Within the MGT, the Country Code (CC)
is derived from the Mobile Country Code (MCC). The National Destination Code (NDC) is derived
from Mobile Network Code (MNC) or from the MNC and some initial digits of the Mobile Station
Identifier Number (MSIN).

Figure 6-5 Derivation of MGT from roamer’s IMSI.