ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based

Handover Feature Guide

 ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover Feature Guide

ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover Feature Guide

Version Date Author Reviewer Notes

V1.0 2017/07/06 Wang Jinfu Gu Yuhui First Release

V1.1 2018/07/19 Wang Jinfu Gu Yuhui Add GDPR related note.

© 2019 ZTE Corporation. All rights reserved.

ZTE CONFIDENTIAL: This document contains proprietary information of ZTE and is not to be disclosed or used
without the prior written permission of ZTE.
Due to update and improvement of ZTE products and technologies, information in this document is subjected to
change without notice.

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 ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover Feature Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Feature Attribute ............................................................................................ 4

2 Overview ......................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Feature Introduction .......................................................................................... 5
2.2 License Control ................................................................................................. 5
2.3 Correlation with Other Features ........................................................................ 5

3 Technical Description .................................................................................... 6

4 Parameters...................................................................................................... 8

5 Related Counters and Alarms ....................................................................... 9

5.1 Related Counters .............................................................................................. 9
5.2 Related Alarms ................................................................................................. 9

6 Engineering Guide ......................................................................................... 9

6.1 Application Scenario ......................................................................................... 9
6.2 Feature Activation Procedure .......................................................................... 10
6.3 Feature Validation Procedure.......................................................................... 12
6.4 Feature Deactivation Procedure...................................................................... 15
6.5 Network Impact ............................................................................................... 16

7 Abbreviation ................................................................................................. 17

8 Reference Document.................................................................................... 17

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FIGURES

Figure 6-1 Controlled IMSI Section ....................................................................................10

Figure 6-2 IMSI based handover support configuration ......................................................11
Figure 6-3 Controlled IMSI Process Mode configuration ....................................................12
Figure 6-4 Deactivate IMSI based handover configuration .................................................16

TABLES

Table 2-1 License Control List ............................................................................................ 5

Table 4-1 Parameters List ................................................................................................... 8

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1 Feature Attribute
BSC Version: [ZXUR 9000 GSM (V6.50.33]]

BTS Version: [Independent of the BTS hardware platform]

Attribute: [Optional]

Related Network Element:

NE Name Related or Not Special Requirements

MS/UE -

BTS/Node B -

BSC/RNC √

iTC -

MSC √ MSC enable Command ID function

MGW -

SGSN -

GGSN -

HLR -
“√”: Related, “-”: Irrelative

Important Note:

It is unavoidable that some features listed in this document may use some personal data,
like the IMSI, IMEI, MSISDN, or UEIP, during the procedure of activating a function in
order to accomplish a 3GPP service process or 3GPP location process, to optimize
subscriber service experience, and to facilitate system maintenance. When you activate
these functions, you should comply with your country's personal data or privacy protection
laws and regulations. If you have any questions about this, please contact your legal
department to confirm that these functions can be legally activated.

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 ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover Feature Guide

2 Overview

2.1 Feature Introduction

At present, a lot of 2G operators have the transformation needs for merging and sharing
wireless network. In the process of network sharing, multi network integration and
transformation, there are some areas where there is only one operator, and some
regions have multiple operators' network coverage. Users of different operators in the
process of mobile will handover between Cells of different operators. We want to make
the users handover to their own operators’ network to save network resources and Call
charges.

Network sharing, multi network integration and transformation of the scene, according to
the user's IMSI belongs to the MNC, the BSC controls the different user groups to
handover to different operators’ cell.

2.2 License Control

Table 2-1 License Control List

License Configured Sales

Feature ID Feature Name
Control Item NE Unit

ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover N/A N/A N/A

2.3 Correlation with Other Features

1. Required Features

MSC should enable Command ID function.

2. Mutually Exclusive Features

None

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3. Affected Features

None

3 Technical Description
A2
A1
A网用户
B2
B网用户

Figure3.1 Application scenario

See Figure 3.1, A1, A2 region for A operators' network, B2 region for B operators'
network.

In the A1 region, the original operators A and B network have the same coverage. After
the merger of the two networks, the area has only the A operator's site, which allows B
operator’s users to roam to the A network.

The right side is not yet merged; the area has both the A operator's site (A2), and the B
operator's site (B2). These regions do not allow B operator’s users to roam to the A
network, thus, the area of the A operator's users in the A cell (A2), the user of B
operators in the B area below (B2), do not allow roaming to other network.

The IMSI number, the top 5 or top 6 said the Mobile Country Code (MCC) and Mobile
Network Code (MNC). Therefore, We can obtain user’s operator by analyzing the IMSI
number.

Users by region of the left to move to the region of the right, in accordance with the IMSI
operation section MNC, the network will make A network users to handover to A2 region
and B network users handover to the B2 region.

An increase in cell level switch for controlling the function: IMSI based handover
support:

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0: Not Support

1: Support

BSC global configuration of a group of "controlled IMSI section" (not limited to

MCC+MNC, more flexible configuration), said the section of IMSI users to be handover
controlled. This group of IMSI section list as a list of allowed or removed the list, taking
into account the operator's multi network number, can support the maximum
configuration of the 8 section. The actual configuration is the B operator's network
number.

A parameter is added to the neighbor area table: “Controlled IMSI Process Mode", for
the control of the background configuration of the user, this parameter is used to control
the neighbor area is allowed to handover into or not (excluding), the value can be set to:

0: No processing；

1: Delete（delete controlled IMSI user）；

2: Allow（only allow controlled IMSI user）；

As shown in Figure 3.1, in the edge region, the actual configurations: the A1 neighbor
cell in the A1 region is set to 0, the A2 neighbor is set to 1, and the B2 neighbor is set to
2. The Controlled IMSI section is configured as a network number for the B operator
（MCC+MNC）.

For the A network user: the A1 neighbor cell allows handover into; the A2 neighbor cell
allows handover into(because IMSI is not in the IMSI section of delete); the B2 neighbor
cell is removed (which is not allowed to handover into) (because IMSI is not inside the
allowed IMSI section).

For the B network user: the A1 neighbor cell allows handover into; the A2 neighbor cell
is removed (because the user IMSI is inside the delete IMSI section); the B2 neighbor
cell is allowed (because the user IMSI is inside the allowed IMSI section).

For other network roaming users: the A1 neighbor cell allows handover into; the A2
neighbor cell allows handover into(because the IMSI is not inside the delete IMSI

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 ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover Feature Guide

section); B2 neighbor cells is removed (because IMSI is not inside the allowed IMSI
section).

When a user tries to initiate inter cell handover, the BSC performs the handover
decision and the neighbor cells sequencing by the original strategy. In the last, the list of
neighbor cells is selected, which is allowed to remain in the neighboring cells list, and
which is removed from the neighboring cells list. Then the user tries to handover to the
list of neighbor cells after the filter.

4 Parameters

Table 4-1 Parameters List

Recom
Managed Value Default
Logic Name Parameter Description Unit mended
Object Range Value
Value

GHandover Function
Control switch,
IMSI based 0: Not default
handover Function Switch Support None 0 off.
support 1: Support Need to
open
control.

vsDataGGs 0：No
mRelation processing
；
1：Delete Accordi
For the control of the （delete ng to
background configuration of controlled the
Controlled
the IMSI Section, for the IMSI actual
IMSI Process None 0
control of the adjacent area is user）； situatio
Mode
to allow the user to handover 2：Allow n
income or prohibit the user. （only configur
allow ation.
controlled
IMSI
user）；

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 ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover Feature Guide

Recom
Managed Value Default
Logic Name Parameter Description Unit mended
Object Range Value
Value

GCtrlIMSI Set the

IMSI
Enter the section
1~8 bit to be
In the background configuration
Controlled number, controll
requires a controlled IMSI None 0
IMSI Section each value ed
section
is 0~9. accordi
ng to
the
need

5 Related Counters and Alarms

5.1 Related Counters

This feature has no related counter.

5.2 Related Alarms

This feature has no related alarm.

6 Engineering Guide

6.1 Application Scenario

This function is suitable for the integration of multiple networks.

This feature requires core network enable command ID function.

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 ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover Feature Guide

6.2 Feature Activation Procedure

1.In the configuration resource tree window, open the [Modify Area → Configurat
ion Management→ GSM Logical ConfigurationGlobal Information Configurati
on-> Controlled IMSI Section Configuration] ,at the right window add a new rec
ord,set the parameter “ Controlled IMSI Section” as MCC+MNC, as shown in the
bellow figure.If operator has multiple MNC, mutiple MNC should be added.

Figure 6-1 Controlled IMSI Section

2.In the configuration resource tree window, double click [Modify Area → Configu
ration Management→ GSM Logical Configuration→ Cell Information Configura
tion→Handover Control] ,on the right window, select the corresponding record, in
the pop-up [Handover Control1] window set parameter "the IMSI -based Handove
r support" to "suppor [1]“, As shown in below:

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 ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover Feature Guide

Figure 6-2 IMSI based handover support configuration

3.In the configuration resource tree window, double-click [Modify Area → Configu
ration Management→ GSM Logical Configuration→Cell Information Configurati
on->Adjacent Relation Configuration-> Adjacent GSM Cell Configuration], on t
he right window, select the corresponding record, in the pop-up [Adjacent GSM C
ell Configuration1] window configure parameter " Controlled IMSI Process Mode ",
As shown in below.
Parameter configuration principle: according to the figure 3.1 scenarios,for the reso
urce cell A1:
For the neighbour cell A1, set the paremeter to No Processing [0],
For neighbour cell A2, set the paremeter to Delete (Delete controlled IMSI user)
[1].
For neighbour cell B1, set the paremeter to Allowe (only Allowe controlled IMSI
user) [2]

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 ZGO-02-02-025 IMSI Based Handover Feature Guide

Figure 6-3 Controlled IMSI Process Mode configuration

6.3 Feature Validation Procedure

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Test Item IMSI Based Handover

Precondition 1. Check CN is normal;

2. Check BSC is normal;
3. Check SDR is normal;
4. Check default cell configuration and parameters in BSC;
5. MSC can send CommandID message to BSC.
6. Cell A ,Cell A2 are Consolidated cells of Operator A;
7. Cell A1 is Non-Consolidated cell of Operator A;
8. Cell B1 is Non-Consolidated cell of Operator B;
9. MS User A belong to Operator A;
10. MS User B belong to Operator B.

Test Steps 1. In Global Information Configuration ，set “Controlled

IMSI Section” as MCC+MNC of Operator B;
2. In Cell Information Configuration, set Cell A2 as adjcent
cell of Cell A, set “Controlled IMSI Process Mode” as no
processing;
3. In Cell Information Configuration of Cell A,set “IMSI
based handover support” as Support;
4. In the Cell A, use MS A to make a call and try to handover
to Cell A2;
5. In the Cell A, use MS B to make a call and try to handover
to Cell A2.

Anticipative Result 1. In step 4, MS A handover to Cell A2 successful.

2. In step 5, MS B handover to Cell A2 successful.

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Test Item IMSI Based Handover

Precondition 1. Check CN is normal;

2. Check BSC is normal;
3. Check SDR is normal;
4. Check default cell configuration and parameters in BSC;
5. MSC can send CommandID message to BSC.
6. Cell A ,Cell A2 are Consolidated cells of Operator A;
7. Cell A1 is Non-Consolidated cell of Operator A;
8. Cell B1 is Non-Consolidated cell of Operator B;
9. MS User A belong to Operator A;
10. MS User B belong to Operator B.

Test Steps 1. In Global Information Configuration ，set “Controlled

IMSI Section” as MCC+MNC of Operator B;
2. In Cell Information Configuration, set Cell A1 as adjcent
cell of Cell A, set “Controlled IMSI Process Mode” as
Delete(delete controlled IMSI user);
3. In Cell Information Configuration of Cell A,set “IMSI
based handover support” as Support;
4. In the Cell A, use MS A to make a call and try to handover
to Cell A1;
5. In the Cell A, use MS B to make a call and try to handover
to Cell A1.

Anticipative Result 1. In step 4, MS A handover to Cell A1 successful.

2. In step 5, MS B cannot handover to Cell A1.

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Test Item IMSI Based Handover

Precondition 1. Check CN is normal;

2. Check BSC is normal;
3. Check SDR is normal;
4. Check default cell configuration and parameters in BSC;
5. MSC can send CommandID message to BSC.
6. Cell A ,Cell A2 are Consolidated cells of Operator A;
7. Cell A1 is Non-Consolidated cell of Operator A;
8. Cell B1 is Non-Consolidated cell of Operator B;
9. MS User A belong to Operator A;
10. MS User B belong to Operator B;

Test Steps 1. In Global Information Configuration ，set “Controlled

IMSI Section” as MCC+MNC of Operator B;
2. In Cell Information Configuration, set Cell B1 as adjcent
cell of Cell A, set “Controlled IMSI Process Mode” as
Allowe(only allowe controlled IMSI user);
3. In Cell Information Configuration of Cell A,set “IMSI
based handover support” as Support;
4. In the Cell A, use MS A to make a call and try to handover
to Cell B1;
5. In the Cell A, use MS B to make a call and try to handover
to Cell B1.

Anticipative Result 1. In step 4, MS A cannot handover to Cell B1.

2. In step 5, MS B handover to Cell B1 successful.

6.4 Feature Deactivation Procedure

In the configuration resource tree window, double click [Modify Area → Configur
ation Management→ GSM Logical Configuration→ Cell Information Configurati
on→Handover Control],on the right window, select the corresponding record, in t
he pop-up [Handover Control1] window set parameter "the IMSI -based Handover
support" to "Not suppor [0]“, As shown in below:

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Figure 6-4 Deactivate IMSI based handover configuration

6.5 Network Impact

The impact on the target neighbor cell: Before handover, the BSC performs the
handover decision and the neighbor cells sequencing using the original strategy. After
that the list of the candidate neighbor cells is filtered base on IMSI handover function,
and then UE tries to handover to the neighbor cell.

The impact on omm force handover: If the target cell is allowed based on the IMSI
handover, the handover go on, otherwise the force handover fail.

IMSI Based handover is applicable to data and voice handover, but does not apply to
signaling channel handover.

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7 Abbreviation
Abbreviations Full Characteristics

3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

BSC Base Station Controller

BTS Base Transceiver Station

IMSI International Mobile Subscriber Identification Number

MCC Mobile Country Code

MNC Mobile Network Code

8 Reference Document
ZXUR 9000 GSM (V6.50.33) Base Station Controller Radio Parameter Reference

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