Registration, Access Class, CSG
22.011 and 23.112
PLMN
A Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) is a network established and operated by an
Administration. A PLMN may provide service in one, or a combination, of frequency bands. As a
rule, a PLMN is limited by the borders of a country.
A relationship exists between each subscriber and his home PLMN (HPLMN). If communications
are handled over another PLMN, this PLMN is referred to as the visited PLMN (VPLMN).
It is possible to have a Operator Controlled PLMN List and User Controlled PLMN List in
SIM/USIM.
o Both PLMN selector has list of preferred PLMN in priority order.
o Each entry in PLMN selector list will have an associated access technology identifier like
E-UTRAN, UTRAN or GERAN.
For network selection UE shall use HPLMN, Operator Controlled PLMN list, User Controlled
PLMN List and Forbidden PLMN List.
A PLMN can have multiple entries in selector list if it supports different access technologies.
UE ignores PLMN with access technologies not supported by it.
UE can be indicated that a group of PLMN is equivalent to registered PLMN regarding network
selection, cell selection/re-selection and handover.
Home Network Operator can store in USIM an indication to UE that a group of PLMN are treated
as HPLMN regarding PLMN selection. This is called as EHPLMN and is present in EHPLMN List.
Any PLMN to be declared as an equivalent to the HPLMN shall be present within the EHPLMN
list and is called an EHPLMN. The EHPLMN list replaces the HPLMN derived from the IMSI. When
the EHPLMN list is present, any PLMN in this list shall be treated as the HPLMN in all the
network and cell selection procedures.
If UE successfully registers on a PLMN it is stored as RPLMN [registered PLMN] in SIM/USIM. If
registration was un-successful, SIM/USIM does not have any value of registered PLMN.
If registration is unsuccessful because of below reasons, UE shall not allow further registration
attempts on any network, until the UE is next powered-up or a SIM/USIM is inserted.
o IMSI unknown to home network
o Illegal UE
If the UE returns to coverage of the PLMN on which it is already registered (as indicated by the
registered PLMN stored in the SIM/USIM), the UE shall perform a location update to a new
location area if necessary. As an alternative option to this, if the UE is in automatic network
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selection mode and it finds coverage of the HPLMN or any EHPLMN, the UE may register on the
HPLMN (if the EHPLMN list is not present) or the highest priority EHPLMN of the available
EHPLMNs (if the EHPLMN list is present) and not return to the last registered PLMN. If the
EHPLMN list is present and not empty, it shall be used. The operator shall be able to control by
USIM configuration whether an UE that supports this option shall follow this alternative
behaviour. The default behaviour for a UE is to select the last registered PLMN.
Use of Manual Selection of Network
Selection of undesired adjacent PLMN instead of HPLMN at border areas can be avoided, as
soon as UE is switched ON.
Registration
Automatic Selection
If SIM/USIM has entry of registered PLMN
o Try registration on registered PLMN
o Try registration on equivalent PLMN [equivalent to registered PLMN]
Else If Tracking Area is not on list of “forbidden TA’s for roaming” then
o Try registration on EHPLMN
If EHPLMN list is present. If multiple EHPLMN are present then highest priority
EHPLMN is selcted.
Else HPLMN derived from IMSI
o Else try with each entry in user controlled PLMN selector (in priority order)
o Else try with each entry in operator controlled PLMN selector (in priority order)
o Else other PLMN with sufficient received signal quality (in random)
o Else other PLMN with decreasing quality (in random)
Note: UE with voice capability selected will not select a PLMN with data only capability.
Manual Selection
The following list is presented for selecting PLMN to user:
HPLMN and EHPLMN in priority order
PLMN in user controlled PLMN selector data field.
PLMN in operator controlled PLMN selector data field.
Other PLMN with sufficient received signal.
Other PLMN with decreasing signal strength.
UE shall indicate if a PLMN does not support voice.
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UE shall not register on PLMN other than indicated by user till registered PLMN declares new PLMN as
equivalent PLMN or user selects automatic mode for network registration.
Registration Rejection
Permanent PLMN Restriction
When UE is rejected with indication of permanent PLMN rejection, PLMN should be added to list
of “Forbidden PLMN” data field in SIM/USIM.
If successful registration on PLMN from “Forbidden PLMN” list, remove the PLMN from the list.
If UE receives an equivalent PLMN with PLMN in “Forbidden PLMN” list, remove the PLMN from
equivalent PLMN list before being stored.
Partial and Temporary PLMN Restriction
Store the TA in “Forbidden TA for roaming” list and remain in limited service till UE moves to a
new cell.
Store the TA in “Forbidden TA for roaming” list and proceed with PLMN selection again.
Store the TA in “Forbidden TA for roaming” list and search for a suitable cell with same PLMN.
PLMN restriction for PS service
If PS service is rejected by network with “GPRS service not allowed in this PLMN” cause, add
PLMN to list of “Forbidden PLMN for GPRS service” in USIM.
This is deleted when UE is reset or SIM/USIM is removed and re-inserted.
If successful registration on PLMN in “Forbidden PLMN for GPRS service”, remove PLMN from
the list.
PLMN Re-selection
If equivalent PLMN with priority higher than current registered PLMN is found, try for PLMN re-
selection.
In case EHPLMN is selected, do not select higher priority EHPLMN if available. Priority of
EHPLMN is applicable only when UE is on VPLMN and multiple EHPLMN is available.
Service provider can select for which of above situation network re-selction can occur and it’s interval.
Config is stored in SIM.
Interval – 6minutes to 8 hours
Step – 6 minutes
One value to indicate no periodic attempts.
Default is 60 minutes.
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Access Class
Under certain circumstances, it will be desirable to prevent UE users from making access attempts
(including emergency call attempts) or responding to pages in specified areas of a PLMN. Such
situations may arise during states of emergency, or where 1 of 2 or more co-located PLMNs has failed.
All UEs are members of one out of ten randomly allocated mobile populations, defined as Access Classes
0 to 9. The population number is stored in the SIM/USIM. In addition, mobiles may be members of one
or more out of 5 special categories (Access Classes 11 to 15), also held in the SIM/USIM. These are
allocated to specific high priority users as follows. (The enumeration is not meant as a priority
sequence):
Access Class 15 – PLMN Staff
Access Class 14 – Emergency Services
Access Class 13 – Public Utilities (Eg: Water/Gas suppliers)
Access Class 12 – Security Services
Access Class 11 – For PLMN Use
Access Classes are applicable as follows:
Classes 0-9 - Home and Visited PLMNs;
Classes 11 and 15 - Home PLMN only if the EHPLMN list is not present or any EHPLMN;
Classes 12, 13, 14 - Home PLMN and visited PLMNs of home country only. For this purpose the
home country is defined as the country of the MCC part of the IMSI.
Any number of these classes may be barred at any one time.
Emergency Calls
An additional control bit known as "Access Class 10" is also signalled over the air interface to the UE.
This indicates whether or not network access for Emergency Calls is allowed for UEs with access classes
0 to 9 or without an IMSI. For UEs with access classes 11 to 15, Emergency Calls are not allowed if both
"Access class 10" and the relevant Access Class (11 to 15) are barred. Otherwise, Emergency Calls are
allowed.
Closed Subscriber Group
Access to 3G and evolved 3G (EPS) services may be provided via UTRAN or E-UTRAN cellular base
stations belonging to e.g. domestic, business, commercial enterprises. This type of access may be
provided by the PLMN by means of NodeBs referred to as Home Node B (HNB) and Home eNode B
(HeNB) respectively. The HNB/HeNB provides services to a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG). CSG
membership, including temporary membership, is managed by both the CSG manager and the network
operator.
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H-eNB requirements
HNB/HeNB shall have a unique equipment identity.
All the HeNB serving the same CSG share the same identity called CSG Identity.
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