19 april 2012

19 April 2012

Impact of M2M Communications to

E.212 Resources (IMSI)

Jukka Rakkolainen / ECO

M2M Communications

• M2M Communications– Machine to Machine

communications– understood as a fully or

largely automated communication (data transfer) between two or more information and communications (ICT) entities


1. Subscriber to a M2M service2. M2M service provider3. Subscriber’s communication line4. Telecom operator’s switch5. M2M service provider’s communication

line to the telecom operator

Example of M2M scene setup

• Between 2010 and 2020 demand of M2M Communications identifiers will increase about 20% annually – in 2020 we will need 6 times as many identifiers as in 2010

• Because of the nature of M2M Communications, mobile telephone numbers are the best numbering options for M2M

• According to the ECC / WG NaN report six European countries would run out of mobile telephone numbers before 2020 because of M2M

– ECC = Electronic Communications Committee within CEPT– WG NaN = Working Group Numbering and Networks within ECC


Features of M2M Communications

• Home security– Automatic alarm to supervision center– Typical technology: 2G/3G/4G

• e-Calls in cars– EU Directive: all cars manufactured in Europe need to have e-

Call feature by 2015– Typical technology: 2G/3G/4G/satellite

• Smart metering (e.g. at home)– Electricity, distant heating, etc.– Typical technology: short range radio


Examples of M2M Communication

International Mobile Subscription Identity

• In addition to E.164 numbers mobile connections require E.212 codes to operate

• Technical call setup codes (IMSI) are defined in ITU-T Rec. E.212 ”The international identification plan for public networks and subscriptions”

• IMSI = International Mobile Subscription Identity, the code invisible to a mobile network user, resides in a SIM card


MCC MNC MSIN

Structure of IMSI

3 digits 2-3 digits max of 10 digits

max of 15 digits

• MCC = Mobile Country Code (DK = 238)• MNC = Mobile Network Code• MSIN = Mobile Subscription Identification Number

• MNCs can only be assigned to”Recognised Operating Agencies”,i.e. Network operators

• Mobile telephone numbers are the best alternative to address M2M communication– E.164 numbers and E.212 IMSI are needed in huge amounts

• Not only network operators work in field of M2M– Need to change rules on who is eligible to an MNC

• E.212 Recommendation was drafted before GSM networks started operation (in 1980’s)– Competition was gradually beginning– E.212 predicted that 100 or 1000 codes for operators would be

enough (MNC is either 2 digits [102] or 3 digits [103] long)


What is the problem?

• MNC assignments started with 2 digits allowing 100 operators• Technology has not allowed mixing 2 and 3 digit MNCs within the

same MCC• General principle in numbering administration:

– Exhaustion of numbering resources CANNOT happen• With E.212 resources there are very little possibilites to adapt the

plan with the demand


What is the problem?

• At the recent ITU-T SG2 meeting India came with a proposal how to mix 2 and 3 digit MNCs– Proposal is now on a consultation round– Even 1000 MNCs (operator codes) are not likely to be enough

• Each country in the world could be assigned the 2nd MCC with the demand to assign MNCs as 3 digits long

• As M2M applications continue to grow, and new M2M like application families will certainly be developed, current E.212 resources are likely to exhaust within next 20 years (maybe even sooner than that!)

• The international players have understood the situation– A brand new ”E.212bis” could be developed to solve the problem, but...– International cooperation takes time...


How to solve the problem?


Thank you!

Thank youfor your attention!

Questions?

19 april 2012

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