View source for MSISDN

{{Short description|Unique subscription identifier in a mobile network}}
'''MSISDN''' ({{IPAc-en|'|ɛ|m|_|ɛ|s|_|aɪ|_|ɛ|s|_|d|iː|_|ɛ|n}}) is a number uniquely identifying a subscription in a [[GSM|Global System for Mobile communications]] or a [[UMTS|Universal Mobile Telecommunications System]] mobile network. It is the mapping of the telephone number to the [[SIM card|subscriber identity module]] in a mobile or cellular phone. This abbreviation has several interpretations, the most common one being "'''Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number'''".<ref name="commonality">The conclusion ("most common") is drawn from the recent documentation from [[3GPP]] and [[Open Mobile Alliance]], please see the [[MSISDN#Abbreviation|Abbreviation]] section above</ref>

The MSISDN and [[international mobile subscriber identity]] (IMSI) are two important numbers used for identifying a mobile subscriber. The IMSI is stored in the [[Subscriber Identity Module|SIM]] (the card inserted into the mobile phone), and uniquely identifies the mobile station, its home wireless network, and the home country of the home wireless network. The MSISDN is used for routing calls to the subscriber. The IMSI is often used as a key in the [[GSM core network#HLR|home location register]] ("subscriber database") and the MSISDN is the number normally dialed to connect a call to the mobile phone. A [[Subscriber Identity Module|SIM]] has a unique IMSI that does not change, while the MSISDN can change in time, i.e. different MSISDNs can be associated with the SIM.

The MSISDN follows the numbering plan defined in the [[ITU-T|International Telecommunication Standard Sector]] recommendation [[E.164]].

==Abbreviation==
Depending on source or standardization body, the abbreviation MSISDN can be written out in several different ways. These are today the most widespread and common in use.

{| class=wikitable
!Organization
!Meaning
!Source
|-
|[[3GPP]]<br>[[ITU]]<br>[[Open Mobile Alliance|OMA]]
|Mobile Subscriber ISDN Number
|Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications (new)<ref name = "3GPP Vocabulary">[https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/21_series/21.905/21905-a30.zip 3GPP Vocabulary]</ref><br>ITU-T Rec. Q.1741-4 (10/2005)<ref name = "ITU-T Q.1741-4">[http://www.itu.int/rec/dologin_pub.asp?lang=e&id=T-REC-Q.1741.4-200510-I!!PDF-E&type=items ITU-T Q.1741-4]</ref><br>Dictionary for OMA Specifications <ref name="OMA Dictionary">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120222050347/http://www.openmobilealliance.org/document/OMA-ORG-Dictionary-V2_7-20081023-A.pdf OMA Dictionary]</ref>
|-
|[[3GPP|CSPS]]<br>[[ITU]]<br>[[GSM Association|GSMA]]
|Mobile Station International [[ISDN]] Number(s)
|MSISDN Format and Details <ref name="GSM 03.03">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cspsprotocol.com/msisdn/|title=MSISDN - How to check mobile number from sim- Msisdn vs IMSI|date=2018-03-26|language=en|access-date=2019-11-23}}</ref><br>ITU-T Rec. Q.1741-4 (10/2005)<ref name="ITU-T Q.1741-4"/><br>Mobile Terms & Acronyms<ref name="GSMA Acronyms">[http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/glossary.shtml GSMA Acronyms] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929091852/http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/glossary.shtml |date=2007-09-29 }}</ref>
|-
|[[ITU]]
|Mobile International [[ISDN]] Number
|Vocabulary of Switching and Signalling Terms <ref name = "ITU Vocabulary">[http://www.itu.int/rec/recommendation.asp?lang=en&parent=T-REC-Q.9-198811-I ITU Vocabulary]</ref>
|-
|}

==MSISDN format==
The  [[ITU-T]] recommendation [[E.164]] limits the maximum length of an MSISDN to 15 digits. 1-3 digits are reserved for country code. Prefixes are not included (e.g., 00 prefixes an international MSISDN when dialing from Sweden). Minimum length of the MSISDN is not specified by ITU-T but is instead specified in the national numbering plans by the telecommunications regulator in each country.

In [[GSM]] and its variant [[GSM frequency bands|DCS 1800]], MSISDN is built up as

:MSISDN = CC + NDC + SN
:CC = Country Code
:NDC = National Destination Code, identifies one or part of a [[PLMN]]
:SN = Subscriber Number

In the [[GSM]] variant ''[[GSM frequency bands|PCS 1900]]'', MSISDN is built up as

:MSISDN = CC + NPA + SN
:CC = Country Code
:NPA = Number Planning Area
:SN = Subscriber Number

The country code identifies a country or geographical area, and may be between 1-3 digits. The ITU defines and maintains the [[List of country calling codes|list of assigned country codes]].

===Example===
Example Number: +880 15 00121121 (Teletalk Hotline Number) 
Has the following subscription number:

MSISDN=8801500121121<br />MSISDN=CCCXX'''N<sub>1</sub>N<sub>2</sub>N<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>N<sub>5</sub>N<sub>6</sub>N<sub>7</sub>N<sub>8</sub>'''

{| class="wikitable"
!CC/ISD Code
| CCC (Example: 880)
|Bangladesh
|-
!NDC/NPA Code
|XX (Example: 15)
|As allocated by the Government of Bangladesh:<br>[[Teletalk]]: 015<br>[[Grameenphone]]: 017 & 013<br>[[Banglalink]]: 019 & 014<br>[[Robi (company)|Robi]]: 018 & 016
|-
!SN
|N<sub>1</sub>N<sub>2</sub>N<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>N<sub>5</sub>N<sub>6</sub>N<sub>7</sub>N<sub>8</sub><br/>(example: 00121121)
|
|}
For further information on the MSISDN format, see the [[ITU-T]] specification [[E.164]].

==See also==
* [[E.164]]
* [[International Mobile Equipment Identity]] (IMEI)
* [[International Mobile Subscriber Identity]] (IMSI)
* [[SIM card]]
* [[Mobile phone]]
* [[GSM]]
* [[GSM core network#HLR|HLR]]
* [[E.214]]
* [[Mobile identification number]]
* [[Telephone number]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* http://www.3gpp.org, [https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/03_series/03.03/0303-4a0.zip GSM 03.03 (see section 3.3)]
* http://www.openmobilealliance.org
* http://www.itu.int, [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-E.164/en E.164], [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-E.212/en E.212], [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-E.213/en E.213], [http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-E.214/en E.214]
* https://web.archive.org/web/20110222090438/http://www.gsmworld.com/


{{DEFAULTSORT:Msisdn}}
[[Category:ITU-T recommendations]]
[[Category:Telephone numbers]]
[[Category:Identifiers]]