Introduction to SIM and USIM

Naveen Jakhar, ITS

Contents of this Presentation

Abbreviations

Types of Cards

SIM Card Memory Architecture

RUM- Classifications

NV Vs RUIM

PRL

USIM

UICC Vs ICC

Abbreviations

SIM: Subscriber Identity Module

USIM: Universal Subscriber Identity Module

RUIM: Removable User Identity Module

ICC: Integrated Circuit Card

UICC: Universal Integrated Circuit Card

OMH: Open Mobile Handset

MM: Major industry Identifier

NV : Non Volatile

PRL: Preferred Roaming List

GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications

UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access

CSIM: CDMA SIM

ADF : Application development Framework

Types of cards

ICC UICC

SIM-- Single IMSI USIM

Dual IMSI CSIM

RUIM-- “Single”--CDMA

“Combo”--CDMA+GSM

SIM

Subscriber Identity Module

SIM-- Single IMSI

Dual IMSI (Multiple Subscription, Useful for Business needs)

Polarization Mark, Chipset Mark (ID)

SIM card was made in 1991 by Giesecke & Devrien (Munich) to Finnish wireless

network operator Radiolinja

Size: 32K,64K and 128K.

ICCID

Integrated circuit card identifier (ICC-ID)

Each SIM is internationally identified by its ICC-ID.

ICC-IDs are stored in the SIM cards and are also engraved or printed on the SIM

card body during a process called personalization.

The ICC-ID is defined by the ITU-T recommendation E.118.

A 19 digits long including a single check digit calculated using

the Luhn algorithm.

The format of the ICCID is: MMCC IINN NNNN NNNN NN C x

MM = Constant (ISO 7812 Major Industry Identifier, = 89 for "Telecommunications

administrations and private operating agencies")

CC = Country Code (i.e. 61 = Australia, 86 = China)

II = Issuer Identifier (AAPT = 14, EZI-PhoneCard = 88, Hutchison = 06, Optus =

02/12/21/23, Telstra = 01, Telstra Business = 00/61/62, Vodafone = 03)

N{12} = Account ID ("SIM number")

C = Checksum calculated from the other 19 digits using the Luhn algorithm.

x = An extra 20th digit is returned by the 'AT!ICCID?' command, but doesn't seem

to be an official part of the ICCID.

For example, this ICCID = 8991101200003204510 provides the following

details:

The first two digits (89 in the example) refers to the Telecom Id.

The next two digits (91 in the example) refers to the country code (91-India).

The next two digits (10 in the example) refers to the network code.

The next four digits (1200 in the example) refers to the month and year of

manufacturing.

The next two digits (00 in the example) refers to the switch configuration code.

The next six digits (320451 in the example) refers to the SIM number.

7

ICCID

IMSI

International Mobile Subscriber Identity

Unique Value across all the operators through out the globe

15- digit number

Indicates the Home Network of the Subscriber

All the Subscription details will be saved in the HLR against IMSI

MCC: Mobile Country Code

MNC: Mobile Network code

MSIN: Mobile subscription identification number

Memory Architecture

Flexible Architecture

Similar to all the types of cards

‘3F': Master File;

‘7F': 1st level Dedicated File;

'5F': 2nd level Dedicated File;

'2F': Elementary File under the Master File;

6F': Elementary File under a 1st level Dedicated File;

'4F': Elementary File under 2nd level Dedicated File.

Permanent Vs Dynamic SIM Card Data

Permanent Dynamic

SIM card type

IC card identification - serial number

of card

SIM service table - list of services

subscribed to

IMSI

CHV1( PIN1) and CHV2 (PIN2)

PUK - Pin unblocking key

Authentication key

Location Information

TMSI, LAI, LA update timer (t3212),

Ciphering key and sequence number

BCCH information

List of carrier frequencies for cell

selection during handover and call

setup

List of blocked PLMNs (FPLMNs)

HPLMN search timer

RUIM

Removable User Identity Module

Non OMH OMH

1. Operator specific card 1. Can be used with any CDMA

2. Browser and DUN settings compatible targets

has to be written on to target (NV mode) 2. Multiple profiles: Browse, MMS, DUN and

LBS etc.

3. Simple PRL 3. PRL: Concatenated PRL

4. Prioritized Profiles

4. Combo: CDMA+GSM 5. Combo: CDMA+GSM

NV Vs RUIM

NV RUIM

Non Volatile

PRL (SID,NID) will be saved on the

target

ESN of the Handset will be sent to

the Network

Browser and DUN settings on to

target

Removable User Identity Module

PRL (SID,NID) will be saved on the

card

ESN of the card will be sent to the

Network

Browser and DUN settings on to card

(OMH only)

PRL

Legacy– 1X only

Hybrid– Concatenated

USIM Vs SIM

USIM SIM

UMTS-SIM

Universal Subscriber Identity Module

Global Phone Book & Hidden Phone

Book (Bank account no's)

APN settings can be written directly

on to the card

MMS can be stored on to the card

Extended Phone book (256K)

Backward compatible with 2G-GSM

technology

Operator Logo can be stored on the

card

More secured: Milenage and kausami

Algo’s

GSM-SIM

Subscriber Identity Module

Global Phone Book

NA

NA

Limited Phone book (32K or 64K)

compatible with 3G also

Can’t store Images

A5, A3 and A8 algo’s are not very

secured

UICC

Universal Integrated card

A single card on which all applications can be placed (USIM,CSIM,RUIM and SIM)

3G, 3G+ card

UICC

UICC Vs ICC

UICC ICC

Universal ICC

Can have multiple Applications of

Similar Kind

Can have 2 USIMs/SIMs

A single card: USIM+ISIM+CSIM+SIM etc

Used for 2G, 3G and 3G+ techs

Integrated Circuit Card

Single profile of similar kind

Single Application (USIM or IM

SIM or RUIM or USIM

Used for 2G and 3G only

CSIM Vs RUIM

CSIM RUIM

3G, 3G+ Application

runs on UICC

2G and 3G

runs on ICC and UICC

STK and DSTK

1) STK: SIM Tool Kit

for various value added services(VAS)

2) DSTK: Dynamic SIM Tool Kit

•Dynamic SIM menu of value added services

•operators have the flexibility to manage the list of services in SIM menu depending on

the subscriber's preferences

DSTK menu benefits:

•Browsing (the ability to retain subscribers in service by friendly and intuitive menu

navigation)

•The ability to update sections and adding new services in both a dynamic and a

resident parts of the menu

•Low requirements to the subscriber's handsets

References

GSM 11.11 - Specification of the Subscriber Identity Module - Mobile

Equipment (SIM - ME) interface

GSM 11.14 - Specification of the SIM Application Toolkit for the

Subscriber Identity Module - Mobile Equipment (SIM - ME) interface

UMTS 31.111 - Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) Application

Toolkit (USAT)

ITU-T E.118 - The International Telecommunication Charge Card. 2006

ITU-T

Wikipedia

Thank You