(U)SIM Interface
Encyclopedia
TheSIM interface is the connecting point of the mobile phone
and the UICC
with its SIM
or USIM application.
to bill the respective account. That’s why it is crucial to have standardised features e.g. placing phone calls or sending SMS
working throughout the global network with all available handsets and (U)SIM cards resp. UICCs. Developing globally applicable standards for communication technologies is the task of standardisation bodies such as ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute, 3GPP
(Third Generation Partnership Project) and 3GPP2 (Third Generation Partnership Project 2). In case of the (U)SIM interface, the most important specifications are:
(Global Certification Forum), CCF
(CDMA Certification Forum) and PTCRB
(PCS Type Certification Review Board) have been founded. These organisations are associations of the leading network operators, device manufacturers and other stakeholders such as test system suppliers and test houses. They select relevant test cases and define an independent certification programme for handset type approval.
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
and the UICC
UICC
The UICC is the smart card used in mobile terminals in GSM and UMTS networks. The UICC ensures the integrity and security of all kinds of personal data, and it typically holds a few hundred kilobytes...
with its SIM
Subscriber Identity Module
A subscriber identity module or subscriber identification module is an integrated circuit that securely stores the International Mobile Subscriber Identity and the related key used to identify and authenticate subscriber on mobile telephony devices .A SIM is held on a removable SIM card, which...
or USIM application.
Standardisation of the (U)SIM Interface
The UICC with the SIM or USIM application plays an important role in mobile telephony as it is the secure element identifying a subscriber in the network and allowing MNOsMobile network operator
A mobile network operator , also known as mobile phone operator , carrier service provider , wireless service provider, wireless carrier, or cellular company, or mobile network carrier is a telephone company that provides services for mobile phone subscribers.One essential...
to bill the respective account. That’s why it is crucial to have standardised features e.g. placing phone calls or sending SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
working throughout the global network with all available handsets and (U)SIM cards resp. UICCs. Developing globally applicable standards for communication technologies is the task of standardisation bodies such as ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute, 3GPP
3GPP
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations, known as the Organizational Partners...
(Third Generation Partnership Project) and 3GPP2 (Third Generation Partnership Project 2). In case of the (U)SIM interface, the most important specifications are:
- ETSI TS 102 221 - UICC-Terminal interface; Physical and logical characteristics
- 3GPP TS 31.101 - UICC-terminal interface; Physical and logical characteristics
- 3GPP TS 31.102 - Characteristics of the Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) application
Standardisation of Test Scenarios
To ensure that actual implementations of such standardised features are interoperable, the standardisation bodies also create so called test specifications. These document detail exact procedures on how to test that an implementation under test acts according to conformance requirements. Important test specifications for the (U)SIM interface are:- ETSI TS 102 230 - Physical, electrical and logical test specification
- 3GPP TS 31.121 - Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) application test specification
Type Approval for Mobile Terminals
Before mobile network operators select new handset types to be offered to their customers, they want to be sure the new handset will support all features and work in combination with new and existing UICCs. Hence, they request the manufacturers to perform those test cases defined by the standardisation bodies. Therefore certification organisations such as the GCFGlobal Certification Forum
The Global Certification Forum, known as GCF, is an active partnership between mobile network operators, mobile device manufacturers and the test industry...
(Global Certification Forum), CCF
CDMA Certification Forum
CDMA Certification Forum is an international nonprofit partnership between CDMA operators and CDMA device vendors to establish and maintain a core global device certification process that helps improve quality through consistent interoperability, conformance and performance testing across the...
(CDMA Certification Forum) and PTCRB
PTCRB
The PTCRB was established in 1997 as the certification forum by North American cellular operators. Now a pseudo-acronym, it no longer stands for its original meaning of the PCS Type Certification Review Board .The purpose of the PTCRB is to provide the framework within which Cellular GERAN , UTRA ...
(PCS Type Certification Review Board) have been founded. These organisations are associations of the leading network operators, device manufacturers and other stakeholders such as test system suppliers and test houses. They select relevant test cases and define an independent certification programme for handset type approval.