SIM Cards Overview

Kiran Koona

9-Mar-14

Contents
Abbreviations Types of Cards SIM Card Memory Architecture SIM Card File Structure 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 ISIM: IMS SIM NV : Non Volatile PRL: Preferred Roaming List GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access IMS: IP Multimedia Subsystem

Types of cards

ICC
SIM-- Single IMSI Dual IMSI

UICC
USIM CSIM ISIM RUIM SIM

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.
Eg: 89

91

15

100

000000011

Tele CC MNC Vendor

S.No

Checksum

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

Types

Native(old) and Java (For Changing the card Parameters via OTA) ID-1: 85.60 mm 53.98 mm x 0.76 mm
Permanently fit in End device

Plug-in
Width: 25mm, Height: 15mm.

Dual IMSI:
SIM having Multiple Profiles

Proactive: SIM which can Initiate commands to the ME.

Use: Sending IMEI or ESN to the network.

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.

File Structure

File Structure DF: GSM

Master File

Telecom Directory

GSM Directory

EF- File (Eg: ICCID)

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 Ki and A3, A5, and A8 algorithms ADM keys

Location Information TMSI, LAI, LA update timer (t3212), Ciphering key Kc and sequence number BCCH information (ARFCN,MCC and MNC) 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 1. Operator specific card 2. Browser and DUN settings has to be written on to target (NV mode)

1. 2.

3. Simple PRL

4. Combo: CDMA+GSM

3. 4. 5. 6.

OMH Can be used with any CDMA compatible targets Multiple profiles: Browse, MMS, DUN and LBS etc. PRL: Concatenated PRL Hybrid mode (CDMA+EVDO) Prioritized Profiles 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 ESN Tracking:

Removable 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 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 Alogs SIM GSM-SIM Subscriber Identity Module Global Phone Book NA NA Limited Phone book (32K or 64K) compatible with 3G also Cant store Images A5, A3 and A8 algos 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 Request can be answered through SMSC Gateway 2) DSTK: Dynamic SIM Tool Kit Request can be answered through SMSC Gateway WIB PULL WIB Push Updating Parameters OTA Sending GPRS settings.

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

Thank You