Roaming Steering Indicator Integrity Check
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Solution Overview
Problem
In fifth-generation (5G) new radio (NR) access networks, securely steering the roaming of user equipment (UE) is challenging due to the reluctance of public land mobile networks (PLMNs) to relay steering of roaming (SoR) information from home PLMNs, leading to uncertainty for UEs about network selection.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where the home PLMN configures the UE to determine if an SoR indicator is embedded in communications from a PLMN, performing integrity checks using shared keys, and managing PLMN selection based on the presence and integrity of the SoR indicator, allowing the UE to switch to alternative networks if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the home PLMN configures the UE to determine SoR indicator embedded in communications from a PLMN, then the reliability of roaming is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The home PLMN pre-configures the UE with SoR parameters and indicators before the UE actually roams to a visited network. This preliminary configuration includes providing the UE with a list of allowed PLMNs, SoR indicators, and integrity check keys, enabling the UE to autonomously make reliable roaming decisions without real-time network intervention.
2Reliability
If the UE performs integrity checks using shared keys, then the security of roaming is improved, but the loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrity check keys and authentication parameters are pre-shared between the home PLMN and the UE during initial network registration. When roaming, the UE can immediately perform integrity checks on received communications using these pre-configured keys, eliminating the need for time-consuming key exchange protocols during the roaming process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the UE manages PLMN selection based on SoR indicator, then the adaptability of network selection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The home PLMN provides the UE with a pre-configured list of acceptable PLMNs and SoR indicators that define the conditions under which the UE should select or avoid specific networks. This preliminary configuration enables the UE to adaptively manage PLMN selection based on its location and the SoR indicators received from visited networks, without requiring complex real-time decision algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects directed towards steering of roaming (SoR) are disclosed. In one example, a communication from a public land mobile network (PLMN) is received by a user equipment (UE) in which the communication indicates an acceptance of a UE registration with the PLMN. This example further includes performing a determination of whether an SoR indicator associated with a home PLMN (HPLMN) is embedded within the communication. The UE then manages PLMN selection according to the determination. In another example, a UE is configured to operate according to an SoR configuration in which the UE is configured to ascertain whether an SoR indicator is embedded within a communication from a PLMN. An SoR indicator associated with an HPLMN is then generated and subsequently transmitted from the HPLMN to the UE via the PLMN.