Location area identity

This internationally unique identifier is used for location updating of mobile subscribers. It is composed of a three decimal digit mobile country code (MCC), a two to three digit mobile network code (MNC) that identifies a Subscriber Module Public Land Mobile Network (SM PLMN) in that country, and a location area code (LAC) which is a 16 bit number with two special values, thereby allowing 65534 location areas within one GSM PLMN.{{citation needed|date=September 2023}}

The LAI is broadcast regularly through a broadcast control channel (BCCH). A mobile station (e.g. cell phone) recognizes the LAI and stores it in the subscriber identity module (SIM) card.

If the mobile station is moving and notices a change of LAI, it will issue a location update request, thereby informing the mobile provider of its new LAI. This allows the provider to locate the mobile station in case of an incoming call.{{cn|date=December 2023}}

• Mobility management
• SIM Application Toolkit
• GPRS roaming exchange

{{Reflist}}

• [https://internationalesim.com/ International eSIM]

Category:Mobile telecommunications standards

Category:GSM standard

{{Telecom-stub}}