Rigorous, Compliant & High-Performance MNO Core Interconnection.การเชื่อมต่อ MNO Core ที่เข้มงวด สอดคล้องมาตรฐาน และประสิทธิภาพสูง

SIGTRAN (Signalling Transport) is the IETF framework that carries SS7 signaling messages over IP networks. Every modern MVNO interconnection uses SIGTRAN — the host MNO provides IP-based signaling links instead of physical TDM circuits, and the MVNO core must speak the same protocol stack fluently.

M3UA (MTP3 User Adaptation)

M3UA is the adaptation layer that transports SS7 MTP3 user messages (SCCP, ISUP, etc.) over SCTP associations. Cipher Telecom deploys M3UA in both SG (Signalling Gateway) and SGP (Signalling Gateway Process) modes, depending on the host MNO's topology. M3UA carries the Point Code routing information that allows messages to be correctly delivered between the MVNO core and the host MSC, HLR/HSS, and SMSC.

SCTP (Stream Control Transmission Protocol)

SCTP is the transport protocol beneath M3UA. It provides multi-streaming (preventing head-of-line blocking between different signaling streams), multi-homing (binding to multiple IP paths simultaneously for redundancy), and congestion control. Our SCTP configuration binds to multiple local and remote IP addresses across different physical interfaces — so a single path failure never drops a signaling association.

SS7 (Signalling System No. 7) is the foundational protocol suite of the global public switched telephone network and GSM/GPRS mobile networks. Despite the shift to IP, SS7 remains active in every national PSTN and in all GSM/UMTS control-plane procedures. An MVNO that interconnects with a host MNO must handle SS7 correctly at every layer.

SCCP — Signalling Connection Control Part

SCCP provides connection-oriented and connectionless services above MTP3, and carries the Global Title routing that allows messages to be addressed by logical identifiers (phone numbers, IMSI ranges) rather than fixed network addresses. Cipher Telecom manages SCCP routing tables, GTT (Global Title Translation) entries, and subsystem numbers (SSN) in full alignment with the host MNO's numbering plan.

TCAP — Transaction Capabilities Application Part

TCAP provides the transaction and dialogue management layer for applications sitting above SCCP. MAP and CAMEL are both TCAP users. Our stack correctly handles TCAP Begin, Continue, End and Abort dialogue primitives, with proper error handling for timed-out transactions.

MAP — Mobile Application Part

MAP is the application protocol for GSM and UMTS mobile services — it handles location updates, HLR queries, authentication, SMS routing, and supplementary service activation. Cipher Telecom implements MAP Phase 2+ with full support for the operations relevant to MVNO interconnection: SendRoutingInfoForSM, ForwardShortMessage, UpdateLocation, InsertSubscriberData, and AuthenticationInformation.

SS7 routing is built around two core identifiers that must be allocated, configured and managed with precision. Errors in Point Code or Global Title assignment cause message misrouting — and misrouted signaling is one of the most difficult problems to diagnose in a live MVNO launch.

SS7 Point Codes (PC)

Point Codes are 14-bit (international) or 24-bit (national) numeric identifiers that address every signaling node in the SS7 network. The host MNO allocates a Private Point Code to the MVNO's core equipment. Cipher Telecom manages the configuration of these PCs in M3UA routing tables, SCCP routing databases, and MNO-side SEP (Signalling End Point) registrations.

Global Titles (GT)

A Global Title is a logical address — typically an E.164 telephone number or IMSI range — that SCCP translates into a concrete Point Code + Subsystem Number for message routing. The MVNO must register its MSISDN range and SMSC GT with the host MNO's STP. Cipher Telecom coordinates this registration, configures local GTT entries, and validates end-to-end message routing in the testbed before production go-live.

Technical MNO interconnection is not a one-time event — it is a multi-phase process spanning weeks of coordination between your team, the host MNO's interconnect and signaling teams, and the equipment vendors on both sides. Cipher Telecom manages this end-to-end as the single accountable technical partner.