Each SIM card has a unique code that can be used to identify it to a telephone operator’s network, just as any mobile phone can be identified by its IMEI series, and this information will be transmitted by operators to the Special Telecommunications Service (STS). , administrator of the unique 112 system, to better identify and locate calls, according to a project launched Tuesday during a public debate.

The Communications Regulatory Authority (ANCOM) launched a draft revision of the Single National Emergency Calling System (SNUAU) decision in debate on Tuesday, aimed at transposing the new provisions at European level into secondary legislation.

The proposed changes are mainly aimed at quickly updating the databases transmitted by the providers to allow the determination of the location of the caller, the establishment of a unique caller ID for calls initiated from mobile networks, measures aimed at ensuring access to the emergency service 112. for end users with disabilities , as well as the introduction of provisions regarding the location of the subscriber in the situation of using location-independent services.

Problems in national roaming: The 112 system does not transmit a real phone number, but a typical one

The justification of the ANCOM project states that in cases of national roaming, due to technical limitations, the electronic communication service provider at the mobile communication points, which receives and transfers the call to the emergency service 112, automatically assigns a common telephone number. number for the corresponding call without being able to send the real phone number associated with that SIM card to the 112 emergency service.

• “To compensate for this shortcoming, at the request of the SNUAU administrator and after discussion with providers of electronic communication services at mobile points, a unique identifier, namely IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity), will be used for each emergency call.
• At the same time, this measure also applies to calls 112 initiated by users of location-independent services (such as managed voice VoIP services) that operate on mobile terminals and are based on the functionality of the mobile support network (fall-back) for emergency call 112.”, it is shown in the document.

What is IMSI and why does STS need this code

The International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) code is an international identification code for a user of mobile communication services, which usually consists of 15 digits.

According to GrigDroid.ro, the IMSI code is a number that usually consists of 15 digits, but it can be longer and shorter. For example, the old South African IMSI codes that are still in use in the market are 14 digits long. In the IMSI code, the first 3 digits represent the country code (MCC), followed by the mobile network code (MNC), which consists of 2 digits (European standard) or 3 digits (North American standard). The remaining digits represent the mobile subscription identification number (MSIN) in the network’s customer database.

ANCOM Vice President Eduard Lovin explained to HotNews.ro that this code is necessary to match the location data provided by smartphones through AML technology when calling 112 and the phone number from which 112 is called.

• “The IMSI code was introduced for use in calling scenarios where the phone number is not available. A classic example is when 112 is called via national roaming, i.e. via a different mobile network than the subscriber’s. In this case, the technical procedures do not provide for the transmission of the subscriber’s number. As the subscriber number is normally used to query identity and location databases and/or to identify the relevant AML location, in the mentioned case the relevant operations will be based on the IMSI.”, This was stated by ANCOM Vice President Eduard Lovin to HotNews.ro.

Another change to the 112 system proposed by the ANCOM project is that if location-independent services are used, providers of such services must provide subscribers with a fast and free electronic means of updating location information and informing subscribers on a monthly basis (e.g. , via account, e-mail, SMS), about the benefits of filling in and updating location information when calling 112, taking all measures to obtain from them confirmation of receipt of this information.

Also, to ensure the availability of location information, a provision has been introduced, according to which the activation of the location-independent service will take place only after the subscriber provides location information to the provider.

In addition, in order to ensure the access of people with disabilities to the emergency service 112, the providers of interpersonal communication services at the numbers intended for the public are obliged to ensure the formation and transfer to the single emergency call center of emergency assistance. communication made using the Total Conversation service by end-users with hearing and/or speech impairments or with hearing and/or speech disorders confirmed by a medical document, including in cases where these users are roaming on the territory of Romania.