PLMN
A public land mobile network is one operator network identified by an MCC and MNC pair, broadcast by its cells and stored in the IMSI.
Definitions only — a term explained here is not a service we sell.
A public land mobile network (PLMN) is a single operator network, identified by a mobile country code and a mobile network code and broadcast by its cells.
The pair is also stored in the IMSI. The MNC is two or three digits, and leading zeros count: 02 and 002 differ. An operator can run several PLMNs, so read the pair together.
Where the codes sit
- MCC 274
- MNC 01
- MSIN 1234567890
Text description
The fields run left to right: MCC, then MNC, then the subscriber part. The MCC names the country or area; the MNC names the network. The boundary moves with the MNC length.
Home, visited and selection
The home PLMN is the one in the subscription. A visited PLMN is any other network the device attaches to. At power-up the device applies this order: the registered PLMN (or an equivalent), then the home PLMN (HPLMN/EHPLMN), then the user-controlled list, then the operator-controlled list, then other networks by signal quality. Forbidden lists and manual locks override it. Check band support. The MCC-MNC lookup resolves the pair.