Glossary · Identifiers
MCC/MNC
Mobile Country Code / Mobile Network Code
Also known as: MCC, MNC, mobile country code, mobile network code, PLMN code
The MCC (Mobile Country Code) and MNC (Mobile Network Code) together identify a mobile network anywhere in the world. The MCC is three digits and identifies a country or region; the MNC is two or three digits and identifies a network within it. Combined, they form the PLMN ID — for example 234 15, where 234 is the United Kingdom and 15 is one of its networks.
Format and assignment
| Code | Length | Assigned by | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCC | 3 digits | ITU, under Recommendation E.212 | 310–316 United States, 234 and 235 United Kingdom, 262 Germany |
| MNC | 2 or 3 digits | The national numbering authority | 15, 260 |
MNC length matters. An IMSI beginning 310260… could in principle be read as MNC 26 or 260, so the SIM stores the MNC length and the device uses it to split the number correctly. A wrong MNC length in a SIM or in a test configuration produces the wrong network identity.
A few special codes are worth knowing: MCC 001 with MNC 01 is widely used for test networks, and MCC 901 is a shared international code assigned to networks not tied to one country, such as satellite systems and some global IoT operators.
Where MCC/MNC is used
- IMSI: the first five or six digits of every IMSI are the home network’s MCC/MNC.
- Cell broadcasts: each cell advertises the PLMN IDs it serves.
- Roaming: the visited network uses the IMSI’s MCC/MNC to route authentication to the home network and check the roaming agreement.
- Billing: roaming settlement identifies operators by TADIG code, which each operator maps to its MCC/MNC.
- Steering and policy: steering of roaming lists and forbidden network lists are stored as MCC/MNC entries.
Why it matters for testing
Most roaming test plans are really MCC/MNC matrices: for each home network, which visited networks accept the device, and on which radio technology. Getting the codes right — including MNC length — is the foundation. SimCheck.ai lets you tag profiles with one of 2,400+ mobile networks and force tests onto a specific PLMN, and its roaming matrix report shows results by home and visited operator — see roaming testing.
Last updated · SimCheck.ai team