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Mobile: C2 - Safaricom Internal

The location update procedure allows mobile devices to inform the cellular network when moving between location areas. Mobiles detect location area code changes and send location update requests with their previous location and temporary ID. Mobiles also store current location codes to avoid unnecessary procedures if switching off without notifying the network. There are several reasons for location updates, including when mobiles switch on/off, move between areas, or lose signal coverage within an area. Location updates ensure subscribers have reliable network access and can be reached for calls anywhere in the coverage area.

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52 views

Mobile: C2 - Safaricom Internal

The location update procedure allows mobile devices to inform the cellular network when moving between location areas. Mobiles detect location area code changes and send location update requests with their previous location and temporary ID. Mobiles also store current location codes to avoid unnecessary procedures if switching off without notifying the network. There are several reasons for location updates, including when mobiles switch on/off, move between areas, or lose signal coverage within an area. Location updates ensure subscribers have reliable network access and can be reached for calls anywhere in the coverage area.

Uploaded by

Jane Muli
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The location update procedure allows a mobile device to inform the cellular network whenever it

moves from one location area to the next. Mobiles are responsible for detecting location area codes
(LAC). When a mobile finds that the location area code is different from its last update, it performs
another update by sending to the network, a location update request, together with its previous
location, and its Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity (TMSI).
The mobile also stores the current LAC in the SIM card, concatenating it to a list of recently used
LACs. This is done to avoid unnecessary IMSI attachment procedures in case the mobile has been
forced to switch off (by removing the battery, for example) without having a chance to notify the
network with an IMSI detach and then switched on right after it has been turned off. Considering the
fact that the mobile is still associated with the Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location
Register (MSC/VLR) of the current location area, there is no need for any kind of IMSI attachment
procedures to be done.
There are several reasons why a mobile may provide updated location information to the network.
Whenever a mobile is switched on or off, the network may require it to perform an IMSI attach or
IMSI detach location update procedure. Also, each mobile is required to regularly report its location
at a set time interval using a periodic location update procedure. Whenever a mobile moves from
one location area to the next while not on a call, a random location update is required. This is also
required of a stationary mobile that reselects coverage from a cell in a different location area,
because of signal fade. Thus, a subscriber has reliable access to the network and may be reached
with a call, while enjoying the freedom of mobility within the whole coverage area.
When a subscriber is paged in an attempt to deliver a call or SMS and the subscriber does not reply
to that page then the subscriber is marked as absent in both the MSC/VLR and the Home Location
Register (HLR) (Mobile not reachable flag MNRF is set). The next time the mobile performs a
location update, the HLR is updated and the mobile not reachable flag is cleared.

C2 - Safaricom Internal

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