Telecom Security Comparisons

38 head-to-head comparisons across telecom security: protocols, architectures, controls, and standards.

  • SS7 vs Diameter
    SS7 and Diameter are the two dominant signaling protocol families in mobile networks. SS7 (Signalling System No. 7) underpins 2G and 3G interconnect; Diameter succeeded it as the L…
  • GTP-C vs GTP-U
    GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) has two variants in the same family. GTP-C carries control-plane signaling — bearer creation, updates, teardown. GTP-U carries the tunneled user-plane…
  • SEPP vs DEA
    The Diameter Edge Agent (DEA) is the LTE-era Diameter roaming gateway. The Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) is its 5G successor, terminating the N32 interface between visited …
  • IMSI vs SUPI
    IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) is the 15-digit subscriber identifier used since GSM. In 5G it is renamed SUPI (Subscription Permanent Identifier) and, crucially, t…
  • 5G SA vs 5G NSA
    Non-standalone (NSA) 5G is a radio upgrade on top of a 4G core (EPC). Standalone (SA) 5G replaces the core entirely with a Service-Based Architecture (SBA). The security posture be…
  • GSMA FS.11 & FS.19 vs GSMA FS.20
    GSMA publishes three complementary signaling security specifications. FS.11 covers SS7 message screening at the STP. FS.19 covers Diameter screening at the DEA. FS.20 covers GTP sc…
  • VoLTE vs VoNR
    VoLTE (Voice over LTE) and VoNR (Voice over New Radio) are both IMS-anchored voice services. VoLTE runs on LTE's EPS bearer; VoNR runs on 5G's QoS Flow. The IMS core — P-CSCF, S-CS…
  • SIM swap vs IMSI catcher
    SIM swap and IMSI catcher attacks are frequently conflated. They share a target (a subscriber) but not much else. One is a social-engineering attack against the operator's customer…
  • Wangiri vs IRSF
    Wangiri ("one ring and cut") and International Revenue Share Fraud (IRSF) both monetize premium-rate international numbers. Wangiri baits the victim into calling back; IRSF origina…
  • Open RAN vs vRAN
    vRAN (virtualized RAN) runs traditional RAN functions on general-purpose compute. Open RAN adds standardized open interfaces (O1, O2, E2, Open Fronthaul) so components from differe…
  • SCCP vs TCAP
    SCCP (Signalling Connection Control Part) provides SS7 routing and addressing above MTP. TCAP (Transaction Capabilities Application Part) sits above SCCP and carries the actual MAP…
  • NAS security vs AS security
    LTE and 5G both split radio-side security into two layers. NAS (Non-Access Stratum) protects signaling between the UE and the core (MME / AMF). AS (Access Stratum) protects the rad…
  • SMS firewall vs Signaling firewall
    SMS firewalls filter message content, A2P routing, and grey routes. Signaling firewalls filter SS7/Diameter/GTP messages at the protocol level. SMS is one traffic type on top of MA…
  • Private 5G vs Public 5G
    Private 5G runs on enterprise or industrial premises, often with local spectrum and a local core. Public 5G is the MNO service. Same standards, radically different threat model.…
  • Silent SMS vs IMSI catcher
    Silent SMS (Type 0 SMS) is a legitimate protocol feature abused to ping a device without user notification. IMSI catchers are rogue base stations that force nearby devices to attac…
  • Telecom red team vs Telecom pentest
    A telecom penetration test enumerates and exploits vulnerabilities against a defined scope. A telecom red team simulates a real adversary against undefined objectives (e.g. "locate…
  • 5G-AKA vs EPS-AKA
    EPS-AKA is the LTE authentication protocol. 5G-AKA is its 5G successor. The key change is that authentication is anchored at the home network, not the visited network — closing a c…
  • Home-routed vs Local breakout
    When a subscriber roams, their data can be tunneled back to the home network (home-routed) or broken out locally in the visited network (local breakout, LBO). Each has security and…
  • Network slicing vs APN
    APNs (Access Point Names) have provided per-service isolation in LTE — enterprise APN, IoT APN, IMS APN, etc. 5G introduces network slicing (S-NSSAI) as a more granular alternative…
  • MAP vs CAP
    MAP (Mobile Application Part) and CAP (CAMEL Application Part) both ride on top of TCAP over SCCP. MAP handles mobility, authentication, and SMS; CAP handles intelligent-network se…
  • GTPv1 vs GTPv2
    GTPv1-C was defined for 2G/3G packet core; GTPv2-C replaced it for LTE with a cleaner IE encoding and TEID handling. GTP-U kept a single version. Roaming and legacy fallback keep b…
  • N32-c vs N32-f
    The N32 interface between two SEPPs is split into two sub-interfaces. N32-c handles the control-plane handshake — cipher suites, security capabilities, key material. N32-f carries …
  • AMF vs MME
    The MME (Mobility Management Entity) is LTE's single point for NAS termination, authentication orchestration, and session management. 5G splits those functions across AMF (mobility…
  • HSS vs UDM
    The HSS is LTE's combined subscriber-data store and authentication vector generator. 5G splits it: UDM holds subscription logic, UDR stores the data, ARPF/AUSF generate authenticat…
  • PFCP vs GTP-C
    GTP-C historically ran between core network entities (SGSN, SGW, PGW). CUPS (Control and User Plane Separation) and 5G introduce PFCP for the control-to-user-plane link between SMF…
  • MILENAGE vs TUAK
    MILENAGE and TUAK are the two example algorithm sets 3GPP specifies for AKA on the USIM. MILENAGE is AES-based and dominant. TUAK is Keccak-based (SHA-3 permutation) and offered as…
  • MSISDN vs IMSI
    MSISDN is the E.164 phone number a subscriber is called on. IMSI is the internal subscriber identity used inside the network. Mapping between them (SRI-SM, SRI, ATI) is one of the …
  • IPX vs GRX
    GRX (GPRS Roaming Exchange) was the packet-only interconnect for 2G/3G data roaming. IPX (IP Exchange) is its multi-service successor — carrying GTP, Diameter, SIP, and eventually …
  • eSIM vs Physical SIM
    A physical SIM is a removable UICC card carrying one operator profile. An eSIM (eUICC) is a soldered secure element that can hold multiple profiles, downloaded and switched remotel…
  • USIM vs ISIM
    A modern UICC hosts multiple applications. USIM handles cellular authentication (AKA to the HSS/UDM). ISIM handles IMS authentication (IMS-AKA to the S-CSCF). Both live on the same…
  • TLS vs IPsec
    TLS operates at the session layer above TCP/SCTP; IPsec operates at the network layer. Both encrypt, both authenticate, but their operational fit for telecom signaling differs by i…
  • STP vs DEA
    The STP (Signalling Transfer Point) is the SS7 routing and screening node. The DEA (Diameter Edge Agent) is its LTE counterpart, sitting at the operator's Diameter boundary. Modern…
  • RCS vs SMS
    SMS is the 30-year-old store-and-forward messaging service on SS7. RCS (Rich Communication Services) is the GSMA-defined IP-native successor, running over the IMS core with richer …
  • Near-RT RIC vs Non-RT RIC
    The O-RAN Alliance defines two RAN Intelligent Controllers. The Near-RT RIC runs in the 10ms–1s control loop and hosts xApps. The Non-RT RIC runs in the SMO and hosts rApps at poli…
  • S8HR vs LBO (voice)
    For VoLTE roaming, GSMA defines two architectures. S8 Home Routing (S8HR) anchors media and IMS at the home network. Local Break-Out (LBO) terminates IMS in the visited network wit…
  • PRINS vs TLS-only on N32-f
    On the N32-f interface between SEPPs, two protection profiles exist. TLS-only encrypts the transport but exposes every IE to any IPX in the middle. PRINS (Protocol for N32 Intercon…
  • SIM box fraud vs OTT bypass
    International termination fees make bypass fraud attractive. SIM boxes terminate international calls as local mobile-originated calls using banks of SIMs. OTT bypass routes calls i…
  • Roaming hub vs Bilateral roaming
    Operators reach roaming partners either via direct bilateral agreements or via a roaming hub that aggregates many partners behind one interconnect. Each affects the effective trust…