BTS (Base Transceiver Station)

BTS in context

The radio access network is the layer where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations, downgrade attacks and jamming, and defenses hinge on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

The mobile core is where subscriber sessions, mobility and policy live. In 4G it is the EPC (MME, HSS, S/PGW); in 5G it is the Service-Based Architecture with AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM and the NRF. Core exposure is the difference between a single-subscriber leak and a fleet-wide breach.

To place BTS in the wider telecom-security picture, review BSC, RAN, Base Station (BS), Backhaul, Jamming and AMPS.

Related terms

• BSC
• RAN
• Base Station (BS)
• Backhaul
• Jamming
• AMPS
• Open RAN
• CPE

Equipment

Base stations (BTS, NodeB, eNodeB, gNodeB)

• Base Station (BS)
• BTS Impersonation (Fake BTS)
• eNodeB
• Femtocell
• gNodeB
• IMSI Catcher (Cell Site Simulator)
• N3
• Rogue Base Station (Fake BTS)

Articles in the P1 mobile network security guide

Related topic hubs

• Diameter Attacks S6a IDR/PUR/CLR abuse, subscriber tracking, LTE signaling attacks.
• LTE Security Training Training on 4G/LTE core, Diameter, NAS and RRC security.
• NAS Security Non-Access Stratum security, integrity and ciphering algorithms.

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.