Femtocell

Femtocell 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 Femtocell in the wider telecom-security picture, review Base Station (BS), SRVCC, N3, AMF, Fuzzing and IAP.

Related terms

• Base Station (BS)
• SRVCC
• N3
• AMF
• Fuzzing
• IAP
• Man-in-the-Middle (MITM)
• Mobile Network

Equipment

Base stations (BTS, NodeB, eNodeB, gNodeB)

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

Articles in the P1 mobile network security guide

Related topic hubs

• SS7 Security SS7/MAP/CAP/SCCP attacks and defenses across 2G/3G interconnect.
• Signaling Firewall Unified SS7/Diameter/GTP/SMS signaling firewall framework.
• VoLTE Security IMS/VoLTE signaling risk: SIP, IMS-AKA, media plane attacks.
• IMS Security Training Training on IMS, VoLTE/VoNR, SIP and RCS security.

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.