GSMA (GSM Association)

The GSMA is the global trade association of mobile network operators, equipment vendors, and ecosystem players. Beyond MWC, the GSMA owns critical operational standards, IMEI Database, eSIM/RSP, RCS, IPX certification, and publishes the FS-series Permanent Reference Documents that define interconnect security baselines (FS.07, FS.11, FS.19, FS.20, FS.21) used by operators worldwide. Compliance with GSMA security PRDs is increasingly a commercial and regulatory expectation.

Categories: Core NetworkRoaming and InterconnectIdentity and Subscriber

GSMA in context

The mobile core carries subscriber sessions, mobility and policy. 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.

Roaming and interconnect are where two operators exchange signaling and user-plane traffic. Trust boundaries here are the primary attack surface for location tracking, SMS interception and fraud, which is why GSMA now mandates SEPP with PRINS on 5G interconnect.

To place GSMA in the wider telecom-security picture, review Cryptography, GMSC, Subscriber, AKA, AUSF and Behavioral Signaling Detection — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

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