Handoff (Handover)

Handoff (handover, in 3GPP terminology) is the procedure that transfers an active call or data session from one cell, carrier, or radio access technology to another as the user moves or as conditions change. Soft, hard, and inter-RAT variants exist; security-sensitive aspects include re-establishing ciphering and integrity protection without interruption and resisting forced bid-down to weaker ciphers.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkProtocols and StandardsInternet and Routing

Handoff (Handover) in context

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

Telecom security is written into standards from 3GPP, GSMA, ETSI, IETF and ITU-T. Understanding which body owns which specification, and how they interlock, is essential for both design and audit work.

To place Handoff (Handover) in the wider telecom-security picture, review LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), PoE, TCP/IP, Telecom, DetNet and Segment Routing — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

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