IAP (Intercept Access Point)

An Intercept Access Point is the network element designated to capture signalling and user-plane traffic for a target subscriber when a lawful interception warrant is in effect. IAPs are typically embedded in the MSC, MME, AMF, SMF, or SMSC, and they hand off captured content and intercept-related information to a Mediation Function that delivers to the law-enforcement monitoring facility. Their operation is governed by ETSI TS 102 232/103 221 and equivalent national standards, with strict access controls and audit.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkCore NetworkSignaling

IAP 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 IAP in the wider telecom-security picture, review AMF, Provide Subscriber Information (PSI), User Plane Security, IMS-AKA, N3 and 5G SA.

Related terms

Related topic hubs

  • SMS Firewall SMS spam, phishing, A2P bypass and MAP-layer SMS filtering.
  • Signaling Firewall Unified SS7/Diameter/GTP/SMS signaling firewall framework.
  • 5G Security 5G SBA, SEPP, SUCI, 5G-AKA, N32 and service-based interface security.
  • SS7 Security SS7/MAP/CAP/SCCP attacks and defenses across 2G/3G interconnect.

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