ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier)

The Integrated Circuit Card Identifier is the unique 19- to 22-digit serial number printed on a SIM, eSIM, or iSIM and stored in the card's EF file system. It identifies the physical or virtual card itself rather than the subscriber, and is used by operators for SIM provisioning, profile management, and over-the-air updates. ICCIDs play a central role in eSIM remote SIM provisioning (GSMA SGP.21/SGP.22) and in fraud investigations involving SIM swaps and cloning.

Categories: Identity and SubscriberSecurity ControlsFraud

ICCID in context

Subscriber identifiers (IMSI, SUPI, MSISDN, IMEI) anchor authentication, charging and lawful interception. Any protocol that leaks a permanent identifier is treated as a privacy defect, which is why 5G introduced SUCI concealment on the air interface.

Security controls span signaling firewalls (SS7/Diameter/GTP screening), transport encryption (IPsec, TLS, PRINS), identity and access on OSS/BSS, and monitoring at both packet and log level. Controls are audited against GSMA FS.11/FS.19/FS.20/FS.36.

To place ICCID in the wider telecom-security picture, review 2G, AAA, Any-Time Interrogation (ATI), Artificial Traffic Inflation, Authentication and Blue Team — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

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