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) are the anchor for authentication, charging, lawful interception and fraud analytics. Any protocol or interface that leaks a permanent identifier is treated as a serious privacy defect, which is why 5G introduced SUCI concealment on the air interface.

Security controls in telecom span signaling firewalls (SS7/Diameter/GTP screening at the network edge), transport encryption (IPsec, TLS, PRINS), identity and access on OSS/BSS, and monitoring at both the packet and log level. Controls are audited against GSMA FS.11/FS.19/FS.20/FS.36 and, in Europe, NIS2 sectoral rules.

To place ICCID in the wider telecom-security picture, review IMSI, SIM, GSMA Open Gateway, OTA, eSIM Profile Theft and Interconnect Bypass Fraud.

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