MAC Address

A MAC address is the 48-bit (or 64-bit EUI-64) hardware identifier burned into a network interface, used to address frames at Layer 2 of Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. MAC addresses can be locally administered or randomised; modern mobile operating systems randomise Wi-Fi MACs by default to limit cross-network tracking.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkProtocols and StandardsOperations and Business

MAC Address 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 MAC Address in the wider telecom-security picture, review 3GPP, 5GNR, 6G, ADSL, Billing System and BSS — each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

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