Metadata

Metadata is descriptive information about a communication, calling and called numbers, time, duration, cell ID, IP addresses, message size, distinct from the content. In telecom it is the substance of call detail records and is highly revealing of behaviour and relationships, which is why metadata retention is a regulated and often controversial topic.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkSecurity ControlsInternet and Routing

Metadata 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.

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 Metadata in the wider telecom-security picture, review EDGE, Metadata Retention, Satellite Backhaul, Core Network, IGW and Mediation System.

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More from the TelcoSec Glossary

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