Noise

Noise is unwanted electromagnetic energy that degrades signal quality, originating from thermal effects, electronic components, neighbouring transmitters, and atmospheric phenomena. Receiver noise is fundamentally bounded by the noise floor (kTB), and noise figure is a key spec for radio equipment. Noise levels limit usable range, throughput, and modulation order in every wireless system.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkInternet and RoutingEncryption and Cryptography

Noise 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 networks depend on Internet-style routing (BGP, DNS, MPLS) for interconnect. Route hijacks and DNS abuse can degrade or intercept signaling, which is why RPKI and DNSSEC are now standard hardening for carrier networks.

To place Noise in the wider telecom-security picture, review Broadband, CDMA, OFDMA, SHR, TDMA and A5/2 — 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.