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SIM not valid

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RolfGutmann
(@rolfgutmann)
Posts: 1185
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

A small question about Subscriber Identity Module SIM activation process. If a user gets after switching on a mobile the message SIM not valid, SIM not activated what trigers this message? Is activation (normally assigning the MSIN to a card on the operator's side) stored on the SIM card or is this a message back from the network side?

What is the difference between SIM not valid and SIM not activated? SIMs normally do not break or only by destroying or overbending by force.

Means SIM not valid equals deactivated (no more valid, but was activated)?

Who knows this in detail? Thank you.

 
Posted : 21/07/2017 2:54 pm
(@trewmte)
Posts: 1877
Noble Member
 

Hi Rolf, unless you can give specifics about what you are actually looking into your comments are very general and when used in Google produce '000,000 of response and is possibly the reason why you are not getting to the answer/s quickly.

The words "SIM not Valid" and "SIM not Activated" could be device and operator dependent (subject to device-manual or operator T&Cs) but those statement messages can be generically used for a host reasons. Equally, you may wish to search RFC and 3GPP.

As a suggestion Identify where the statement messages (seen on phone screen) are coming from-

1) Pre-recorded in handset ?
2) Sent by the network ?

"SIM not Valid" could mean the handset or network doesn't recognise the SIM because e.g.

handset
i) The ATR is corrupted ?
ii) The error may be due to using incorrect profiling values "00" or "FF" ?
iii) Could mean the handset only accepts 1.8v SIMs and the SIM inserted is 5v ?
iv) etc.

Equally, it could mean

network
v) The SIM has been previously registered and activated in a network but due to miscommunications or corrupted message to an authentication database or server ?
vi) etc.

"SIM not Activated" adds more possibilities such as it could mean a service on the SIM card is not activate for that service (see SIM SERVICE Table)?; or the SIM card requires an input code provided by the operator to activate the card (early Orange SIMs had this requirement)?; or the operator has yet to activate for the account to enable network services to be obtained?; and so on.

I would have thought that if the SIM had broken or the microelectronic circuits were damaged a message you might see on the phone screen when powering ON is "Insert SIM", but I could be wrong.

The questions you are asking are not short/simple/easy and are not easily answered, without considerably more inform of what you are looking into.

 
Posted : 22/07/2017 12:45 pm
RolfGutmann
(@rolfgutmann)
Posts: 1185
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

Thank you trewmte, I apologize for not being more precise.

Lets make some assumptions The mobile is fully functional and the Universal Integrated Circuit Card UICC (aka SIM card) not damaged. No hardware failure nor software bugs. Lets find out what states a UICC can have, I propose

- non activated
- activated (valid)
- temporary blocked
- blocked
- disactivated

It differs from country to country if a UICC already has a 'phone number' assigned (MSISDN). Some operators pre-assign (e.g. Switzerland, users can choose a 'phone number'), some operators assign after registration process, authentication with ID or passport.

So who triggers messages - based on above assumptions? Which messages always come from the device, which messages always come from the network side (operator)?

One sample I have SIM registration failed. As a mobile registers at a network this for sure comes from the network side. Normally no messages come to the user as registration is a background process.

Have to add that there are two types of messages On-screen and top bar (where you usally see 2G, 3G, H+, HSPA, CDMA, 4G, LTE and so on) close to signal strength indicator bars.

Maybe its good to learn which messages come from whom… -)

 
Posted : 22/07/2017 6:11 pm
RolfGutmann
(@rolfgutmann)
Posts: 1185
Noble Member
Topic starter
 

Ok, I guess nobody hangs in. Lets restart Which messages related to the UICC Universal Integrated Circuit Card are generated by the UE User Equipment (aka MS Mobile Station)?

SIM not valid?

Is this message pre-recorded or network initiated? If pre-recorded, where?

(Underlaying assumption hardware and software fully functional)

 
Posted : 25/07/2017 7:57 pm
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