Roaming Issues in 3GPP Security Architecture and Solution Using UMM Architecture

Abstract

The security is a serious concern for mobile network operators and their customers. Indeed, the true potential for generating revenue from mobile data services will only be realized if network operators can guarantee delivery of the level of security their demand. A serious challenge for global roaming between independent 3GPP networks is how best to confederate the various network service providers, each having different trust and policies with individuals and each supporting their own security algorithms for authentication. Due to the fact that security algorithms used to authenticate UMTS subscriber are up to your_home_operator, there are some roaming issues which could cause high roaming cost for the user. This paper concentrates on these roaming issues in the 3GPP security architecture and provides solutions to them by using COPS and the UMM (unified mobility manager) architecture. We propose using an identity provider together with the UMM architecture to improve the authentication mechanism when roaming reduce the roaming cost and provide opportunities to generate more revenues for service operators. Operators can focus on their core services by outsourcing authentication to an identity provider by keeping privacy of mobile users in the circle of operator and identity provide.