Contents
- - How to identify your mobile operator on iOS?
- - How to identify your mobile operator on Android?
- - External services to identify mobile operators
Almost everyone uses smartphones, and it is a simple process to check the network provider for a phone number SIM card entered into an unlocked smartphone as long as the SIM is still active to receive reception.
How to identify your mobile operator on iOS?
If you are using an Apple phone with the iOS operating system first you select the mobile settings option in the menu, then scroll down to “General”, select “About” and at the bottom, you will see the option to select “Primary” In this page under network row you will see the network provider details.
How to identify your mobile operator on Android?
For the Android operating system, it is a similar process, you need to open the Mobile Settings App and click on “Network and Internet you will see the option to view Cellular Networks which will state the network your SIM is operated by, in recent updates on the operating system the selection you need to make is “Connections” under the Mobile Networks you will see “Service Provider”.
The above options are physically possible when you have access to the SIM card and a smartphone. What happens if you do not have access to the SIM card or you simply want to check the network provider for a particular phone number, there is guidance on Ofcom about number allocations to various regions by network providers, you can simply check the area for good coverage before purchase from a particular network provider but searching for the number is not allowed on their website due to privacy laws of number subscribers.
External services to identify mobile operators
There are some websites that provide the network provider with a simple search through an API to the number data register. These network lookup services as significantly reliable and can be used to search for a number for its network provider when necessary. These validations are made by HLR Checks “Home Location Register”, it is not only used for checking the network provider, but it also checks for the status of the GSM mobile number for validity, activity, porting history of the number, if the number is roaming, the checks will also return the meta information as IMSI, MSC, MCC and MNC.
All network providers are connected by a network signalling system no.7 network which is also called SS7. This system is the main infrastructure behind the SMS messaging system, it is used by network providers to exchange information regarding setting up calls, number translation, and prepaid billing system. This is why in some of the web tools as we mentioned above you will be charged an SMS message fee to find which network operates the number you search for. HLR is a global central database of all mobile phone subscribers registered with any mobile network provider. Every mobile network operator uses an HLR to check the authenticity of a call when it registers with a transmitter whether on the home or roaming network.
Each number of data is the most up-to-date and accurate in the HRL system for any mobile phone subscriber in the world. If you would like to identify a network operator of a mobile phone use a reliable intermediary company website to check the operator information that collects the data through the HRL system.