Implementation of meid for mobile stations in CDMA network

At present, all the networks identify the cdma mobile terminals & devices with esn (electronic serial number). There is limitation in the numbering resources for the esn, as it is a 32 bit number & the same is nearing exhaustion by 2007 q4. The document provides the guidelines and the requirements for implementing the new identification called meid, which is a 56 bit number and which will resolve the esn exhaustion problem. The document highlights, the advantages of migration to an meid based network. The various requirements in the network entities (both in the access interface as well as the core network part) required for supporting the meid parameter in the network have also been discussed. The implementation methodology takes care of the fact that the present day handsets, which have the esn as the equipment identifier also have to work flawlessly in the network, hence the issue of backward compatibility (meid based network with esn equipped handsets) has also been discussed. A summary of various standards that need to be supported for meid capability has also been mentioned for the various network elements to comply with.