location area identity (positioning, GSM) (LAI)

The Location Area Identity (LAI) is a radio area identification. It is a 2- byte identifier that is used to identify the area where a subscriber is located in the GSM network.

The area identifier consists of the Mobile Country Code( MCC), the Mobile Network Code( MNC) and the Location Area Code( LAC) and is used by the Base Station Subsystem( BSS) to indicate the location area to the mobile station. The indication is made via the Broadcast Control Channel( BCCH) and updates the location. This location identifier is entered in the Visitor Location Register( VLR) and is also used for paging.