Security for mobile users of telecommunication services

This paper examines some of the most important security issues for mobile telecommunications users, such as internationally-mobile users of the telephone system. It examines the security problems associated with free movement of customers through multiple provider domains, and how these may be overcome using modern security techniques. An example of such an issue is the unique naming of users. Distributed databases of user and other information are set to become central to the provision of truly international telecommunications services. The security issues raised in the provision and maintenance of such databases, including the need to comply with personal privacy legislation, are examined in the latter part of this paper. The paper concludes with an outline of some security tools and protocols which may be used to overcome the problems raised