PLMN Decoder

How to decode or encode a PLMN

1. Choose a direction. Decide whether you are decoding MCC/MNC to an operator or encoding a PLMN into its byte forms.
2. Enter the value. Type the MCC and MNC, or paste a PLMN ID.
3. Read the result. See the country and operator, plus the decimal, hex and BCD/NAS representations.

Frequently asked questions

What is a PLMN ID and how is it built?

A PLMN (Public Land Mobile Network) identifies an operator's network. It is the combination of a Mobile Country Code (MCC, three digits) and a Mobile Network Code (MNC, two or three digits) — together MCC+MNC name the country and the operator within it. So 310 410 is MCC 310, MNC 410, for example.

Why does the PLMN look different in BCD or hex?

On the air and in NAS signalling the PLMN isn't sent as plain digits — it's packed in BCD with a specific nibble order, and a two-digit MNC uses a filler nibble (0xF) for the missing third digit. That packing is why the same PLMN shows up as one value as decimal MCC/MNC and a different-looking byte sequence in hex or BCD. The decoder shows all of those side by side so you can match what you see in a trace.

How do I know if the MNC is two or three digits?

There's no rule you can read off the number itself — MNC length is assigned per country, so the same-looking value can be a 2-digit MNC in one country and 3-digit in another. The safe approach is to know the MCC's convention; North American MCCs (310-316) use 3-digit MNCs, while many others use 2. The decoder handles both and shows the split it used.