The Roaming Zone-System ID (SID) List

The Roaming Zone-Cellular Roaming Codes & Advice

THE ROAMING ZONE SYSTEM ID's (SID LIST) System Identification Numbers, or SIDs, are 15-bit numeric identifiers used by cellular systems to identify the home system of a wireless carrier and by the cellular telephone to determine its roaming status. In the US, cellular SID's had originally been assigned and recorded by the FCC. In 2003 the FCC decided to privatize the function of assigning and recording cellular SIDs. Our lists are updated as changes are discovered. Note: Some of these files are large.


			SID #1 -3999

			SID #4000 - 9999

			SID #10000 - 89999 Mostly foreign SID's, a few US

			The Last FCC SID List as an alphabetized web page, 2003

			The Last FCC SID List as an Excel spreadsheet, Oct. 1 ,2003

FCC's Administration of Cellular SID's

The administration of Cellular SIDs was transferred to the private sector on October 1, 2003. With the transfer of this responsibility, the SID was removed from the cellular license. Cellular licensees seeking a new SID assignment, an additional SID assignment, or licensees that have ceased using an assigned SID, will be required to make their request / notification through one of the recognized SID Administrators to perform Cellular SID administration. Each organization will operate under the general guidelines developed by the FCC and the cellular industry.

Background
The year 2000 biennial review of the Cellular Radiotelephone Service resulted in the Commission eliminating System Identification Numbers from its rules. This impacted cellular carriers in two ways. 1)Cellular SID Administration would be transferred from the FCC to the private sector, 2) Once transferred, the SID would no longer be a term of a cellular license. In transitioning the SID administration function from the FCC to the private sector, the Bureau kept the industry informed through Public Notices and its website, drafted SID Administrator Guidelines outlining the responsibilities of each administrator and requested public comment, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with each recognized administrator. SID assignments prior to October 1, 2003 are available in the archive license database in the FCC Universal Licensing System.

source: wireless.fcc.gov/