IS

Information Service

Services →
Introduced in Rel-8

IS is a broad category of 3GPP services that provides information delivery to users, such as weather or news, encompassing architectural elements, management functions, and charging mechanisms for content provisioning.

Category
Services
Introduced
Rel-8
Where
Management
Specifications
188 specs
IS Description Purpose Specifications

Description

Information Service (IS) in 3GPP refers to a comprehensive framework for delivering information-based content to mobile users, encompassing services like news updates, weather forecasts, stock quotes, and location-based alerts. It is not a single service but a conceptual category defined across a wide array of specifications, primarily in the 32-series (Management and Charging) and 28-series (Management and Orchestration). The architecture involves multiple network elements, including the service platform (e.g., a content server), the core network for delivery, and management systems for provisioning, monitoring, and charging. Key components include the Service Capability Server (SCS) for service logic, the Gateway Mobile Location Centre (GMLC) for location-based services, and charging systems like Online Charging System (OCS) and Offline Charging System (OFCS) to handle billing for information delivery.

How it works: An Information Service typically follows a request-response or push model. In a request model, the user device (UE) sends a query via the mobile network to an information service provider's application server. The request traverses the core network (e.g., via IMS or direct IP connections), and the server processes it, possibly retrieving data from external sources (e.g., weather APIs). The response is then delivered back to the UE through the network, with appropriate quality of service (QoS) applied. In a push model, the service provider initiates delivery based on triggers like time or location, using mechanisms such as SMS, Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), or IP-based push notifications. Management specifications (e.g., 32.101) define how these services are monitored for performance, fault, and configuration, ensuring reliable operation.

The role of Information Service in the network is to enable value-added services beyond basic voice and data, driving revenue for operators and enhancing user experience. It integrates with various 3GPP subsystems: the charging system (e.g., 32.295 for charging data records) tracks usage for billing; the policy framework (e.g., PCRF) may apply specific QoS; and the security framework ensures data privacy. Specifications like 29.163 cover interworking with other networks (e.g., SIP-based services), while 36.171 and 38.171 include performance requirements for delivery over LTE and NR radio. This extensive standardization ensures that Information Services can be deployed consistently across different operators and technologies, from 2G to 5G, supporting evolution towards rich communication services (RCS) and IoT data delivery.

Purpose & Motivation

The purpose of standardizing Information Service (IS) in 3GPP is to provide a unified framework for delivering content-based services over mobile networks, ensuring interoperability, manageability, and monetization. Before such standardization, information services were often proprietary, leading to fragmentation where services worked only on specific networks or devices. This limited scalability and increased costs for operators and content providers. By defining IS across specifications like 32.101 (Telecommunication management principles), 3GPP addresses these issues by establishing common architectures, management procedures, and charging mechanisms, enabling seamless service deployment and roaming.

Historically, early mobile information services like SMS-based alerts or WAP portals emerged in 2G networks but lacked comprehensive management standards. The introduction of IS in Release 8, alongside the growth of packet-switched data in 3G/4G, was motivated by the need to support more complex services such as multimedia messaging, location-based services, and mobile internet content. This evolution addressed limitations of ad-hoc implementations by providing standardized interfaces for service provisioning, quality monitoring, and charging, which are critical for operator control and revenue assurance. The framework also supports regulatory requirements, such as emergency alerts or public warning systems, by defining reliable delivery mechanisms.

The motivation for IS standardization stems from the business need to create an ecosystem where operators, content providers, and users can interact efficiently. It solves problems like inconsistent service quality, complex billing integration, and lack of management visibility. By encompassing a wide range of specs—from network management (32-series) to service architecture (28-series)—IS enables operators to offer diverse information services while maintaining network performance and security. This has paved the way for advanced services in 5G, such as massive IoT data dissemination and edge computing-based information delivery, ensuring backward compatibility and future extensibility.

Evolution Across Releases

Rel-8 Initial

Introduced the Information Service (IS) framework within 3GPP, establishing foundational management and charging principles in specs like 32.101. Initial architecture defined service provisioning, performance monitoring, and billing mechanisms to support standardized content delivery over emerging 3G/4G networks, enabling operators to deploy value-added services consistently.

TS 21.905TS 25.172TS 25.766TS 28.518TS 28.536TS 28.606TS 28.616TS 28.621TS 28.624TS 28.625TS 28.626TS 28.629TS 28.633TS 28.653TS 28.654TS 28.656TS 28.659TS 28.662TS 28.663TS 28.669TS 28.673TS 28.676TS 28.701TS 28.703TS 28.706TS 28.707TS 28.708TS 28.709TS 28.733TS 28.736TS 28.871TS 29.116TS 32.101TS 32.102TS 32.103TS 32.111TS 32.121TS 32.122TS 32.123TS 32.125TS 32.126TS 32.150TS 32.151TS 32.152TS 32.153TS 32.154TS 32.155TS 32.157TS 32.182TS 32.300TS 32.302TS 32.303TS 32.305TS 32.306TS 32.307TS 32.311TS 32.312TS 32.322TS 32.323TS 32.325TS 32.326TS 32.335TS 32.336TS 32.343TS 32.345TS 32.346TS 32.347TS 32.352TS 32.353TS 32.355TS 32.356TS 32.357TS 32.362TS 32.363TS 32.365TS 32.366TS 32.367TS 32.371TS 32.372TS 32.373TS 32.375TS 32.376TS 32.381TS 32.382TS 32.383TS 32.385TS 32.386TS 32.391TS 32.392TS 32.393TS 32.395TS 32.396TS 32.397TS 32.411TS 32.413TS 32.415TS 32.416TS 32.417TS 32.442TS 32.443TS 32.445TS 32.446TS 32.506TS 32.507TS 32.523TS 32.526TS 32.535TS 32.536TS 32.537TS 32.601TS 32.603TS 32.606TS 32.607TS 32.613TS 32.615TS 32.616TS 32.617TS 32.621TS 32.623TS 32.625TS 32.626TS 32.631TS 32.633TS 32.635TS 32.636TS 32.641TS 32.643TS 32.645TS 32.646TS 32.651TS 32.653TS 32.655TS 32.656TS 32.661TS 32.663TS 32.665TS 32.666TS 32.667TS 32.671TS 32.672TS 32.673TS 32.675TS 32.676TS 32.690TS 32.691TS 32.695TS 32.696TS 32.711TS 32.713TS 32.715TS 32.716TS 32.723TS 32.725TS 32.726TS 32.731TS 32.733TS 32.735TS 32.736TS 32.743TS 32.745TS 32.746TS 32.751TS 32.752TS 32.753TS 32.756TS 32.763TS 32.765TS 32.766TS 32.773TS 32.776TS 32.783TS 32.786TS 32.792TS 32.796TS 32.818TS 32.824TS 32.828TS 32.832TS 32.859TS 32.866TS 32.880TS 32.901TS 36.171TS 36.355TS 36.866TS 37.355TS 37.571TS 38.171

Explore further

Broader topics and technologies where IS plays a role.

Topics
OAM (Operations & Maintenance)IMS & Voice (VoLTE, VoNR)Roaming & InterconnectMEC (Edge Computing)Privacy (SUPI, SUCI)LTE / LTE-Advanced
Technologies
LTE5G

Defining Specifications

3GPP specifications that define or reference IS, with the latest known release. Sourced from the 3GPP document catalog — see methodology.

SpecificationTitleRelease
TR 21.905 vj00 3GPP Technical Terms and Definitions Rel-19
TS 25.172 vj00 A-GANSS UE Minimum Performance Requirements (FDD) Rel-19
TS 25.766 vd10 Network-Assisted Interference Cancellation for UMTS Rel-13
TS 28.518 vj00 Fault Management for Virtualized Networks Stage 3 Rel-19
TS 28.536 vj20 Management services for communication service assurance Rel-19
TS 28.606 vc10 CN and non-3GPP interworking NRM IRP Solution Sets Rel-12
TS 28.616 vj00 EPC and non-3GPP access NRM IRP SS definitions Rel-19
TS 28.621 vj00 Generic Network Resource Model (NRM) IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 28.624 vj00 State Management Data Definition IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 28.625 vj00 State Management Data Definition IRP Information Service Rel-19
TS 28.626 vj00 State Management Data Definition IRP Solution Set Rel-19
TS 28.629 vj00 SON Policy NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.633 vj00 Inventory Management NRM IRP Solution Set definitions Rel-19
TS 28.653 vj00 UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definition Rel-19
TS 28.654 vj00 GERAN NRM IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 28.656 vj00 GERAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.659 vj00 E-UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.662 vj10 Generic RAN Network Resource Model (NRM) IRP IS Rel-19
TS 28.663 vj00 Generic RAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.669 vj00 RPTA IRP Solution Set (SS) Rel-19
TS 28.673 vj00 HNS NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.676 vj00 HeNS NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.701 vj00 Core Network NRM IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 28.703 vj00 Core Network NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.706 vj00 IMS NRM IRP Solution Set definitions Rel-19
TS 28.707 vj00 EPC NRM IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 28.708 vj00 EPC NRM Integration Reference Point Information Service Rel-19
TS 28.709 vj00 EPC NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.733 vj00 TN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.736 vj00 STN Interface NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 28.871 vj00 Study on Service Based Management Architecture enhancement phase 3 Rel-19
TS 29.116 vj00 REST-based protocol for xMB reference point Rel-19
TS 32.101 vj00 Management principles and high-level requirements Rel-19
TS 32.102 vj00 Telecom Management Physical Architecture Framework Rel-19
TS 32.103 vj00 3GPP Management IRP Overview Rel-19
TS 32.111 vj00 Fault Management Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.121 vj00 Advanced Alarm Management IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.122 vj00 Advanced Alarm Management IRP Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.123 v1900 Advanced Alarm Management IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.125 v1930 AAM IRP XML File Format Definition Rel-9
TS 32.126 vj00 AAM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 32.150 vj00 IRP Concept and Definitions Rel-19
TS 32.151 ve00 IRP Information Service Template Specification Rel-14
TS 32.152 ve10 IRP Information Service UML Repertoire Rel-14
TS 32.153 vj00 IRP Technology-Specific Templates Specification Rel-19
TS 32.154 vj00 Backward Compatibility for 3GPP IRP Specifications Rel-19
TS 32.155 vj00 IRP Requirements Template for 3GPP Management Rel-19
TS 32.157 vj00 IRP Information Service Template for Converged Management Rel-19
TS 32.182 vj00 UDC Common Baseline Information Model (CBIM) Rel-19
TS 32.300 vj00 3GPP Network Resource Naming Convention Rel-19
TS 32.302 vj00 Notification IRP Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.303 v900 Notification IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.305 v900 Notification IRP XML Definitions for CM Rel-9
TS 32.306 vj00 Configuration Management Notification IRP Solution Set Rel-19
TS 32.307 v1920 Notification IRP SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.311 vj00 Generic IRP Management Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.312 vj00 Generic IRP Management Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.322 vj00 Test Management IRP Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.323 v900 Test Management IRP CORBA SS Rel-9
TS 32.325 v900 Test Management IRP XML Definitions Rel-9
TS 32.326 vj00 Test Management IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 32.335 v900 Notification Log IRP XML Definitions Rel-9
TS 32.336 vj00 Notification Log IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 32.343 v1900 File Transfer IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.345 v1900 XML Definitions for File Transfer IRP Rel-9
TS 32.346 vj00 File Transfer IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 32.347 v1900 File Transfer IRP SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.352 vj00 Communication Surveillance IRP Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.353 v1900 Communication Surveillance IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.355 v1900 Communication Surveillance IRP XML Definitions Rel-9
TS 32.356 vj00 Communication Surveillance IRP Solution Set Rel-19
TS 32.357 v1900 Communication Surveillance IRP SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.362 vj00 Entry Point IRP Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.363 v900 EP IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.365 v901 EP IRP XML Definitions for 3GPP Management Rel-9
TS 32.366 vj00 EP IRP Solution Set definitions Rel-19
TS 32.367 v900 Entry Point IRP SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.371 vj00 Security Management Concept & Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.372 vj00 Security Service for IRP Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.373 v1900 IRP Security Services CORBA Solution Rel-9
TS 32.375 v1900 Security Services for IRP: File Integrity Rel-9
TS 32.376 vj00 Security services for IRP Solution Set Rel-19
TS 32.381 vj00 Partial Suspension of Itf-N IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.382 vj00 Partial Suspension of Itf-N IRP Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.383 v900 Partial Suspension of Itf-N IRP CORBA SS Rel-9
TS 32.385 v1910 Partial Suspension of Itf-N IRP XML Definition Rel-9
TS 32.386 vj00 Partial Suspension of Itf-N IRP Solution Set Rel-19
TS 32.391 vj00 Delta Synchronization IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.392 vj00 Delta Synchronization IRP Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.393 v910 Delta Sync IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.395 v910 Delta Synchronisation IRP XML Definition Rel-9
TS 32.396 vj00 Delta Synchronization IRP Solution Set definitions Rel-19
TS 32.397 v900 Delta Sync IRP SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.411 vj00 PM IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.413 v900 PM IRP: CORBA Solution Set (SS) Rel-9
TS 32.415 v1900 PM IRP XML Definitions for Performance Management Rel-9
TS 32.416 vj00 PM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 32.417 v900 PM IRP SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.442 vj00 Trace Management IRP: Information Service Rel-19
TS 32.443 v910 Trace Management IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.445 v920 Trace Management IRP XML File Format Definition Rel-9
TS 32.446 vj00 Trace Management IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 32.506 vj00 Self-Configuration of Network Elements IRP Solution Set Rel-19
TS 32.507 v1910 Self-Configuration IRP SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.523 v930 SON Policy NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.526 vb70 SON Policy NRM IRP Solution Set definitions Rel-11
TS 32.535 v910 Software Management IRP XML Definitions Rel-9
TS 32.536 vj00 Software Management IRP Solution Set Rel-19
TS 32.537 v910 Software Management IRP: SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.601 vj00 Basic Configuration Management IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.603 v910 Basic CM IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.606 vj00 Basic CM IRP Solution Set for CORBA/SOAP Rel-19
TS 32.607 v1910 CM IRP SOAP Solution Set Mapping Rel-9
TS 32.613 v1910 Bulk CM IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.615 v1920 Bulk CM XML File Format Definition Rel-9
TS 32.616 vj00 Bulk CM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 32.617 v900 Bulk CM IRP SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.621 vb00 Generic Network Resources IRP Requirements Rel-11
TS 32.623 v900 Generic NRM CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.625 v1900 Bulk CM XML File Format Definition Rel-9
TS 32.626 vb20 Generic Network Resources IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-11
TS 32.631 vb00 Core Network Resources IRP Requirements Rel-11
TS 32.633 v1920 Core Network Resources IRP CORBA Mapping Rel-9
TS 32.635 v1910 Core Network Resources IRP XML Schema Rel-9
TS 32.636 vb00 CM Core Network Resources IRP Solution Set Rel-11
TS 32.641 vb00 UTRAN Network Resources IRP Requirements Rel-11
TS 32.643 v930 UTRAN Network Resources IRP: CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.645 v930 UTRAN Bulk CM XML File Format Rel-9
TS 32.646 vc00 UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-12
TS 32.651 vb00 GERAN Network Resources CM IRP Requirements Rel-11
TS 32.653 v920 GERAN Network Resources IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.655 v920 GERAN NRM Bulk CM XML File Format Rel-9
TS 32.656 vc00 GERAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-12
TS 32.661 vj00 Kernel Configuration Management IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.663 v1900 Kernel CM IRP CORBA Mapping Rel-9
TS 32.665 v1901 Kernel CM IRP XML Definitions Rel-9
TS 32.666 vj00 Kernel CM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-19
TS 32.667 v1900 Kernel CM IRP SOAP Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.671 vb00 State Management IRP Requirements Rel-11
TS 32.672 vb00 State Management IRP Information Service Rel-11
TS 32.673 v900 State Management IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.675 v1900 State Management IRP Bulk CM XML Format Rel-9
TS 32.676 vc00 3GPP TS 32.676: State Management IRP Solution Set Rel-12
TS 32.690 vj00 Inventory Management IRP Requirements Rel-19
TS 32.691 vb00 Inventory Management IRP Requirements Rel-11
TS 32.695 v1900 Inventory Management XML File Format Definition Rel-9
TS 32.696 vb10 Inventory Management NRM IRP Solution Set Rel-11
TS 32.711 vb00 TN Interface NRM IRP Requirements Rel-11
TS 32.713 v900 TN Interface NRM IRP: CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.715 v900 TN interface NRM IRP XML file format definition Rel-9
TS 32.716 vb00 TN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-11
TS 32.723 v900 Repeater NRM CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.725 v1900 Repeater Network Resources IRP Bulk CM XML Rel-9
TS 32.726 vb00 Repeater NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-11
TS 32.731 vb00 IMS Network Resource Model IRP Requirements Rel-11
TS 32.733 v910 IMS NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.735 v1910 IMS NRM IRP Bulk CM XML Format Rel-9
TS 32.736 vb00 IMS NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-11
TS 32.743 v1900 CORBA Solution Set for STN IRP Rel-9
TS 32.745 v900 STN NRM IRP XML File Format Definition Rel-9
TS 32.746 vb00 STN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-11
TS 32.751 vb00 EPC NRM IRP Requirements Rel-11
TS 32.752 vb01 EPC NRM IRP Information Service Rel-11
TS 32.753 v920 EPC NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.756 vb00 EPC NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-11
TS 32.763 v1950 E-UTRAN NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.765 v960 E-UTRAN NRM IRP XML Definitions Rel-9
TS 32.766 vb90 E-UTRAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-11
TS 32.773 v900 HNS NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.776 vb00 HNS NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-11
TS 32.783 v1900 HeNS NRM IRP CORBA Solution Set Rel-9
TS 32.786 vb00 3GPP TS 32.786: HeNS NRM IRP Solution Set Rel-11
TS 32.792 vb10 Generic RAN Network Resource Model (NRM) IRP Rel-11
TS 32.796 vc00 Generic RAN NRM IRP Solution Set Definitions Rel-12
TS 32.818 v800 SA5 MTOSI XML Harmonization Study Rel-8
TS 32.824 v900 SOA and IRP Gap Analysis Rel-9
TS 32.828 va00 Study on 3GPP-TMF NRM/SID Alignment Rel-10
TS 32.832 va00 Alarm Correlation and Root Cause Analysis Study Rel-10
TS 32.859 vc10 Alarm Management Quality Improvement Study Rel-12
TS 32.866 vf00 REST, HTTP, JSON for Management Interfaces Rel-15
TS 32.880 vf00 Simplified Itf-N IRP Solution Sets Study Rel-15
TR 32.901 vj00 UDC Application Data Models Study Rel-19
TS 36.171 vj10 A-GNSS Minimum Performance Requirements for UE Rel-19
TS 36.355 vj00 LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) Rel-19
TS 36.866 vc01 Study on Network Assisted Interference Cancellation Rel-12
TS 37.355 vj20 LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) Rel-19
TS 37.571 vj00 UE Conformance for Positioning Rel-19
TS 38.171 vj10 5G A-GNSS UE Positioning Requirements Rel-19
Patrick Zandl

About the author: Patrick Zandl (b. 1974)

Telecommunications specialist, technology journalist (founder of the Mobil server), and developer who has been running since 2025 — the largest Czech-language resource on AI-assisted programming. Formerly Chief Wizard Architect at Prusa3D and head of development for Turris at CZ.NIC; currently a consultant and instructor on AI implementation in companies.

· · ·