WO2008154942A1

WO2008154942A1 - Method, telecommunication system and network entity for enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network (vplmn)

Info

Publication number: WO2008154942A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/005440
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Bot; Richard Vermeer; Rogier August Caspar Joseph Noldus
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 2007-06-20
Filing date: 2007-06-20
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-20
Also published as: TW200915890A; AR067073A1

Abstract

Method of enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), wherein said user uses a mobile terminal which is subscribed in a home public land mobile network (HPLMN)1 said method comprising the steps of said mobile terminal roaming into said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); a home location register (HLR) in said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) exchanging service data with a visitor location register (VLR) in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN)1 for enabling service provisioning to said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); verifying whether said service data comprises home service subscription information of services made available by said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); and when said service data does not comprise home service subscription information, generating replacement subscription information of services made available by said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), and adding said replacement subscription information to said service data, for storage thereof in said visitor location register (VLR). The home service subscription information may comprise originating subscription information and/or terminating subscription information. The invention is further directed to a service subscription adaptation entity for enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) in accordance with the method as described above. In addition, the invention is directed to a telecommunication system comprising a service subscription adaptation entity as described above.

Description

Title:

Method, telecommunication system and network entity for enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network

(VPLMN).

Field of the invention

The present invention is directed to a method of enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network

(VPLMN), wherein said user uses a mobile terminal which is subscribed in a home public land mobile network (HPLMN), said method comprising the steps of: said mobile terminal roaming into said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); a home location register (HLR) in said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) exchanging service data with a visitor location register (VLR) in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), for enabling service provisioning to said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN).

The invention is further directed to a service subscription adaptation entity for enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) in accordance with the method as described above. In addition, the invention is directed to a signalling trasfer point (STP) and a telecommunication system comprising a service subscription adaptation entity as described above.

Background of the invention With the introduction of mobile telecommunication services some decennia ago, the number of mobile users of such services has grown extensively, and nowadays mobile telecommunication services are fully integrated in modern live. A large number of mobile service providers is presently available, each of them offering mobile services through one or more mobile telecommunication networks in one or several countries or regions. The commercial success of mobile telecommunication services is mainly based on enabling use of these services wirelessly and in any location, regardless of a user's whereabouts. This is particularly true for mobile telephony, which is still the main driver behind the commercial success of mobile telecommunication service provisioning. As a result of the commercial success, and the ever increasing amount of mobile users, the requirements on the mobility of telecommunication services are becoming more strict over time. In addition, users themselves become more and more mobile, and in general, users are travelling much more nowadays than at the time when mobile services were first introduced in the early seventies of the twentieth century (the first commercially operated public mobile phone network was launched in 1971 in Finland: ARP). Nowadays, users not only want to be able to place telephone calls at any place and at any time, they also want to be able to use preferably all the telecommunication services that they are regularly using, anywhere and at any time, such as voicemail, call forwarding, virtual private network (VPN), calling number recognition, number portability, etc.

This development has been ongoing for a while, and in order to fulfill these requirements, telecommunication providers have been involved in ongoing activities with the objective to introduce standards across the industry. One of these standards is the customized applications for mobile networks enhanced logic (CAMEL) standard introduced under the 3^rd generation partnership project (3GPP).

CAMEL was developed as a standard for mobile intelligence across different vendor equipments for mobile GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) networks. The CAMEL feature has been provided in the GSM system in order to allow network operators to provide access to the subscriber services including operator specific services, even when the user is roaming (i.e. being served by a different network than the network to which his mobile terminal is subscribed: a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN)).

CAMEL has been developed over the years since its introduction, and the CAMEL standardisation has presently reached CAMEL phase 4. Earlier releases of the CAMEL standard, have gradually made available development of a number of mobile telecommunication services. CAMEL phase 1 supports some basic enhanced functionality, on top of regular voice and data calls. An example of this is a basic version of the virtual private network (VPN) service. Within CAMEL phase 4, a large number of telecommunication services is supported for roaming users, such as conference calls, enhanced VPN services and network-initiated call establishment. Within CAMEL, service information is made available in the telecommunication networks through the use of CAMEL subscription information (CSI). When a user of telecommunication services roams to a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), e.g. from his home public land mobile network (HPLMN), location update information is exchanged between the visitor location register (VLR) in the VPLMN, and the home location register (HLR) in the HPLMN. In addition, the HLR in the HPLMN may transmit originating CAMEL subscription information (O-CSI) to the VLR in the VPLMN. This O-CSI identifies one or more services available to the user for outbound roaming from his home network (HPLMN).

In CAMEL phase 3 and 4, services offered by the service provider in the visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) can also be made available to inbound roaming users on this VPLMN with the use of the network CAMEL service information (N-CSI). Dependent on the preferences of the service provider in the VPLMN, the N-CSI can be provisioned in the VLR in order to provide services to the roaming user that are specifically available in the visited network. As a rule, the N- CSI service information does not overwrite or replace the O-CSI information provided by the HPLMN, however the N-CSI service may be triggered in addition to the O-CSI service, e.g. for providing additional services.

A disadvantage of the use of the N-CSI trigger in CAMEL phase 3 and CAMEL phase 4, is that it only supports the provisioning of services supported under CAMEL phase 3 or 4. This implies that the MSCs and the service nodes in the VPLMN need to support CAMEL phase 3 or 4. Moreover, mobile networks that do not support CAMEL phase 3 or phase 4 features do not support use of an N-CSI trigger, and therefore lack the possibility of providing specific services available in the VPLMN to inbound roaming users. Even if CAMEL phase 3 is supported by the VPLMN, but not CAMEL phase 4, then the use of the N-CSI trigger is limited, and therefore the service provider in the VPLMN will not be able to provide additional services to the inbound roaming users at all times.

Summary of the invention It is an object of the present invention to enable service provisioning to inbound roaming users in a VPLMN regardless of the standardisation level supported by the VPLMN, in particular regardless of whether or which version of the CAMEL standard is supported by the VPLMN.

This and other objects are achieved by the present invention in that there is provided, according to a first aspect thereof, a method of enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), wherein said user uses a mobile terminal which is subscribed in a home public land mobile network (HPLMN), said method comprising the steps of said mobile terminal roaming into said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); a home location register (HLR) in said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) exchanging service data with a visitor location register (VLR) in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), for enabling service provisioning to said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); verifying whether said service data comprises home service subscription information of services made available by said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); and when said service data does not comprise home service subscription information, generating replacement subscription information of services made available by said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), and adding said replacement subscription information to said service data, for storage thereof in said visitor location register (VLR).

According to the present invention, replacement subscription information is automatically generated in the VPLMN in the case that no home service subscription information (in particular O-CSI or visited terminating CAMEL subscription information (VT-CSI)) is received from the HLR in the HPLMN. If no home service subscription information is provided by the HLR, then the user does not have CAMEL services for outbound roaming that are available to him in the VPLMN, and that are provided by the HPLMN. In that case, by generating replacement subscription information, the VLR is made into "thinking" that an O-CSI or VT-CSI has been provided by the HLR. Therefore, as a result of providing the replacement subscription information, the services identified in the replacement subscription information are available to the inbound roaming user in the VPLMN. In other words, the VPLMN may generate replacement subscription information containing service information from services that can be used in the VPLMN, and because the replacement subscription information is made available in the VLR as a replacement for the O-CSI or VT-CSI, it is treated as regular O-CSI or VT-CSI, enabling service provisioning to the inbound roaming users by the service provider of the VPLMN. The major advantage of this invention is that it can be applied in any type of mobile network, specifically also in mobile telecommunication networks that only support CAMEL phase 1 or phase 2, and not phase 3, nor phase 4.

As described above, the replacement of subscription information is only generated when no home service subscription information is available from the HPLMN. This is because it is undesirable to overwrite O-CSI or VT-CSI provided by the HLR of the HPLMN.

The home service subscription information may comprise any element of a group comprising origination subscription information (such as O-CSI) and terminating subscription information (such as VT-CSI). According to an embodiment of the present invention, said step of generating said replacement subscription information is performed by a service subscription adaptation entity (SSA) located in the visited public land mobile network (VPLMN). The advantage of facilitating the method of the present invention through a separate network entity, is that it can be easily implemented in any existing mobile telecommunication network without major modifications to the network architecture. In particular, the method of the present invention may be implemented as a feature in the signalling transfer point (STP) in the visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), e.g. in between the HLR in the HPLMN and the VLR in the VPLMN. The service subscription adaptation entity (SSA) in this embodiment of the present invention may thus be a signalling transfer point (STP) in an existing mobile telecommunication network.

The service subscription adaptation entity may in that case be responsible for verifying whether or not home service subscription information (e.g. O-CSI or VT-CSI) is provided by the HPLMN, and if this is not the case, it may also be responsible for generating the replacement subscription information and sending this along to the VLR in the VPLMN for adding the replacement subscription information to the service data recorded for the inbound roaming user.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein said home service subscription information comprises originating subscription information, the replacement subscription information is of a same format as the originating subscription information. In particular, this format may correspond to a format which is common with the CAMEL standard for originating subscription information, such as O-CSI.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein said home service subscription information comprises terminating subscription information, said replacement subscription information is of a same format as said terminating subscription information. In particular, this format may correspond to a format which is common with the CAMEL standard for terminating subscription information, such as VT-CSI.

The VPLMN may, in addition to generating the replacement subscription information, provide a service indication, such as a replacement service indication, that it has performed the step of generating the replacement subscription information. The VPLMN may also generate a service indication, such as a VPLMN service trigger indication, indicating that the service, as defined by the replacement subscription information, has been invoked. Such service indications (replacement service indication or VPLMN service trigger indication) may be recorded in a call detailed record (CDR), and/or may be sent to the HPLMN for recordation therewith. This is completely optional, and the method of the present invention will perfectly function without the provisioning of the replacement service indication. However, one or both of providing a replacement service indication and a VPLMN service trigger indication as described above supports billing, and enables statistics analysis in the VPLMN or in the HPLMN₁ as applicable. Since home service subscription information is usually provided together with, or in response to, the location update process, the invention may well be implemented as a feature within this process.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a service subscription adaptation entity for enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), said user using a mobile terminal which is subscribed in a home public land mobile network (HPLMN), wherein said service subscription adaptation entity is arranged for being operatively connected to a home location register (HLR) in said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) and a visitor location register (VLR) in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), and wherein said service subscription adaptation entity comprises: means for receiving service data sent by said home location register (HLR) to said visitor location register (VLR) relating to said mobile terminal roaming into said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); means for verifying whether said service data comprises home service subscription information of services made available by said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); means for generating replacement subscription information of services made available by said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) when said service data does not comprise home service subscription information; and means for adding said replacement subscription information to said service data, for storage thereof in said visitor location register (VLR).

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a signalling transfer point (STP) entity for use in a telecommunications network, comprising a service subscription adaptation (SSA) entity as described above.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a telecommunication system for enabling service provisioning to a roaming user, said system comprising a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) to which said users are inbound roaming users, a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) wherein at least one mobile terminal of said user is subscribed, wherein said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) comprises a visitor location register (VLR) and wherein said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) comprises a home location register (HLR), wherein said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) further comprises a service subscription adaptation entity according to the second aspect of the invention, for enabling service provisioning to said inbound roaming user, wherein said service subscription adaptation entity is arranged for being operatively connected to said home location register (HLR) and said visitor location register (VLR)₁ and wherein said service subscription adaptation entity comprises: means for receiving service data sent by said home location register (HLR) to said visitor location register (VLR) relating to said mobile terminal roaming into said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); means for verifying whether said service data comprises home service subscription information of services made available by said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); means for generating replacement subscription information of services made available by said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) when said service data does not comprise home service subscription information; and means for adding said replacement subscription information to said service data, for storage thereof in said visitor location register (VLR).

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will further be elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings, and by description an embodiment thereof. The embodiments and drawings only serve to illustrate the invention to the person skilled in the art, and are not intended to restrict the scope of the invention in any way. In the attached drawings: figure 1 illustrates a telecommunication system according to the present invention, wherein the method of the present invention may be applied; figure 2 illustrates a communication flow chart of a method according to the present invention; figure 3 closely illustrates the main method steps performed in a network entity that can be used to implement the present invention in a telecommunication network.

Detailed description of the drawings

In figure 1 , a telecommunication system according to the present invention is generally indicated with reference number 1. The telecommunication system 1 comprises a home public land mobile network 10 (HPLMN) to which a mobile terminal 3 of a user 2 is subscribed, and a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) 8, wherein user 2 with mobile terminal 3 is presently roaming. The roaming takes place when user 2 travels with his mobile terminal 3 outside a geographical region covered by home public land mobile network (HPLMN) 10, and into a geographical area covered by VPLMN 8, said user 2 registering with a mobile switching centre (MSC) in the VPLMN. This could happen at any particular moment, for example when the mobile terminal 3 of user 2 is not in use and switched in a stand-by mode in a pocket of the clothes of user 2 . In any case, mobile switching centre (MSC) 11 in VPLMN 8 is notified of mobile terminal 3 which is present in the network.

To this end, mobile terminal 3 may for example notify its presence through wireless signal 5 to base station 4, which forwards the signal to mobile switching centre (MSC) 11. MSC 11 is connected to a plurality of other MSCs 12, 13 and 14 in VPLMN 8. MSC 11 is further connected to service control point (SCP) 24, a visitor location register (VLR) 25 and home location register (HLR) 26.

In HPLMN 10, a plurality of mobile switching centres (MSCs) 18, 19,

20 and 21 is interconnected. The MSCs 18-21 may be connected to base stations, such as base station 17, for receiving incoming signals from mobile terminals on the network. MSC 20 is connected to a service control point (SCP) 28 in the HPLMN 10, and to a home location register (HLR) 29 in HPLMN 10.

VPLMN 8 and HPLMN 10 are interconnected with each other through interconnection 27, connecting MSC 11 in VPLMN 8 tot MSC 20 in HPLMN

10. In between MSC 11 and MSC 20, VPLMN comprises a signalling transfer point (STP) 30 for routing signalling in between VPLMN 8 and HPLMN 10. In HPLMN 10,

MSC 20 may act as signalling transfer point. The signalling transfer points receive all signalling messages exchanged over interconnection 27. Therefore, in an implementation of the present invention, STP 30 comprises the service subscription adaptation (SSA) as a functional entity. An implementation of the method of the present invention in telecommunication system 1 of figure 1 is schematically illustrated in a flow chart in figure 2. Each of the network elements, entities and parties, performing any kind of task in the method of the present invention, are depicted in the heading in figure 2. In the first column, actions preformed by mobile terminal 3, under responsibility of user 2, are illustrated. The second, third, fourth and fifth column of figure 2 depict actions performed in the communication process by elements in VPLMN 8. In particular, these elements in VPLMN 8 include MSC 11 , HLR 26, VLR 25, and STP 30. In the rightmost two columns of figure 2, actions performed by network entities in HPLMN 10, in particular MSC 20 and HLR 29, are depicted. The method of the present invention starts of, in figure 2, with the mobile terminal 3 notifying its arrival in the geographical area of VPLMN 8 to MSC

11 , in step 35. Step 35 could be a regular location update, known to the person skilled in the art. In step 36, MSC 11 , which is aware of the inbound roaming mobile terminal 3, analyses the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) used by terminal 3 in order to determine the HPLMN of terminal 3, and finds out that this is HPLMN 10.

In step 38, MSC 11 sends a location update which is destined for HLR 29 in HPLMN 10. The location update is received by STP 30, and forwarded in step 40 to MSC 20 in HPLMN 10. In step 42, the location update is forwarded by MSC 20 to HLR 29 (note that MSC 20 performs the STP function in the HPLMN, however in order to prevent clarity issues it will hereinbelow be indicated as MSC 20, and not as STP, otherwise this could be confusing in view of STP 30), which updates the present location of mobile terminal 3, by registering that mobile terminal 3 is served by MSC 11 in VPLMN 8. In return, in step 43, home location register (HLR) 29 of HPLMN 10 sends service data back to VPLMN 8. This service data comprises data which is of relevance for VPLMN 8 in order to serve mobile terminal 3 from VPLMN 8, and may therefore comprise all kinds of basic, supplementary and other data. If the HPLMN 10 offers one or more CAMEL services to its outbound roaming subscribers, this service data provided by HLR 29 may include originating CAMEL subscription information (O-SCI), identifying CAMEL services available to user 2 of mobile terminal 3 outside HPLMN 10, e.g. in VPLMN 8. The service data provided by HLR 29 is forwarded in step 45 by MSC 20 to signalling transfer point (STP) 30.

According to the present invention, STP 30 receives the service data from MSC 20, and verifies whether the service data received includes originating subscription information, i.e. O-CSI, in step 49. If HLR 29 did not send O- CSI to VPLMN 8 when sending the service data in step 43, then STP 30 in step 49 establishes that no O-CSI is present in the service data, and as a result, includes replacement subscription information (schematically indicated by arrow 48) in the service data received, and forwards the service data together with the replacement subscription information to MSC 11. The replacement subscription information 48 may include relevant data for enabling service provisioning by the VPLMN 8 to mobile terminal 3. It may for example contain address or routing information for SCP 24 in VPLMN 8, through which a number of value added services can be provided to mobile terminal 3.

MSC 11 receives the service data forwarded by signalling transfer points (STP) 30, including the replacement subscription information. Since the replacement subscription information may be formatted as a regular O-CSI from HPLMN 10, the method of the present invention is transparent at MSC 11. In other words, the replacement subscription information 48 will be treated as a regular O-CSI, and will be forwarded by MSC 11 to VLR 25 in step 50 for registration therewith. A benefit of this is that the present invention can be implemented in existing mobile networks easily, without having to implement changes and modifications to numerous network nodes and entities. Upon receipt of the replacement subscription information and other data (e.g. as mentioned above) included in the service data, VLR 25 is updated in step 51. The method steps performed by STP 30 in the above described embodiment of the present invention are in more detail illustrated in figure 3 as a flow chart. In the flow chart of figure 3, data pieces provided through the telecommunication network are schematically illustrated by rhomboids.

In step 55, STP 30 receives location update message 100 from MSC 1 1 in VPLMN 8 and forwards this location update message 100 to MSC 20 in HPLMN 10. MSC 20 forwards message 100 to HLR 29 in HPLMN 10 (see figure 2, step 42). In return, service data 1 10 is received by STP 30 in step 56. The service data is provided by HLR 29 in HPLMN 10, through MSC 20 (figure 2, steps 43 and 45). STP 30 now performs a verification in step 57 in order to establish whether or not the service data 1 10 includes originating subscription information (O- CSI). If originating subscription information is included in service data 1 10, the result of verification step 57 will be affirmative, and the process will continue in step 58, wherein the service data 1 10 is forwarded to MSC 1 1 in VPLMN 8. If the result of the verification step 57 is negative, STP 30 adds replacement subscription information 120 in step 60 to the service data received. The replacement subscription information 120 may be available from a local memory 59 which is accessible by STP 30, or could be retrieved from an another entity in VPLMN 8. After the replacement subscription information is included in step 60, the modified service data 130 is sent to MSC 1 1 in VPLMN 8 in step 61. The modified service data 130 includes the original service data 1 10, and the replacement subscription information 120. The process then ends, and may be restarted when another location update is received by STP 30, or when a data restoration message is received by STP 30 from MSC 1 1 in VPLMN 8. Step 57 may, as an operators option, further be characterised by

STP 30 checking the CAMEL capability of MSC 1 1 . This may be implemented by analysing the supported CAMEL phases parameter that STP 30 may have received from MSC 1 1 in step 38. In this way STP 30 complies with GSM specifications, in the sense that it does not provide CAMEL subscription data to MSC 1 1 if this MSC has not explicitly or implicitly indicated that it supports that CAMEL subscription data for the served subscriber.

For the purpose of comprehensiveness, it is noted here that numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. The above examples are substantiated for providing replacement subscription information in case no O-CSI is provided by a HPLMN. It is to be understood that the invention operates in a similar manner in case of the unavailability of VT-CSI information as provided by the HPLMN. The teachings of the invention are to be applied likewise in that case, with the difference that VT-CSI is replaced by similar terminating subscription information, as defined in the claims. It is therefore understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically described in the text of the application.

Claims

1. Method of enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), wherein said user uses a mobile terminal which is subscribed in a home public land mobile network (HPLMN), said method comprising the steps of: said mobile terminal roaming into said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); a home location register (HLR) in said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) exchanging service data with a visitor location register (VLR) in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), for enabling service provisioning to said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); verifying whether said service data comprises home service subscription information of services made available by said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); and when said service data does not comprise said home service subscription information, generating replacement subscription information of services made available by said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), and adding said replacement subscription information to said service data, for storage thereof in said visitor location register (VLR).

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein said home service subscription information is selected from a group comprising originating subscription information and terminating subscription information.

3. Method according to any of the claims 1 or 2, wherein said step of generating said replacement subscription information is performed by a service subscription adaption (SSA) entity located in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN).

4. Method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said step of verifying said service data for availability of said home service subscription information is performed by said service subscription adaption (SSA) entity.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein said service subscription adaptation (SSA) entity is implemented in a signalling transfer point (STP) of said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN).

6. Method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said home service subscription information comprises originating subscription information, and wherein said replacement subscription information is of a same format as said originating subscription information.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein said format of said replacement subscription information corresponds to a format common in a customized application for mobile network enhanced logic (CAMEL) for originating subscription information (O-CSI).

8. Method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said home service subscription information comprises terminating subscription information, and wherein said replacement subscription information is of a same format as said terminating subscription information.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein said format of said replacement subscription information corresponds to a format common in a customized application for mobile network enhanced logic (CAMEL) for terminating subscription information, such as VT-CSI, to be used in a visited MSC.

10. Method according to any of the previous claims, further comprising a step of said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) providing at least one service indication selected from a group comprising a replacement service indication, wherein said replacement service indication reflects that said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) has performed said step of generating said replacement subscription information, and a service trigger indication reflecting the invocation of a replacement service corresponding with said replacement subscription information.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein said at least one service indication is recorded in a call detail record.

12. Method according to claim 10, wherein said at least one service indication is provided to said home public land mobile network (HPLMN).

13. Method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said step of exchanging service data comprises a location update process for said inbound roaming user between said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) and said home public land mobile network (HPLMN).

14. Method according to any of the previous claims, wherein said step of exchanging service data comprises a data restoration process for said inbound roaming user between said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) and said home public land mobile network (HPLMN).

15. Service subscription adaptation entity for enabling service provisioning to an inbound roaming user in a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), said user using a mobile terminal which is subscribed in a home public land mobile network (HPLMN), wherein said service subscription adaptation entity is arranged for being operatively connected to a home location register (HLR) in said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) and a visitor location register (VLR) in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), and wherein said service subscription adaptation entity comprises: means for receiving service data sent by said home location register (HLR) to said visitor location register (VLR) relating to said mobile terminal roaming into said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); means for verifying whether said service data comprises home service subscription information of services made available by said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); means for generating replacement subscription information of services made available by said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) when said service data does not comprise said home service subscription information; and means for adding said replacement subscription information to said service data, for storage thereof in said visitor location register (VLR).

16. Service subscription adaptation entity according to claim 15, wherein said means for verifying whether said service data comprises home service subscription information, is arranged for verifying whether said service data comprises home service subscription information selected from a group comprising originating subscription information and terminating subscription information.

17. Service subscription adaptation entity according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said means for generating said replacement subscription information are arranged for generating said replacement subscription information in a format common in a customized application for mobile network enhanced logic (CAMEL) for originating subscription information (O-CSI).

18. Service subscription adaptation entity according to any of the claims 15-17, wherein said means for generating said replacement subscription information are arranged for generating said replacement subscription information in a format common in a customized application for mobile network enhanced logic (CAMEL) for terminating subscription information (VT-CSI), to be used in a visited MSC.

19. Service subscription adaptation entity according to any of the claims 15-18, further comprising means for providing a replacement service indication for indicating that replacement subscription information has been generated by said entity.

20. Service subscription adaptation entity according to any of the claims

15-19, further comprising means for providing a service trigger indication for indicating the invocation of a replacement service corresponding with said replacement subscription information.

21. Signalling Transfer Point (STP) entity for use in a telecommunications network, comprising a service subscription adaptation entity according to any of the claims 15-20.

22. Telecommunications system for enabling service provisioning to a roaming user, said system comprising a visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) to which said users are inbound roaming users, a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) wherein at least one mobile terminal of said user is subscribed, wherein said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) comprises a visitor location register (VLR) and wherein said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) comprises a home location register (HLR), wherein said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) further comprises a service subscription adaptation entity according to any of the claims 15-20, for enabling service provisioning to said inbound roaming user, wherein said service subscription adaptation entity is arranged for being operatively connected to said home location register (HLR) and said visitor location register (VLR), and wherein said service subscription adaptation entity comprises: means for receiving service data sent by said home location register

(HLR) to said visitor location register (VLR) relating to said mobile terminal roaming into said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); means for verifying whether said service data comprises home service subscription information of services made available by said home public land mobile network (HPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN); means for generating replacement subscription information of services made available by said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) for said mobile terminal in said visited public land mobile network (VPLMN) when said service data does not comprise home service subscription information; and means for adding said replacement subscription information to said service data, for storage thereof in said visitor location register (VLR).