The interface of E.212 & E.164 Reference book plays an important role in identifying an exact MCCMNC based on a destination number. It contains two main sections. Top section stores countries, country codes, networks names and the MCC MNCs to which they belong. Bottom section stores specific dial codes that belong to networks’ MCCMNC. In some cases, a system owner might want to update the data to refine system routing performance. How can this be achieved?
This article provides guidelines for different purposes and shares solutions for possible issues:
- Goal A: make dial codes from the file be the only active dial codes that the system will use;
- Goal B: update some prefixes data in the system by replacing system data with the data from file;
- Goal C (complex update): using one file do several changes at the same time: add, close a dial code or an MCC MNC, add new dial codes to a certain MCC MNC, close specific MCCMNC;
- Possible issues & solutions.
Goal A: make dial codes from the file be the only active dial codes that the system will use
This will close (make inactive) all the dial codes that were previously used by the system and will enable the system to use only the dial codes from your file. This will require a file that contains all the destinations that you want the system to work with — so if you want the system reference book to operate and be able to identify MCC MNC of A-Z destination numbers, your file must include A-Z destinations records.
- Prepare the file that you are to upload. It can be a .XLS or .CSV format file. For best results, the file has to contain
- MCC,
- MNC (or e.212, which is both MCC and MNC in the same column),
- dial codes (e.164),
- country name,
- country dial codes
- and network name columns.
- Open e.212/e.164 reference book import interface via Start/SMS/Reference books/e.212/e.164 reference book import. The interface access might be restricted. If you do not see it as available option, please reach out to your colleague of higher access to make adjustments to your user’s restrictions.
- In the top right menu File to import, select the file using Browse button and click Upload. It may take some time for the system to process the file.
- Once uploaded, it’s required to map each column — so that the system understands how to read the file contents. If your file has several e.164 columns, all of them can be defined (first one as e.164 (1), second as e.164 (2) and so on).
On the right side menu, define the row from which dial codes and networks data starts in Start row option, select Import type as Close all existing entries in the database and make the imported ones effective as of the same time, define the date at which the old records must be closed (made inactive) in Close date - in our example we’re using date 2024.05.19. Effective date parameter defines when the system starts using the dial codes from the file - it’s predefined to today’s date and cannot be changed so that the previously processed and billed traffic remains unaffected.
Note: Please be extra careful with this step - the option Close all existing entries in the database and make the imported ones effective as of the same time affects the whole E.212 / E.164 Reference book MCCMNC identification data, which is used for routing and billing. Make sure your file covers all the active destinations to avoid unexpected traffic loss or disruption due to the dial codes update.
In the bottom right corner, click Start import button. The system might need some time to process the data.
Before applying the changes, the system analyses the file records and shows summary of errors and the upcoming changes relative to existing data, where you can either accept them (Apply button) or get back to previous step (Back button). Please be aware that Apply option will immediately affect the system routing and billing, so please carefully study the review of changes to confirm if it's correct, otherwise the system might be made unable to route traffic for certain destinations or route it unexpectedly.
- Upon applying, short summary details appear
Both countries and dial codes sections are going to be updated. The old records End date will be set to today date (or the date you defined in Close date in settings menu), and new records Start date will be set to today date. Even if data from system matched the file data, the system records would be any way closed and opened by the same date. The dial codes which were present in the system, but was not present in the file, will be closed (made inactive and not used by routing). Further, in your reference book data, you will find the history of changes for each specific network and dial code, including the previous changes. If there is an MCC MNC network or a dial code record which has End date being 2100.01.01, it means that it's active and the destination is in use.
Goal B: update some prefixes data in the system by replacing system data with the data from file
This will add new dial code records, replace system country and network names with file names. The changes you’re about to make will be applied from date 2000.01.01 — as if the newly imported records always were in the system. What you will need to proceed first with is to prepare the file that you are to upload. It can be a .XLS or .CSV format file. For best results, the file has to contain
- MCC,
- MNC (or e.212, which is both MCC and MNC in the same column),
- dial codes (e.164),
- country name,
- country dial codes
- and network name columns
Let’s imagine you, a system owner, obtained a file which you wish to be used by the system as MCCMNC data source for routing and further billing, but you already have some data for same destinations in the system reference book, the data that partly includes some of the dialcodes from the file.
- In the top right menu File to import, select the file using Browse button and click Upload. It may take some time for the system to process the file.
- Once uploaded, it’s required to map each column — so that the system understands how to read the file contents. If your file has several e.164 columns, all of them can be defined (first one as e.164 (1), second as e.164 (2) and so on)
- On the right side menu, define the row from which dial codes data starts in Start row option, select Import type as Replace all matching entries in the database with the imported ones, then click Start import button in the bottom right corner. The system might need some time to process the data.
- Before applying the changes, the system analyses the file records and shows summary of errors and the upcoming changes relative to existing data, where you can either accept them (Apply button) or get back to previous step (Back button). Please be aware that Apply option will immediately affect the system routing and billing, make sure to carefully study the review of changes, otherwise the system might be made unable to route traffic for certain destinations.
- Upon applying, short summary menu appear with details on how many networks and dial codes were updated.
- In the result, both countries and dial codes sections are going to be updated with the new data, as if the recently uploaded records had always been present in the system registry
Goal C: using one file do several changes at the same time
This options helps to add, close a dial code or an MCC MNC, add new dial codes to a certain MCC MNC, close specific MCCMNC. The detailed explanation on how this is achieved can be found in the user manual, search for Complex reference book update option.
Possible issues & solutions
Issue: The new dial codes or MCCMNCs that were uploaded by a file are not visible in the interface.
Solution: re-login into web interface under your user.
AKBSMS - Alaris Knowledge Base
Related Questions:
e.212/e.164 Reference book,
dial codes update,
prefixes update,
networks update,
dialcode update,
dial code management
Link to this article: https://helpdesk.alarislabs.com/en/knowledge_base/article/285/category/136/