Independent PRL Interpretations

On CDMA handsets, roaming is controlled via a configuration file called the PRL. This page provides independent interpretations of PRLs issued by select CDMA carriers in North America. The information can be useful in deciding whether to update your PRL, and in determining where roaming coverage might be available during your travels.

On to the PRLs!

Click a carrier to view Independent PRL Interpretations:

IMPORTANT  Please note the following Terms and Conditions:

• Independent PRL Interpretations are not official documents of any cellular carrier.
• Independent PRL Interpretations have been compiled from publicly available data sources. The source data is believed to be correct, but is not comprehensive and may contain errors and/or omissions.
• Independent PRL Interpretations are intended for private, personal use only. They are not for use in sales.
• Independent PRL Interpretations are provided as a free public service. You may freely distribute copies of these files, but they are not to be sold.
• Independent PRL Interpretations for your carrier can help to provide a rough sketch of available coverage, but are not a comprehensive listing of your carrier's roaming agreements. Roaming agreements can be (and usually are) active on networks not listed in the PRL. Conversely, the presence of a network in the PRL doesn't always mean that your service plan allows you to roam on it.

Tips & Tricks

• Contrary to popular belief, you don't necessarily need a GSM phone when you travel abroad. CDMA networks exist in most countries where they are not prohibited by law (unfortunately, CDMA remains illegal throughout the European Union). Before you travel abroad, check with your carrier to find out whether CDMA roaming is available in your destination country. Most carriers do not enable international roaming by default, so you will also need to add this service.
• Text and picture messaging, data services, and advanced calling features may not be available when roaming. Most carriers store received messages for you, and will deliver them to your handset when you return to your carrier's service area.
• Are you being routed to the American Roaming Network or hearing error messages when you attempt to place a roaming call? Ask your carrier for an "authentication override," which may solve this problem.

Additional Information

• Not sure what all this PRL stuff is about? See this document to learn how Iusacell builds their PRLs (118KB, PDF).
• Want to take apart a PRL? See this slide deck (6.7MB, PPT).
• Would you like a PRL from another CDMA carrier interpreted? Send us feedback, and we'll try our best to help.

Feedback and Submissions

Questions? Complaints? Corrections? Feedback is always welcome! We also welcome submissions of new PRL files (from all carriers, not just the ones listed above) for interpretation. Our e-mail address is feedback [at] cellresource.net. You must include the word feedback in the subject line, or your message will be automatically discarded by the junk filter.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to XFF for providing numerous updates and corrections to originally published versions of this documentation, and for creating the most comprehensive database of SIDs that has ever been compiled from public sources. Using XFF's database, Mathwhiz kindly developed an automated tool to generate PRL interpretations on the fly (which freed up my weekends from hacking these together by hand). And, of course, thanks to Justa Lurker (wherever he is) for laying the foundation for this work.

See Also

Mountain Wireless PRL Page - Lists the latest PRLs from most carriers, along with change lists.
TProphet - columnist for 2600 Magazine, Seattle-based electronica DJ, and retired from HoFo.

Disclaimer

This Web page was created in the province of Manitoba, Canada. The investigative reporting on this page is protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees freedom of speech and of the press.

Wireless carrier logos on this page are used for reference purposes only. No wireless carrier referenced has created, approved, or endorsed any of the information on this page.

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Last updated on 1/26/09