Network lookup API
Our network lookup API can provide you with a more detailed response for your network lookups, including an indication of how the information was discovered, by sending a request via HTTP POST to our gateway, allowing quick integration with your own services.
Identify which network is providing services to a mobile handset
Two classes of network lookup service make it possible to identify the network operator for a given mobile number.
Pricing
| Service | Cost per query |
|---|---|
| OFCOM reservation reference | Free |
| Network reference | 1 SMS credit |
OFCOM reservation reference service
OFCOM publish information about which mobile numbers were reserved for which provider. We provide a way for you to refer to this information programmatically for free.
Please note that where a number has been ported from one provider to another, the system will inform you of the Range Holder rather than the current provider.
How to identify the network provider for a given mobile number
http://gw.aql.com/nl/network_lookup.php (or https)
including these variables in your request (* denotes a required field):
username * password * msisdn * Number must be in international format or E.164 format method : 1, 2 or 3 (bitmask) method=1: for Ofcom only lookup (Free) method=2: for network lookup (cost -1 premium(UK) or -1 premium(Global) credit) method=3: (1+2) for both Ofcom and Network Lookup contact: 0 (zero) or 1 (one) (1 to include contact details, 0 for no details)
Possible return values…
contact : Network provider contact details. country : Country msisdn : The mobile telephone number nl_accuracy : 1 : Live data 2 : Cached within 24 hours 3 : Cached information (up to 1 month old) 4 : Prefix identification 9 : Failed nl_mvno : Name of Mobile Virtual Network Operator nl_network : Network name (Network Lookup) nl_network_code : MCC+MNC code (if nl_network undecipherable - Network Lookup) nl_location : The current location that the SIM is registered ofcom_area : Geographic number area code (Ofcom database) ofcom_change_date : Date when the data last changed (Ofcom database) ofcom_network : Network name (Ofcom database) ofcom_tariff_note : Tariff note according to Ofcom (Ofcom database) ofcom_use : Number usage according to Ofcom (Ofcom database) sms_handler : The party that handles inbound SMS on the number
Example successful lookup responses
Successful lookup
0 : Successful lookup msisdn : 44777XXXXXXX country : United Kingdom ofcom_network : Vodafone Ltd ofcom_change_date : 01-1998 ofcom_use : Mobile services nl_network : Vodafone Ltd nl_location : United Kingdom nl_accuracy : 1
OR with contact
0 : Successful lookup msisdn : 44777XXXXXXX contact : 08700746464, Vodafone Head Office, The Courtyard, 2-4 London Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1JX country : United Kingdom ofcom_network : Vodafone Ltd ofcom_change_date : 01-1998 ofcom_use : Mobile services nl_network : Vodafone Ltd nl_location : United Kingdom nl_accuracy : 1
OR international number
0 : Successful lookup msisdn : 491511XXXXXXX country : Germany nl_network : T-Mobile Deutschland GmbH nl_location : Federal Republic of Germany nl_accuracy : 1
OR UK landline
0 : Successful lookup msisdn : 44120XXXXXXX contact : 08702257879, BT plc, 81 Newgate Street, London, EC1A 7AJ country : United Kingdom ofcom_area : Colchester ofcom_network : BT ofcom_change_date : 07-1994
Error responses
Any failed queries will return an error response:
“status # : description” e.g.: 2: Authentication error
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| 0: Successful lookup | Successful lookup |
| 1: Insufficient route | Can appear when querying a foreign destination |
| 2: Authentication error | Incorrect username or password |
| 3: MSISDN number error | Incorrect MSISDN provided |
| 4: Insufficient credit | Buy more credit |
| 5: Internal system error | There was a problem with processing your request. Please report this using our support system |
| 9: Undefined error | Error without any specific description. Please report this using our support system |
| 10: Gateway unreachable | Desired network was not reachable |
| 11: Result not parsable | Data was not returned in expected format |
| 12: Data unavailable | HLR data unavailable for the MSISDN |
| 13: Unknown subscriber | MSISDN is not known to the network |
| 14: Absent subscriber | MSISDN is not currently registered to any network |
| 15: Invalid request | Unexpected data was submitted to a network |
| 16: System failure | Request rejected due to network or protocol failure |
| 17: Lookup not supported | MSISDN does not support look ups |
| 18: Request rejected | MSISDN is barred |
| 19: Request aborted | Indicates temporary problem or lost reach |
| 20: Timeout | No response was received from a network |
Network lookup
Following the link below will take you to our on-site Network Lookup service where you can identify the operator for a particular mobile or landline number, based on existing OFCOM information.