The present invention relates to a method for handling global challenge authentication
registration in a cellular telecommunications network. A Mobile Switching Center
(MSC) receives a registration message from a mobile station, and it determines
whether it has capabilities for bypassing global challenge authentication. In instances
where the MSC has capabilities for bypassing global challenge authentication, it
verifies whether a Visitor Location Register (VLR) relating thereto has a record
for the mobile station from which the registration message has been received, and
if so, it bypasses the global challenge authentication for the mobile station.
When the VLR does not have a record for the mobile station from which the registration
message has been received, it performs the global challenge authentication. Alternatively,
if the MSC does not have capabilities for bypassing global challenge authentication,
it performs the global challenge authentication for the mobile station from which
the registration message has been received. The invention also relates to a MSC
and a mobile station for performing the method.
