# What is an MSRN (Mobile Station Roaming Number)?

> An MSRN (Mobile Station Roaming Number) is a temporary number the visited network's VLR allocates so an incoming call can be routed to a subscriber's current serving MSC. During call setup the HLR requests it over MAP (Provide-Roaming-Number); the network uses it to route the call, then releases it. It is a routing number, never dialed by a user, and it is how roaming and forwarded calls reach the right switch. See /answers/what-is-vlr, /answers/what-is-hlr, and /answers/ss7-map-explained.

- Canonical URL: https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-msrn
- Language: en
- Last reviewed: 2026-07-22
- Publisher: BroadNet (https://www.broadnet.me)

## Related

- [All answers](https://www.broadnet.me/answers)
- [Glossary](https://www.broadnet.me/answers)
- [What is a VLR (Visitor Location Register)?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-vlr)
- [What is an HLR (Home Location Register)?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-hlr)
- [What is an MSC (Mobile Switching Centre)?](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/what-is-msc)
- [SS7 MAP — what it is and why messaging still depends on it](https://www.broadnet.me/answers/ss7-map-explained)
- [HLR Lookup](https://www.broadnet.me/products/hlr-lookup)
- [Signaling & CDR Intelligence](https://www.broadnet.me/platforms/signaling-cdr)