how to get a list of available gsm networks?

Question

hi there!

i'm currently writing on some piece of code in android 2.1 that is supposed to measure the signal strength of the gsm signals. what i need is some kind of list with some kind of network IDs matching the corresponding signal strengthes... i got this far:

public class main extends Activity {
    TelephonyManager telManager;
    GSMListener gsmListener;

    @Override
    public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
        setContentView(R.layout.main);

        gsmListener = new GSMListener();

        telManager = (TelephonyManager) getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);
        telManager.listen(gsmListener ,PhoneStateListener.LISTEN_SIGNAL_STRENGTHS);

    }

    private class GSMListener extends PhoneStateListener {
        /* Get the Signal strength from the provider, each time there is an update */
        @Override
        public void onSignalStrengthsChanged(SignalStrength signalStrength) {
            super.onSignalStrengthsChanged(signalStrength);

            Toast.makeText(main.this, "GSM Cinr: " + signalStrength.getGsmSignalStrength(), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        }
    };
}

but at this point, i wonder if there's network-id like the bssid for wifi networks? how is this handled with gsm? i need to identify the gsm network i'm getting the signal strength of.

EDIT:

by "network-id", meant "cell-id". what i need is a list of *all available* gsm networks in range and their reception quality. the operator-id is not of much interest to me, as i need to identify cell AND network, i'm getting the signal strength from.

Answer 1

Every operator has a unique ID, a 5 digit number called PLMN (Public land mobile network).

That number consists of a 3-digit MCC (Mobile Country Code) followed by a 2-digit MNC (Mobile Network Code).

Over the network you can find some PLMN lists, this is a sample one: http://www.gsmcenter.pl/pg.php?tid=88&s=&dodruku=1