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Error codes › EMM cause (LTE NAS)

EMM cause #20 MAC failure

EMM cause (LTE NAS)3GPP TS 24.301 §9.9.3.9 and Annex A

What it means

MAC failure: sent by the phone, not the network. The phone couldn't verify the network's authentication challenge: the vector the HSS generated doesn't match the SIM's key.

Where you see it

In LTE NAS Attach reject, Tracking area update reject, Service reject or Detach request.

What to check

Check Ki/OPc/AMF provisioning in the HSS against the SIM.

Look at the S6a (MME↔HSS) and S11 messages just before the reject: they usually show the real trigger.

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