System and method for small cell gateway core network selection in a multi-operator core network environment

One or more non-transitory tangible media encoding logic that include instructions for execution that, when executed by a processor, is operable to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, for a small cell network, a first communication from a first user equipment (UE) for a first subscriber associated with the first UE, wherein a plurality core networks (CNs) share resources for the small cell network;
• determining that a first Mobile Country Code (MCC) and a first Mobile Network Code (MNC) for the first subscriber are not known to be associated with any of the plurality of CNs;
• determining a first CN from the plurality of CNs to provide services to the first subscriber via the small cell network based, at least in part, on the first MCC and the first MNC for the first subscriber;
• and
• storing, in at least one memory element, at least one association of the first MCC and the first MNC to the first CN for use in subsequent communications from other UEs for other subscribers;
• and
• storing a record of one or more CNs for which the first subscriber has been denied access for use with subsequent communications from other UEs for other subscribers, wherein the record is maintained according to the MCC and the MNC for the first subscriber.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a first Home Node B (HNB);
• a memory element for storing data;
• and
• a processor that executes instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and memory element cooperate such that the apparatus is configured for:
• receiving, for a small cell network, a first communication from a first user equipment (UE) for a first subscriber associated with the first UE, wherein a plurality core networks (CNs) share resources for the small cell network;
• determining at an HNB Gateway (HNB-GW) that a first Mobile Country Code (MCC) and a first Mobile Network Code (MNC) for the first subscriber are not known to be associated with any of the plurality of CNs;
• determining a first CN from the plurality of CNs to provide services to the first subscriber via the small cell network based, at least in part, on the first MCC and the first MNC for the first subscriber;
• and
• storing, in at least one memory element, at least one association of the first MCC and the first MNC to the first CN for use in subsequent communications from other UEs for other subscribers;
• and
• storing a record of one or more CNs for which the first subscriber has been denied access for use with subsequent communications from other UEs for other subscribers, wherein the record is maintained according to the MCC and the MNC for the first subscriber.