An access control system for controlling access by wireless terminals to a
wireless telecommunications network, the access control system comprising:
a database storing the identities of a set of wireless terminals belonging
to the telecommunications network; a configurable store for storing a
supplementary access value indicative of whether terminals that do not
belong to the telecommunications network may access the network; and an
access control unit for receiving an access request message indicating the
identity of a wireless terminal and in response to that message accessing
the database and/or the store to permit access by the wireless terminal to
the wireless telecommunications network if: a. the identity of the
wireless terminal is present in the database; or b. the supplementary
access value indicates that terminals that do not belong to the
telecommunications network may access the network.
