Arrangement for routing a received signaling message based on a selected summary route in an SS7 network

A signaling network node is configured for generating a routing decision based on selectively masking a point code field from a received SS7 signaling message. The received SS7 signaling message includes a header that includes a point code field having a prescribed bit length. The signaling network node searches its routing table to determine the presence of a matching full-length point code of the prescribed bit length that specifies a prescribed route for the received signaling message. If there is no matching full-length point code, the signaling network node generates a reduced point code by applying a user-selectable mask to the point code. The signaling network node then searches its routing table, based on the reduced point code, for a matching reduced-length point code that specifies a corresponding summary route. If desired different masks may be used until a matching reduced-length point code is located. The signaling network node, upon locating a matching reduced-length point code that matches the reduced point code, outputs the received signaling message based on the corresponding summary route.