A method of selecting a public land mobile network (PLMN) for enabling a user equipment (UE) to communicate and a user equipment are provided. The method includes checking, by the UE, whether an elementary file (EF) is present in a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) inserted in the UE, if the UE initiates a procedure for selecting a PLMN, wherein the EF includes a PLMN selection mode; and selecting, by the UE, a PLMN based on the PLMN selection mode. The UE is configured to check if an EF is present in a UICC inserted in the UE, if the UE initiates a procedure for selecting a PLMN, wherein the EF includes a PLMN selection mode; and select a PLMN based on the PLMN selection mode.