CS Fallback Solution

Background

Standard CSFB Solution

CSFB Proxy Solution

CSFB-capable
MSC server

UTRAN
3GPP-compliant CSFB enables LTE subscribers to simultaneously register with EPS
and CS networks and fall back to CS networks as instructed by the EPS network to
use CS services, such as voice calls.

UTRAN

HLR

GERAN

2G/3G subscriber

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reduci
ng

SGs
EPC

CS

After receiving a voice

service request from the UE,
the MME instructs the UE to
fall back to a 2G/3G
network.

n
C
EP
E-UTRAN

4G subscriber

S-GW

LTE

MSC Pool

2
MME

SGs

CS

The MME pages the

UE and instructs the
UE to fall back to a
2G/3G network.

EPC

2G/3G

The UE falls back to a

2G/3G network.

E-UTRAN
Interface
S1-MME
SGs
S6a

Protocol
S1-AP
SGsAP

1
2

SCTP

IP

IP
SGs

GERAN/UTRAN

1 Fallback flow
5

MT call

BSS/RNS

SAE-HSS
Function
Used for signaling transmission.
Used for mobility management on EPS and CS
networks, service data transmission, and paging
during the voice calls and SMS service.

Used for subscription and authentication data

Diameter transmission between the MME and HSS and
for EPS access.

A call fails when the called party

roams from the original MSC
server coverage area to the new
MSC server coverage area before
Original MSC
the call is connected.
server/VLR

2. Report
measurement
results

1
CSFB UE

Combined TA/LA
location update

GERAN/UTRAN

E-UTRAN

The subscriber then attempts to use the 4G frequency to register with an LTE network after
the RRC connection is released.

Abbreviations

TA list
TA 1

BSS/RNS

LA 2

LA 1
BSS/RNS

BSS/RNS

A call may fail when the called

party roams from LA 1 to LA 2
before the call is connected.
LAs 1 and 2 are covered by
MSC
the same MSC server.
server/VLR

New MSC
server/VLR

LA 2

HLR/HSS

HLR/HSS

3GPP TS 36.413

3GPP TS 29.272

1. Measure 3. RRC release

neighboring
(LTE
LTE cells
frequency)

4. Return to LTE

Key CSFB Technique-CSMT

Compliance

3GPP TS 23.272
3GPP TS 29.118

eNodeB

RNC

CSFB Indication (Fast Return)

MO call

LA 1

MSC server

MSC server

MME 2

TA 1

SCTP

When detecting a 4G frequency is available, the RNC triggers the PSHO or redirection flow
(preferred) for the subscriber to return to an LTE network. During the redirection flow, the
RNC adds the LTE frequency to an RRC CONNECTION RELEASE message to be sent to the
subscriber.

MSC server

TA list

SGsAP

MME

Combined TA/LA
location update

Key CSFB Technique-MTRF

SGsAP

HLR/HSS

When PS connections are available after a CSFB call is released on a 3G

network:

Iu Release

MME Pool

CS network

S6a

CSFB proxy 2

MME 3

UE

Protocol and Interface

S1-MME

CSFB Proxy Pool

The CSFB Indication and End of CSFB IEs indicate that the subscriber is an LTE
subscriber. The BSC or RNC then notifies the MSC server of the LTE frequency, ensuring
that the subscriber can return to the LTE network in a fast manner.

MME 1

E-UTRAN

Fallback flow

MME

Compared with the legacy networking for the CSFB Proxy service, the networking for the CSFB
Proxy Backup and Recovery feature provides CSFB proxy-level and MME-level redundancy in
MT voice calls and SMS when the CSFB proxy or MME is faulty.

CSFB proxy 1 backs up

subscriber data, including IMSI,
LAI, IMSI attach status, and MME
number on CSFB proxy 2.

CSFB Indication (Fast Return)

BSC

GERAN/UTRAN
E-UTRAN
The UE falls back to a 2G/3G
network for a voice call.

The CSFB Proxy Backup and Recovery feature enables the MSOFTX3000 to perform the
following functions as a CSFB proxy to interwork with an MME Pool when the CSFB proxy is
deployed in standalone mode and to interwork with an MME or MME Pool when the CSFB
proxy is deployed in a CSFB Proxy Pool.

LTE

SGs

Clear Command/Iu Release

The UE returns to an LTE network

after the voice call is released.

The CSFB proxy solution requires that MSC servers that support SGs interface protocols be
deployed to function as the CSFB proxies. In this solution, only simple CS network
reconstruction is required for CSFB deployment.

CSFB proxy 3
5
CSFB proxy 1

MME 2

1
MME 1

MME 3

MSC server

P-GW

proxy 2 is the backup

proxy for CSFB proxy 1.

MSC server 1

MSC server 2

MME Pool

rk
o
etw

E-UTRAN S-GW

CSFB proxy

Fallback flow

The MSC server

pages the UE over
MSC server the SGs interface.

After receiving a paging

response from the UE on the
2G/3G network, the MSC
server follows the basic CS
call flow to continue
processing the call.

MSC server 1 backs up subscriber

data, including IMSI, LAI, IMSI
attach status, and MME number on
MSC server 3.

MSC server 3

The UE falls back to a

2G/3G network.

When attempting to release a CSFB call, the MSC server adds the CSFB Indication IE to a
CLEAR_COMMAND message to be sent to the BSC or adds the End of CSFB IE to an
IU_RELEASE_COMMAN message to be sent to the RNC.

CSFB Proxy Redundancy

The CSFB Backup and Redundancy feature enables the a standalone or pooled VMSC server to
interwork with an MME or an MME Pool when the VMSC server is deployed in an MSC Pool and
to interwork with an MME Pool when the VMSC server is deployed in standalone mode.

1
2G/3G

HLR/HSS

When PS connections are unavailable after a CSFB call is released on

a 2G/3G network:

P-GW

HLR/HSS
The MSC server follows
the basic CS call flow to
continue processing the
call.

MME

n
C
EP

CSFB Redundancy
MME

Another
network

SGs

rk
o
etw

The standard CSFB solution requires that all MSC servers connecting to the LTE network be
upgraded to support CSFB deployment.

MSC server

CSFB proxy

HSS

4G subscriber

Basic CSFB Voice Calls

GERAN

Another
network

MME

How does a 4G subscriber return to

an LTE network after completing a
voice call on a 2G/3G network?

Existing CS
network

2G/3G subscriber
SGs

Highlights: When a call is placed by or to subscribers

registering with the LTE network, the subscribers fall back
to CS networks.

Im
dard plemen
tat
CSFB
and ion mod
CSFB
e
Prox s:
y sol
ution
s

VMSC server
GMSC server

Existing CS
network

Implementing CSFB during VoLTE migration

Stan

Fast Return

MME

The MTRF feature enables the original MSC server to route the call to the new MSC
server, thereby ensuring successful connection of the call.

MME

The CSMT feature enables the MSC server not to connect a call until an intra-MSC location
update is complete when the intra-MSC location update request contains the CSMT flag.

LTE

Long Term Evolution

CSFB

Circuit Switched Fallback

MME

Mobility Management Entity

MTRR

Mobile Terminating Roaming Retry

MTRF

Mobile Terminating Roaming Forwarding

CSMT

CS Fallback Mobile Terminating call

VLR

Visitor Location Register

HLR

Home Location Register

HSS

Home Subscriber Server

STP

Signaling Transfer Point

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Produced by Core Network

Documentation Department