5G Terminology

(Updated – Feb 2019)

@3g4gUK
Evolution of Mobile Technology

IMT-2000 IMT-Advanced IMT-2020

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 ITU-R IMT-2020 requirements

>10 Gbps 100 Mbps

Whenever needed
Peak data rates

100 x 10000 x
More devices than 4G More traffic than 4G

M2M
Ultra low cost
Ultra Reliable (UR)
99.999%
10 years
battery life
< 1 ms
Low latency on
1,000,000
radio interface
devices per km2

©3G4G
5G and IMT-2020

Submission 1: SRIT
Component RIT: NR
Component RIT: E-UTRA/LTE
Submission 2: NR RIT
RIT = Radio Interface Technology
SRIT = Set of Radio Interface Technologies

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5G Deployment Options and Migration Strategy
EPC 5GC (NGCN)

SA
(Standalone)
eNB EPC gNB 5GC ng-eNB 5GC
Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC Option 5: SA LTE connected to 5GC

[EN-DC] [NE-DC] [NGEN-DC]

eNB ng-eNB
NSA ng-eNB
(Non-Standalone)
EPC 5GC 5GC
[Dual Connectivity]

Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR Option 4: NSA NR assisted LTE Option 7: NSA LTE assisted NR
en-gNB connected to EPC gNB connected to 5GC connected to 5GC
gNB

Migration ↗ Option 2 ↗ Option 7 ↗ Option 3 ↗ Option 4

Option 1 Option 3 Option 3 Option 3
Strategy ↘ Option 3 ↘ Option 5 ↘ Option 2 ↘ Option 2

©3G4G
5G Deployment Options and Migration Strategy
EPC 5GC (NGCN)

SA
(Standalone)
eNB EPC gNB 5GC ng-eNB 5GC
Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC Option 5: SA LTE connected to 5GC

Today – 4G Networks
[EN-DC] [NE-DC] [NGEN-DC]

eNB ng-eNB
NSA ng-eNB
(Non-Standalone)
EPC 5GC 5GC
[Dual Connectivity]

Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR Option 4: NSA NR assisted LTE Option 7: NSA LTE assisted NR
gNB connected to EPC gNB connected to 5GC connected to 5GC
gNB

Migration ↗ Option 2 ↗ Option 7 ↗ Option 3 ↗ Option 4

Option 1 Option 3 Option 3 Option 3
Strategy ↘ Option 3 ↘ Option 5 ↘ Option 2 ↘ Option 2

©3G4G
5G Deployment Options and Migration Strategy
EPC 5GC (NGCN)

SA
(Standalone)
eNB EPC gNB 5GC ng-eNB 5GC
Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC Option 5: SA LTE connected to 5GC

[EN-DC] [NE-DC] [NGEN-DC]

eNB ng-eNB
NSA ng-eNB
(Non-Standalone)
EPC 5GC 5GC
[Dual Connectivity]

Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR Non-Standalone 5G

Option 4: NSA NR assisted LTE Option 7: NSA LTE assisted NR
en-gNB gNB connected to 5GC
connected to EPC Networks, Release-15,gNB
all 5G connected to 5GC

networks today (SRIT)

Migration ↗ Option 2 ↗ Option 7 ↗ Option 3 ↗ Option 4
Option 1 Option 3 Option 3 Option 3
Strategy ↘ Option 3 ↘ Option 5 ↘ Option 2 ↘ Option 2

©3G4G
5G Deployment Options and Migration Strategy
EPC 5GC (NGCN)

SA
(Standalone)
eNB EPC gNB 5GC ng-eNB 5GC
Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC Option 5: SA LTE connected to 5GC

[EN-DC] [NE-DC] [NGEN-DC]

eNB ng-eNB
NSA ng-eNB Future – Standalone 5G
(Non-Standalone)
EPC 5GC Networks, after
5GC Release-16
[Dual Connectivity]
is finalized (RIT)
Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR Option 4: NSA NR assisted LTE Option 7: NSA LTE assisted NR
gNB connected to EPC gNB connected to 5GC connected to 5GC
gNB

Migration ↗ Option 2 ↗ Option 7 ↗ Option 3 ↗ Option 4

Option 1 Option 3 Option 3 Option 3
Strategy ↘ Option 3 ↘ Option 5 ↘ Option 2 ↘ Option 2

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3GPP 5G Specifications Release Schedule

Source

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5G Deployment Options and Migration Strategy
EPC 5GC (NGCN)

SA
(Standalone)

Way out ineNB

the future, EPC gNB 5GC ng-eNB 5GC
probably 2024
Optiononwards
1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC Option 5: SA LTE connected to 5GC
(SRIT & RIT)
[EN-DC] [NE-DC] [NGEN-DC]

eNB ng-eNB
NSA ng-eNB
(Non-Standalone)
EPC 5GC 5GC
[Dual Connectivity]

Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR Option 4: NSA NR assisted LTE Option 7: NSA LTE assisted NR
gNB connected to EPC gNB connected to 5GC connected to 5GC
gNB

Migration ↗ Option 2 ↗ Option 7 ↗ Option 3 ↗ Option 4

Option 1 Option 3 Option 3 Option 3
Strategy ↘ Option 3 ↘ Option 5 ↘ Option 2 ↘ Option 2

©3G4G
eNB & gNB
• eNodeB (eNB) – LTE access network from 3GPP Rel-8 up to 3GPP Rel-15.
For an eNB to connect to a 5G network (Standalone or Non-Standalone),
it would have to be 3GPP Release-15 or above.
• An eNB only supports legacy E-UTRAN interfaces (S1, X2, etc.) and
does not support next-generation interfaces (NG, Xn, etc.).
• Next generation nodeB (gNB) – 5G access network from 3GPP Rel-15
onwards.
• node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations
towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to the 5GC.
• gNB does not support legacy E-UTRAN interfaces

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5G Today

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Option 3 or EN-DC is the first 5G Deployment
EPC 5GC (NGCN)

SA
(Standalone)
eNB EPC gNB 5GC ng-eNB 5GC
Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC Option 5: SA LTE connected to 5GC

[EN-DC] [NE-DC] [NGEN-DC]

eNB ng-eNB
NSA ng-eNB
(Non-Standalone)
EPC 5GC 5GC
[Dual Connectivity]

Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR Option 4: NSA NR assisted LTE Option 7: NSA LTE assisted NR
en-gNB connected to EPC gNB connected to 5GC connected to 5GC
gNB

Migration ↗ Option 2 ↗ Option 7 ↗ Option 3 ↗ Option 4

Option 1 Option 3 Option 3 Option 3
Strategy ↘ Option 3 ↘ Option 5 ↘ Option 2 ↘ Option 2

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Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR, connected to EPC
• en-gNB: node MME/S-GW MME/S-GW

providing NR user Based on: EPC

plane and control 3GPP TS 37.340 V15.4.0 (2018-12)
Figure 4.1.2-1: EN-DC Overall Architecture
plane protocol
terminations towards
the UE, and acting as

S1-U
Secondary Node in EN-
DC.
E-UTRAN
X2- U en-gNB
• In simple English, it’s a en-gNB
gNB that supports
legacy E-UTRAN
X2
interface eNB eNB

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5G in Future

©3G4G
5G Deployment Options in Future
EPC 5GC (NGCN)

SA
(Standalone)
eNB EPC gNB 5GC ng-eNB 5GC
Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC Option 5: SA LTE connected to 5GC

[EN-DC] [NE-DC] [NGEN-DC]

eNB ng-eNB
NSA ng-eNB
(Non-Standalone)
EPC 5GC 5GC
[Dual Connectivity]

Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR Option 4: NSA NR assisted LTE Option 7: NSA LTE assisted NR
gNB connected to EPC gNB connected to 5GC connected to 5GC
gNB

Migration ↗ Option 2 ↗ Option 7 ↗ Option 3 ↗ Option 4

Option 1 Option 3 Option 3 Option 3
Strategy ↘ Option 3 ↘ Option 5 ↘ Option 2 ↘ Option 2

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 5G System (5GS) – Simplified
Data Network
5G System is defined as (DN)
3GPP system consisting of
5G Access Network (AN), 5G Core 5GC
Core Network and UE. The Network

5G System provides data

connectivity and services.
Access
Network NG-RAN

3GPP TS 23.501: System Architecture

for the 5G System; Stage 2
Air
3GPP TS 23.502: Procedures for the 5G Interface
System; Stage 2

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 5G System (5GS) – Actual
UDC
AF Application Function
UDR AMF Access and Mobility management Function
NSSF NEF NRF FE UDM AUSFFE PCFFE AF AUSF
DN
Authentication Server Function
Data Network
FE Front End
NEF Network Exposure Function
Nnssf Nnef Nnrf Nudm Nausf Npcf Naf NRF
NSSF
NF Repository Function
Network Slice Selection Function
PCF Policy Control Function
(R)AN (Radio) Access Network
SEPP Security Edge Protection Proxy
SMF Session Management Function
UDM Unified Data Management
UDR Unified Data Repository
Control plane AMF SMF UDSF Unstructured Data Storage Function
UE User Equipment
function group UPF User Plane Function

N4
N2

N1 N3 N6
UPF Data Network
(DN)
ng-eNB and/or gNB User plane
5G UE (NG-RAN) function

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 5G New Radio (NR)
A new 5G-specific radio communication system called New Radio (NR) has
been defined with no backward compatibility with the existing LTE and LTE-
Advanced systems.

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5G New Radio (NR)

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Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN)
AMF/UPF AMF/UPF
An NG-RAN node is either:
• a gNB, providing NR Based on:
3GPP TS 38.300 V15.4.0 (2018-12)
5GC

user plane and control Figure 4.1-1: Overall Architecture

plane protocol
terminations towards
the UE; or

NG
• an ng-eNB, providing E-
UTRA user plane and NG-RAN
control plane protocol Xn
gNB
gNB
terminations towards
the UE.
Xn
ng-eNB ng-eNB

©3G4G
 Further Reading
• 3G4G: 3GPP 5G Specifications –
http://www.3g4g.co.uk/5G/5Gtech_0003_Standards.html
• 3G4G: 5G Resources
• 3GPP News: Submission of initial 5G description for IMT-2020
• 3GPP Specs Archive - http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/

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