LTE Outbound Roaming Session For PCRF: Samir Mohanty

LTE Outbound Roaming
Session for PCRF
Samir Mohanty
BRKSPG-2022 © 2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public 1
Agenda
 Overview
 Roaming Network Architecture
 QoS in details
 PCRF Roaming Feature
 Configuring Roaming Tables
 Lab Session
 Q&A
LTE Outbound Roaming Overview
 Service to ATT LTE subscribers roaming on

another carrier’s PLMN network with compatible
LTE devices.
 Serving both 2G/3G and 4G roaming needs for
outbound LTE subscribers.
 Traffic will pass through the IXC Zone, which is a
new zone physically connected to the core zone in
the Gn VRF.
LTE Roaming Architecture
GERAN/UTRAN Roaming Architecture
with S4-SGSN
GERAN/UTRAN Roaming Architecture
with Gn/Gp SGSN connected to
PGW
Nodes, Interfaces and Protocols
Node Interface Protocol

SGW – PGW S8 GTP (GTP-C 3GPP TS 29.274 and GTP-
U 3GPP TS 29.281)
MME - HSS S6a Diameter Base Protocol (IETF RFC 3588)
and 3GPP TS 29.272)
S4-SGSN - HSS S6d Diameter Base Protocol (IETF RFC 3588)
and 3GPP TS 29.272)
Gn/Gp SGSN - Gr MAP protocol over SS7
HLR
hPCRF - vPCRF S9 Diameter Base Protocol (IETF RFC 3588)
and 3GPP TS 29.125)
3GPP and GSMA
 3GPP Specs describe 10 ways to roam

 GSM IR.88 reduces the number to 4
 Interfaces to support:
1. S8: Inter-PLMN reference point providing user and control plane between
the Serving GW in the VPLMN and the PDN GW in the HPLMN. S8 is the
inter PLMN variant of S5. The S8 interface (GTP based) uses GTP version 1
for the User plane, and GTP version 2 for the Control plane. Nodes supporting
the S8-GTP based interface are compliant to 3GPP TS 29.274 Release 8 or
later, and 3GPP TS 29.281 Release 8 or later.
2. Gp: Inter-PLMN reference point providing user and control plane between
the SGSN in the VPLMN and the PDN GW in the HPLMN acting as a GGSN.
Gp is the inter PLMN variant of Gn.
Scenario 1: HPMN only has PGW as the gateway
for roaming, 2G/3G Access via Gp interface
NOTE: For simplicity, HSS, PCRF, and MME

are omitted in the figures.
Scenario 2: HPMN has both GGSN and PGW as
the gateway for roaming, 2G/3G Access via Gp
interface

Scenario 3: HPMN has only PGW as the gateway
for roaming, 2G/3G Access via S4/S8 interfaces.

Scenario 4: HPMN has both PGW and GGSN as
the gateway for roaming, 2G/3G Access via S4/S8
or Gp interfaces

SMS over SGs Roaming Architecture
Circuit Switched Fallback (CSFB)
Roaming Architecture
GRX Network
 GRX: GRPS Roaming eXchange

 GRX created to carry GTP-tunnels between
different GSM operators
 GRX interconnects in excess of 300 networks and
has proven highly successful
 GRX specification does not meet requirements of
an all-IP LTE network
 IPX as replacement
GRX Model (GPRS Roaming eXchage)
IPX Network
 IPX: IP Packet eXchange

 IPX is an inter-Service Provider IP backbone
network architecture which connects Mobile
Network Operators (MNOs), Fixed Network
Operators (FNOs) Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
and Application Service Providers (ASPs)
 Core enhancement to GRX are end-to-end QoS
and introduction of IPX Proxy
 IPX is isolated from the public Internet and security
rules are defined to prevent unintended access
to/from
IPX Model (IP eXchange)
End-to-end SLA
GRX and IPX Networks
 GRX becomes one of the Service Community types

in the IPX Network
 Only Service Providers that are GPRS/UMTS/LTE
network operators connect to the GRX
 Other types of Service Providers in the IPX Network
do not connect to the GRX service
GRX and IPX Networks (cont.)
Aicent IPX
ATT Logical Architecture
Impacted Elements
Roaming Architecture with DEA
Syniverse IPX Topology
SPGW/GGSN Connectivity to VPLMN
Overall ATT Mobile Core
ASR5500 Overview
Neo Consumer Architecture
DNS Flow Diagram
High Level Logical View of IXC Zone
High Level Logical Network View
Functions of IXC Zone
 Access to GRX/IPX providers for both inbound and

outbound roaming.
 Access layer for roaming specific platforms such as
DEA and IXC DNS.
 Security between external GRX/IPX providers and
core zone.
• A pair of IXC firewalls will control access into the IXC
zone.
• There will also be intrusion protection systems deployed
in the zone to inspect all DNS traffic.
EPS Bearers
 EPS bearers provide the UE access to PDN

services and associated applications
 Default Bearer is established during initial attach
and maintained throughout the lifetime of the
connection (always-on IP connectivity)
 Additional Dedicated Bearers can be established
dynamically when UE requests specific services
(e.g. VoLTE)
LTE Bearer Stacking
ESP Bearers Types
 2 types of EPS Bearers

 Guaranteed Bit Rate (GBR)
Associated ARP and QCI
Allocates resources at admission control
May have separate Maximum Bit Rate (MBR)
 Non-Guaranteed Bit Rate (non-GBR)
Associated ARP and QCI
No resource reservation
May have a Maximum Bit Rate (MBR)
EPS Bearer Types (cont.)
 GBR bearers are established on demand

 Inactivity timers used to free up resources
 Non-GBR bearers can remain established for long

periods (always connected)
QoS Performance Measures
 Throughput: Bit rate, i.e. speed
 Delay: Specified by the packet delay budget. LTE
defines nine categories for delay, with 50 ms being
tightest and 300 ms being the slackest. The latter
value is used for delay tolerant applications
 Packet Loss: Defined as the Packet Error Loss
Rate, and is similar to the packet delay budget in
having nine categories with 10−6 being best and
10−2 being the worst
 Priority: Specified by the Allocation/Retention
Priority (APR) parameter
Service Level QoS Parameters
 Applied per SDF (Service Data Flow) or per SDF

aggregate
 Parameters are:
 QCI: QoS Class Identifier
 ARP: Allocation and Retention Priority
 GBR: Guaranteed Bit Rate
 MBR: Maximum Bit Rate
 AMBR: Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate
QCI and ARP
 QoS Class Identifier (QCI)

To control packet forwarding treatment
 Allocation and Retention Priority (ARP)

To decide if bearer establishment can be accepted or
rejected in case resource limitations exist
QoS Class Identifier
 QCI: QoS Class Identifier

 Used as a reference to a specific packet forwarding
behavior (e.g. packet loss rate,packet delay budget)
to be provided to a service data flow (SDF)
 May be implemented in the access network by the
QCI referencing node specific parameters that
control packet forwarding treatment (e.g.
scheduling weights, admission thresholds, queue
management thresholds, link layer protocol
configuration, etc.), that have been pre-configured
by the operator at a specific node(s) (e.g. eNodeB).
Standardized QCI Values
Allocation/Retention Priority (ARP)
 ARP encoding:
Bits
Octets 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1 Type = 155 (decimal)
2 to 3 Length = n
4 Spare Instance
5 Spare PCI PL Spare PVI
6 to (n+4) These octet(s) is/are present only if explicitly specified
 PCI: Pre-emption Capability

 PL: Priority Level
 PVI: Pre-emption Vulnerability
Priority Level
 PL: Priority Level

 Used for deciding whether a bearer establishment
or modification request can be accepted or needs
to be rejected in case of resource limitations
 Typically used for admission control of GBR traffic
 Also used to decide which existing bearers to pre-
empt during resource limitations
 Values 1 to 15 with 1 as the highest priority level
Pre-emption Vulnerability
 PVI: Pre-emption Vulnerability

 1-bit value: 0 or 1
 Indicates whether a service data flow can lose
resources assigned to it in order to admit a service
data flow with a higher priority level
 Enabled: 0
 Disabled: 1
 Default EPS-Bearer has PVI enabled
Pre-emption Capability
 PCI: Pre-emption Capability

 1-bit value: 0 or 1
 Indicates whether a service data flow can get
resources that were already assigned to another
service data flow with a lower priority level
 Enabled: 0
 Disabled: 1
 Default EPS-Bearer has PCI disabled
Dedicated EPS Bearer Rates
 GBR (Guaranteed Bit Rate): Network resources

allocated based on GBR are fixed and do not
change after bearer establishment or modification.
This is hence a guaranteed service data flow.
 MBR (Maximum Bit Rate): This parameter limits the
bit rate that can be expected to be provided to GBR
bearer, and is enforced by network shaper to
restrict the traffic to its maximum bit rate
agreement.
Default EPS Bearer Rates
 AMBR (Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate): This
parameter is used for non-GBR flows, and has two
types, APN-AMBR and UE-AMBR
 APN-AMBR (Access Point Name AMBR): The
APN-AMBR parameter refers to the maximum bit
rate that can be consumed by all non-GBR bearers
and all PDN connections of a specific APN. This
parameter is enforced in both the downlink and the
uplink.
 UE-AMBR (User Equipment AMBR): refers to the
maximum bit rate allowed for all non-GBR bearer
aggregates for the respective UE. The parameter is
enforced in both the downlink and the uplink.
Uplink/Downlink
 GBR and MBR are defined per bearer while the

AMBR parameters are defined per a group of
bearers
 All throughput parameters (GBR, MBR, APN-AMBR
and UE-AMBR) have two components, one for
downlink and another for uplink.
 Uplink and downlink are usually set to different
values (higher downlink)
Default Bearer Setup
HSS
HSS sends APN-
sends APN-
AMBR,
AMBR, ARP
ARPand
and
QCI
QCIto to
MME
MME
MME
MME stores
stores
receicev QoS
receicev QoS
values in in
values UEUE
context
context APN-
APN-
AMBR/QCI/ARP
AMBR/QCI/ARP
forwarded to to
forwarded PCRF
PCRF
APN-AMBR/QCI/ARP
APN-AMBR/QCI/ARP
sent in in
sent CSR
CSR
PCRF
PCRF modifies
modifies
QoS
QoSvalues
valuesif if
needed
neededandand
PGW
PGW forwards
forwards responds back
responds back to to
new
newvalues in in
values PGW
PGW with new
with new
response
response values
values
ATT QoS Settings for Default EPS Bearer
 APN-AMBR based on SSTI (Subscribed Speed Tier
Indicator) from MIND
Speed Tier APN-AMBR DL APN-AMBR UL
Indicator
Low 3.072Mbps (LTE/3G) 3.072Mbps (LTE/3G)
Medium 6.144Mpbs(LTE/3G) 6.144Mpbs(LTE) – 5.696Mbps

(3G)
High 70Mbps(LTE) – 21Mbps(3G) 25Mbps(LTE) – 5.696Mbps (3G)
 QCI set to 8
 ARP: Priority 10, PCI and PVI enabled
PCRF behavior in ATT
 For POST subscribers (grandfathered unlimited)

PCRF mirrors back QoS values received from PGW
 For MRC (Monthly Recurring Charge– new
subscribers or ungrandfathered) and SBP (Session
Based Pricing) based on the SSTI of the subscriber
APN-AMBR is enforced
 For MRC and SBP subscribers threshold triggers
are set in the PGW
 For MRC if the threshold is reached (e.g.
3GB/month) speed is throttled
 For SBP the session is blocked
QoS while roaming
 QoS values for on-net subscribers might not be

supported on visited PLMN
 QCI value restrictions might be in place in visited
PLMN (e.g. ATT currently does not allow QCI=7)
 Speed restrictions might be in place in visited
PLMN
 Initial HSS provided values might not be mapped as
desired in visited MME
 PCRF assigned QoS values might mot be
acceptable in visited PLMN
PCRF Roaming Feature
 Introduced to address potential QoS issues for

roaming subscribers
 Addition of 2 new tables in PCRF decision core:
 Location Mapping Table: Allows PCRF to
differentiate QoS assignments based on PLMN ID
(MCC/MNC) and APN
 QoS Mapping Table: Once PLMNID/APN
determined, allows granular QoS assignments
based on RAT type, Billing Plan and Tracking or
Routing Areas
Location Mapping Decision Table
 LocMapping Table maps the APN and PLMNID to a

ROAMING-GROUP
LOCMapping Table
Input Input Output
apn plmnid ROAMING_GROUP
PHONE 302720 1
BROADBAND 302720 1
any any 0
 ROAMING-GROUP used as Input to QoS Mapping

Table
QoS Mapping Decision Table
 QOSMapping table maps roaming_group, RAT

type, RAI/TAI, billing plan and SSTI attributes to
QoS_Ref, roaming_zone and domestic
QoSMapping Table
Input Input Input Input Input Input Input Input Output Output Output
ROAMING_ZON
ROAMING_GROUP rat_type RAI_LAC RAI_RAC TAI_TAC_HB TAI_TAC_LB billing_plan ssti QOS_REF E domestic
1 EUTRAN ANY ANY ANY ANY MRC H 1 Off-Net No
1 EUTRAN ANY ANY ANY ANY SBP H 2 Off-Net No
1 ANY ANY ANY ANY ANY ANY ANY mirror
ANY ANY ANY ANY ANY ANY ANY ANY 0
 If QoS_Ref is not defined (operator error) then subscriber will be defaulted to POST and
QoS values will be mirrored back to PCEF
 Catch all entry for Roaming_Group=1 is to cover CCR-Update cases
QoS Profiles Table
 Output from the QoS Mapping Table is QoS Ref

 Assigns a specific QoS to subscriber
QoSProfiles Table
QoSRef APNAMBR-UL APNAMBR-DL QoS Class PCI PL (Priority PVI

Level)
1 100kbps 100kbps Interactive-4 Disabled 10 Disabled

2 1500Kbps 3500Kpbs Interactive-4 Disabled 10 Disabled
3 10000kpbs 40000kbps Interactive-4 Disabled 10 Disabled
 AMBR values should be consistent with GTP Coding (TS29.274 and 29.060); otherwise,
PGW will choose the largest value that conforms with GTP code but lower than what's
provisioned
QoS Class to QCI mapping
QOS-Class to QCI mapping
QoS Class QCI

Conversational-1 1
Conversational-2 2
Streaming-1 3
Streaming-2 4
Interactive-1 5
Interactive-2 6
Interactive-3 7
Interactive-4 8
Background 9
RMS Table
 Roaming Management Service Table

 Maintained by ATT
 Downloaded nightly to PCRF
 Contains all known MCC/MNC and SGSN IP
addresses from ATT and foreign PLMNs
 Output is Roaming Zone and Domestic indicator
Decision Logic
Credit Control Request (MCC/MNC,
SGSN-IP-Address, APN) received by
PCRF from PCEF (PGW)
Exit
Exitand
andexecute
executethe
the
default processing
default processing
is No is SGSN_IP No (Roaming
(Roamingzone
zone
MCC/MNC address
=ON_NET,
=ON_NET,and anddefault
default
defined in defined in
QoS
QoSvalue
valueconfigured
configured
RMS table? RMS table?
based
basedon onSpeed
SpeedTier
Tier
andand RATtype)
RAT type)
Yes
Yes
Use MCC/MNC and Roaming Zone values from RMS table
Decision Logic (cont.)
Select first ROAMING_GROUP to match

MCC/MNC and APN the Location Mapping Table
Exit
Exitand
andexecute
execute
default
defaultprocessing
processing
is Yes (Roaming
(Roamingzone zone=From
=From
ROAMING RMS
RMStable,
table,and
anddefault
default
GROUP = 0? QoS
QoSvalue
valueconfigured
configured
based
basedon onSpeed
SpeedTier
Tier
and
andRATRATtype).
type).
No
From the Qos Mapping Table select the first entry

that matches Roaming Group, RAT, TAI or RAI,
Billing Plan, SSTI
Decision Logic (cont.)
is QoS_Ref
Yes
Exit
Exitand
andmirror
mirrorback
back
equal to
received
receivedQoS
QoSvalues
values
“mirror”?
No
Exit
Exitand
andexecute
execute
default
defaultprocessing
processing
Yes (Roaming
(Roamingzonezone=From
=From
is QoS_Ref RMS
RMS table, anddefault
table, and default
equal to 0? QoS
QoSvalue
valueconfigured
configured
based
basedononSpeed
SpeedTier
Tier
and
and RATType)
RAT Type)
No
• • From
Fromthe theQoS
QoSProfiles
ProfilesTable
Table(QoSProfiles)
(QoSProfiles)
using
usingthe
theQoSRef
QoSRefasaskeykeyselect
selectQoSQoSvalues
values
• • PCRF
PCRFreplies
replieswith
withCCA-I
CCA-Iwith
withthe
theselected
selected
QoS
QoSvalues,
values,either
eitherAMBR
AMBRoror
AMBR/QCI/ARP
AMBR/QCI/ARP
Implementation
 Initial creation of Location Mapping Table and QoS

Mapping Table
 Done as part of the Implementation Guide
 Following slides will cover the addition of a visited
PLMN for customized QoS assignment to roaming
ATT subscribers
PCRF Log in
 Log in to PCRF, click Cisco logo
 Select Decision Tables
Decision Tables
Location Mapping Table
 Select Location Mapping Table
Add
Remove
 Use green down arrow key to add a row and green minus sign to
remove a row under Actions
 Enter new PLMN_ID, APN and ROAMING_GROUP
 At a minimum, LOCMapping table should have the catch-all entry
(*ANY*,*ANY*,0)
Import table from CSV file
 In place of manual entry, a CSV file is imported
Select CSV file to import
QoS Mapping Table
 Select QoS Mapping Table
Add
Remove
 Use green down arrow key to add a row and green minus sign
to remove a row under Actions
 At a minimum, QOSMapping table should have the catch-all
entry
Import table from CSV file
 In place of manual entry, a CSV file is imported
Select CSV file to import
QoS Defintion
 Two types of QoS definitions

 APN Aggregate: To set only APN-AMBR DL/UL
 Extended Default EPS Bearer: To set APN-AMBR
DL/UL, QCI and ARP
 QoS Definitions are named and an appropriate
naming scheme is required, e.g.:
AGG_LOR_01
AGG_LOR_EXT_01
APN Aggregate Definition
 Log in to PCRF and select PCRF
 Go to Configuration->QOS -> QOS Information

 Click “+” to add new QOS. Select APN Aggregate
for QOS Level
 Populate the necessary fields.
APN Aggregate Definition (cont.)
Extended Default EPS Bearer
 Log in to PCRF and select PCRF
 Go to Configuration->QOS -> QOS Information

 Click “+” to add new QOS. Select Extended Default
EPS Bearer for QoS Level
 Populate the necessary fields.
Extended Default EPS Bearer
Import CSV files
Lab Session
Q&A
Thank You

LTE Outbound Roaming Session For PCRF: Samir Mohanty

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LTE Outbound Roaming Session For PCRF: Samir Mohanty

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LTE Outbound Roaming

Session for PCRF

 Service to ATT LTE subscribers roaming on

Node Interface Protocol

 3GPP Specs describe 10 ways to roam

NOTE: For simplicity, HSS, PCRF, and MME

NOTE: For simplicity, HSS, PCRF, and MME

NOTE: For simplicity, HSS, PCRF, and MME

NOTE: For simplicity, HSS, PCRF, and MME

 GRX: GRPS Roaming eXchange

 IPX: IP Packet eXchange

 GRX becomes one of the Service Community types

 Access to GRX/IPX providers for both inbound and

 EPS bearers provide the UE access to PDN

 2 types of EPS Bearers

 GBR bearers are established on demand

 Non-GBR bearers can remain established for long

 Applied per SDF (Service Data Flow) or per SDF

 QoS Class Identifier (QCI)

 Allocation and Retention Priority (ARP)

 QCI: QoS Class Identifier

 PCI: Pre-emption Capability

 PL: Priority Level

 PVI: Pre-emption Vulnerability

 PCI: Pre-emption Capability

 GBR (Guaranteed Bit Rate): Network resources

 GBR and MBR are defined per bearer while the

Medium 6.144Mpbs(LTE/3G) 6.144Mpbs(LTE) – 5.696Mbps

High 70Mbps(LTE) – 21Mbps(3G) 25Mbps(LTE) – 5.696Mbps (3G)

 For POST subscribers (grandfathered unlimited)

 QoS values for on-net subscribers might not be

 Introduced to address potential QoS issues for

 LocMapping Table maps the APN and PLMNID to a

 ROAMING-GROUP used as Input to QoS Mapping

 QOSMapping table maps roaming_group, RAT

 Catch all entry for Roaming_Group=1 is to cover CCR-Update cases

 Output from the QoS Mapping Table is QoS Ref

QoSRef APNAMBR-UL APNAMBR-DL QoS Class PCI PL (Priority PVI

1 100kbps 100kbps Interactive-4 Disabled 10 Disabled

QOS-Class to QCI mapping

QoS Class QCI

 Roaming Management Service Table

Use MCC/MNC and Roaming Zone values from RMS table

Select first ROAMING_GROUP to match

From the Qos Mapping Table select the first entry

 Initial creation of Location Mapping Table and QoS

 Log in to PCRF, click Cisco logo

 Select Decision Tables

 Select Location Mapping Table

 In place of manual entry, a CSV file is imported

 Select QoS Mapping Table

 In place of manual entry, a CSV file is imported

 Two types of QoS definitions

 Log in to PCRF and select PCRF

 Go to Configuration->QOS -> QOS Information

 Log in to PCRF and select PCRF

 Go to Configuration->QOS -> QOS Information

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