5G voice – network

evolution aspects
Voice over NR in a 5G System and migration
from Evolved Packet System Fallback

Paper – 3
2 Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects

Abstract

This document is part of a series of papers explaining the network evolution

aspects for 5G voice services. The intended audience for this paper is
familiar with 4G VoLTE and wants to know how to take the voice service
into 5G.

The journey to 5G has several whole 4G+5G network with good

possible migration paths and steps. characteristics. The 5GS will also
Voice service must be supported support emergency calls and SMS,
in all 5G evolution steps. This and all these services also when
paper outlines the voice service roaming.
aspects, migration aspects and
Voice over NR implies that voice
recommendations for deployments
calls can be made on NR. This
using NR non standalone (NSA)
requires NR in NG-RAN to support
with 5G EPS or NR standalone (SA)
all voice related capabilities and
with 5GC.
being dimensioned for voice
In initial 5G deployments, 5G EPS coverage.
is used with NR non- standalone
Voice over NR with EPS Fallback
in the RAN. 4G voice (VoLTE) and
includes an additional mobility
other IMS services continue to be
trigger by which the UE falls back
used without the need for any core
from NG-RAN to LTE during call
network upgrades. IMS is not aware
establishment. This may be needed,
of the updated RAN. All 4G VoLTE
e.g., in case not all feature for voice
principles remain.
over NR are implemented in the UE
The 5G system (5GS) consisting or in case of temporary lack of radio
of NR standalone in the RAN resources in NR.
and 5G core will initially not be
The recommendation for which
deployed with full served network
of the voice solutions to use in 5G
coverage. Therefore, the 5GS needs
network depends on the available
to be connected to an existing 4G
frequency band(s) and on coverage
VoLTE deployment, to provide a
built-out.
seamless voice service across the

Copyright
© Copyright 2020 Ericsson AB. All rights reserved.
Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects 3

Voice with EPS fallback

EPS fallback is an additional mobility trigger for • all needed voice features are not in place in the
improving voice KPIs by using the most suitable access phone.
technology at any given time. EPS Fallback enables
The coverage and deployment scenario for voice over
phones to use the 5GC with NR, and to register in
NR incl. EPS Fallback is as follows:
IMS, but RAN may trigger moving the phone to LTE
• NR coverage connected to a 5G Core, embedded in
connected to EPC during call establishment. The reason
• Wide-area LTE coverage controlled by EPC
for moving the UE to LTE can be
supporting VoLTE
• temporary lack of radio resources in NR for voice
• the UE is in area where NR in 5GS is not dimensioned
and tuned for voice

NR in 5GS
LTE in 5G EPS (voice)

Figure 11  Typical coverage scenario for voice in EPS and 5GS in early 5GS deployments using EPS Fallback

A smartphone (UE), connected to NR, that tries to establish a voice connection, may perform an EPS fallback
at call setup. EPS Fallback is triggered by the attempt to establish the Quality-of-Service (QoS) flow for voice
media in NR.

At initial call attempt

LTE During call

E-UTRAN MME+
SGw

SMF
EPS
Fallback

AMF
NR NNI
T UPF
NG-RAN IMS

Figure 12  EPS Fallback

4 Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects

At the attempt to establish the QoS flow for the voice The EPS fallback procedure adds time to the call setup
media over NR during call set-up, the NG-RAN rejects time which should be kept as short as possible.
the QoS flow setup towards the SMF with an indication
EPS fallback with inter-system handover is
that mobility is in progress. The NG-RAN initiates
recommended as soon as the required features are
transfer of all PDU sessions from 5GS to EPS, using one
available in RAN, 5GC and in phones, since it has
of the two standardized procedures:
superior performance.
• Release with redirect
• Inter-system handover

Functionality on top of EPS fallback to

support voice over NR
The migration from for EPS fallback to voice over NR
is facilitated by the network-based solution for EPS
fallback. This enables migration by changing the RAN
configuration to not trigger EPS fallback at QoS flow
establishment for voice, and by letting the QoS flow for
voice be established on NR connected to 5GC.
The migration can be done once all required voice
capabilities are in place in the network. Devices
introduced before this step will be still in the field when
voice over NR is introduced. Both network and device
capabilities will determine if voice over NR or EPS
fallback will be used for a call. Hence the network will
need to support voice over NR including EPS fallback.
Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects 5

Terminology
5GC 5G Core
5GS 5G System, consists of 5GC, NG-RAN and UE
5G Voice IMS voice in the 5G system
AMF Access and Mobility Management Function
EN-DC E-UTRA NR Dual Connectivity (in RAN connected to EPC)
EPC Evolved Packet Core, 4G packet core
EPS Evolved Packet System consist of EPC and LTE RAN
gNodeB Node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol
terminations towards the UE
HSS Home Subscriber Server in 4G
IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem
KPI Key Performance Indicator
MME Mobility Management Entity in EPC
NG-RAN Next Generation RAN, RAN connected to 5G Core
NR New Radio
NSA Non standalone
PCF Policy Control Function in 5GC
PGW PDN Gateway in EPC
PSAP Public Safety Answering Point
RAN Radio Access Network
RAT Radio Access Technology eg. LTE, NR
SA Standalone
SEPP Security Edge Protection Proxy
SGW Serving Gateway in the evolved packet core
SMF Session Management Function in 5GC
UDM User Data Management in 5GC
UE User Equipment
UNI User Network Interface
UPF User Plane Function in 5GC

Contributors
The contributors to Ericsson’s opinions and recommendations on this topic are:
• Ralf Keller, Expert, Business Area Digital Services - Solution Area Packet Core
– Architecture & Technology
• Anders Ryde, Senior Expert, Business Area Digital Services –Architecture and
Technology
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