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S1-C S1-U S1-C S1-U S1-U S1-C S1-U S1-U NG-C NG-U
eLTE eNB gNB eLTE eNB gNB eLTE eNB gNB eLTE eNB gNB
There are three 5G NSA architecture options: option 3, option 3a, and option 3x, depending on the interconnections
between the eNodeB, gNodeB, and EPC+ (5G core).
EPC EPC
EPC
LTE 5G NR LTE 5G NR
S1 LTE 5G NR
S1 RRC RRC RRC RRC RRC RRC
PDCP PDCP PDCP PDCP
RLC RLC PDCP PDCP
RLC RLC RLC RLC
X2 MAC MAC X2 MAC MAC
LTE X2 MAC MAC
LTE NR PHY PHY NR PHY PHY LTE NR PHY PHY
• LTE Legacy Transport need upgrade • No Limitation to Legacy BBU • No Limitation to Legacy BBU
• Legacy BBU Baseband Limited • Traffic steering in core only applicable in • Traffic steering in RAN at per packet
RAB level and cannot adjust base on base provide better performance
radio condition.
S1-U
NR Gateway Function Upgrades
CUPS
High-bandwidth QoS support
RAN/network reconstruction Independent performance statistics of 5G NR
NR gNodeB deployment and UEs
S-GW and NR transmission Maximum bandwidth of a single UE > 10 Gbit/s
establishment (fast forwarding + charging)
NR data usage reporting User plane selection for 4G/5G UEs
NR data usage reporting
1. Same with the EPC, the RAT of 5G NSA has no 5G-specific field.
2. The mobility management signaling procedure of 5G NSA is similar to that of the EPC. The only
difference is that some IEs are added to the mobility management signaling procedure of 5G NSA.
(Mainly for NR feature control)
3. The session management signaling procedure of 5G NSA is similar to that of the EPC. The only
difference is that some IEs are added to the session management signaling procedure of 5G NSA.
(Mainly for ultra-bandwidth QoS)
4. The 5G NSA data usage is reported to the P-GW on the core network through the NR gNodeB
and LTE eNodeB.
Security Mode Command The "replayed additional security capabilities" IE is added. Indicates the UE security capability.
Create Session Request The "UP Function Selection Indication Flags" IE is added. Indicates whether DCNR is supported.
Activate Default EPS Bearer Context Request The length of the "APN-AMBR" IE is extended from 4 bytes to 8 bytes. Extends the maximum bandwidth.
Attach Accept Whether the bit in the "EPS network feature support" IE supports DCNR. Indicates whether DCNR is allowed.
Attribute Name AVP Code Value Type (NOTE 2) Must May Should not Must not May Encr.
Question 1: What is the difference between the 5G NSA architecture and the SA architecture?
Question 2: What are the differences between the 5G NSA and EPC?
With the 5G NSA architecture, the EPC can be smoothly upgraded to support 5G gNodeB access.
Carriers can quickly deploy and release 5G services.
The main 5G NSA architecture options are option 3, option 3a, and option 3x.
Compared with the EPC, the 5G NSA adds the 3GPP-defined IEs. The basic procedures remain
unchanged.