5G E2E

Training 5G Core Network

January 2023

Architecture
Overview
Steve Tsang Kwong U (INNOV/NET/CASE)
Content
1. Introduction on 5G system

2. Key concepts
▪ Virtualization
▪ Slicing
▪ Service Based Architecture

3. 5G system architecture options

▪ Options reusing 4G system for early deployments
▪ Options with the new 5G core network

4. 5G integration with other systems

▪ Interworking with legacy systems 2G/3G/4G
▪ 5G is a convergent multi-access system

5. Conclusion
2

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3GPP Releases Roadmap

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Release 15 (5G Phase 1)
5G Architecture Baseline (Non Stand Alone / Stand Alone)
Définition of 5G radio (NR) and new 5G Core (5GC)
New fonctionnalities: Network Slicing
NSA SA

Release 16 (5G Phase 2)

Support of vertical service requirements
5G Private Networks
Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Services (URLLC)
Support of 5G Internet of Things (Cellular IoT)
Support of Vehicular Services in 5G (V2X)
Wireline-Wireless Convergence
Energy Efficiency
… SMS Enhancement
Ultra Reliability Low Latency Critical Medical Services
Communication (URLLC) Asset Tracking
Release
Factory 17 (5G Phase
Automation 3) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems
Enabler for Edge Computing Broadcast /TV Radio Services
Location services enhancements
Support for Satellite Access
Device to Device Direct&Communication
Wireline Wireless Convergence Multicast Broadcast
Multicast et broadcast services
Cellular/Industrial IoT Service Based Interface for
Support for drones V2X Roaming
Network Data Analytics Energy Efficiency

Release 18 (5G Advanced)

5G support for AI/ML Services
Further Enhancements on 5G System,,,

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Introduction on 5G System

▪ General considerations for the future 5G system

– General trend in the industry was to build a new system (« from scratch »)
– a new architecture is probably needed to support all 5G use cases envisioned (URLLC, massive
MTC, etc…)
– The New Radio and new Core Network was first specified in 3GPP standard Rel15 (June 2018)

▪ Main principles considered regarding the integration of the 5G system with existing systems
– No direct Interworking with 2G/3G networks
– 4G tightly integrated with 5G (e.g. seamless mobility between 4G and 5G, Dual Connection between
5G and 4G radios)
– IMS will still be supported: in particular, Voice services over 5G will re-use VoLTE mechanisms defined
for 4G
– Build an Access-Agnostic Core Network: convergence of all type of accesses (wireline, wireless…)

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Notions and definitions on 5G System in 3GPP

5G System (5GS)
User Equipment (UE) 5G Access Network (AN) 5G Core Network (5GC)

NG-RAN And/or non-3GPP AN

New Radio New Radio New Radio

And/or E-UTRA And/or E-UTRA And/or E-UTRA
(NR) (NR) (NR)
Standalone New Radio is the anchor E-UTRA is the anchor Standalone
New Radio with E-UTRA extensions with New Radio extensions E-UTRA

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Key Concepts

▪ 5G system is a virtualised network

▪ Virtualisation allows some new concepts such as
slicing
– Ability to adapt the network to the
service / device
– Create and instantiate slices in the
network for each type of usage
▪ Network Function Decomposition is a key
enabler
– A new granularity of functions is needed
to allow optimisation of network slices for
each use case (Service Based
NGMN illustration of the network slicing
Architecture)

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5G System Architecture Options

▪ First 5G deployments were based on 3GPP Rel15 specifications (completed in june 2018)
– several architecture options are defined for the 5G system
– using either LTE/eLTE and/or New Radio on radio side (NR)
– using EPC or a new 5G Core Network on core network side (5GC)
▪ 5G features and options have been separated in several phases
– Rel15 will support a first set of features
– eMBB, some URLLC use cases
– the different architecture options are all supported in Rel15
– Delivered in three different steps (dec 2017, june 2018, march 2019)
– Rel16 added more features and other functions (e.g. Network Data analytics, SCP…)
– Support for 5G Cellular IoT, Wireline-Wireless Convergence…
▪ The different 5G System options are described in following slides

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5G System Architecture Options – Options reusing 4G system

▪ Key principles: Temporary bearer CP in LTE

CP
CP in NR
UP
– re-use (4G) LTE control and EPC core network
– UE camped on LTE with dual connection to both LTE and 5G NR for data.
Option 3: Option 3a: Option 3x:
Option 3: NR NSA, Option 3a: NR NSA, Option 3x: NR NSA,
EPC connected EPC connected EPC connected
EPC 5GC EPC 5GC
EPC 5GC

LTE NR LTE NR
LTE NR

The CP is managed by the LTE

The whole traffic is managed by the LTE
The EPC has no view of the 5G RAN
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The CP is managed by the LTE The EPC is connected to the 5G RAN for
The EPC is connected to the 5G RAN User Plane. The LTE manages the 5G traffic
in mobility
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5G System Architecture Options – Options with new 5G CN
▪ Key principles: Temporary bearer CP in LTE
CP
– enhanced LTE and/or 5G NR connected to 5G Core Network UP
CP in NR

Standalone Radio Non-Standalone Radio with CP on NR

Option 4: NR NSA, Option 4a: LTE
Option 2: NR SA, Option 5: SA eLTE,
NGCN connected NGCN connected
NGCN connected NGCN connected
EPC 5GC EPC 5GC EPC 5GC EPC 5GC

NR eLTE eLTE NR eLTE NR

Non-Standalone Radio with CP on evolved LTE (eLTE)

Option 7: NR NSA, Option 7a: NR NSA, Option 7x: NR NSA,
NGCN connected NGCN connected NGCN connected
EPC 5GC EPC 5GC EPC 5GC

eLTE NR eLTE NR eLTE NR

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5G System Architecture Options – which options and when?

▪ In 3GPP Rel15 specifications, all options are included:

– Opt 3/3a/3x using EPC and Dual Connectivity between LTE and 5G NR (often referred as NSA)
– Available in the Rel15 “early-drop” delivered in dec 2017
– Opt 2 and 5 using the new 5GC and the 5G NR or eLTE in standalone mode (often referred as SA) –
available delivered in june 2018
– other families of options 4 and 7 are specified in a “late drop” of Rel15 completed in March 2019
– 4 and 7x are the options preferred in particular in this “late drop”

▪ Deployment of 5G Systems:
– First deployments of 5G in 2019-2020: Opt 3x is used
– due to the early availability of the specifications (dec 2017)
– due to a less complex architecture than the new 5GC
– From 2021-2022, the new 5GC becomes available for deployment
– to benefit from the full 5G features from start
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5G architecture options preferences

▪ Preferred options (by most operators and vendors)

– Opt 3x is the most simple and secured for early deployment (end of 2019)
– but benefits are limited to eMBB use cases (more throughput than 4G).
– Opt 2 is a complete 5G architecture appropriate for eMBB, URLLC use cases and slicing scenarios
– It can be considered as a first step of deployment (from 2021) or in a second step after option
3x.

▪ Other options are usually not available in vendors roadmaps

– Option 4, compared to option 2, allows higher bitrates thanks to dual connectivity. Opt 4 needs Opt 2.
– Opt 7x has important impacts on LTE. It can be appropriate for the unique case where 5GC is
needed but is not integrated with EPC (to provide mobility to 4G) and 5G coverage is not widely
deployed. As all vendors provide integrated 4G-5G core, option 7x would not be finally needed.
– Opt 5 has important impacts on LTE. It can be interesting to better manage slicing during 4G-5G
mobility while staying on 5GC. Option 7 needs Option 5.

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5G Integration with other systems

▪ Integration with legacy mobile systems

– 2G/3G systems are not considered in 5G specifications in Rel15
– No direct interaction between 2G/3G and 5G (e.g. no seamless service continuity)
– However, support of voice continuity between 5G Voice over IMS and 2G/3G CS was added in
Rel16 (re-using 4G SR-VCC mechanisms)
– 4G systems are linked with 5G at different levels
– Can be linked at radio level with the Dual-Connectivity
– Can be linked at core level to ensure service continuity between 4G and 5G…
– … and furthermore with 2G/3G using 4G as an intermediate network

2G/3G GPRS 5GC (5G Core Network)

4G EPC (Evolved Packet
Core)

E-UTRA New Radio New Radio

GERAN UTRAN
(LTE) (NR) (NR)

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5G is a Convergent system for all type of accesses

eNodeB E-UTRA

gNodeB
New Radio (NR)

3GPP RAN: NG-RAN Same 5G Core

interfaces
(5GC)
Trusted Non 3GPP AN

Non 3GPP
Untrusted Non 3GPP AN Interworking
Function

5G Access Network
The 5G Core connects all type of accesses using same interfaces and procedures
▪ Adaptation can be done (e.g. specific parameter values, etc)
▪ Examples of non-3GPP accesses: WiFi, Fixed Accesses, Satellite…
Note: the notion of “trusted” is left to operator’s appreciation but it usually means whether the security of the access network can
be trusted (e.g. belongs to the same operator, is a third-part Wifi access, etc)
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Conclusion

▪ The 5G Systems introduces a new architecture with several options

– First architecture options reusing 4G systems and available earlier in specifications (dec 2017)
– Options using a new 5GC available later and providing more advanced features (june and dec 2018)
– only a subset of functions
– More 5G features are introduced with Release 16 of 5G specifications (June 2020)

▪ For early deployments in 2019~2020

– option 3x with EPC seems to be the safest option
– but will not support all 5G features in the new 5GC (Slicing, all URLLC use cases, etc)

▪ New 5GC products available from 2020~2021, making deployments possible from 2021~2022

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Thank You