SMF (Session Management Function) In 5G-NR

In 5G, SMF stands for "Session Management Function." It is a core network element responsible for
managing the sessions between user devices and the network.

Section 6.2.2 of 3GPP's Technical Specification 23.501 provides a detailed description of the role and
functions of SMF

• SMF is one of the key network functions in the 5G Core Network (5GC), responsible for
session management and policy control.
• SMF interacts with other network functions such as User Plane Function (UPF), Access and
Mobility Management Function (AMF), and Policy Control Function (PCF) to establish and
manage sessions.
• SMF is responsible for providing QoS control and enforcement based on policies received
from PCF. It also collects usage data and generates charging information for billing purposes.
• SMF supports the concept of network slicing, where multiple logical networks can be created
on top of a single physical network infrastructure. SMF is responsible for managing the
sessions and QoS control for each slice.
• SMF performs subscriber authentication and authorization, including the authentication of
devices connecting to the network.
• SMF supports different session types, including data, voice, and video sessions.
• SMF is designed to be highly scalable and resilient, with the ability to handle a large number
of sessions simultaneously and to provide redundancy and failover mechanisms for high
availability.
• SMF can be implemented as a standalone function or as a combined function with other
network functions such as PCF.

• SMF communicates with other network functions using the Service-Based Interface (SBI) and
the Network Repository Function (NRF) for service discovery.

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 • SMF provides session continuity management, which allows for the seamless transfer of a
session from one network node to another.
• SMF provides support for mobility management, including handovers between 5G cells and
inter-system handovers between 5G and other access technologies.
• SMF is responsible for managing the allocation of IP addresses and for providing support for
different types of addressing schemes.
• SMF provides support for different deployment scenarios, including centralized and
distributed deployment models.
• SMF supports different types of traffic steering and traffic offloading mechanisms, including
3GPP-defined traffic steering and traffic offloading mechanisms as well as operator-specific
mechanisms.
• SMF supports policy enforcement for edge computing and network function virtualization
(NFV) deployments.

Some more functionalities come under SMF from 23.502-4.3.2

• SMF is responsible for session establishment, modification, and release, and for managing
session state information.
• SMF is responsible for policy and charging control (PCC), including enforcing QoS policies and
collecting usage data for billing purposes.
• SMF is responsible for subscriber authentication and authorization, including the
authentication of devices connecting to the network.
• SMF is responsible for providing security functions such as encryption and decryption of user
data, and for enforcing security policies.
• SMF interacts with other network functions such as AMF, PCF, and UPF to establish and
manage sessions.
• SMF provides support for different types of sessions, including data sessions, voice sessions,
and video sessions.
• SMF supports the concept of network slicing, where multiple logical networks can be created
on top of a single physical network infrastructure. SMF is responsible for managing the
sessions and enforcing QoS policies for each slice.
• SMF provides support for mobility management, including handovers between 5G cells and
inter-system handovers between 5G and other access technologies.
• SMF is designed to be highly scalable and resilient, with the ability to handle a large number
of sessions simultaneously and to provide redundancy and failover mechanisms for high
availability.

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Session Establishment Process
Reference 23.502 - Figure 4.3.2.2.1-1

• The UE initiates a session request to the AMF.

• The AMF performs access authentication and authorization for the UE, and determines the
SMF to be used for the session.
• The AMF initiates a session establishment request to the SMF, providing the QoS
requirements for the session.
• The SMF performs policy and charging control (PCC) to determine if the UE is authorized to
use the requested resources and if the requested QoS can be guaranteed.
• The SMF initiates a session establishment response to the AMF, providing the session
establishment result and the QoS parameters.
• The AMF forwards the session establishment response to the UE, along with the QoS
parameters.
• The UE acknowledges the session establishment response, and the session is established.

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UE (R)AN AMF UPF SMF PCF UDM DN

1. PDU Session Establishment Request

2. SMF selection
3. Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Request

4. Subscription retrieval/ Subscription for updates

5. Nsmf_PDUSession_CreateSMContext Response

6. PDU Session authentication/authorization

7a. PCF selection

7b. SM Policy Association Establishment or SMF initiated SM
Policy Association Modification

8. UPF selection

9. SMF initiated SM Policy Association Modification

10a. N4 Session Establishment/Modification Request

10b. N4 Session Establishment/Modification Response

11. Namf_Communication_N1N2MessageTransfer

12. N2 PDU Session Request (NAS msg)

13. AN-specific resource setup (PDU Session Establishment Accept)
14. N2 PDU Session Response

First Uplink Data

15. Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Request

16a. N4 Session Modification Request

16b. N4 Session Modification Response

16c. Registration
First Downlink Data

17. Nsmf_PDUSession_UpdateSMContext Response

18. Nsmf_PDUSession_SMContextStatusNotify

19. IPv6 Address Configuration

20. SMF initiated SM Policy Association Modification

21. Unsubscription

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