5G Network Architecture: An

overview
Navid Nikaein
Professor - Eurecom
OpenAirInterface Software Alliance
Mosaic-5G Initiative

Tutorial at Summer School / ONDM 2019

13-17 May, 2019, Athens, Greece.

(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 1

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5G shall enables
Connected, Controlled, and Flexible Network as a service

Value Creation Consistent experience

Sustainable business model

5G Promises (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 2

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LT Driving Forces of 5G

(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 3
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Servers
Data-centers
Communication-Oriented

Today’s 4G is designed for a

limited number of UCs

- Throughput-optimized
- Fixed
- Rigid © Nokia

Is 4G enough? (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 4

 Monolithic BS 5

Stateful network entities

Transactional communication mode
Certain level of CP and UP separation
Common entity for user mobility and session management
GERA Control Plane
N
SGSN HSS
UTRA
N
S3 S6a
S1-MME
MME
PCRF
S4 Rx+
S11 S7
S10
“ LTE- Uu”

Serving S5 PDN SGi Operator's IP Services

UE E-UTRAN
Gateway Gateway (e.g. IMS, PSS etc.)
S1-U
User Plane

Communication-oriented 4G (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 5

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Dedicated core (DECOR)

Multi-operator RAN(MORAN) Deploy multiple dedicated CNs
Shared RAN nodes, dedicated (DCNs) within a single operator
spectrum, but separated CN per network
operator One or multiple MMEs and
Multi-operator CN (MOCN) SGWs/PGWs, each element
Shared RAN nodes and Evolved DECOR (eDECOR)
spectrum, but separated CN per UE assisted DCN selection
operator with proprietary Network Node Selection Function
services (NNSF) at RAN to select directly the
proper DCN towards which the NAS
Gateway CN (GWCN) signaling needs to be forwarded
shared RAN and part of core Congestion control and load
networks balancing among multiple DCN with
shared MME

4G Network Sharing Models (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 6

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Mindful about
3GPPP facts and figures
LTE
514 Companies from 45 Countries
50,000 delegate days per year
40,000 meeting documents per year
1,200 specifications per Release
10,000 change requests per year

3GPP R8 Facts and Figures (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 7

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One-size-fit-all Multiple logic networks

Bottom-up Top-down

4G5G
Communication-oriented Service-oriented

Evolution from 4G to 5G (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 8

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Dimension in increasing capacity Overall 5G Components

Bandwidth
Business Applications

Management and Orchestration

Spectral Efficiency
IP Layer Network
Convergent Layer Service and App
LTE New WiFi
Cloud Infrastructure
Evolution Radio WiGig
densification

Below 6GHz Above 6GHz Specific bands

5G is not just a new radio/spectrum, but also a new

architecture and business helper

5G : A Paradigm Shift (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 9

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© Coherent Project

5G Technology Enablers
(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 10
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Turn physical infrastructure into multiple logical networks,

one per service instance: One-Network, Many-Service
NOT a one-size fits all architecture NOT a
Dedicated Network
Network Slicing
Multi-service multi-tenant network

© Ericsson WP

Service-oriented 5G (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 11

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5G novel usage scenarios: eMBB, uRLLC, mMTC

Multi-disciplinary approach with the fusion of
computing, communication, information, and IT
xMBB

Network Slicing
Multi-service multi-tenant network
uRLLC

mMTC © Ericsson WP

Service-oriented 5G (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 12

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3GPP Role Model (3GPPP 28.801)

Network Slicing evolves

the value-chain of
telecom industry:
Decoupling of Players,
but the reality might be
different

Service-oriented 5G (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 13

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3GPP Re-Architects Mobile Network

© 3GPP

3GPP 5G Features
(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 14
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(1) Ultra-flexible radio-access configurations
Higher bandwidth
Higher spectral efficiency (bits/s/Hz/m2)
Bandwidth parts: tailor bandwidth to UE class (like eMTC
narrowbands/widebands)
Network slicing : new abstractions for service classification down to L1

(2) Compatibility with 4G/5G cores (NSA & SA mode)

5G dual-connectivity (non-standalone operation)
Interconnection of evolved 4G eNodeB (ng-eNB) with 5G core

(3) Service-oriented 5G core with cloud-native architecture

5G Main Objectives (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 15

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3GPP Releases
(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 16
5G Architecture
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EPC

MME / S-GW MME / S-GW AMF/UPF AMF/UPF

5GC
S1

S1
E-UTRAN
S1

S1

X2
eNB eNB

NG
X2

NG
X2

NG

NG
eNB
NG

NG

NG
NG
Xn NG-RAN
gNB gNB
Xn

Xn
Xn
ng-eNB ng-eNB

Overall 5G Architecture (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 18

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With 4G Core
Dual Connectivity

S1

MeNB

RRC
X2-C

SgNB

Uu NR RRC

UE
Uu
RRC
(MeNB
state)

Overall 5G Architecture
(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 19
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© Nokia

4G-5G Dual Connectivity

(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 20
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3GPP Re-Architects Mobile Network

3 Tier RAN Node
CU0 DU[0-n]  RRU[0-m]
Functions Split
CP - UP split

Service-Oriented CN NEF

Nnef

Nausf
NRF

Nnrf
PCF
Npcf Nudm
UDM AF

Naf

service catalog and discovery

Namf Nsmf
AUSF AMF SMF

Slice selection function

N4
N1
CP - UP split
N2

UE (R)AN N3 UPF N6 DN

3GPP 5G RAN and CN (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 21

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3GPP Re-Architects Mobile Network

Slicing Functions

NSSF NEF NRF PCF UDM AF

AUSF AMF SMF

Control Plane
User Plane
DU
UEs CU UPF DN
DU
AMF Access & Mobility Management Function SMF Session Management Function
AUSF Authentication Server Function UPF User Plane Function
NRF Network Repository Function AF Application Function
UDM Unified Data Management PCF Policy Control Function
NSSF Network slice selection function NEF Network Exposure Function

3GPP 5G RAN and CN (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 22

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gNB or ng-eNB AMF SMF

Inter Cell RRM NAS Security UE IP address

allocation
RB Control
Idle State Mobility
Handling PDU Session
Connection Mobility Cont.
Control

Radio Admission Control

UPF
Measurement
Configuration & Provision Mobility Anchoring

Dynamic Resource
Allocation (Scheduler) PDU Handling
internet

NG-RAN 5GC

Functional Split : RAN & CN (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 23

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QoS Class Indicator (QCI)
E-UTRAN EPC Internet

UE eNB S-GW P-GW Peer

Entity

End-to-end Service

EPS Bearer External Bearer

QoS Flow Indicator (QFI)
NG-RAN 5GC
E-RAB S5/S8 Bearer

Radio Bearer S1 Bearer

UE NB UPF

PDU Session
Radio S1 S5/S8 Gi
Radio Bearer NG-U Tunnel
QoS Flow

QoS Flow

Radio Bearer
QoS Flow

Radio NG-U

5G Flow-level QoS FW (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 24

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Newly introduced SDAP layer
- Reflective QoS 4G
QoS
- Explicit Configuration Model

UE gNB UE RAN Core

SDAP SDAP
5G NR
PDCP PDCP QoS
Model

RLC RLC

MAC MAC End-to-End Bearer

Radio Bearer
PHY PHY
RAN-Core Bearer

5G QoS Flow

4G LTE : 1:1 mapping of EPS bearer to DRB

5G NR : One or more QoS flows may be mapped onto one DRB.

5G Flow-level QoS FW (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 25

Network Slicing
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Network Slicing

© M. Marina

Sharing or Isolation
(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 27
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Service Service Service Service
Instance 1 Instance 2 Instance 3 Instance 4

Network slice Instance 1 Network slice Instance 2 Network slice Instance 3 Network slice Instance 4

Sub-network
Sub-network
Sub-network instance
instance
instance
Sub-network Sub-network
instance instance

Shared/Common Resources/Network
infrastructure/Network functions

Network Slicing Concept (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 28

 Network Slicing
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Flexible & Customizable virtual

network tailored to each use-cases

xMBB uRLLC mMTC

Network Slicing Concept (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 29

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UDM NSSF NRF PCF

UPF3 AutoPilot SMF3 URLLC Slice

UPF2 Caching AMF SMF2 eMBB Slice

SMF1 UPF1 DN Default Slice

mIoT Slice

Maintenance/statistics
mIoT, low throughput
Infotainment/video streaming
eMBB (Mobile Broadband)
Safety/autonomous driving service
URLLC (Ultra Reliable Low Latency)

Dedicated or Shared Functions (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 30

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Multiplexing Gain

Network slicing

Benefit: Efficient use of radio resources

Dedicated or Shared Resources

(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 31
Conclusion
 Fusion of Computing, Information and Cellular 33

technologies

(a) 5G and beyond is not only New Radio and verticals, it is

also an evolution in General-Purpose computing
for wireless networks
(b) More and more software technologies (NFV,SDN,MEC)
and Data (mining, analytics) jointly with radio signal
processing

Conclusion
3GPP 5G Network started from Rel. 34

15 phase 1
Flow-level QoS
Heterogeneous and disaggregated spectrum and RAT
Multi-level Network Slicing
Cloud Native Architecture
Open Interfaces and Edge computing

Conclusion
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OpenSource tools : OAI and M5G Ecosystem

http://mosaic-5g.io/

https://www.openairinterface.org/

Conclusion(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 35

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5G System:
TS23.501 - System Architecture for the 5G System
TS23.502 - Procedures for 5G System
TS29.500 - 5G System, Technical Realization of Service Based Architecture
TS29.501 - 5G System, Principles and Guidelines for Services Definition
TS 33.501: "Security Architecture and Procedures for 5G System".

5GC components
AMF: - TS29.518 - Access and Mobility Management Services
NRF: TS29.510 - Network Function Repository Services
SMF: TS29.502 - Session Management Services, TS29.508 - Session Management Event Exposure Service
UDM: TS29.503 - Unified Data Management Services
AUSF: TS29.509 - Authentication Server Services, PCF: TS29.507 - Access and Mobility Policy Control
Service, TS29.512 - Session Management Policy Control Service, TS29.571 - Common Data Types for
Service Based Interfaces

Others:
TS 24.501: Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) protocol for 5G System (5GS)
TS 38.413: NG-RAN; NG Application Protocol (NGAP)

5G CN Specs. (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 36

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RAN:
3GPP TS 38.401: "NG-RAN; Architecture description".
3GPP TS 37.340: "NR; Multi-connectivity; Overall description; Stage-2".
3GPP TS 38.321: "NR; Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification".
3GPP TS 38.322: "NR; Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol specification".
3GPP TS 38.323: "NR; Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) specification".
3GPP TS 37.324: "NR; Service Data Protocol (SDAP) specification".
3GPP TS 38.331: "NR; Radio Resource Control (RRC); Protocol specification".
3GPP TS 38.133: "NR; Requirements for support of radio resource management".

UE:
3GPP TS 38.304: "NR; User Equipment (UE) procedures in idle mode".
3GPP TS 38.306: "NR; User Equipment (UE) radio access capabilities".

5G RAN Specs. (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 37

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Thoughts
(c) Navid Nikaein 2017 38
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Personal Info:
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.eurecom.fr/~nikaeinn/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/navidnikaein
Tel: +33.(0)4.93.00.82.11

Mosaic-5G.io :
Mail : [email protected]
Website : http://mosaic-5g.io
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosaic-5g
Twitter: @mosaic5g

Contact Information (c) Navid Nikaein 2017 39