Q.1 What is 5G technologies and why do we need it?

Ans. 5G is a flexible platform

that can serve new used cases.

Currently below 4 cases are identified (expected more

in the future):

1. Massive IOT “Massive Machine Type Communication” ( mMTC ) like electric meters

2. Critical IOT “Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication” ( uRLLC ) with low latency & high
reliability

3. Fixed Wireless Access ( FWA ) to connect homes

4. Enhanced Mobile Broadband ( eMBB ) with better capacity and throughput.

Q.2 What is the max peak rate (DL and UL throughput) in 5G?

Ans. DL Throughput: Up to 20Gbps

UL Throughput: Up to 10Gbps

Q.3 What are the major differences between LTE and NR ?

Ans. Key Performance Indicators along with other differences:

LTE:

1. Peak Data Rate (With LTE-A): Downlink (1 Gbps), Uplink (0.5 Gbps)

2. Peak Spectral Efficiency: Downlink (30 bps/Hz) – with 8-layer spatial multiplexing, Uplink (15
bps/Hz) – with 4-layer spatial multiplexing

3. Control Plane Latency: <100ms

4. User Plane Latency: <10ms

5. Mobility (With LTE-A): Device speeds up to 500 Km/h

6. Max Supported Bandwidth: 20 MHz

7. Waveform: CP-OFDM for DL, SC-FDMA for UL

8. Maximum number of subcarriers: 1200

9. Slot-Length: 7 symbols in 500us

NR:

1. Peak Data Rate: Downlink (20 Gbps), Uplink (10 Gbps)

2. Peak Spectral Efficiency: Downlink (30 bps/Hz), Uplink (15 bps/Hz) Control Plane Latency: <10ms

3. User Plane Latency: <0.2ms for URLLC

4. Mobility: Device speeds up to 500 Km/h

6. Waveform: CP-OFDM for DL, CP-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM for UL Maximum number of subcarriers:
3300

7. Slot-Length: 14 symbols (duration depends on subcarrier spacing), 2,4 and 7 symbols for mini-slot

Q.4 How does the initial sync different in NR and LTE?

Ans. LTE: Used a concept of two synchronization signals (PSS & SSS) with a fixed format which
enabled UEs to find a cell.

NR: Uses a concept of Synchronization signal block (SSB), spanning 20 resource blocks and consisting
of PSS, SSS & PBCH. The timing of the SSB block can be set by network operator.

Q.5 What is the between LTE and NR Air Interface Structure (Numerology) ?

Ans. LTE is based on OFDMA

-> In LTE Subcarrier Spacing is fixed to 15 kHz which translated to 1 ms TTI

-> 12 of this Subcarrier will create resource Block (RB)

-> LTE Carrier BW is fixed mainly to 5 , 10 , 15 & 20

NR is based on OFDMA (like LTE) but NR is more Flexible

-> Flexible Subcarrier Spacing: 2 n X 15 KHz, where 0,1,2 or 3

-> Which impact TTI in opposite way (this is the trick), So that means:

SSB=15 kHz =>TTI= 1 ms,

SSB= 30 kHz =>TTI= 0.5 ms,

SSB= 60 kHz => TTI= 0.25 ms,

SSB= 120 kHz => TTI= 0.125 ms

-> NR Carrier Bw can reach up to 400 MHz

Q.6 As per 3GPP specifications, which are options applicable or suitable to deploy the 5G in NSA
and SA mode?

Ans. Option 3x for 5G/NR-NSA and Option 2 for 5G/NR-SA.

Q.7 What is difference between different deployment options (3, 3a, and 3x) used for NR-NSA?
Ans. Option-3/3a/3x are transparent to MME and P-GW and translate to an E-RAB modification
procedure at MME.

• Option-3 — Traffic is split between 4G and 5G at eNodeB. In simple terms, the 5G gNB never
communicates with the 4G core network directly.

• Option-3a — Traffic is split between 4G and 5G at EPC (S-GW). LTE eNB and the 5G gNB can
directly talk to the EPS core network but they cannot directly talk with each other over the Xx (X2)
interface. It would be difficult to implement this scenario if the devices keep moving in and out of 5G
network coverage continuously.

• Option-3x — Traffic is split between 4G and 5G at 5G gNB. Option 3X is a combination of 3 and 3A.
Slow data streams (Low Data), e.g. VoLTE bearers with a different IP address than that used for
Internet access can be directly delivered from the core network to the 4G eNB.

• Option-3X provides robust coverage in higher frequencies and aggregated peak bit rate of
LTE and 5G for lower frequencies.

• Option-3X also provides near-zero interrupt time LTE-5G mobility.

• Option-3X allows voice in LTE without using RAT fallback.

• This configuration can be used in scenarios where LTE coverage reach is superior to that of
NR and thus leverages EPC.

Q.8 Why different Numerologies in NR/5G?

Ans.

• NR should cover a very wide range of operating frequencies (e.g. sub 3 GHz, sub 6 GHz, and
mmWave (over 25 GHz).

• Due to physics, it is hard (almost impossible) to come up with single numerology (subcarrier
space) that can cover the whole of these ranges without sacrificing too much efficiency or
performance.

Q.9 What are Split Bearer and its' function?

Ans.

MCG (Master Cell Group) Bearer: A bearer terminating at MN node (in case of EN-DC, more
specifically at eNB).

SCG (Secondary Cell Group) Bearer: A bearer terminating at SN node (in case of EN-DC, more
specifically at gNB).
Split Bearer (MCG Split, SCG Split):

Split Bearer: A bearer for which traffic is routed via LTE and/or NR bearer. The split bearer is further
either SCG split or MCG split.

MCG Split: Traffic splits at MN node

SCG Split: Traffic splits at SN node

Q.10 At which point in Radio Bearer the 'Split' happens?

Ans. Exact Point of Split in Radio Bearer

• In split-bearer, NR PDCP is used in both LTE Anchor and NR.

• Splitting of the data stream is done by PDCP

Q.11 What is the difference between NR-NSA and NR-SA?

Ans. NSA Option 3x:

-> Existing LTE Core NW with SW Upgrade.

-> All Mobility and signalling are carried on LTE.

-> When user becomes inside NR Coverage, user can transmit data over 5G Air Interface.

-> Option 3x relaying on LTE Coverage.

NR-SA Option 2:

-> Not reusing LTE Network.

-> Mobile will be always connected to NR Coverage (UP&CP)

Q.12 what are the different connectivity scenarios available in NR-NSA option 3x?

Ans. ;’’\

1. Dual Connectivity:
-> Dual Connectivity means Device Connected to 2 networks simultaneously.

-> Dual Connectivity opens some very good coverage enhancement.

2. DL/UL Decoupling:

-> Applying 5G in Higher frequency Band has coverage problems.

-> The limiting factor is the Uplink.

-> UL/DL decoupling allows you to run UL & DL in different technologies.

-> UL/DL Decoupling will extend 5G Coverage.

3. LTE+NR Aggregation:

-> You can do LTE+NR Aggregation as you are connected to the 2 systems simultaneously.

-> You can send data at both 4G & 5G Interfaces at the same time for UL & DL.

Q.13 Why Migrating Low Band (LB) from 4G to 5G?

Ans.

1. Low Band has better coverage than High Band.

2. NR Spectral Efficiency and Latency is better than LTE.

3. You can extend Mid Band Coverage by doing CA with LB.

4. NR will have more enhancement with time.

Q.14 Why NR in low band?

Ans. Because ERS Portfolio (both Radios & Basebands) are 5G Ready with correct SW to enable 5G
on it.

And most of Ericsson customers already have ERS in their network operational.

Classical Radios is efficient way for operators to introduce NR in many scenarios. Because we need to
balance solution to have better TCO for customer and better BC for Ericsson.

NR Low Band with low Latency can be key enabler for C IOT applications

Q.15 what is Ericsson Spectrum Sharing feature?

Ans.

It is very useful for customer as it allow him to introduce 5G NR on 4G ERS without the need to
decide when to migrate as 5G will share the spectrum with 4G and operates together based on
need.
Also ESS give the lowest TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) for 5G Introduction as it is:

Shared Radio + shared baseband + shared Spectrum

Q.16 what is the difference between Static Spectrum Sharing, Dynamic Spectrum Sharing and
Instant Spectrum Sharing?

Ans.

Static Spectrum Sharing: Here NR is sharing BB & Radio (mixed mode) with LTE. But it has it is own
dedicated spectrum (Spectrum is not shared).

Dynamic Spectrum Sharing: Here NR is sharing BB & Radio (mixed mode) with LTE. Also Spectrum is
shared between NR & LTE. And resources assigned each 100 ms.

Instant Spectrum Sharing: Here NR is sharing BB & Radio (mixed mode) with LTE. Also Spectrum is
shared between NR & LTE. And resources assigned each TTI (1 ms)

Q.17 What is the difference between SU-MIMO and MU-MIMO?

Ans.

Downlink Single User SU-MIMO: Transmits more than one layer beam to a UE at same time.

Advantage: Increase the peak rate to the UEs.

• A good property in MBB Networks as it clear out the data faster.

Disadvantage:

Tx power will be split between the beams. So, more beams you have mains less power per beam.

So based on top, we have to situations:

-> To get good coverage for users in poor radio conditions, use all power in one layer.

-> To get higher peak rate for users in good radio conditions, split the power into more than one
beam.

Please note that most UEs at the market have 2 Rx Antennas, So they can receive two beams. Some
of the UEs has 4 Rx Antennas.

Downlink Multi User MU-MIMO: transmit different layers to different UEs at the same time.
Advantage:

Increase the cell capacity by reusing spectrum

• Beneficial at High load.

Actually in the live Network, most if the intervals are free to transmit as the User data behavior is
bursty. So, the probability for 2 users to sent at the same time is really low. So, it is only beneficial in
very high load cell.

Disadvantage:

Tx power will be split between the beams. Beams will interfere with each others. So, as the number
of beams increased, it diminish the gain. So, there is a practical limits for number of layers.

Q.16 What is difference between Digital and Analog Beamforming?

Q.17 What is the call flow of NR-NSA (or ENDC)? or How does the NR leg addition/setup happen?
Q.18 What are probable root causes of SCG failure (or NR leg drop or ENDC drop)?

Q.19 What are the KPIs in NR-NSA to measure the network performance?

Ans.
1. Accessibility (ENDC Setup or NR Leg Setup/Addition or SgNB Addition success rate)

2. Retainability (ENDC Drop or NR Leg Drop/Abnormal Release or SgNB Drop Rate)

3. Mobility (Intra-GNB PSCellChange and Inter-GNB PSCellChange Success Rate)

4. Integrity (DL/UL Throughput, Latency and Packet Loss Rate)

Q.22 how does an UE report its' capability to Network?

Ans. If the UE supports dual connectivity with NR, then the UE must set the DCNR bit to "dual
connectivity with NR supported" in the UE network capability IE of the Attach Request/Tracking Area
Update Request message.

If the UE indicates support for dual connectivity with NR in the Attach Request/Tracking Area Update
Request message, and the MME decides to restrict the use of dual connectivity with NR for the UE,
then the MME sets the Restrict DCNR bit to "Use of dual connectivity with NR is restricted" in the
EPS network feature support IE of the Attach Accept/Tracking Area Update Accept message.

If the Restrict DCNR bit is set to "Use of dual connectivity with NR is restricted" in the EPS network
feature support IE of the Attach Accept/Tracking Area Update Accept message, the UE provides the
indication that dual connectivity with NR is restricted to the upper layers.

If the UE supports DCNR and DCNR is configured on MME, and if HSS sends ULA/IDR with

"Access-Restriction" carrying "NR as Secondary RAT Not Allowed", MME sends the "NR Restriction"
bit set in "Handover Restriction List" IE during Attach/TAU/Handover procedures. Similarly, MME
sets the RestrictDCNR bit to "Use of dual connectivity with NR is restricted" in the EPS network
feature support IE of the Attach Accept/Tracking Area Update Accept message. Accordingly, UE
provides the indication that dual connectivity with NR is restricted to the upper layers.

The "Handover Restriction List" IE is present in the "Initial Context Setup Request" message for
Attach and TAU procedure with data forwarding procedure, in the "Handover Required" message for
S1 handover procedure, in the "Downlink NAS Transport" message for TAU without active flag
procedure.

Q.21 What is Network Slicing in NR-SA? And how does an UE know/identify the service based
network slice?

Ans.

Network Slicing is considered as one of the key feature by 3GPP in 5G. A network slice can be looked
as a logical end-to-end network that can be dynamically created. A UE may access to multiple slices
over the same gNB. Each slice may serve a particular service type with agreed upon Service-level
Agreement (SLA).

-> A Network Slice is defined within a PLMN and includes the 5G Core and 5G RAN Network Control
Plane and User Plane Network

-> Identification of a Network Slice is done via the Single Network Slice Selection Assistance
Information (S-NSSAI) where NSSAI is a collection of S-NSSAIs

-> Currently 3GPP allows up to eight (8) S-NSSAIs in the NSSAI sent in signalling messages between
the UE and the Network, means a single UE may be served by at most eight Network Slices at a time

-> S-NSSAI signalled by the UE to the network, assists the network in selecting a particular Network
Slice instance.
 Auction - Aug 2022 (Provisional frequency) - CG Circle

Bandwidt Uplink Uplink Downlink Downlink

R Jio 10 723 733 778 788 Paired

R Jio 10 1753.7 1763.7 1848.7 1858.7 Paired

R Jio 130 3470 3600 3470 3600 Unpaired

R Jio 1000 26500 27500 26500 27500 Unpaired

Airtel 100 3370 3470 3370 3470 Unpaired

Airtel 800 25700 26500 25700 26500 Unpaired

VIL 50 3320 3370 3320 3370 Unpaired

VIL 400 25300 25700 25300 25700 Unpaired