5G Network Architecture and FMC
Joe Wilke, Ericsson
July 2017
Ericsson 5G core system
Key system areas
Automation
Actionable insights
Devices /
Local NW
Efficiency
Agility
Scale
Agility
Efficiency
Service optimized
connectivity
Access sites
Distributed sites
National sites
Application Cloud
Management & Monetization
Network Slices
Mobile
Fixed
Access, Mobility, Network applications
Cloud Infrastructure
Transport
Global sites
Overall 5G Core Architecture
Strategy
• Network Slicing is a key enabler supporting
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Separation of concern
Diverging Use Cases and Requirement
Multiple instantiations of same functionality
Reduced TTM
• 5G Mobile Broadband is an evolution of
current 4G MBB, but using the Service Based
architecture as basis
• Support possibility for diverging architectures
for new services
• Automation and programmability important
part of target architecture
5G Core Network Architecture
Key Principles
• The 5G core standardization should define a
functional architecture where implementation
technologies can be evolved and replaced over time
• Key principles:
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Prioritize interfaces to support Multi-vendor integration
Scale UP and CP functionality independently
Allow for a flexible deployment of UP separate from the CP
Supporting authentication for both IMSI-based and non IMSI-based identities
Allows for different network configurations in different network slices
Abstract transport layer from 3GPP NFs
5G – New Concepts
• CP/UP Split
• NW slicing
• Service Based Architecture SBA
5G CORE architecture overview
Changes and improvements compared to 4G
EPC today
S1-MME
MME
S6a
HSS
PCRF
S11
S1-U
PGW
N12
SGi
After CUPS
S1-MME
MME
S6a
HSS
PCRF
S11
SGW
CP
Gx
PGW
CP
Mapping the EPC
functions to new
5G CN functions
HSS/
AAA
SGW
UP
PGW
UP
PCRF
N8
N10
Access &
Mobility
management
NG11
AMF
Function (AMF)
MME
N15
N7
Session
Management
Function (SMF)
SMF
MME
SGW
CP
PGW
CP
N4
N3
S1-U
PCF
UDM
Gx
S5
SGW
Policy Control
Function (PCF)
Authentication Server
Function (AUSF) and User
Data Management (UDM)
N13
AUSF
User Plane
Function
(UPF)
UPF
SGi
PGW
UP
SGW
UP
N6
Network Slice Definition
One Network – Multiple Industries
Network slice is a logical network
serving a defined business purpose or
customer, consisting of all required
network resources configured together. It
is created, changed and removed by
management functions.
Services/Products
Logical
MBB Net
Logical
Enterprise Net
Logical
MDN
Network
NW Slice
Mgmt
Network Slices
Access
Resources
Transport
Resources
Cloud
Resources
Resources/Components
Ericsson Internal | © Ericsson AB 2015 | 2015-11-06 | Page 8
Nw
Function
Netw.
Mgmt
•
Logical network managed by a provider
•
Enabler for services, not a service
•
Mobile and fixed
•
Resources may be physical or virtual, dedicated
or shared
•
Independent/”Isolated” but may share resources
•
May integrate services from other providers,
facilitating e.g. aggregation and roaming
•
May include management functions and possible
exposure of control/management to customer
Federated Network Slicing
Enable seamless service experience and service control
Business Customers
Service Providing operator
Orchestration
Service
NW Slice
vUP
vCore
NW Slice
Partner Operator
Orchestration
Service
NW Slice for
hosted service
SLA
VNF
NW Slice
SLA
Service Based Architecture
3GPP TS 23.501 V1.0.0 (2017-06)
The 5G architecture is defined as service-based and the interaction between network functions is represented in two
ways. Network functions within the 5GC Control Plane shall only use service-based interfaces for their interactions.
Reference point representation.
shows the interaction that exist between the NF services in the network
functions described by point-to-point reference point (e.g. N11)
between any two network functions (e.g. AMF and SMF).
AUSF
N13
Service-based representation,
where network functions (e.g. AMF) within the control plane enables
other authorized network functions to access their services
NEF
UDM
N8
N11
SMF
N14
N1
(R)AN
Naf
N7
PCF
N5
AF
Nsmf
Namf
AUSF
SMF
AMF
N15
N4
N2
N3
Nudm
Npcf
UPF
N6
DN
UE
N4
N2
N1
UE
AF
N10
Nausf
AMF
UDM
PCF
Nnrf
Nnef
N12
NRF
(R)AN
N3
UPF
N9
Authentication Server Function (AUSF)
Core Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)
Data network (DN), e.g. operator services, Internet access
or 3rd party services
Network Exposure Function (NEF)
NF Repository Function (NRF)
Policy Control function (PCF)
Session Management Function (SMF)
Unified Data Management (UDM)
User plane Function (UPF)
Application Function (AF)
User Equipment (UE)
N6
DN
5G CORE architecture
Functional view – service-based representation
› Network Functions within the 5GC
Control Plane (CP) use Service-Based
Interfaces (SBI) for their interactions:
› A CP NF can provide one or more NF
Services
AF
AMF
AUSF
NEF
NRF
PCF
SMF
UDM
UPF
NRF
Nnrf
Application Function
Access and Mobility Management Function
Authentication Server Function
Network Exposure Function
Network Repository Function
Policy Control Function
Session Management Function
Unified Data Management
User Plane Function
Nausf
AUSF
UDM
Nudm
Naf
Nnef
Npcf
Nsmf
Namf
AMF
AF
NEF
PCF
SMF
N1
N2
N4
Data Network
N6
N3
NG UE
5G
RAN
UPF
(e.g. operator
or Internet)
Service-based interface in 5GC
Services and Operations
› A Control Plane Network Function can provide one or more NF Services
› A NF Service consist of operations based on either a request-response or a subscribe-notify model
› Common control protocol using e.g. HTTP based API, replacing protocols like e.g. Diameter
Service Based Interface (SBI)
NF A
NF B
Request
NF Service A1
Producer
Reply
NF Service A1
Consumer
Subscribe
NF Service B1
Consumer
Notify
NF Service Operation
NF Service B1
Producer
5G EPC architecture overview
Functional view – non-roaming RAN-CN interaction
› Enables early introduction of NR through
connectivity Option 3
› UE anchored to network over LTE/EPC
control plane
› Wide area coverage through LTE with NR
as capacity boost
MME
S1-MME
S11
SGW/
PGW CP
Rx
S5
Sx
LTE RRC
LTE PDCP
LTE Uu
LTE/EPC UE
NR/EPC UE
Gx
S6a
S10
EPC NAS
LTE + NR
RAN
PCRF
HSS
S1-U
SGW/
PGW UP
SGi
Data Network
(e.g. operator
or Internet)
5G Standards plan
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
IMT-2020 Evaluation
ITU
IMT-2020 Requirements
IMT-2020 Proposals
WS
WRC
IMT-2020 Specs
WRC
Rel-14
Rel-13
Rel-15
Rel-16
Rel-17, ...
Study on next generation network (technical realization, self evaluation)
3GPP
LTE evo
5G/NR Phase 1
5G/NR Phase 2
LTE evo
LTE evo
Phase 1: Rel-15 RAN + Core
targeting first phase of
deployments 2020
Phase 2: Rel-16
targeting ITU IMT2020 submission