3GPP's System Architecture (SA) Technical Specification Group on Service and System Aspects, defining the
next generation architecture - known as NG Core. It will provides a guide to specification in the normative phase, now underway in 3GPP Release 15.
next generation architecture - known as NG Core. It will provides a guide to specification in the normative phase, now underway in 3GPP Release 15.
The key study document is "Architecture for Next Generation System" (TR 23.799), which sets out the requirements for NG Core. In its conclusions TR 23.799 identifies two representations of the next-gen architecture: a point-to-point architecture and a service-based architecture.
These architectures are now being developed further in the "System Architecture for the 5G System" specification group known as TS 23.501.
The point-to-point architecture is shown below. As with prior generations, it specifies discrete interfaces between control-plane elements. This is probably the model operators with aggressive deployment schedules will use -- at least initially, perhaps before migrating to the service-based model at later date.
The main difference in the service-based architecture is in the control plane where, instead of predefined interfaces between elements, a services model is used in which components query an NF Repository Function (NRF) to discover and communicate with each other over APIs. This is closer to the cloud native networking concept and attractive to operators that want flexibility and adaptability. The challenge is that it is harder to implement using today's cloud platforms and, at this stage, appears likely to be part of Phase 2 deployments.
Both the options above are known as 5G "standalone" (SA) mode -- i.e. they allow 5G NR to be deployed without dependencies on the LTE network (although in practice integration will be required for mobility, etc.). There is also an option for operators that want to move very quickly to deploy 5G NR to use the existing 4G Evolved Packet Core. This is known as non-standalone (NSA) mode. In this model 5G NR provides extra user plane capacity, but the LTE radio is used as the primary cell and for control-plane messaging (i.e. to set up and manage sessions and mobility).
You can read more about this in the "RAN Architecture and Interfaces" report (TR 38.801).
Also HAVE it from Nokia. A good read.
You can read more about this in the "RAN Architecture and Interfaces" report (TR 38.801).
Also HAVE it from Nokia. A good read.