5G Overview Flashcards
The main entity of the NG-RAN is the gNB
The main entity of the NG-RAN is the gNB, where “g” stands for “5G” and “NB” for “Node B”, which is the name inherited from 3G onwards to refer to the radio transmitter. The radio interface is named “NR-Uu” for similar reasons, although with divergences: here, “5G” is indicated by “NR” (for “New Radio”) and Uu is also a name inherited from previous generations. The gNB may be further split into a gNB-Central Unit (gNB-CU) and one or more gNB- Distributed Unit(s) (gNB-DU), linked by the F1 interface.
5GC <—> gNB
The 5GC can be represented by the AMF/UPF entity: the User Plane Function (UPF), handling the user data and, in the signalling plane, the Access and Mobility management Function (AMF) that accesses the UE and the (R)AN. The reference point between the access and the core networks is called “NG”. This reference point is constituted of several interfaces (mostly N2, N3), as shown below.
The 5GC architecture relies on a “Service-Based Architecture” (SBA) framework
The 5GC architecture relies on a “Service-Based Architecture” (SBA) framework, where the architecture elements are defined in terms of “Network Functions” (NFs) rather than by “traditional” Network Entities. Via interfaces of a common framework, any given NF offers its services to all the other authorized NFs and/or to any “consumers” that are permitted to make use of these provided services. Such an SBA approach offers modularity and reusability.
