3GPP

3GPP(3rd generation partnership project)

5 min readJul 31, 2022

Development & maintenance:

GSM(global system for mobile communications) & 2G, 2.5G, including GRPS(general packet radio service) & EDGE(enhanced data rates for GSM evolution)
UMTS(universal mobile telecommunications system) & 3G, including HSPA(high speed packet access) & HSPA+
LTE(long-term evolution) & 4G, including LTE advanced & LTE advanced pro
5G NR(new radio) & 5G, including 5G advanced
An evolved IMS(IP multimedia subsystem) developed in an access independent manner

2G, 2.5G
TDMA(time division multiple access)
GERAN(GSM EDGE radio access network)
SMS(short message service)
2.5G, GRPS, 56–64 kbps
2.75G, EDGE(enhanced data for GSM evolution), 170 kbps
3G, 384 kbps
WCDMA(wideband code division multiple access)
UTRAN(UMTS Terrestrial radio access network) Terrestrial陸上, 沒有衛星
GPRS(general packet radio service)
SGSN(serving GPRS support node)
GGSN(gateway GPRS support node)
3.5G
HSDPA(high speed download packet access)
HSUPA(high speed uplink packet access)
3.75G, HSPA+
3.9G, LTE
4G, 1gbps for station uses, 100mbps for high mobility uses
OFDM(orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing)
E-UTRA(evolved UTRAN)
MME(multi media extension)
SGW(serving gateway)
PGW(PDN gateway)
PDN(packet data network)
5G, 5gbps

The first group runs in the Control Plane (CP) and has a counterpart in the EPC.

AMF (Core Access and Mobility Management Function): Responsible for connection and reachability management, mobility management, access authentication and authorization, and location services. Manages the mobility-related aspects of the EPC’s MME.
SMF (Session Management Function): Manages each UE session, including IP address allocation, selection of associated UP function, control aspects of QoS, and control aspects of UP routing. Roughly corresponds to part of the EPC’s MME and the control-related aspects of the EPC’s PGW.
PCF (Policy Control Function): Manages the policy rules that other CP functions then enforce. Roughly corresponds to the EPC’s PCRF.
UDM (Unified Data Management): Manages user identity, including the generation of authentication credentials. Includes part of the functionality in the EPC’s HSS.
AUSF (Authentication Server Function): Essentially an authentication server. Includes part of the functionality in the EPC’s HSS.

The second group also runs in the Control Plane (CP) but does not have a direct counterpart in the EPC:

SDSF (Structured Data Storage Network Function): A “helper” service used to store structured data. Could be implemented by an “SQL Database” in a microservices-based system.
UDSF (Unstructured Data Storage Network Function): A “helper” service used to store unstructured data. Could be implemented by a “Key/Value Store” in a microservices-based system.
NEF (Network Exposure Function): A means to expose select capabilities to third-party services, including translation between internal and external representations for data. Could be implemented by an “API Server” in a microservices-based system.
NRF (NF Repository Function): A means to discover available services. Could be implemented by a “Discovery Service” in a microservices-based system.
NSSF (Network Slicing Selector Function): A means to select a Network Slice to serve a given UE. Network slices are essentially a way to partition network resources in order to differentiate service given to different users. It is a key feature of 5G that we discuss in depth in a later chapter.

The third group includes the one component that runs in the User Plane (UP):

UPF (User Plane Function): Forwards traffic between RAN and the Internet, corresponding to the S/PGW combination in EPC. In addition to packet forwarding, it is responsible for policy enforcement, lawful intercept, traffic usage reporting, and QoS policing.

HLR(home location register)
HSS(home subscriber server)