5G Core

5G Core can well be defined as the brains of the 5G network. The 5GC enables reliable and secure connectivity to the network. The core also implements quality of service, enforces policy thereby, enabling service differentiation.

With the kind of use cases being envisaged for 5G, it was clear that the 5G Core needed to be ideated differently as compared to the core of previous generation communication technologies. That is exactly what happened as 3GPP started to come out with its 5G specifications with Release 15 and onwards.

5G Core raises the capability of the mobile network to levels not seen before and makes it possible to accelerate digitization across industries. Some of the key benefits of a 5GC network are:

• Accelerates TTM (time to market) to gain a competitive advantage
• Delivers error-free next-gen 5G products and services
• New user adoption and user retention
• Supports continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) of new software
• Improves Life Cycle Management (LCM)
• Ensures continued alignment with standards
• Delivers a significant reduction in the total cost of ownership (TCO)

The key components of the 5G core architecture include:

• User plane Function (UPF)
• Data network (DN)
• Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)
• Network Exposure Function (NEF)
• Policy Control Function (PCF)
• Network Repository Function (NRF)
• Authentication Server Function (AUSF)
• NF Repository Function (NRF)
• Unified Data Management (UDM)
• Unified Data Repository (UDR)
• Interworking and Mediation Function (IWF)
• Session Management Function (SMF)
• Binding Support Function (BSF)
• Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF)

In 5G, the core network's cloud-native Service-Based Architecture (SBA) is a prominent innovation. It has enabled the division of some functions into multiple components, and some functions have been combined so that they can run as scalable microservices in a virtualized infrastructure.

One of the key differences between 4G and 5G core networks is the clear separation of control and user plane functions enabling implementation using Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined networking (SDN).

The most significant difference between NSA (Non-Standalone) and SA (Standalone) is how each mode provides 5G. As the name suggests, NSA is a 5G service that does not stand alone and uses a 5G RAN supported by a 4G LTE Core. SA is an end-to-end 5G network containing 5G RAN and 5G Core. In NSA 5G, the radio signals are delivered over an existing 4G infrastructure. In comparison, SA 5G operates with dedicated equipment and has zero dependencies on the 4G network. Here’s how they both differ from each other:

1. NSA does not have a 5G core network, whereas SA has a 5G core network.
2. NSA networking 5G and 4G are interoperable at the access network level, complicating interconnection. In SA networking, 5G networks are independent of 4G networks, with 5G and 4G only interoperating at the core network level, making interconnection simple and seamless.
3. In the NSA network, the terminal is dual-connected to two wireless access technologies, LTE and NR. In the SA network, the terminal is only connected to one wireless access technology, NR.
4. Mobile phones must simultaneously be connected to 4G and 5G networks in NSA, resulting in higher power consumption vis-a-vis the SA network.
5. NSA cannot support the core features of 5G, like low latency, ultra-high speed, etc. SA maximizes the potential of 5G networks as the entire infrastructure - base stations, backhaul links, and core networks are all built especially for 5G.

5G is designed with in-built security controls to address the inherent threats of virtualized networks. 3GPP standardizes security in 5G networks in a hop-by-hop fashion, where user data is decrypted and encrypted in different functions within the network, making each of them independent units. All user data passing through 5G networks is protected by highly advanced encryption. The network and devices authenticate each other using integrity-protected signaling, ensuring that the other components remain secure in case one part is compromised.

Additionally, enlisting professionally managed security services (next-gen firewalls, secure remote access solutions, secure web gateway, etc.) is a hassle-free and cost-effective way to secure your 5G core network.

Amantya’s homegrown SA 5G Core is a 3GPP Rel-15 (Rel-16 in the roadmap) standards-compliant core solution ideally suited for testing & simulation use cases and creating next-gen private 5G networks. Containing a Data Plane Function and a high-performance User Plane Function (UPF), our futuristic 5G Core solution can be customized to a project’s unique requirements and is designed to help minimize the time and extra costs of systems testing, integration, and support. Below are the salient features of Amantya's 5G SA Core:

• Enables multiple use cases, ranging from 5G device/ application/network testing to building 5G labs and enterprise networks
• Provides a unified platform for subscriber data management
• Enables easy configuration & management of high-value policy use cases
• Network Slicing, Charging & Redundancy support
• Provides greater mobility support, enhancing operational agility and flexibility
• Ensures Quality of Service (QoS)
• Supports access to low-latency services hosted in local data centers
• Cloud-native functions to improve scalability and efficient creation & consumption of network resources
• Provides KPI monitoring for measuring 5G Core performance