3rd Generation Partnership Project;

3GPP TS 23.501
Technical Specification Group Services and System
V0.0.0
System Architecture for the 5G
Aspects;
(2017-01)
System;
Technical Specification
Stage 2;
(Release 15)

The present document has been developed within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP TM) and may be further elaborated for the purposes of 3GPP..
The present document has not been subject to any approval process by the 3GPP Organizational Partners and shall not be implemented.
This Specification is provided for future development work within 3GPP only. The Organizational Partners accept no liability for any use of this
Specification.
Specifications and Reports for implementation of the 3GPP TM system should be obtained via the 3GPP Organizational Partners' Publications Offices.
Release 15 2 3GPP TS 23.501 V0.0.0 (2017-01)

Keywords
3GPP, Architecture, 5G System, NextGen

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Release 15 3 3GPP TS 23.501 V0.0.0 (2017-01)

Contents
Foreword..........................................................................................................................................................5
Introduction......................................................................................................................................................5
1 Scope......................................................................................................................................................6
2 References..............................................................................................................................................6
3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations..................................................................................................6
3.1 Definitions...........................................................................................................................................................6
3.2 Symbols...............................................................................................................................................................6
3.3 Abbreviations.......................................................................................................................................................7
4 Architecture model and concepts............................................................................................................7
4.1 General concepts..................................................................................................................................................7
4.2 Architecture reference model..............................................................................................................................7
4.2.x Support of non-3GPP access..........................................................................................................................7
4.3 Interworking with E-UTRAN connected to EPC................................................................................................7
4.4 Specific services..................................................................................................................................................7
4.4.1 Public Warning System..................................................................................................................................7
4.4.2 SMS over NAS..............................................................................................................................................7
4.4.3 IMS support...................................................................................................................................................7
4.4.4 Location services............................................................................................................................................7
5 High level features..................................................................................................................................8
5.1 General.................................................................................................................................................................8
5.2 Network Access Control......................................................................................................................................8
5.3 Registration and Connection Management..........................................................................................................8
5.3.1 General...........................................................................................................................................................8
5.3.2 Registration Management.............................................................................................................................8
5.3.3 Connection Management..............................................................................................................................8
5.4 3GPP access specific aspects...............................................................................................................................8
5.5 Non-3GPP access specific aspects......................................................................................................................8
5.6 Session Management...........................................................................................................................................8
5.6.x Session Continuity, Service Continuity and efficient User Plane path (re)- selection..................................9
5.7 QoS model...........................................................................................................................................................9
5.8 User plane Management......................................................................................................................................9
5.9 Identities..............................................................................................................................................................9
5.10 Security aspects...................................................................................................................................................9
5.11 Support for Dual connectivity, Multi-connectivity.............................................................................................9
5.12 Charging..............................................................................................................................................................9
5.13 Edge Computing..................................................................................................................................................9
5.14 Policy Control......................................................................................................................................................9
5.15 Network slicing....................................................................................................................................................9
5.16 Support for specific services................................................................................................................................9
5.16.1 Public Warning System..................................................................................................................................9
5.16.2 SMS over NAS..............................................................................................................................................9
5.16.3 IMS support...................................................................................................................................................9
5.16.4 Emergency services......................................................................................................................................10
5.16.5 Multimedia Priority Services.......................................................................................................................10
5.17 Interworking and Migration...............................................................................................................................10
5.18 Network Sharing................................................................................................................................................10
5.19 Control Plane Congestion and Overload Control..............................................................................................10
5.20 xxxx...................................................................................................................................................................10
6 Network Functions...............................................................................................................................10
6.1 General...............................................................................................................................................................10
6.2 Network Function Functional description.........................................................................................................10
6.2.x <NF name>........................................................................................................................................................10

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6.3 Network function selection................................................................................................................................10

6.3.x <NF name> selection.........................................................................................................................................11
7 Network Function Services and descriptions........................................................................................11
7.1 Network Function Service Framework..............................................................................................................11
7.1.1 General...............................................................................................................................................................11
7.1.2 Network Function Service discovery...........................................................................................................11
7.1.3 Network Function Service authorization.....................................................................................................11
7.1.4 Network Function Service registration........................................................................................................11
7.2 Network Function Services...............................................................................................................................11
7.3 Network Internal Exposure................................................................................................................................11
7.4 External Exposure..............................................................................................................................................11
8 Control and User plane Protocol Stacks...............................................................................................11
8.1 General...............................................................................................................................................................12
8.2 Control plane Protocol stacks............................................................................................................................12
8.3 User Plane Protocol stacks................................................................................................................................12
Annex A (informative):..............................................................................................<Informative annex title>
..............................................................................................................................................................13
Annex <B> (normative): <Normative annex title>...............................................................................13
Annex <X> (informative): Change history................................................................................................14

3GPP
Release 15 5 3GPP TS 23.501 V0.0.0 (2017-01)

Foreword
This Technical Specification has been produced by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

The contents of the present document are subject to continuing work within the TSG and may change following formal
TSG approval. Should the TSG modify the contents of the present document, it will be re-released by the TSG with an
identifying change of release date and an increase in version number as follows:

Version x.y.z

where:

x the first digit:

1 presented to TSG for information;

2 presented to TSG for approval;

3 or greater indicates TSG approved document under change control.

y the second digit is incremented for all changes of substance, i.e. technical enhancements, corrections,
updates, etc.

z the third digit is incremented when editorial only changes have been incorporated in the document.

Introduction
This clause is optional. If it exists, it is always the second unnumbered clause.

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1 Scope
This clause shall start on a new page.

The present document …

2 References
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the present
document.

- References are either specific (identified by date of publication, edition number, version number, etc.) or
non-specific.

- For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.

- For a non-specific reference, the latest version applies. In the case of a reference to a 3GPP document (including
a GSM document), a non-specific reference implicitly refers to the latest version of that document in the same
Release as the present document.

[1] 3GPP TR 21.905: "Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications".

[2] 3GPP TR 41.001: "GSM Release specifications".

[3] 3GPP TR 21 912 (V3.1.0): "Example 2, using fixed text".

[x] <doctype> <#>[ ([up to and including]{yyyy[-mm]|V<a[.b[.c]]>}[onwards])]: "<Title>".

It is preferred that the reference to 21.905 be the first in the list.

3 Definitions, symbols and abbreviations

Delete from the above heading those words which are not applicable.

Clause numbering depends on applicability and should be renumbered accordingly.

3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of the present document, the terms and definitions given in 3GPP TR 21.905 [1] and the following
apply. A term defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same term, if any, in 3GPP
TR 21.905 [1].

Definition format (Normal)

<defined term>: <definition>.

example: text used to clarify abstract rules by applying them literally.

3.2 Symbols
For the purposes of the present document, the following symbols apply:

Symbol format (EW)

<symbol> <Explanation>

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3.3 Abbreviations
For the purposes of the present document, the abbreviations given in 3GPP TR 21.905 [1] and the following apply. An
abbreviation defined in the present document takes precedence over the definition of the same abbreviation, if any, in
3GPP TR 21.905 [1].

Abbreviation format (EW)

<ACRONYM> <Explanation>

4 Architecture model and concepts

4.1 General concepts

4.2 Architecture reference model

Editor’s notes: This should include non-roaming and roaming reference architecture (both service based and
reference point view), service based interfaces, reference points and its requirements etc.

4.2.x Support of non-3GPP access

Editor’s notes: This should include non-roaming and roaming reference architecture for support of non-3GPP
access. To start with, Rel-15 will include support for untrusted access.

4.3 Interworking with E-UTRAN connected to EPC

Editor’s notes: This should include non-roaming and roaming reference architecture for interworking between 5G
system and LTE.

4.4 Specific services

4.4.1 Public Warning System
Editor’s notes: This should include potential reference model for PWS (e.g. to show connectivity to CBC).

4.4.2 SMS over NAS

Editor’s notes: This should include potential reference model for SMS over NAS.

4.4.3 IMS support

Editor’s notes: This should include potential architecture level interactions for IMS support.

4.4.4 Location services

Editor’s notes: This should include potential reference model for location services.

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5 High level features

Editor’s notes: This should include high level functionality for features and functionalities supported by the
architecture e.g. Network access control, Network slicing, dual/multi-connectivity, MM, SM, Overall
QoS Concept, Identities, Authentication, security aspects, interworking, migration, PDU session,
architecture impact due to virtualization etc. Individual section such as connection management,
registration management, identities should include enablers for stateless NFs, virtualized NF etc. If
needed, separate section could be considered to provide an overview.

5.1 General

5.2 Network Access Control

Editor’s note: this should include network selection aspects, description of access control, LI,
authentication/authorization, policy control etc. Level of detail expected for this section is similar to
Network access control clause in TS 23.401 section 4.3.2.

5.3 Registration and Connection Management

5.3.1 General

5.3.2 Registration Management

Editor’s note: Access independent aspects. This can also include mobility restriction aspects.

5.3.3 Connection Management

Editor’s note: Access independent aspects.

5.4 3GPP access specific aspects

Editor’s note: 3GPP access specific aspects – e.g. handover, reachability, paging.

5.5 Non-3GPP access specific aspects

Editor’s note: Non-3GPP access specific aspects e.g. involvement of NG-N3IWF function.

5.6 Session Management

Editor’s note: this should include session management etc.

Editor’s note: handling ATSSS is FFS.

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5.6.x Session Continuity, Service Continuity and efficient User Plane path
(re)- selection

5.7 QoS model

5.8 User plane Management

Editor’s note: this should include IP address management.

5.9 Identities
Editor’s notes: This could include describe different types of identities – permanent and temporary identities.

5.10 Security aspects

5.11 Support for Dual connectivity, Multi-connectivity

Editor’s notes: This could include functional description for architecture impact due to 3GPP RAN dual
connectivity, 3GPP RAN multi connectivity. Support for 3GPP RAN multi-connectivity is dependent on
support for multi-connectivity in RAN, when it is supported, this section will be used to capture the
architecture impact due to 3GPP RAN multi-connectivity.

5.12 Charging
Editor’s notes: charging description – level of detail as in TS 23.401 – details to be specified by SA5.

5.13 Edge Computing

Editor’s notes: describe how to support local services (Edge Computing) based on other functionalities.

5.14 Policy Control

Editor’s notes: policy description. Delta over EPS PCC framework can be specified here.

5.15 Network slicing

5.16 Support for specific services

5.16.1 Public Warning System
Editor’s notes: This include functional description for supporting Public Warning System in 5G system.

5.16.2 SMS over NAS

Editor’s notes: This include functional description for supporting SMS over NAS in 5G system.

5.16.3 IMS support

Editor’s notes: This could include functional description for supporting IMS based services such as voice..

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5.16.4 Emergency services

Editor’s notes: This could include functional description for supporting emergency services in 5G system, including
support for unauthenticated emergency services.

5.16.5 Multimedia Priority Services

Editor’s notes: This include functional description for supporting Multimedia Priority Services.

5.17 Interworking and Migration

Editor’s notes: This could include functional description for interworking with EPS, 2G, 3G and support for
migration towards 5G system.

5.18 Network Sharing

Editor’s notes: place holder for Network sharing. Relation between network slicing could network sharing should be
clarified.

5.19 Control Plane Congestion and Overload Control

Editor’s notes: Description for congestion and overload control in 5G System.

5.20 xxxx
Editor’s notes: place holder for features that are not covered in the sections above.

6 Network Functions
Editor’s notes: This should include Network functions, functionalities and NF selection functionality etc.

6.1 General

6.2 Network Function Functional description

Editor’s notes: This should include various network functions in the architecture, features and functionalities
supported.

6.2.x <NF name>

Editor’s notes: This should include individual network function description. This could also be classified into
Control and User plane functions.

6.3 Network function selection

Editor’s notes: This should include NF selection procedure for various NF selection.

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6.3.x <NF name> selection

Editor’s notes: This should include individual network function selection.

7 Network Function Services and descriptions

7.1 Network Function Service Framework

7.1.1 General
Editor’s note: general procedures that apply to all services provided network functions

7.1.2 Network Function Service discovery

Editor’s notes: This should include description on how services are discovered. This might entail NF selection as
well. Thus relation with 6.2 should be clarified.

7.1.3 Network Function Service authorization

Editor’s notes: This should include description on how consumer (NF) is authorized for using a certain service.

7.1.4 Network Function Service registration

Editor’s notes: This should include description on service registration and other aspects.

7.2 Network Function Services

Editor’s notes: This should include common services that can be supported, exposed by control plane network
functions with service based interface

7.3 Network Internal Exposure

Editor’s note: This should include description on how network internal exposure is supported (with or without NEF)
using the necessary service framework function (s). This is meant to show how service framework
functions in 7.1 and 7.2 are used for network internal exposure but avoid duplication with 7.1 and 7.2.
This is not meant to describe on a per NF basis (for the list as in 7.2) rather meant as a general
description.

7.4 External Exposure

Editor’s note: This should include description on how external exposure is supported with NEF using the necessary
service framework function(s). This is meant to show how service framework functions in 7.1 and 7.2 are
used for external exposure but avoid duplication with 7.1 and 7.2. This is not meant to describe on a per
NF basis (for the list as in 7.2) rather meant as a general description.

8 Control and User plane Protocol Stacks

Editor’s note: This is a place holder to include control and user plane protocol stacks if there is a need to capture the
same in stage 2 specification (similar content as TS 23.401 section 5.1 expected). Need for this section is
FFS.

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8.1 General

8.2 Control plane Protocol stacks

8.3 User Plane Protocol stacks

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Annex A (informative): <Informative annex title>

Annexes are only to be used where appropriate:

Annex <B> (normative):

<Normative annex title>
Annexes are labelled A, B, C, etc. and designated either "normative" or "informative" depending on their content
(informative annexes do not comprise requirements for the implementation of the specification).

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Annex <X> (informative):

Change history
Change history
Date Meeting TDoc CR Rev Cat Subject/Comment New
version
01-2017 S2#118BI S2-170625 - - - TS Skeleton for 5G System Architecture 0.0.0
S

3GPP