5G Architecture
5G Architecture is a change to cloud from dedicated hardware (specialized hardware). 5G core network moves from 3/4G dedicated hardware to cloud or virtual machines. Radio also moves from dedicated hardware BaseBand Units to CloudRAN or OpenRAN.
Now Mobile Network Operators are not constrained to a single vendor.
Mobile operators can also roll out features faster with a simple software upgrade.
What is a 5G Core network?
5G Core network was implemented as software as to remove dedicated hardware and also improve performance. This new 5G Core network allows the possibility of rapidly introducing new network functionalities. It also allows running software upgrades that make it possible to create and deploy new services quickly.
Benefits of 5G SA Core
Why should you move to a 5G core network? See the main benefits of using 5G core network below:
- lowering the cost
- allow development of new functionalities
- allow software updates
- improved network capabilities
- growing number of connections
- more secure connectivity
Lowering the cost
One of the biggest benefits of using 5G core network is cost decrease for mobile operators. This decrease is possible because the 5G core network is created to replace the dedicated hardware with commercial off-the-shelf solution. These solutions are created to have easy maintenance, allowing new features and software updates to an initial solution and to be accessed remotely for different actions.
All of these combined produce a lower cost for mobile operators for a 5G core network than a previous core network.
Improving the performance
See below some examples that indicate performance improvement for 5G networks compared to 4G networks.
- Develop features easier than for 4G
Running on commercial off-the-shelf hardware, it is easier to develop new functionalities that can be integrated into the product using software updates than for other networks that work with dedicated hardware.
- Improved network capabilities
One fundamental capability is that it allows vendors to provide internet services as ISPs due, encouraging competition between internet providers.
The network operators can also offer new services to new categories of users. For example, you can use 5G in different fields such as transportation or healthcare to develop new solutions like self-driving cars, connected cars or connected healthcare systems.
- Growing number of connections
5G has greater bandwidth, meaning it can handle many more connected devices than 4G networks. According to global reports the number of connected devices will grow from about 18 billion in 2018 to more than 29 billion in 2023.
This increase is mainly due to the increase of IoT usage in different fields of activity.
Here are some examples of IoT applications, which include location tracking or real-time data collected from moving devices:
- More secure connectivity
The user authentication, data encryption and roaming encryption have been improved for 5G networks.
5G already uses the best 4G defensive technology and it has also implemented new security protocols for previously unresolved problems.
What does the 5G Core do?
See exactly what a 5G Core network does below:
- provides IP service for subscribers (both smartphones and IoT devices)
- accepts NGAP connections from gNB
- performs registration requests coming from UE
- establishes data sessions, taking into account subscription
- performs deregistration on UE or network requests
- supports authorization and changing of data sessions
- supports cell reselection (service request from new gNB from same UE)
- supports Voice over NR
The components of a 5G core network
A standard 5G core network contains the following components:
The 5G Call Flow process
5G Core network Non-Roaming diagram
5G Core network Roaming diagram
MiniCore5G
MiniCore is a Software-defined compact Core Network that can be used as a test 5G network, LTE/IMS or GSM/GPRS Core Network.
See the product here ››