5g core network elements

The 5G Core (5GC) network is designed to provide an agile, scalable, and flexible network architecture to support various 5G services and use cases. The 5G Core Network is built around a Service-Based Architecture (SBA), which decouples network functions and allows for more efficient service orchestration and deployment.

Here are the key 5G Core Network elements and a technical explanation of each:

1. AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function):
   • Function: It handles procedures related to access management, mobility management, session management, and user plane integrity protection.
   • Technical Details: The AMF is responsible for managing user access, ensuring seamless mobility across different access networks (like 5G NR, LTE, Wi-Fi), and setting up and managing the connection context for users. It performs functions such as authentication, authorization, and session establishment.
2. SMF (Session Management Function):
   • Function: The SMF is responsible for setting up, managing, and releasing user plane sessions. It also handles the user plane data forwarding.
   • Technical Details: This function manages the user plane sessions for data transfer. It establishes paths for data between the user equipment (UE) and the data network. Additionally, it manages Quality of Service (QoS) policies, ensuring that the appropriate level of service is provided based on user requirements.
3. UPF (User Plane Function):
   • Function: The UPF handles the user plane data forwarding, including packet routing, forwarding, and traffic management.
   • Technical Details: The UPF is the key component for data forwarding in the 5G network. It forwards data packets between the SMF and the external packet data network (e.g., the internet). The UPF also ensures that the data packets are processed according to the specified QoS policies and routing rules.
4. NRF (Network Repository Function):
   • Function: The NRF provides functions related to service discovery, registration, and selection.
   • Technical Details: The NRF maintains a repository of available network functions and services. It enables dynamic service discovery, allowing network functions to discover and register with other functions. This function plays a crucial role in the service-based architecture of the 5G Core Network, facilitating dynamic service orchestration and deployment.
5. UDM (Unified Data Management):
   • Function: The UDM is responsible for managing subscriber data, including authentication, authorization, and user profile information.
   • Technical Details: The UDM stores subscriber-related information, such as authentication credentials, user profiles, and subscription data. It provides functions for subscriber authentication, authorization, and policy enforcement. The UDM ensures that user data is securely managed and accessible to authorized network functions.
6. AUSF (Authentication Server Function):
   • Function: The AUSF performs authentication functions, including generating authentication vectors and verifying subscriber identities.
   • Technical Details: The AUSF is responsible for authenticating subscribers and generating authentication vectors for secure communication. It interacts with the UDM to retrieve subscriber credentials and performs authentication procedures to ensure secure access to the network.
7. PCF (Policy Control Function):
   • Function: The PCF is responsible for policy management, including defining and enforcing policies related to QoS, charging, and access control.
   • Technical Details: The PCF defines policies for various network functions and services, ensuring that network resources are efficiently utilized and managed. It interacts with other functions, such as the SMF and UPF, to enforce policies related to QoS, charging, and access control based on user requirements and network conditions.