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5g nsa sa

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1. 5G NSA (Non-Standalone):

In the 5G Non-Standalone architecture, the deployment relies on existing 4G infrastructure. It means that 5G radio access is supported by the existing LTE (Long-Term Evolution) core network. The key components of 5G NSA include:

  • gNB (gNodeB): The gNB is the 5G New Radio (NR) base station. It handles the radio communication with user devices, providing higher data rates and lower latency compared to previous generations.
  • eNB (Evolved NodeB): The eNB is the LTE base station that works in conjunction with the gNB. It handles the LTE radio communication with devices that are not 5G-capable.
  • NGC (Next-Generation Core): The 5G NSA architecture uses the existing LTE Evolved Packet Core (EPC) network as the core network. This includes elements like the Mobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SGW), and Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN-GW), which manage mobility, session management, and data routing.
  • Dual Connectivity (EN-DC): In 5G NSA, there is a concept called Dual Connectivity, where a device can connect to both the 4G and 5G networks simultaneously. This allows for a smoother transition from LTE to 5G.

2. 5G SA (Standalone):

In the 5G Standalone architecture, both the radio access and the core network are entirely 5G-based. This means that 5G SA does not rely on any legacy infrastructure from previous generations. The key components of 5G SA include:

  • gNB (gNodeB): Similar to NSA, the gNB is the 5G New Radio base station that handles radio communication with user devices.
  • 5G Core Network: The 5G Standalone architecture introduces a new core network that is entirely independent of 4G. The core network includes components such as the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), User Plane Function (UPF), and others. These components are designed to handle the specific requirements and capabilities of 5G.
  • Service Management Function (SMF): The SMF is responsible for managing the session establishment and termination, as well as the configuration of the user plane functionality.
  • User Plane Function (UPF): The UPF is responsible for the actual data forwarding in the user plane. It manages the packet routing and forwarding based on the user's location and quality of service requirements.

The main difference between 5G NSA and 5G SA lies in the core network. In 5G NSA, the core network is based on existing LTE infrastructure, while in 5G SA, the core network is built from the ground up to fully support the capabilities and requirements of 5G.