Sign in Subscribe

SGW-C SGW control-plane function

Last updated on 

(EPC) of a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network. It is responsible for managing the control plane functions related to the Serving Gateway (SGW) in the LTE architecture. The control plane handles the signaling and control messages necessary for establishing and managing communication sessions between User Equipment (UE) and the network.

The main functions of the SGW-C in the control plane include:

  1. Mobility Management: The SGW-C plays a crucial role in managing the mobility of UEs within the LTE network. It tracks the location of UEs and facilitates handovers between different base stations or cells. It receives mobility-related messages from other network entities, such as the Mobility Management Entity (MME), and performs the necessary operations to ensure seamless mobility for UEs.
  2. Session Management: The SGW-C handles the establishment, modification, and termination of communication sessions for UEs. It receives session-related signaling messages from the MME or other network entities and performs the necessary procedures to set up the required bearers (logical paths) for data transmission. It also manages the Quality of Service (QoS) parameters associated with each session.
  3. Bearer Management: The SGW-C is responsible for managing the bearers associated with each UE's communication session. It establishes and releases bearers based on the requirements of the UEs and the network conditions. The SGW-C keeps track of the established bearers and their corresponding QoS parameters to ensure efficient data transmission.
  4. Charging and Policy Control: The SGW-C interacts with charging and policy control systems to enforce policies related to billing and network resource allocation. It collects information about the data usage and resources consumed by UEs and provides this information to the charging and policy control systems for accurate charging and policy enforcement.
  5. Security and Authentication: The SGW-C participates in the security and authentication procedures to ensure secure communication between UEs and the network. It exchanges security-related messages with the UE and other network entities to authenticate UEs, establish secure tunnels, and enforce security measures, such as encryption and integrity protection.
  6. Error Handling and Recovery: The SGW-C monitors the control plane signaling messages and performs error handling and recovery procedures when anomalies or failures occur. It detects errors, initiates appropriate corrective actions, and coordinates with other network elements to resolve issues and maintain uninterrupted communication sessions.

Overall, the SGW-C is responsible for managing the control plane functions associated with the SGW in an LTE network. It handles mobility management, session management, bearer management, charging and policy control, security and authentication, and error handling to ensure reliable and efficient communication for UEs.