Types of RNTI in 5G

Last updated on Mar 12, 2023

Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) is a unique identifier used in wireless communication networks to identify a specific mobile device or UE (User Equipment). In 5G, there are various types of RNTIs used for different purposes, such as establishing a connection between the UE and the base station, transmitting and receiving data, and managing network resources. In this article, we will discuss the types of RNTIs used in 5G and their technical aspects in detail.

Cell-RNTI:

Cell-RNTI is a type of RNTI used by the UE to identify the cell with which it is currently associated. Each cell in the network is assigned a unique Cell-RNTI. The Cell-RNTI is used by the UE to decode the control information transmitted by the base station. The Cell-RNTI is also used by the base station to identify the UE that is transmitting data.

The Cell-RNTI is assigned to the UE during the initial access procedure. The UE receives the Cell-RNTI from the base station after successfully completing the initial access procedure. The Cell-RNTI remains unchanged as long as the UE remains associated with the same cell.

Temporary C-RNTI:

Temporary C-RNTI (TC-RNTI) is a type of RNTI used by the base station to assign a temporary identifier to the UE during the connection setup procedure. The TC-RNTI is used to identify the UE during the RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection setup procedure. The TC-RNTI is also used by the base station to identify the UE that is transmitting data.

The TC-RNTI is assigned by the base station during the connection setup procedure. The UE receives the TC-RNTI from the base station after successfully completing the connection setup procedure. The TC-RNTI remains unchanged as long as the UE remains associated with the same base station.

Paging Occasion Identifier (PO-RNTI):

Paging Occasion Identifier (PO-RNTI) is a type of RNTI used by the base station to page a specific UE. The PO-RNTI is used by the base station to page the UE when there is data waiting for it. The PO-RNTI is used by the base station to identify the UE that needs to receive the data.

The PO-RNTI is assigned by the base station during the paging procedure. The UE receives the PO-RNTI from the base station when it is paged. The PO-RNTI remains unchanged until the UE receives the data or the paging message is canceled.

System Information RNTI (SI-RNTI):

System Information RNTI (SI-RNTI) is a type of RNTI used by the UE to receive system information broadcast by the base station. The system information includes information about the network, cell, and services provided by the network. The SI-RNTI is used by the UE to decode the system information transmitted by the base station.

The SI-RNTI is assigned to the UE during the initial access procedure. The UE receives the SI-RNTI from the base station after successfully completing the initial access procedure. The SI-RNTI remains unchanged as long as the UE remains associated with the same cell.

Random Access RNTI (RA-RNTI):

Random Access RNTI (RA-RNTI) is a type of RNTI used by the base station to assign a temporary identifier to the UE during the random access procedure. The RA-RNTI is used to identify the UE during the random access procedure. The RA-RNTI is also used by the base station to identify the UE that is transmitting data.

The RA-RNTI is assigned by the base station during the random access procedure. The UE receives the RA-RNTI from the base station after successfully completing the random access procedure. The RA-RNTI remains unchanged until the UE releases the connection.

Contention Resolution Identity (CRI-RNTI):

Contention Resolution Identity (CRI-RNTI) is a type of RNTI used by the base station to identify the UE that has successfully resolved contention during the uplink transmission. Contention resolution occurs when multiple UEs attempt to transmit data on the same resource at the same time. The base station assigns a CRI-RNTI to the UE that has successfully resolved the contention and can transmit data.

The CRI-RNTI is assigned by the base station after successful contention resolution. The UE receives the CRI-RNTI from the base station after successfully resolving contention. The CRI-RNTI remains unchanged until the UE releases the connection.

Dedicated RNTI (D-RNTI):

Dedicated RNTI (D-RNTI) is a type of RNTI used by the base station to assign a dedicated identifier to the UE during the data transmission. The D-RNTI is used to identify the UE during the data transmission. The D-RNTI is also used by the UE to identify the data transmission from the base station.

The D-RNTI is assigned by the base station during the data transmission. The UE receives the D-RNTI from the base station when the data transmission starts. The D-RNTI remains unchanged until the data transmission is complete.

Scheduling Request RNTI (SR-RNTI):

Scheduling Request RNTI (SR-RNTI) is a type of RNTI used by the UE to request uplink resources for data transmission. The SR-RNTI is used by the UE to identify the scheduling request message transmitted to the base station. The base station uses the SR-RNTI to identify the UE that has requested uplink resources.

The SR-RNTI is assigned by the UE during the scheduling request message transmission. The base station receives the SR-RNTI from the UE when the scheduling request message is received. The SR-RNTI remains unchanged until the UE receives the resources or the request is canceled.

In conclusion, RNTIs play a critical role in 5G wireless communication networks, enabling efficient communication between the UE and the base station. Each type of RNTI has a specific purpose and is used for different functions within the network. Understanding the different types of RNTIs used in 5G and their technical aspects is essential for the efficient design and deployment of 5G networks.