5G NR RRC – A Deep Dive into Control Plane Signaling
While researching the signaling intricacies of 5G NR, I came across a detailed technical document that captures the entire RRC (Radio Resource Control) procedure—from connection setup to release and everything in between.
This document is structured around key RRC messages and their ASN.1 structures, aligning closely with 3GPP TS 38.331 and TS 24.501 specifications. It provides clarity on how the UE transitions between RRC_IDLE, RRC_INACTIVE, and RRC_CONNECTED states, and how the network manages signaling radio bearers, paging, mobility, and security contexts.
Highlights from the document:
RRC State Machine: Entry/Exit Criteria & Transitions
Key procedures: RRCSetup, RRCResume, RRCReestablishment, RRCRelease
Detailed explanation of IEs: DRB, SRB, CellGroupConfig, NAS-Container, GUAMI, etc.
Conditions for full vs. delta configuration, intra-system/inter-system handovers
RNA Update logic, paging timers (t380), and suspend config for inactive mode
This document is highly beneficial for:
RAN Protocol Engineers
UE Simulation/Test Designers
5G Learners, Interview Candidates, and Solution Architects
Feel free to download and explore.
If you’d like an interactive code-based RRC simulator, drop a comment with “RRC Visualizer”.
Disclaimer:
This document was accessed from publicly available sources and forums during technical research. All content reflects standards outlined by 3GPP and is shared strictly for educational and non-commercial purposes. Credits remain with the original creators and standard bodies (3GPP, ETSI). If attribution is required or content removal is needed, kindly notify me.
PDF: 
5G NR RRC – A Deep Dive into Control Plane Signaling (By Mandeep Jha).pdf (1.0 MB)
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