Main differences between NSA and SA call

5G NR
, ,
1

Hi Experts,
Follows main difference observed between NSA and SA call.

  1. For NSA call under attach request
  • N1 mode: not supported
  • Dual connectivity with NR: supported
  1. For SA call under registration request message
  • N1 mode: supported
  • Dual connectivity with NR: not supported

Now: N1 mode is main differentiator here.
Anyone having different observation please comment.

Main differences between NSA and SA call
Main differences between NSA and SA call720×588 125 KB

2

What is N1 mode?

3

N1 interface between UE and AMF.
For option 2, with 5G Core.

4

5G Core has CP and UP seperation (AMF vs SMF/UPF) while NSA UE just atatch to MME (both function of AMF and SMF).

5

SA Option 2:
Lower latency and Lower setup time
5G end-to-end for new services

NSA Option 3:
can use the existing 4G EPC as the core and 4G/LTE RAN for network coverage and capacity.
Higher capacity

6

SA vs 5G NSA Call Flow:

5G SA (Standalone) and 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) are two different modes of operation for 5G networks. In 5G SA, the network operates solely in 5G, while in 5G NSA, the network is supported by both 5G and 4G infrastructure.

The call flow for 5G SA and 5G NSA are different. Here is a brief overview of each:

5G SA Call Flow:

1.Initial Access: UE (User Equipment) sends an access request to the 5G RAN (Radio Access Network).

2.Authentication: The 5G RAN forwards the access request to the 5G Core network for authentication and authorization.

3.NAS (Non-Access Stratum) Signaling: UE initiates the NAS signaling to register with the network and request a service.

4.Connection Setup: The 5G Core network initiates the connection setup and assigns a dedicated path for the UE.

5.Data Transfer: Once the connection is established, data transfer can occur.

5G NSA Call Flow:

1.Initial Access: UE sends an access request to the 4G RAN.

2.Authentication: The 4G RAN forwards the access request to the 5G Core network for authentication and authorization.

3.NAS Signaling: UE initiates the NAS signaling to register with the 5G Core network and request a service.

4.RRC (Radio Resource Control) Connection Setup: 4G RAN initiates the RRC connection setup for the UE to connect with the 5G RAN.

5.Data Transfer: Once the RRC connection is established, data transfer can occur. The data is transmitted using both the 4G and 5G networks.

In summary, the main difference between 5G SA and 5G NSA call flows is the initial access and connection setup procedures. In 5G SA, the UE directly accesses the 5G RAN and the connection is established solely on the 5G network. In 5G NSA, the UE initially accesses the 4G RAN and the connection is established using both the 4G and 5G networks.

7

Main Differences between 5G SA and NSA:

Network Architecture :building_construction::

  • 5G SA (Standalone) :innocent:: Independent 5G Core :globe_with_meridians:
  • 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) :smiling_imp:: Uses 4G Core (EPC) :chains:

Deployment :construction::

  • 5G SA :innocent:: Pure 5G Network :rocket:
  • 5G NSA :smiling_imp:: 5G built on 4G LTE :brick:

Connection :satellite::

  • 5G SA :innocent:: Direct 5G Connection :signal_strength:
  • 5G NSA :smiling_imp:: Dual 4G/5G Connection :gear:

Latency :stopwatch::

  • 5G SA :innocent:: Ultra-low latency :fire:
  • 5G NSA :smiling_imp:: Improved latency, but not as low as SA :ocean:

Use Cases :dart::

  • 5G SA :innocent:: Enables advanced use cases like URLLC and mMTC :racing_car::factory:
  • 5G NSA :smiling_imp:: Primarily focused on enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) :globe_with_meridians::iphone:

Main Differences between 5G SA and NSA
Main Differences between 5G SA and NSA1390×384 93 KB

LinkedIn: :point_down:

1 Like
8

In other words, 5G SA is pure 5G, while 5G NSA is 5G with a “leg” on LTE.

9

Hi NR experts.

I’m seeing under registration request message:

  • N1 mode as supported
  • But dual connectivity with NR as not supported.

So it indicates UE support SA but not NSA mode.

Is it right way to check or for NSA we need to look attach request message at LTE end having bits related to ENDC?

10

Why dont you just check UE capability instead of NAS messages?

11

If UE do not support capability in NAS message, then no meaning of UE capability to check further.