3GPP Explainer

5G Network Functions

Explore the core network functions that power 5G networks and enable advanced services

AMF
Control Plane
Access and Mobility Management Function

Handles registration, connection, reachability and mobility management

Key Features:

  • Registration management
  • Connection management
  • Reachability management
  • Mobility management
  • Access authentication

Interfaces:

N1
N2
N8
N11
N12
N14
SMF
Control Plane
Session Management Function

Manages PDU sessions and controls user plane functions

Key Features:

  • Session establishment
  • Session modification
  • Session release
  • UPF selection
  • Traffic steering

Interfaces:

N4
N7
N10
N11
N16
UPF
User Plane
User Plane Function

Handles user data forwarding and traffic routing

Key Features:

  • Packet routing
  • Traffic forwarding
  • QoS enforcement
  • Usage reporting
  • Lawful intercept

Interfaces:

N3
N4
N6
N9
PCF
Control Plane
Policy Control Function

Provides policy rules and controls network behavior

Key Features:

  • Policy provisioning
  • QoS control
  • Charging control
  • Usage monitoring
  • Access control

Interfaces:

N5
N7
N15
N28
UDM
Control Plane
Unified Data Management

Manages subscription data and user authentication

Key Features:

  • Subscription management
  • Authentication credential processing
  • User identification handling
  • Access authorization
  • SMS management

Interfaces:

N8
N10
N13
AUSF
Control Plane
Authentication Server Function

Handles authentication procedures for network access

Key Features:

  • Primary authentication
  • EAP authentication
  • Key derivation
  • Authentication vector generation
  • Security context management

Interfaces:

N12
N13
Network Function Interactions
Understanding how 5G network functions work together

Control Plane Functions

Control plane functions handle signaling, session management, and policy control. They work together to establish, modify, and release user sessions while enforcing network policies and managing user mobility.

User Plane Functions

User plane functions handle actual user data forwarding and traffic processing. The UPF is the primary user plane function that routes packets, enforces QoS, and provides connectivity to external networks.

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