IMT and 5G Network Lifecycle: Architecture, Design, Deployment, and Operations Training Course

Day 1

1. Introduction and Ecosystem Overview

• Exploring the 5G standard from multiple viewpoints: business strategy, standardization, implementation, transport, RAN, Core, and DevOps.

• Clarifying key concepts: 5G, IMT-2020, NG-RAN, NR, 5GC, and 5GS.

• Ensuring generational continuity in mobile networks: the seamless transition from 4.5G to 5G across 3GPP Releases 15–17.

2. IMT-2020 Vision

• The User Equipment (UE) as a catalyst for change and new requirements: broadening the UE definition to encompass IoT/mMTC (sensors), RedCap devices (cameras), and UAVs (drones).

• Addressing the limitations of 4G/LTE, the inflexibility of EPC, and challenges within transport networks.

• Defining the frontier requirements of eMBB, URLLC, and mMTC: specific use cases and their impact on RAN and Core infrastructure.

• General system requirements that define the 5G network framework.

• Integrating cross-cutting capabilities: Network Slicing, 5QI, CUPS, Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), and Privacy by Design.

3. Physical Foundations of UE Communication with NG-RAN

• Essential radio concepts: Cell, Band, and Channel Width.

• Basics of UE network access: the radio protocol stack, MIB/SIB, Cell Selection mechanisms, and Physical Layer operations.

• Initiating connections: RACH (Msg 1-4), Paging, and RRC processes.

4. NG-RAN Architecture

• The logical division of the gNB into CU and DU components.

• Evaluating Functional Split options and their strategic implications.

• O-RAN as an alternative/reference framework and standard for achieving RAN interoperability.

• Implementing the separation of Control Plane and User Plane functions.

• Understanding the RRC protocol and its role in coordinating UE operations within NG-RAN and NAS tunneling.

5. NG-RAN Mechanisms and Procedures

• PDCP protocols and the management of Radio Bearers.

• Measurement processes: configuration, reporting, and their application in other network procedures.

• RRC Reconfiguration as a pivotal procedure for all NG-RAN operations.

• Implementing Carrier Aggregation and Band Combination strategies.

• The role of the AMF in NG-RAN coordination and the use of the NGAP protocol.

• Executing handover procedures effectively.

Day 2

1. Transport Network Foundations

• Navigating the complexity of transport engineering and dispelling the "just cables" myth: establishing IP/MPLS as a core technology.

• Segmenting into Fronthaul, Midhaul, and Backhaul: analyzing requirements, expectations, and applications (including eCPRI).

• Mapping 5QI parameters from the 5GS domain to IP router QoS settings.

• Distributing and synchronizing time and phase for radio transmission using PTP (IEEE 1588).

2. Inside the SBA Architecture as the 5GC Foundation

• The classic IT stack: leveraging HTTP/2, JSON, and OAuth2.

• Communication mechanisms among Core Network Functions: comparing Request-Response versus Subscribe-Notify models.

• Identifying key NFs from the perspective of access handling and traffic termination from NG-RAN: NRF, AMF, SMF, and UPF.

• Utilizing the NRF as the central coordinator for Service Registration and Service Discovery.

• (Conceptual Overview) Implementing stateless architecture and storing state for any NF using UDSF.

• (Conceptual Overview) Managing load balancing and proxy mechanisms via SCP.

3. Data Path and User Plane Separation

• Tracing the data flow from UE to 5GC: correlating NG-RAN interfaces (N2, N3) with specific NFs (AMF, SMF, UPF).

• Positioning the AMF as the entry gateway for the Control Plane (handling termination and demultiplexing of NAS and NGAP signaling).

• Defining the UPF as the core of the User Plane: implementing user data routing and GTP-U tunnel encapsulation.

• Analyzing the PDU Session Establishment call flow: including End-to-End Call Flow and QoS Flow allocation.

• Exploring the N4 interface (PFCP protocol), TEID allocation, and the rules (PDR, FAR) that link radio traffic to external Data Networks (DN).

4. Subscription Management, Identity, and Service Policies

• Utilizing databases: UDR for structured data storage and UDM for subscriber processing logic.

• Managing the 5G-AKA authentication process involving AUSF, NAS key exchange, and the SUCI mechanism.

• Using the PCF as the policy manager and distributor for session, mobility, and SLA policies.

• Binding PDU sessions to PCF instances via BSF—a critical feature for IMS/VoNR.

5. Network Slicing

• Introducing Network Slicing and setting up the S-NSSAI parameter identifier.

• Implementing AMF and SMF instance selection mechanisms based on service profiles via NSSF.

• Introducing MEC concepts, along with the Uplink Classifier (UL CL) and Branching Point in the UPF.

6. External 5GC Exposure and APIs

• Using SEPP to secure roaming traffic.

• Handling Non-3GPP access: managing subscriber traffic originating outside NG-RAN via N3IWF.

• Facilitating exposure and integration with external Application Functions (AF) via NEF.

7. Analysis of Selected End-to-End Scenarios

• Managing Initial Registration and PDU Session Establishment: querying NRF, verifying AUSF credentials, and retrieving subscriptions from UDM and policies from PCF.

• Executing Path Switch Request and UPF relocation procedures for active sessions during Inter-gNB handover.

• Applying the Uplink Classifier (UL CL) mechanism at UPF and SMF levels for MEC scenarios and Local Breakout (LBO) routing.

• Managing Paging and Network Triggered Service Requests to wake up the UE on UPF initiative in response to downlink traffic.

Day 3

1. Transitional Architecture

• Reviewing EPC and E-UTRAN architectures for context.

• Evaluating 5G deployment options: Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (EN-DC).

2. Coexistence of 5GS and EPS

• Implementing EPS Fallback and Redirect mechanisms.

• Adopting hybrid implementations (PGW-C+SMF and PGW-U+UPF).

• Utilizing the N26 interface for Inter-System Handover procedures between MME and AMF.

• Analyzing EN-DC as the dominant variant of MR-DC (Multi-RAT Dual Connectivity).

• Leveraging DSS (Dynamic Spectrum Sharing) as a spectrum-sharing mechanism.

3. Telemetry, Counters, and Data Correlation

• Monitoring network phenomena via Counters and aggregating them into meaningful KPIs.

• Assessing procedure correctness through approaches like Success Ratio, Failure Ratio, and comparing absolute versus percentage values.

• Performing event correlation to track complex procedures that lack dedicated counters.

• Normalizing data and gaining a broader perspective on orders of magnitude.

4. Anomaly Diagnostics and Log Analysis

• Identifying issues that suggest software or configuration errors (e.g., "Sleeping Cell").

• Analyzing statistical deviations and mapping Cause Values from 3GPP protocols to determine the root causes of failures.

5. Chaos Engineering and Troubleshooting

• Learning the fundamentals of managing an open-source 5GC implementation in a dev/cloud environment.

• Testing the Cloud-Native paradigm: replacing core microservice elements without interrupting ongoing operations.

• Injecting intentional failures and observing the resulting failover behavior.

• Simulating NG-RAN degradation and correlating logs on the AMF side to diagnose issues.