6.3 Multiple access technologies

22.2613GPPRelease 18Service requirements for the 5G systemTS

6.3.1 Description

The 5G system will support 3GPP access technologies, including one or more NR and E-UTRA as well as non-3GPP access technologies. Interoperability among the various access technologies will be imperative. For optimization and resource efficiency, the 5G system will select the most appropriate 3GPP or non-3GPP access technology for a service, potentially allowing multiple access technologies to be used simultaneously for one or more services active on a UE. New technology such as satellite and wide area base stations will increase coverage and availability. This clause provides requirements for interworking with the various combinations of access technologies.

6.3.2 Requirements

6.3.2.1 General

Based on operator policy, the 5G system shall enable the UE to select, manage, and efficiently provision services over the 3GPP or non-3GPP access.

Based on operator policy, the 5G system shall support steering a UE to select certain 3GPP access network(s).

Based on operator policy, the 5G system shall be able to dynamically offload part of the traffic (e.g. from 3GPP RAT to non-3GPP access technology), taking into account traffic load and traffic type.

Based on operator policy, the 5G system shall be able to provide simultaneous data transmission via different access technologies (e.g. NR, E-UTRA, non-3GPP), to access one or more 3GPP services.

When a UE is using two or more access technologies simultaneously, the 5G system shall be able to optimally distribute user traffic over select between access technologies in use, taking into account e.g. service, traffic characteristics, radio characteristics, and UE’s moving speed.

The 5G system shall be able to support data transmissions optimized for different access technologies (e.g. 3GPP, non-3GPP) for UEs that are simultaneously connected to the network via different accesses.

Based on operator policy, the 5G system shall be able to add or drop the various access connections for a UE during a session.

The 5G system shall be able to support mobility between the supported access networks (e.g. NG-RAN, WLAN, fixed broadband access network, 5G satellite access network).

The 5G system shall support UEs with multiple radio and single radio capabilities.

The 5G system shall support dynamic and static network address allocation of a common network address to the UE over all supported access types.

The 5G system shall support a set of identities for a single user in order to provide a consistent set of policies and a single set of services across 3GPP and non-3GPP access types.

The 5G system shall support the capability to operate in licensed and/or unlicensed bands.

6.3.2.2 E-UTRA access

The 5G system shall be able to support seamless handover between NR and E-UTRA.

The 5G system shall support UEs with dual radio capability (i.e. a UE that can transmit on NR and E-UTRA simultaneously) as well as UEs with single radio capability (i.e. a UE that cannot transmit on NR and E-UTRA simultaneously).

6.3.2.3 Satellite access

The 5G system shall be able to provide services using satellite access.

A 5G system with satellite access shall support different configurations where the radio access network is either a satellite NG-RAN or a non-3GPP satellite access network, or both.

A UE supporting satellite access shall be able to provide or assist in providing its location to the 5G network.

A 5G system with satellite access shall be able to determine a UE’s location in order to provide service (e.g. route traffic, support emergency calls) in accordance with the governing national or regional regulatory requirements applicable to that UE.

The 5G system with satellite access shall be able to support low power MIoT type of communications.

6.3.2.4 Fixed broadband access

The 5G system shall be able to efficiently support connectivity using fixed broadband access.

NOTE: The specification of fixed broadband access network is outside the scope of 3GPP.

The 5G system shall support use of a relay UE that supports multiple access types (e.g. 5G RAT, WLAN access, fixed broadband access).

The 5G system shall support use of a home base station that supports multiple access types (e.g. 5G RAT, WLAN access, fixed broadband access).