D.1 General

23.2463GPPArchitecture and functional descriptionMultimedia Broadcast/Multicast Service (MBMS)Release 17TS

A Shared MBMS network (SMN) consists of network elements shared by multiple PLMNs to offer MBMS service over E-UTRAN. The shared network elements are at least a shared BM-SC and shared MBMS‑GW. Shared MBMS Network has MBMS synchronization area (MBSFN area) defined within each PLMN.

The SMN has the following properties:

– The BM-SC and MBMS‑GW are shared among participating PLMNs.

– The SMN provides the entry point of the data stream.

– The BM-SC can provide full service layer functionality or act only in transparent mode for the case of MBMS as transport only.

– An MBMS service area may span across RAN nodes from different participating PLMNs.

– RAN nodes (eNBs/MCEs) dedicated to MBMS bearer service may be deployed, in which case these nodes are part of the SMN. This deployment requires a shared MME function.