4.1 RAN sharing scenarios

32.1303GPPConcepts and requirementsNetwork sharingRelease 17Telecommunication managementTS

Various network sharing scenarios exist, amongst which one category is RAN sharing which can be divided into the following (non exhaustive) list of sub-categories:

– Passive RAN sharing, also known as infrastructure sharing (including site sharing).

– Active RAN sharing, where active network elements of the RAN are shared:

– RAN-only sharing (MOCN; see TS 23.251 [5] and TS 23.501 [7]), i.e. BTSs / BSCs (respectively NodeBs / RNCs and eNodeBs) in a 2G Radio Access Network (respectively a 3G Radio Access Network and an E-UTRA network) , and gNBs in a 5G NR network;

– Gateway Core Network (GWCN; see TS 23.251 [5]), in which not only the Radio Access Network elements are shared but also part or all of the Core Network elements (there is no passive core network sharing).

The following figures depict the MOCN scenarios:

Figure 4.1-1: E-UTRAN MOCN network sharing scenario

Figure 4.1-2: NG-RAN MOCN Network Sharing with same cell identity broadcast scenario

Figure 4.1-3 NG-RAN MOCN Network Sharing with multiple cell identity broadcast scenario

In GWCN, besides sharing Radio Access Network nodes, the POPs also share Core Network nodes (see TS 23.251 [5] – clause 4.1).

Figure 4.1-2: GateWay Core Network (GWCN)