5G voice – network

evolution aspects
SMS and emergency calls

Paper – 5
2 Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects

Abstract

This document is part of a series of papers explaining the network evolution

aspects for 5G voice services. The intended audience for this paper is
familiar with 4G VoLTE and wants to know how to take the voice service
into 5G.

The journey to 5G has several an existing 4G VoLTE deployment,

possible migration paths and steps. to provide a seamless voice service
Voice service must be supported across the whole 4G+5G network
in all 5G evolution steps. This with good characteristics.
paper outlines the voice service
Voice over NR implies that voice
aspects, migration aspects and
calls can be made on NR. This
recommendations for deployments
requires NR in NG-RAN to support
using option 3 and option 2.
all voice related capabilities and
In initial 5G deployments using being dimensioned for voice
option 3, 5G EPS includes NR non- coverage.
standalone in the RAN. 4G voice
Voice over NR with EPS Fallback
(VoLTE) and other IMS services
includes an additional mobility
continue to be used without
trigger by which the UE falls back
the need for any core network
from NG-RAN to LTE during call
upgrades. IMS is not aware of
establishment. This may be needed,
the updated RAN. All 4G VoLTE
e.g., in case not all feature for voice
principles remain.
over NR are implemented in the UE
5G system (5GS) using option 2 or in case of temporary lack of radio
means NR standalone in the RAN. resources in NR.
Initially but in some cases also
The intended audience for this
longer-term, a 5G system (5GS) will
paper is familiar with 4G VoLTE
not be deployed with full served
and wants to know how to take the
network coverage. Therefore, the
voice service into 5G.
5GS needs to be tightly coupled to

Copyright
© Copyright 2019 Ericsson AB. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this document is based on ongoing 3GPP

standardization and Ericsson’s current recommendations on network
evolution. These aspects are subject to changes at any time, thus Ericsson
assumes no liability of the info provided in this document.
Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects 3

SMS in 5GS

SMS stays an important use case also in 5GS. There are
two methods to transport the SMS over the 5G access,
namely SMS over IP (SMSoIP) using IMS and SMS over
5G NAS (SMSoNAS).
For SMSoNAS, originated and terminated SMS are
transport between UE and AMF via NAS. An SMSF has
been defined in 5GS for handling these originating and
terminating SMS, using MAP (or Diameter) for SMS
transport with SMS-C.
For SMSoIP, an IP-SM-GW must be present for
originating and terminating SMS. This IP-SM-GW may
also perform MT domain selection to other accesses
(4G, 3G, 2G), and the SMS transport between UE and
IP-SM-GW is via IP.
Both SMS over NAS and SMS over IP must be supported
by a 5GS UE supporting voice, whereas each operator
has the freedom to decide whether to support SMS over
NAS, SMS over IP or both. These SMS solutions can be
combined and can be used also in case EPS Fallback is
used for voice.

SMS over NAS

HSS/
UDM

AMF SMSF

NR SMS-C
NG-RAN

SIP-
UPF SM-GW
IMSCore SMS over NAS
SMS over IP
SMS over IP
Figure 17  SMS in 5GS
4 Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects

Emergency call
In networks supporting EN-DC, emergency call is still supported and used over LTE connected to EPC. IMS and
PSAP are not aware of EN-DC.

ll
Ca
gency
er LTE EPC IMS PSAP
Em

NR

Figure 18  Emergency call in LTE/EN-DC

In 5GS, the 3GPP has specified four different behaviors NG-RAN. This solution is depending on the UE
for emergency call (denoted as solutions a) to d) access selection.
below), two of which are addressing new mobility
b) EPS Fallback – Service Request for emergency: This
cases compared to 4G. All emergency behaviors must
solution is new in 5GS, i.e., there is no equivalent
be supported by a UE while the support by the network
in 4G. The UE uses service-request for emergency
depends on operator and regulatory requirements. The
towards AMF if support for this feature has been
UE is made aware of emergency support by the AMF
indicated by the AMF. If receiving the service request
indicating to the UE that emergency service (see d)
for emergency, the AMF interacts with gNB to
below) or that service request for emergency (see b)
perform EPS Fallback. In this solution, there is no
below) is supported.
need for NR and 5GC to support emergency features
a) UE Reselection: at emergency attempt the UE other than needed for service-request for emergency
re-selects to E-UTRAN or other access providing handling. However, voice over NR (possibly including
emergency support if there is no local regulatory EPS Fallback) has to be supported on NR and 5GC
requirement to indicate emergency support on (otherwise the UE would not even camp on NR).
Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects 5

UE Reselection Emergency Call

LTE or EPC GMLC/

EN-DC LRF

EPS Fallback w SR S5 N26

Registered
NR 5GC IMS PSAP

Figure 19  Emergency with (a) UE reselection to LTE and (b) EPS fallback with service request for emergency

c)  EPS Fallback – QoS triggered for emergency: This
solution is new in 5GS, i.e., there is no equivalent
in 4G. In this solution (and like EPS Fallback for
voice) the UE is falling back to Emergency call over
LTE during emergency call establishment on 5GS,
when the network attempts to establish the QoS
flow for voice. NR and 5GC must support emergency
features incl. impacts on GMLC/LRF.
d) Emergency call over NR: In this solution, NR is
used for emergency communication with seamless
mobility between 5GS and EPS using IRAT
handover. It requires that NR and 5GC support
emergency features incl. impacts on GMLC/LRF.
6 Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects

EPS
Fallback Emergency Call
(QoS)

LTE or MME GMLC/

EN-DC SGW LRF
Emergency call
over NR w Inter S5 N26
system handover

Emergency
Call setup

NR 5GC IMS PSAP

Emergency Call

Figure 20  Emergency over NR (d) incl. QoS triggered EPS Fallback for emergency (c)

Solutions a) and b) have no or very limited requirements
regarding support of emergency related functionalities
on 5GS since the emergency call is established on 4G.
Solutions c) and d) differ regarding whether the radio
bearer used for the voice media is established on NR
and hence any regulatory requirement related to
emergency PDU session, IMS registration and attempt
of IMS emergency call must be fulfilled equally.
Ericsson  |  5G voice – network evolution aspects 7

Terminology

5GC 5G Core
5GS 5G System, consists of 5GC, NG-RAN and UE
5G Voice IMS voice in the 5G system
AMF Access and Mobility Management Function
EN-DC E-UTRA NR Dual Connectivity (in RAN connected to EPC)
eLTE LTE in NG-RAN connected to 5GC
EPC Evolved Packet Core, 4G packet core
EPS Evolved Packet System consist of EPC and LTE RAN
gNodeB Node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol
terminations towards the UE
HSS Home Subscriber Server in 4G
IMS IP Multimedia Subsystem
I-MME Intermediate MME
KPI Key Performance Indicator
MME Mobility Management Entity in EPC
NG-RAN Next Generation RAN, RAN connected to 5G Core
NR New Radio
PCF Policy Control Function in 5GC
PGW PDN Gateway in EPC
RAN Radio Access Network
RAT Radio Access Technology eg. LTE, NR
SEPP Security Edge Protection Proxy
SGW Serving Gateway in the evolved packet core
SMF Session Management Function in 5GC
UDM User Data Management in 5GC
UE User Equipment
UNI User Network Interface
UPF User Plane Function in 5GC

Contributors
The contributors to Ericsson’s opinions and recommendations on this topic are:
—— Ralf Keller, Expert, Business Area Digital Services - Solution Area Packet
Core – Architecture & Technology
—— Anders Ryde, Senior Expert, Business Area Digital Services – Solutions and
Architecture
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