GSMA Online Document: Operator Requirements for 5G Core Connectivity Options

For the introduction of 5G, 3GPP has specified 5 possible configurations or ‘Options’ for connecting to an EPC or new 5G core network (6 if the current 4G system is included).

The features that distinguish each Option are:

• Use of Dual Connectivity;
• Radio Access Technology acting as the master node
• Core Network used

The GSMA conducted some initial interviews with 20 Operators (and Operator groups) who are planning to launch 5G in the next 2 years to understand which of the 5 Options they are considering for their deployment plans. Click to read the full document below to read about the results of these interviews and how operators feel about each of the proposed options.

To read the full document, or to comment or contribute, please click here.