Sometimes, the terminologies of the telecommunications world create great confusion. Let’s say goodbye to some of today’s misunderstandings as we aim to distinguish between 5G NSA and 5G SA.
Let’s start by understanding the core 5G before delving into the differences.
The 5G core (5GC)
Often considered the heart and brain of 5G networks, 5G Core or 5GC is an enabler that enables next-generation networks. The Core comprises a control plane, a user plane and a date layer.
The Core is actually a Service Based Architecture (SBA) that not only drives but also implements quality of service, while enforcing policies, signaling, authentication, gateway functions, analytics and more aspects regarding to 5G networks and functionalities.
The difference between NSA and SA
The main difference between NSA and SA lies in the architectural perspective. 5G (SA) is added to the 4G layer, where both act independently.
The main difference is obvious from the words themselves. Standalone 5G, often called 5G (SA), refers to a network that has its infrastructure independent. This type of network can stand on its own.
However, as the name suggests, non-standalone 5G, often called 5G (NSA), needs a 4G core to work.
This also means that network service providers that already have a 4G network can quickly and easily upgrade to non-standalone 5G, without needing to invest heavily in infrastructure.
However, this is not the case with 5G SA. In this case, a significant increase in the cost of infrastructure implementation is observed. Furthermore, we must not lose sight of the time required for deployment.
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: ptivs2.edu.vn