Core Network: Architecture and Signaling Procedures

The 5GC is the core network of the 5G System (5GS). TS 23.501 clause 4.2.3 describes the non-roaming 5GS architecture in two equivalent representations: a service-based representation, in which each control-plane network function (NF) exposes its services over a service-based interface (SBI), and a reference point representation, in which a named reference point connects each pair of NFs that interact. This chapter shows the 5GC in both representations, with 3GPP access through the NG-RAN. Roaming (TS 23.501 clause 4.2.4) and non-3GPP access (TS 23.501 clause 4.2.8) are outside the scope of both figures.