Concurrent SA and NSA mode operation of NR cell in 5G Cloud RAN
Khan, Sardar Muhammad Usman (2025)
2025
Sähkötekniikan DI-ohjelma - Master's Programme in Electrical Engineering
Informaatioteknologian ja viestinnän tiedekunta - Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2025-12-11
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-2025121011447
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-2025121011447
Tiivistelmä
The evolution of 5G mobile communication systems has transformed modern communication by enabling high speed data rates, short latency, and the ability to connect a large number of devices. To meet these growing demands efficiently, the network architecture is shifting from traditional hardware-based RAN toward Cloud-based Radio Access Network (C-RAN), which offers flexibility, scalability, and centralized resource management.
5G networks operates in NSA and SA deployment modes. NSA uses the existing LTE core to speed up early rollouts, while SA relies fully on the 5G Core to deliver advanced features. However, current gNB implementations typically support only one mode at a time, making it difficult for operators to migrate smoothly to SA. The transition from NSA to SA is complex due to infrastructure costs, device compatibility, and the need to maintain service continuity for legacy NSA users. To overcome this limitation, a deployment option known as concurrent SA and NSA mode allows both modes to operate within the same 5G NR cell and cloud gNB. This mode combines so called NSA option 3x and SA option 2 architectures together. The concurrent mode allows operators to maintain NSA services while gradually deploying SA capabilities, thereby ensuring a smooth migration path toward full 5G SA. Moreover, it enhances network resilience through independent operation of the two modes, optimizes spectrum and hardware utilization, and reduces operational costs by minimizing the need for separate infrastructure.
This thesis work, carried out at Nokia’s Espoo laboratory within the MN Testing and Verification team, focuses on implementing and validating concurrent SA/NSA operation in a 5G Cloud RAN environment. The considered test setup was tested through cell availability verification, concurrent SA and NSA user connection via admission control, L3 signalling validation, and end-user downlink throughput measurement in the cloud gNB. The results are analysed to see that modes function reliably in the same cell without degradation, demonstrating a practical path toward flexible, cost-efficient 5G evolution in cloud-based networks.
5G networks operates in NSA and SA deployment modes. NSA uses the existing LTE core to speed up early rollouts, while SA relies fully on the 5G Core to deliver advanced features. However, current gNB implementations typically support only one mode at a time, making it difficult for operators to migrate smoothly to SA. The transition from NSA to SA is complex due to infrastructure costs, device compatibility, and the need to maintain service continuity for legacy NSA users. To overcome this limitation, a deployment option known as concurrent SA and NSA mode allows both modes to operate within the same 5G NR cell and cloud gNB. This mode combines so called NSA option 3x and SA option 2 architectures together. The concurrent mode allows operators to maintain NSA services while gradually deploying SA capabilities, thereby ensuring a smooth migration path toward full 5G SA. Moreover, it enhances network resilience through independent operation of the two modes, optimizes spectrum and hardware utilization, and reduces operational costs by minimizing the need for separate infrastructure.
This thesis work, carried out at Nokia’s Espoo laboratory within the MN Testing and Verification team, focuses on implementing and validating concurrent SA/NSA operation in a 5G Cloud RAN environment. The considered test setup was tested through cell availability verification, concurrent SA and NSA user connection via admission control, L3 signalling validation, and end-user downlink throughput measurement in the cloud gNB. The results are analysed to see that modes function reliably in the same cell without degradation, demonstrating a practical path toward flexible, cost-efficient 5G evolution in cloud-based networks.