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3GPP Compliance

Ella Core implements 3GPP-standard interfaces for 4G and 5G SA.

Note

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Supported

Interfaces

Interface Transport
N1 NAS, over N2
N2 NGAP over SCTP
N3 GTP-U over UDP (IPv4 and IPv6)
N6 IP
S1-MME S1AP over SCTP
S1-U GTP-U over UDP (IPv4 and IPv6)
SGi IP

Ella Core is a single binary and does not expose internal 3GPP interfaces. See Architecture.

Registration and mobility

  • Registration. 4G: attach, detach, and normal and periodic tracking area update. 5G: initial, mobility, and periodic registration, and UE- and network-initiated deregistration.
  • Service request. An idle UE returns to connected mode to resume its session.
  • Paging. Ella Core pages an idle UE when downlink data arrives for it.
  • Handover. 4G: S1 handover, and X2 handover via the Path Switch procedure. 5G: Xn handover, and N2 handover between radios served by Ella Core.

Sessions

Ella Core carries IP data sessions for 4G and 5G subscribers.

  • Session management. 4G PDN connectivity and 5G PDU sessions: establishment, modification, and release, including network-requested procedures.
  • Session types. IPv4, IPv6, and IPv4v6.
  • QoS. One non-GBR QoS flow per session.

Security

  • Procedures. Identity, authentication, and security mode control.
  • Authentication. EPS-AKA on 4G, 5G-AKA on 5G.
  • Subscriber identity concealment. SUCI with the null scheme, Profile A, and Profile B, on 5G.
  • Ciphering and integrity. The null, SNOW 3G, and AES algorithms: EEA0/1/2 and EIA0/1/2 on 4G, NEA0/1/2 and NIA0/1/2 on 5G.

Location

Cell identity and E-CID positioning: LPPa on 4G, NRPPa on 5G. See the Location API, which is beta.

Limitations

  • No voice. Ella Core provides no IMS, VoLTE, or VoNR.
  • No emergency services. Emergency sessions and emergency service requests are rejected.
  • No roaming. Ella Core is a self-contained core for a single network; there is no S6a, S8, or inter-operator interface.