5G CORE SOLUTIONS

5G ROAMING SOLUTION WITH FLEXIBLE DEPLOYMENT OPTIONS

For 5G core networks TITAN.IUM SEPP represents the gateway to other operators’ networks for roaming purposes. It is used to provide a secure, interoperable and scalable pathway for HTTP/2 signaling within a negotiated security context. Messages are being validated and screened before being forwarded to the 5G core. Mutual TLS security and context validation is provided and individual network specific screening functions can configured. Inter-PLMN routing is performed and customized re-routing, e.g. to external RVAS services, is supported. Multi-tenancy capability has been implemented, so that TITAN.IUM SEPP can be deployed on behalf of a group of operators as foreseen by GSMA 5GMRR for the hosted and outsourced SEPP deployment models.

STANDARDS-BASED 5G CORE INTERCONNECTIVITY

Following 3GPP and GSMA specifications, TITAN.IUM SEPP is fully interoperable with other vendors 5G core NFs, SCPs and SEPPs, while at the same time offering flexible configurability to consider network specific routing and filtering requirements. The main capabilities are:

N32 CONTROL INTERFACE

Is used for security handshake negotiation between 5G core signaling networks, as specified by 3GPP TS 29.573. A security context will only be established for configured interconnections and valid PLMN IDs.


N32 FORWARDING
Received messages will only be forwarded to the connected 5G core or the remote PLMN SEPP for related security contexts that have been established beforehand by the N32-c handshake procedure.


MESSAGE ROUTING
TITAN.IUM SEPP implements highly flexible routing of messages between home and visited PLMNs based on rules for matching criteria. This allows any HTTP/2 information element to be used in any routing decision.


MESSAGE SCREENING
Allows operators to establish Black- or Whitelists using every information element in the incoming request for the screening purpose.

TDR GENERATION
TITAN.IUM SEPP supports configurable generation of TDRs for inbound and/or outbound messages. Operators can select the set of information elements that are included by configuration.

BENEFITS

STANDARDS-COMPLIANT SECURE INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN HOME AND VISITED 5G PLMNs
Supporting 3GPP 5G core and GSMA 5GMRR specifications, TITAN.IUM SEPP can be deployed for direct MNO-MNO interconnections as well as in hosted SEPP scenarios as required by IPXs or group operators. GSMA specified outsourced models, where the interconnecting MNOs do not have to operate their own SEPP are also fully supported.

CONFIGURATION FLEXIBILITY
Powered by TITAN.IUM’s dissector based rules engine, project specific rules for message transformation, re-routing or filtering can be implemented. The configured individual service logic has access to all information elements in the received request.

DELIVERED ON TITAN.IUM CLOUD NATIVE FRAMEWORK
TITAN.IUM SEPP is delivered on the high-performance cloud-native TITAN.IUM platform, providing effortless automated scaling, efficient use of cloud resources, and strong security. It is implemented in a distributed microservice architecture with compute-data separation.

NETWORK REPOSITORY FUNCTION SUPPORTING 5G CORE SCALABILITY

TITAN.IUM NRF is one of the key functions of the 3GPP Service-Based Architecture (SBA) for 5G Core networks, acting as a central Services Discovery broker for all Network Functions (NFs) in the 5G Core. NF Service Producers advertise their capabilities by dynamically registering their NF-Profiles with the NRF, which may then be discovered by NF-Consumers seeking to use needed services. TITAN.IUM NRFs may be deployed as a distributed or hierarchical network of NRFs such that NF-Consumer discovery requests are forwarded to the actual NRF holding matching NF-Producer profile(s). Gateway-NRF functionality is also provided for service discovery in remote PLMN networks in support of Mobile 5G Roaming scenarios.

5G NETWORK REPOSITORY FOR NETWORK FUNCTIONS, SCPs, AND SEPPs

Following 3GPP specifications, TITAN.IUM NRF enables the dynamic registration and retrieval of comprehensive information about all deployed network elements. It serves as a central network-wide information point in order to drastically reduce signaling routing administration and is a pre-requisite to scale the 5G core. The main capabilities are:

NF-PROFILE REGISTRATION AND DISCOVERY
NF Service Producers advertise their capabilities by dynamically registering their NF-Profiles with the NRF, which may then be discovered by NF-Consumers based on multiple compatibility matching rules.

NF-PROFILE SUBSCRIPTION AND NOTIFICATION
NF Service Consumers may subscribe to receive notifications when certain conditions and/or criteria are met as specified by the Service Consumer.

HIERARCHICAL NRF DEPLOYMENTS
TITAN.IUM NRFs may be deployed as a flat or hierarchical collection of Regional / Centralized NRFs such that, NF-Consumer discovery requests are forwarded to the actual NRF holding matching NF-Producer Profile(s).

INTER-PLMN GATEWAY-NRF SUPPORT
Any NRF may also be provisioned as a Gateway-NRF which is made aware of remote PLMN NRFs for Inter-PLMN interconnect purposes. Discovery & Subscription requests are forwarded to remote PLMN NRFs in support of Mobile 5G Roaming scenarios.

OAUTH2.0 AUTHORIZATION SERVER
The NRF can act as OAuth2 Authentication Server. Previously registered NF-Producers declare allowed service access, which the NRF uses to screen prospective NF-Consumers, issuing them a digitally signed OAuth2 token if authorized.

BOOTSTRAPPING SERVICE
Allows new NF-Consumers to determine the actual set of service interface versions supported by an NRF.

5G NETWORK REPOSITORY FUNCTION BENEFITS

NETWORK-WIDE DYNAMIC REPOSITORY OF ALL 5G CORE ELEMENTS
Allowing all 5G core network components to dynamically retrieve information about deployed network functions, NRF drastically reduces routing administration efforts and OPEX.

CENTRAL AUTHORIZATION SERVER
Serving as central instance to issue OAuth 2.0 authorization tokens to NF-Consumers for access to NF-Producer services, NRF fundamentally increases signaling security.

DELIVERED ON TITAN.IUM CLOUD NATIVE  FRAMEWORK
TITAN.IUM NRF is delivered on the high-performance cloud-native TITAN.IUM platform, providing effortless automated scaling, efficient use of cloud resources and strong security. It is implemented in a distributed microservice architecture with compute-data separation.

CENTRALIZED 5G CORE SIGNALING ROUTING

TITAN.IUM SCP provides a central HTTP/2 routing instance for in the 5G SBA (Service Bus Architecture). Based on it's dissector-based rules engine it provides a maximum of flexibility when it comes to routing, screening and custom-defined modifying of 5G core signaling requests. It is deployable as stand-alone SCP or in a hierarchical model to allow for unlimited core scalability. It supports 3GPP specified network deployment models C and D (3GPP TS 23.501). It conducts network function (NF) profile discovery from the NRF on behalf of the Consumer-NF and cashes the results in order to minimize signaling traffic and supports the NRF subscribe/notify procedure for the NRF.

SIMPLIFYING 5G CORE ROUTING

Following 3GPP specifications, TITAN.IUM SEPP minimizes the number of signaling connections and provides centralized routing administration and traffic optimization. The main capabilities are:

SECURE INDIRECT COMMUNICATIONS
The SCP provides secure indirect communications between service NF-Consumers and NF-Producers, or between SCPs, with TLS mutual authentication, Server Name Indication (SNI) support, and TLSv1.2/TLSv1.3.

HIGH PERFORMANCE HRRP/2 STACK
The SCP relies on a high-performance HTTP stack with rich configuration options, including settings related to connections, buffers, traffic classes, and TLS.

HTTP PROXY
Message routing function that routes to the destination NF-Producer service directly, or via the next hop Proxy/SCP .

DELEGATED DISCOVERY / DISCOVERY CACHING
NF-Producer service discovery & selection on behalf of the NF-Consumer. The SCP caches NRF NF-Profile information, subscribing to NRF status changes to ensure that cached NF-Profiles are kept up to date with latest service discovery information.

CONSUMER-PRODUCER BINDING
Caching of binding indication and relevant NF profiles for routing of subsequent requests based on routing binding indication. Cached binding indications and NF profiles are automatically removed after expiration of their configurable lifetime.

FLEXIBLE ROUTING
Create rules based on matching criteria for routing table entries, so that any information contained in an HTTP request can be used for a routing decision. Static information like priority/weight, or dynamic information like load, latency and/or endpoint health may be referenced for a matched route entry that may be used to affect routing decisions.

BENEFITS

SIMPLIFIED / CENTRALIZED
Supporting network model C and D as specified in 3GPP TS 23.501, TITAN.IUM SCP centralizes routing administration and serves to optimize signaling routing. By supporting delegated discovery and cashing the NRF discovery results, it minimizes core signaling traffic.

DELIVERED ON TITAN.IUM CLOUD NATIVE FRAMEWORK
TITAN.IUM SCP is delivered on the high-performance cloud-native TITAN.IUM platform, providing effortless automated scaling, efficient use of cloud resources and strong security. It is implemented in a distributed microservice architecture with compute-data separation.

UNIVERSAL SESSION BINDING REPOSITORY

TITAN.IUM BSF is one of the key functions of the 3GPP Service-Based Architecture (SBA) for 5G Core networks. It enables other Network Functions (NFs), for example an IMS Call State Control Function (CSCF) or Network Exposure Functions (NEF), to determine which Policy Control Function (PCF) is holding needed Policy & Accounting information for each active mobile device data session. It also provides Diameter Gateway functionality used to interwork legacy 4G Diameter requests in order to retrieve the PCF Diameter host used in support of dual-binding & 4G / 5G handover cases.

STANDARDS-COMPLIANT NETWORK-WIDE BINDING SUPPORT FUNCTION

Following 3GPP TS 29.512, TITAN.IUM BSF supports the defined session binding data model and the prescribed session binding discovery attributes. It enables applications such as voice (IMS) to access the policy control function for the related data session. The main capabilities are:

PCF BINDING REGISTER, DEREGISTER AND UPDATE
BSF service allows network policy functions (PCFs) to register new Mobile Device data session bindings thus providing a method for other NFs (e.g. CSCFs and NEFs) to find associated policy functions when working with specific Mobile Device data sessions. Registered data service bindings may also be updated or removed via this BSF service.

PCF BINDING DISCOVERY
BSF service allowing other NFs, typically Application Functions (AF) such as IMS CSCFs and NEFs, to find PCF policy functions for specific data sessions that they are working with based on specific discovery criteria. 

4G BINDING DIAMETER GATEWAY
Diameter Proxy & Redirect functions allowing access to/from corresponding Diameter-based 4G DRA bindings supporting dual-binding & handover cases.

NRF REGISTRATION
TITAN.IUM BSF support the capability to register itself with an NRF to become discoverable by other NFs.

BENEFITS

STANDARDS-COMPLIANT PCF DISCOVERY
Following the 3GPP specifications the TITAN.IUM BSF provides the foundation to deploy a scalable 5G core network bridging the application layer with the data layer and providing 4G/5G interworking support.

DELIVERED ON TITAN.IUM CLOUD NATIVE FRAMEWORK
TITAN.IUM SCP is delivered on the high-performance cloud-native TITAN.IUM platform, providing effortless automated scaling, efficient use of cloud resources and strong security. It is implemented in a distributed microservice architecture with compute-data separation.

COMPREHENSIVE 5G CORE NETWORK SLICING MANAGEMENT

The NSSF provides the Network Slice Selection API for AMFs (Access and Mobility Function) for Registration, UE Configuration Update and PDU Session Establishment as well as the NSSAI Availability API (Network Slice Selection Assistance Information). For Slice Selection service operations, the NSSF considers the slice availability as well as the operator’s policies on restrictions, slice mapping and configuration. For roaming the requirements for the Home-NSSF and Visited-NSSF are addressed and all 5G service bus signaling needs to support customized network slice instances are addressed, including the standardized Slice/Service types for different industries and customer segments: eMBB : Enhanced Mobile Broadband URLLC : Ultra-reliable Low Latency Communication MIoT : Massive Internet of Things V2X : Vehicle to X Communication

5G CORE NETWORK SLICING

Following 3GPP specifications (TS 29.523) TITAN.IUM NSSF supports the required AMF interfaces, service logic and slice management provisioning capabilities to fully ensure efficient slice deployments. The main capabilities are:

NETWORK SLICING POLICIES
For each of the operator’s serving PLMN-IDs, a list of serving S-NSSAIs with the related mapping to the home S-NSSAIs can be configured per home PLMN, as well as the list of restricted S-NSSAIs in each tracking area. Network Slice Instance (NSI) specific NRF endpoint configuration and identifier is also stored centrally in the NSSF.

NSSAI AVAILABILITY UPDATES
NSSF serves as a repository for the availability of S-NSSAIs in each PLMN/TA and the related AMF ID or AMF Set as signaled by the AMFs to the NSSF. 

NSSF NETWORK SLICE SELECTION
In response to AMF requests, NSSF responds, depending on the request options, with the list of allowed/configured NSSAI, NRF endpoint information, NSI identifier, target AMF Set candidate AMFs and the rejected S-NSSAI per PLMN and TA.

ROAMING FUNCTIONS
Slice Information mapping information between home and visited network is provided. Also, acting as V-NSSF, Home Routing PDU Session Establishment requests are adapted and forwarded to the appropriate V-NSSF in order to respond with the NSI Information configured in the Home PLMN.

PROVISIONING
A graphical user interface is provided for the administration of network slicing data . Alternatively, an open REST API is exposed for OSS integration.

BENEFITS

NETWORK-WIDE SLICE MANAGEMENT FOR VERTICAL INDUSTRY SUPPORT
Based on 3GPP TS 29.532, TITAN.IUM NSSF provides comprehensive support to establish network slicing in the 5G core. Vertical industries and customers can be offered virtual cores with their own allocated resources on top of the operator's infrastructure.

DELIVERED ON TITAN.IUM CLOUD NATIVE FRAMEWORK
TITAN.IUM SEPP is delivered on the high-performance cloud-native TITAN.IUM platform, providing effortless automated scaling, efficient use of cloud resources and strong security. It is implemented in a distributed microservice architecture with compute-data separation.