why does jio want 5g network architecture option 6? · a recent article from mint (link) points out...

Opinion:

Why does Jio want 5G Network Architecture Option 6?Zahid Ghadialy, Principal Analyst and Consultant

@3g4gUK

eNB EPC

Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC

gNB 5GC

Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR connected to EPC

EPC

eNB

en-gNB

EPC

Option 6: SA NR connected to EPC

en-gNB

5G Deployment Options and Migration Strategy

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EPC 5GC (NGCN)

SA

NSA

eNB EPC

Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC

(Standalone)

(Non-Standalone)

[Dual Connectivity]

ng-eNBgNB 5GC

Option 5: SA LTE connected to 5GC

Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR connected to EPC

Option 4: NSA NR assisted LTE connected to 5GC

Option 7: NSA LTE assisted NR connected to 5GC

MigrationStrategy Option 1

↗ Option 2↘ Option 3

Option 3↗ Option 7↘ Option 5



[EN-DC] [NE-DC] [NGEN-DC]

5GC

5GC

gNB

ng-eNB

5GC

gNB

ng-eNB

EPC

eNB

en-gNB

©3G4G

https://blog.3g4g.co.uk/2020/08/would-5g-nsa-undergo-sunset-when.html

©3G4G

https://blog.3g4g.co.uk/2016/09/5g-new-radio-nr-architecture-options.html

Comparison of Option 1, 3 & 6

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Option 1

eNB

EPC

S1-CS1-U

S1-U

X2-U

X2-C

S1-C

S1-U


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Option 1

eNB

EPC

eNB

S1-US1-U

X2-C

X2-U

en-gNB

Option 3

X2-U

X2-C

S1-C

X2-U

X2-C

S1-C

S1-U

S1-C

S1-U


©3G4G

Option 1

eNB

EPC

eNB

S1-US1-U

X2-C

X2-U

en-gNB

Option 3

en-gNB(5G NR)

Option 6

S1-U

S1-C

X2-U

X2-C

S1-C

X2-U

X2-C

X2-U

X2-C

S1-C

S1-U

S1-C

S1-U

Why Option 6?

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A recent article from Mint (link) points out the reason Reliance Jio (Jio) is pushing for Option 6:• It will save costs for the company, allowing it to leverage parts of the

existing 4G network for providing 5G service, at least initially.• But it will only be a better version of 4G with higher capacity, rather

than the “true 5G" the world is anticipating.• The non-standalone mode is not suitable for India (at least Jio) as the

4G network is running at almost full capacity due to an exponential rise in user base.

• In India, LTE [4G] cells are 90-98% clogged, in contrast to other countries which are at 5 to 40% capacity.

https://www.livemint.com/industry/telecom/inside-reliance-jio-s-game-plan-for-5g-11599489457041.html

5G: Multiple Layers for multiple needs

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Coverage LayerSub-1GHz

Capacity Layer1GHz – 7.125GHz

High Throughput Layers24.25GHz – 52.6GHz


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4G4G4G4G

4G4G4G4G5G

4G4G4G4G5G

5G

4G4G4G4G5G

5G

5G

5G 5G

5G

5G

5G

5G

Option 1 with LTE Carrier Aggregation

(CA)

Option 3 Dual Connectivity (DC) with coverage 5G

and LTE CA

Option 3 DC with coverage and

capacity 5G CA and LTE CA

Option 3 DC with coverage, capacity & high-throughput 5G CA and LTE CA

Option 6 with coverage 5G

Option 6 with coverage and

capacity 5G CA

Option 6 with coverage, capacity & high-throughput

5G CA


©3G4G


©3G4G

Option 1 with LTE Carrier Aggregation (CA)

Option 3 DC with coverage, capacity & high-throughput

5G CA and LTE CA

Option 6 with coverage 5G

Option 6 with coverage and capacity 5G CA

Option 6 with coverage, capacity & high-throughput

5G CA

What 5G Spectrum Does Jio Have?

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• They haven’t got any 5G spectrum as Spectrum has not been auctioned.

• In July, they had requested for 800 megahertz of frequencies in the 26 gigahertz (Ghz) and 24 Ghz band as well as 100 Mhz in 3.5 GHz band for running field trials.

5G (3.5 GHz)

5G(24/26 GHz)

5G(24/26 GHz)

Jio possibly planned trials using 5G CA

with Option 6

What’s stopping Jio in Going Alone?

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• No support from 3GPP Standards.

• No support from devices (because of no support from standards).

• No support from the main industry drivers and ecosystem.

• Advanced features like Network Slicing not available with 4G EPC (Evolved Packet Core).

• New features bringing wireless & wireline together (WWC / FMC) only supported with 5G Core.

References & Further Reading

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• The 3G4G Blog: 5G Network Architecture Options (link)• The 3G4G Blog: Would 5G NSA undergo Sunset? When? (link)• The 3G4G Blog: 5G New Radio (NR), Architecture options and migration

from LTE (link)• Mint: Inside Reliance Jio’s game plan for 5G (link)• The 3G4G Blog: Carrier Aggregation (CA) and Dual Connectivity (DC) (link)• Mint: Reliance Jio seeks spectrum for 5G trials, plans to sell tech overseas

(link)• The 3G4G Blog: When does your 5G NSA Device Show 5G Icon? (link)• The 3G4G Blog: 5G and Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC) (link)• The 3G4G Blog: What about 5G Network Architecture Option 4 (a.k.a. NE-

DC) ? (link)

https://blog.3g4g.co.uk/2018/10/5g-network-architecture-options-updated.htmlhttps://blog.3g4g.co.uk/2020/08/would-5g-nsa-undergo-sunset-when.htmlhttps://blog.3g4g.co.uk/2016/09/5g-new-radio-nr-architecture-options.htmlhttps://www.livemint.com/industry/telecom/inside-reliance-jio-s-game-plan-for-5g-11599489457041.htmlhttps://blog.3g4g.co.uk/2020/06/carrier-aggregation-ca-and-dual.htmlhttps://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/reliance-jio-seeks-spectrum-for-5g-trials-plans-to-sell-tech-overseas-11595265917127.htmlhttps://blog.3g4g.co.uk/2019/09/when-does-your-5g-nsa-device-show-5g.htmlhttps://blog.3g4g.co.uk/2019/09/5g-and-fixed-mobile-convergence-fmc.htmlhttps://blog.3g4g.co.uk/2020/08/what-about-5g-network-architecture.html

Thank You

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why does jio want 5g network architecture option 6? · a recent article from mint (link) points out...

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