EPC Signalling

EPC Signalling

The course describes the Evolved Packet Core network (EPC) introduced in 3GPP Release 8 and 9.  The course focuses on the network architecture, logical functions (nodes), signalling protocols and signalling flows for EPC with E-UTRAN access.

Mechanisms and procedures for Security and access network selection are described. The course also accounts interworking with legacy 3GPP (UTRAN/GERAN) and non-3GPP networks. The 3GPP defined Policy and Charging Control (PCC) architecture for the Evolved Packet System (EPS) is described.

EPC Introduction
•    An overview of the 3GPP Core Network evolution
•    New network nodes and interfaces introduced for the Evolved UTRAN and Evolved Packet Core
•    Basic Concepts: EPS Bearers, PDN Connections, Quality of Service etc

NAS (Non Access Stratum) Protocols – EMM and ESM
•    EPS Mobility Management (EMM) Procedures
•    ESM Session Management (ESM) Procedures

S1AP – the S1 Application Protocol
•    The  S1 Interface
•    Main S1AP procedures

Mobility in EPS
•    Pool concept for MME and SGW
•    Idle mode mobility scenarios
•    Connected mode mobility scenarios
•    Context storage in EPS nodes

GTP – the GPRS Tunnelling Protocol
•    GTP-C  and GTP-U
•    Main GTP Procedures in EPS

DIAMETER
•    General about Diameter
•    Main Diameter procedures in EPS

EPS Security Mechanisms
•    EPS Authentication and Key Agreement
•    User to Network security mechanisms
•    EPS usage of IPsec
•    Network Domain Security mechanisms

Multimedia over IP and IMS Basics
•    Basic SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) concepts
•    Control plane: SIP and SDP
•    User plane: RTP and RTCP
•    The  IMS Architecture
•    Basic signalling flows: Registration and Session Initiation

Interworking with 3GPP IP-access
•    Mobility principles between E-UTRAN  and GERAN/UTRAN
•    Selected traffic cases with interworking between E-UTRAN and GERAN/UTRAN
•    CS Domain interworking – Voice Call Continuity and CS Fallback

Interworking with Non-3GPP IP-access
•    Trusted and non-trusted non-3GPP access networks
•    Mobility Mechanisms using Mobile IP
•    Selected signalling flows

PCC – Policy and Charging Control
•    Purpose of Policy and Charging Control
•    The PCC architecture
•    The PCRF and PCEF
•    AF and SPR
•    PCC Rules

The EPC Signalling training course is developed for telecom professionals working with project and product management, hardware and software development, system engineering, testing and verification.