5.15.11.5 Support of Network Slice Admission Control and Interworking with EPC

This clause describes the NSAC for maximum number of registered UEs and for maximum number of PDU Sessions for network slice subjected to EPS interworking. The NSAC for maximum number of UE with at least one PDU Session/PDN Connection is described in clause 5.15.11.5a. A network slice subject to both NSAC and EPS counting shall be configured with only one of the options:

• Maximum number of registered UEs and/or maximum number of PDU Session; or
• Maximum number of UEs with at least one PDU Session/PDN Connection and/or maximum number of PDU Session.

If EPS counting is required for a network slice, the NSAC for maximum number of UEs and/or for maximum number of PDU Sessions per network slice is performed at the time of PDN connection establishment in case of EPC interworking. To support the NSAC for maximum number of UEs and/or for maximum number of PDU Sessions per network slice in EPC, the SMF+PGW-C is configured with the information indicating which network slice is subject to NSAC. During PDN connection establishment in EPC, the SMF+PGW-C selects an S-NSSAI associated with the PDN connection as described in clause 5.15.7.1. If the selected S-NSSAI by the SMF+PGW-C is subject to the NSAC, the SMF+PGW-C triggers interaction with NSACF to check the availability of the network slice by invoking separate NSAC procedures for number of UE and number of PDU Session (as described in clause 4.11.5.9 of TS 23.502 [3]), before the SMF+PGW-C provides the selected S-NSSAI to the UE. If the network slice is available, the SMF+PGW-C continues to proceed with the PDN connection establishment procedure.

The NSACF performs the following for checking network slice availability prior to returning a response to the SMF+PGW-C:

• For NSAC for number of UEs, if the UE identity is already included in the list of UE IDs registered with a network slice, or the UE identity is not included in the list of UE IDs registered with a network slice and the current number of UE registration did not reach the maximum number, the NSACF responds to the SMF+PGW-C with the information that the network slice is available. The NSACF includes the UE identity in the list of UE IDs if not already on the list and increases the current number of UE registration. Otherwise, the NSACF returns a response indicating that the maximum number with the network slice has been reached.

If hierarchical NSAC architecture is deployed, when the local maximum number or local threshold is reached the NSACF may interact with the Primary NSACF before it returns the response back to the SMF+PGW-C. For more details on handling at the NSACF and Primary NSACF see clause 5.15.11.1.2.

• For NSAC for number of PDU Sessions, if the current number of PDU sessions is below the maximum number, the NSACF responds to the SMF+PGW-C with the information that the network slice is available. The NSACF increases the current number of PDU sessions. Otherwise, the NSACF returns the response indicating that the maximum number with the network slice has been reached.

If hierarchical NSAC architecture is deployed, when the local maximum number is reached the NSACF may interact with the Primary NSACF before it returns the response back to the SMF+PGW-C. For more details on handling at the NSACF and Primary NSACF see clause 5.15.11.2.2.

If the maximum number of UEs and/or the maximum number of PDU sessions has already been reached, unless operator policy implements a different action, the SMF+PGW-C rejects the PDN connection.

NOTE 1: As an implementation option, if the APN is mapped to more than one S-NSSAI and the first selected S-NSSAI is not available (e.g. either current number of UE registration reached maximum or current number of PDU sessions reached maximum), then based on the operator policy the PGW-C+SMF can try another mapped S-NSSAI for the PDN connection establishment procedure.

If the establishment of a new PDN Connections is with a different SMF+PGW-C from the SMF+PGW-C used for already existing PDN connection associated with the same S-NSSAI, each SMF+PGW-C will send a request for update (e.g. increase or decrease) to the NSACF. The NSACF may maintain a registration entry per SMF+PGW-C for the same UE ID.

The SMF+PGW-C provides the Access Type to the NSACF when triggering a request to increase or decrease the number of UEs and/or the number of PDU Sessions for an S-NSSAI.

NOTE 2: The SMF+PGW-C determines the Access Type based on the RAT type parameter in the PMIP or GTP message received from the ePDG; or alternatively it can internally determine the Access Type based on the source node (e.g. SGW) sending the request for the PDN Connection establishment.

When the UE with ongoing PDN connection(s) moves from EPC to 5GC, the SMF+PGW-C triggers a request to decrease the number of the UE registration in NSACF and the AMF triggers a request to increase the number of the UE registration in NSACF when the UE is registered in the new AMF. If there are more than one PDN connections associated with the S-NSSAI, the NSACF may receive multiple requests for the same S-NSSAI from different SMF+PGW-Cs. When the UE with ongoing PDU session(s) moves from 5GC to EPC, the SMF+PGW-C triggers a request to increase the number of the UE registration in NSACF and the old AMF triggers a request to decrease the number of the UE registration in NSACF when the UE is deregistered in old AMF. If there are more than one PDU sessions associated with the S-NSSAI, the NSACF may receive multiple requests for the same S-NSSAI from different SMF+PGW-Cs. The NSACF maintains a list of UE IDs based on the requests from SMF+PGW-C(s) and AMF and adjusts the current number of registrations accordingly.

When EPS counting is performed for a network slice and the UE with ongoing PDN connection(s) moves from EPC to 5GC, session continuity is guaranteed from NSAC standpoint, as the admission was granted at the time of PDN connection establishment, i.e. the number of PDU session is not counted again in 5GC. Similarly, when the UE with ongoing PDU session(s) moves from 5GC to EPC, session continuity is guaranteed from NSAC standpoint as the admission of the PDN Connection(s) to the network slice was already granted at the time of PDU Session establishment in 5GC.

If the PDN connection associated with S-NSSAI is released in EPC, the SMF+PGW-C triggers a request (i.e. decrease) to NSACF for maximum number of UEs and/or maximum number of PDU sessions per network slice control. The NSACF decreases the current number of registrations and removes the UE identity from the list of UE IDs if the PDN connection(s) associated with the S-NSSAI are all released in EPC.

NOTE 3: NSAC in EPC is not performed for the attachment without PDN connectivity.

If EPS counting is not required for a network slice, the NSAC for maximum number of UEs and/or for maximum number of PDU Sessions per network slice is performed when the UE moves from EPC to 5GC, i.e. when the UE performs mobility Registration procedure from EPC to 5GC (NSAC for maximum number of UEs per network slice) and/or when the PDN connections are handed over from EPC to 5GC (NSAC for maximum number of PDU Sessions per network slice). The SMF+PGW-C is configured with the information indicating the network slice is subject to NSAC only in 5GS. The PDN connection interworking procedure is performed as described in clause 5.15.7.1. Mobility from EPC to 5GC does not guarantee all active PDU Session(s) can be transferred to the 5GC in certain circumstances when either the current number of UE registration or the current number of PDU sessions would exceed the maximum number when the UE moves from EPC to 5GC. When the UE with ongoing PDU session(s) moves from 5GC to EPC, the SMF+PGW-C triggers a request to decrease the number of PDU Session to NSACF. If there are more than one PDU sessions associated with the S-NSSAI, the NSACF may receive multiple requests for the same S-NSSAI from different SMF+PGW-Cs and NSACF removes the PDU Session ID(s) while decreasing the number of PDU Session(s).

NOTE 4: Given that session continuity is not guaranteed when EPS counting is not required, it is recommended for services which require the session continuity to support EPS counting.

NOTE 5: When multiple NSACFs are deployed and if the number of UE in target NSACF has reached the maximum number, whether session continuity can be guaranteed is left to implementation.

NOTE 6: When a centralized architecture is deployed, UE admission is guaranteed at inter-system and inter-AMF mobility if the same NSACF is selected. This is the case for non-roaming scenarios and for roaming scenarios with HPLMN NSAC Admission Mode described in clause 5.15.11.3.