5.43.3.2 Local switch with PSA UPF deployed on satellite

If SMF selects the UPF deployed on satellite as PSA of UE's PDU Session, the SMF configures the UE's N4 session to forward/detect packet to/from the internal interface as specified for the configuration for the 5GVN group member's N4 Session in clause 5.8.2.13.1 (Support for unicast traffic forwarding of a 5G VN).

SMF may reuse the mechanism described in clause 5.8.2.13.1 to configure group-level N4 session rules for each N19 tunnel.

For establishing N19 tunnel between the PSA UPFs onboard the satellite, the PSA UPFs are controlled by the same SMF.

• To process packets between UE and servers residing in DN, SMF configures rules to route traffic via N6 as described in clause 5.8.2.13.1.

The group-level N4 session is per DNN and S-NSSAI. The SMF can create, update or delete the group-level N4 Session, i.e. add or delete N4 rules, allocate or release the N19 tunnel resources based on operator deployment, e.g. based on GEO satellite's planned obsolescence or new GEO satellite setup.

N6 may be used for carrying traffic between PSA UPFs deployed on different satellites. If N6 is used, SMF configures corresponding N4 rules for processing traffic to/from N6.