5G Core Network: NSA vs. SA

Notes on the transition from Non-Standalone (NSA) to Standalone (SA) architecture in 5G networks.

1. Non-Standalone (NSA) - Option 3x This was the first commercially deployed 5G architecture.

Core: It relies on the existing 4G EPC (Evolved Packet Core).

Control Plane: The control plane (signaling) runs over the 4G LTE network.

Data Plane: Data is transmitted over both 4G (LTE) and 5G (NR) simultaneously via Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

Key takeaway: NSA provides faster speeds (thanks to the 5G radio), but it doesn’t unlock the full potential of 5G latencies and slicing, as it’s still bottlenecked by the 4G core.

1. Standalone (SA) - Option 2 SA is the true 5G architecture.

Core: Uses the new cloud-native 5G Core (5GC).

Control/Data Plane: Both run entirely over the 5G New Radio (NR) interface.

Benefits of 5G SA Lower Latency: Optimized 5GC for faster signaling.

Network Slicing: Ability to carve out virtual dedicated networks (critical for IoT, VR, and industrial use cases).

Massive IoT Support: Better handling of billions of low-power devices.