What is The Evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG) ?
January 1, 2025

Before discussing ePDG in more detail, let’s explain why we need it. The answer is to connect between 3GPP networks (LTE/5G core) and non-3GPP networks (Wi-Fi). But, why do we need to interconnect between them? Imagine you’re walking in the street and making a call, suddenly you arrive at your office and need to park […]

What is the difference between VoWiFi and VoLTE?
December 24, 2024

VoWiFi, or Voice Over WiFi, is an IMS Voice Call made through WiFi without using a cellular network like LTE or NR. It is similar to VoLTE (Voice over LTE) or VoNR (Voice or NR), the only difference is the type of communication channel being used for the IMS voice call. WiFi channel (instead of […]

Radio Access Network (RAN) is Now Open
December 17, 2024

Thanks to open standard consortiums such as the ORANAlliance, an open ecosystem of disaggregated and interchangeable components is now available. Network equipment providers are now able to commoditize hardware and software in a market, historically dominated by closed and proprietary systems. The standards are now in place to change select components based on technical feasibility […]

5G SA (Stand-Alone) doesn’t mean mmWave Spectrum
December 10, 2024

Recently, I read many discussions around 5G SA mainly really on mmWave spectrum which is Unique to 5G technology, as mmWave or millimeter Wave is the most capacity spectrum band so far among all available mobile spectrums. Yes, 5G high bands (mmWave, also referred to as FR2) are found in the range of 24GHz to […]

Towards 5G Advanced and Release 18
November 26, 2024

5G Release 15 was the first release of 5G and its specification was completed in June 2018. Release 16/17 specifications were drafted as extensions to 5G Release 15 with its RAN technology NR or New Radio. Rel-17 provided support for even higher frequency bands and Non-Terrestrial Network NTN systems and added a low-cost NR device […]

SMS Overview in 5G Network
October 27, 2024

SMS stands for Short Message Service and is used both for end-user messages and between the network and the device without any human interaction. There are two options for SMS when the mobile is attached to a 5G network without the need to fallback to a 4G network: • SMS over IP. • SMS over NAS […]

What is the difference between WiFi6 and WiFi7?
October 13, 2024

Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be), the successor to Wi-Fi 6, introduces the 6GHz frequency band, doubling the maximum frequency bandwidth from 160MHz to 320MHz. It allows the 16×16 MIMO configuration and supports 4096QAM modulation technology, which offers significant improvements in data rates, capacity, and spectral efficiency, ultimately enhancing the performance and user experience in wireless communication […]

What are dApps in ORAN Architecture?
October 6, 2024

As you may know, there are two main components to RIC or RAN Intelligent Controllers (RICs) as below: Closed-loop control running at time scales of 10ms to 1s (Near-Real-Time, or Near-RT, RIC with xApps) Closed-loop control runs at time scales of 1s or more (non-RT RIC with rApps). What about the real-time control loops operating […]

How Does International Roaming Billing Work? Wholesale/Retail
September 29, 2024

When going to the Roaming topic, sometimes you hear words like Wholesale Charge and Retail Charge. So What is the difference between them? The Wholesale Charge determines how much roaming costs a mobile operator. Here, mobile operators negotiate roaming agreements with their counterparts in other countries. Under these agreements, a mobile operator pays the foreign operator […]

Everything You Need To Know About NRF and SCP in The 5G Core
September 22, 2024

5G standalone (SA) operation, using a new core network, is foundational to mobile operators seeking to offer advanced 5G services with a low cost of production. 5G Service-based architecture (SBA) In a SBA framework, the individual elements are defined as Network Functions (NFs) instead of Network entities. Through Service Based Interface (SBI) each of the […]

Should VoWiFi Be A Good Solution For Indoors?
September 15, 2024

As per the Mobile Data Moves Indoors report, 80% of Mobile Traffic comes from Indoor locations. This means that good coverage and QoS in the building/indoors are a MUST.  Let’s focus on the primary service in the wireless industry which is Voice Call.  Voice Communication Methods Support voice communication between two parties, in many ways, […]

Frame Structure for 5G New Radio Release 15

5G NR modulation and waveforms have some commonalities with LTE but aim to have much higher spectral efficiency. NR supports QPSK, 16 QAM, and 256 QAM with the same constellation mapping as LTE. An OFDM-based waveform is supported. Some parts of the numerology are flexible, like the SCS, while others are fixed. The subframe duration […]

What Are SM-DP and SM-DP+ Address in eSIM?
September 8, 2024

First, let’s understand an overview of eSIM Technology. eSIM(embedded SIM): The embedded SIM (also called eSIM or eUICC) is a new secure element designed to remotely manage multiple mobile network operator subscriptions and be compliant with GSMA specifications. As defined by GSMA, the term eSIM refers to the explicit functionality of the operating system to […]

What is Flex-5G Project ?
September 1, 2024

Let’s check the main highlights if you don’t know about this big project. The main focus of this project is creating an End-to-end Open RAN compliant, UK-developed 5G SA network. It’s a complete Open RAN 5G SA network. A compact modular radio base station supporting all bands in 5G NR Frequency Range 1. The Portfolio […]

The Power of RedCap 5G into the IoT Industry
July 12, 2024

RedCap 5G NR = Reduced Capability 5G NR. As per Ericsson, It’s estimated that the number of connected IoT devices will reach nearly 39 billion by 2029, a significant increase over the number of expected smartphones at 7.7 billion. To help support the expected IoT device expansion, 3GPP introduced RedCap 5G NR, a significant addition […]

Market Landscape: RAN Vendors 2024
July 5, 2024

An interesting report from Omdia regarding ” Market Landscape: RAN Vendors 2024 “ The report is only for RAN Hardware and Software for macro base stations and small cells. Open RAN and vRAN are considered under the portfolio dimension, but they have no impact on the business performance dimension. Omdia does not suggest that open […]

4G and 5G Electromagnetic Interference with Medical Devices in Hospitals
June 16, 2024

When I searched for the impact of 4G and 5G frequency spectrum on health/medical sector/hospitals, I found good Japanese research by NTT Docomo about this topic and here I concluded the main points of the study and results.  Research Area Electromagnetic interference with medical devices is caused by radio waves emitted from mobile phones and […]

Evolution of Signaling from 2G to 5G
June 9, 2024

📃In 2G and 3G, voice and text were the main services based on SS7 signaling. In these networks service availability was the priority. The Signal Transfer Point (STP) was the node that routed signaling messages. 📃In 4G, networks became data and media-centric and needed signaling to support smartphones and Apps. Signaling volume grew to support […]

The Convergence between Mobile Technologies and Wi-Fi
May 28, 2024

In 2021, I wrote this article about 5G and Wifi 6 convergence, and then in 2023, I addressed this big question: Are 5G and WiFi6E Friends or Competitors?  Conclusion of these articles if you don’t have time to read them as below: 📗The integration of 5G and Wi-Fi is poised to become more ubiquitous. Using […]