Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS) isn’t a new concept in the wireless world , It’s part of 3GPP release 14. CUPS is essential to 5G networks because it allows operators to separate the evolved packet core (EPC) into a control plane that can sit in a centralized location and for the user plane to be placed closer to the application it is supporting.
This type of separation is key for applications such as the connected car. In that scenario, a network operator can place the EPC user plane in a data center in a city so that it is closer to the application and therefore reduces the latency.
4G Core With CUPS
5G Core With CUPS
5G architecture is based SBA and it is designed to have CUPS concept, as there’ll be entity for control plane SMF and AMF and UPF for user plane.