The functionality of the CBE is outside of the scope of 3GPP specifications; however it is assumed that the CBE is responsible for all aspects of formatting CBS messages, including the splitting of a CBS message into a number of pages.

In 3GPP the CBC is integrated as a node in the core network. The CBC may be connected to several BSCs/RNCs/MMEs/PWS-IWFs. The CBC may be connected to several CBEs. The CBC shall be responsible for the management of CBS messages including:

• allocation of serial numbers;
• modifying or deleting CBS messages held by the BSC/RNC/eNodeB/NG-RAN node;
• initiating broadcast by sending fixed length CBS messages to a BSC/RNC/eNodeB/NG-RAN node for each language provided by the cell, and where necessary padding the pages to a length of 82 octets (see TS 23.038);
• determining the set of cells to which a CBS message should be broadcast, and indicating within the Serial Number the geographical scope of each CBS message;
• determining the time at which a CBS message should commence being broadcast;
• determining the time at which a CBS message should cease being broadcast and subsequently instructing each BSC/RNC/eNodeB/NG-RAN node to cease broadcast of the CBS message;
• determining the period at which broadcast of the CBS message should be repeated;
• determining the cell broadcast channel in GSM, on which the CBS message should be broadcast.
• when CBS transmits emergency messages, allocation of "emergency indication" to differentiate it from normal CBS messages, including the "Cell ID/Service Area ID list", "warning type", "warning message". If "warning type" is of 'test', only UEs which are specially designed for testing purposes may display warning message.

To work efficiently on the interfaces, the BSC/RNC - which is normally controlling more than one cell of a broadcast area - should be used as a concentrator as far as CBS message handling is concerned. Hence, the CBC should work on lists of cells when issuing CB related requests towards the BSC/RNC.

In 3GPP the CBCF is a network function in the 5G core network. The CBCF may be connected to several AMFs. The CBCF may be connected to several CBEs. The CBCF shall be responsible for the management of CBS messages including:

• allocation of serial numbers;
• modifying or deleting CBS messages held by the NG-RAN node;
• initiating broadcast by sending fixed length CBS messages to a NG-RAN node for each language provided by the cell, and where necessary padding the pages to a length of 82 octets (see TS 23.038);
• determining the set of cells to which a CBS message should be broadcast, and indicating within the Serial Number the geographical scope of each CBS message;
• determining the time at which a CBS message should commence being broadcast;
• determining the time at which a CBS message should cease being broadcast and subsequently instructing each NG-RAN node to cease broadcast of the CBS message;
• determining the period at which broadcast of the CBS message should be repeated;
• when CBS transmits emergency messages, allocation of "emergency indication" to differentiate it from normal CBS messages, including the "Cell ID/Service Area ID list", "warning type", "warning message". If "warning type" is of 'test', only UEs which are specially designed for testing purposes may display warning message.

The CBCF supports service based interface. The CBCF uses AMF communication services to forward warning messages to the NG-RAN and to subscribe to receive warning delivery related notifications.