Multicast and Broadcast Service (MBS) is a point-to-multipoint service in which data is transmitted from a single source entity to multiple recipients, either to all users in a Broadcast service area, or to users in a multicast group as defined in TS 22.146. The corresponding types of MBS session are:

• Broadcast MBS session
• Multicast MBS session.

The MBS architecture defined in clause 5 follows the 5G System architectural principles as defined in TS 23.501, enabling distribution of the MBS data from the 5GS ingress to NG-RAN node(s) and then to the UE. The MBS architecture provides:

• Efficient usage of RAN and CN resources, with an emphasis on radio interface efficiency;
• Efficient transport for a variety of multicast and broadcast services.

Multicast/Broadcast Service for roaming is not supported in this release. Interaction between Multicast/Broadcast Service and support of deployments topologies with specific SMF Service Areas is not specified in this Release. The collection and reporting of MBS specific charging information are specified in TS 32.255 for PDU session charging and TS 32.279 for MBS session charging. The MBS also provides functionalities such as local MBS service and location dependent MBS service, authorization of multicast MBS and QoS differentiation. Refer to clause 6 for more details. MBS traffic is delivered from a single data source (e.g. Application Service Provider) to multiple UEs. Depending on many factors, there are several delivery methods which may be used to deliver the MBS traffic in the 5GS. Between 5GC and NG-RAN, there are two possible delivery methods to transmit the MBS data:

• 5GC Individual MBS traffic delivery method: This method is only applied for multicast MBS sessions. 5GC receives a single copy of MBS data packets and delivers separate copies of those MBS data packets to individual UEs via per-UE PDU sessions, hence for each such UE one PDU session is required to be associated with a Multicast MBS session.
• 5GC Shared MBS traffic delivery method: This method is applied for both broadcast and multicast MBS sessions. 5GC receives a single copy of MBS data packets and delivers a single copy of those MBS packets to an NG-RAN node, which then delivers the packets to one or multiple UEs.

The 5GC Shared MBS traffic delivery method is required in all MBS deployments. The 5GC Individual MBS traffic delivery method is required to enable mobility when there is an NG-RAN deployment with non-homogeneous support of MBS. For the Multicast MBS session, a single copy of MBS data packets received by the CN may be delivered via 5GC Individual MBS traffic delivery method for some UE(s) and via 5GC Shared MBS traffic delivery method for other UEs. Between the NG-RAN and the UE, two delivery methods are available for the transmission of MBS data packets over radio interface:

• Point-to-Point (PTP) delivery method: NG-RAN delivers separate copies of MBS data packets over radio interface to individual UE(s).
• Point-to-Multipoint (PTM) delivery method: NG-RAN delivers a single copy of MBS data packets over radio interface to multiple UEs.

NG-RAN may use a combination of PTP/PTM to deliver an MBS data packets to UEs. As depicted in the following Figure, 5GC Shared MBS traffic delivery method (with PTP or PTM delivery) and 5GC Individual MBS traffic delivery method may be used at the same time for a multicast MBS session.

For MBS broadcast communication, only 5GC Shared MBS traffic delivery method with PTM delivery is applicable. For MBS multicast communication, if the NG-RAN node supports MBS, the network shall use the 5GC Shared MBS traffic delivery method for MBS data transmission. For MBS multicast communication, the switching between 5GC Shared MBS traffic delivery method and 5GC Individual MBS traffic delivery method is supported. The UE mobility between RAN nodes both supporting MBS, and between a RAN node supporting MBS and a RAN node not supporting MBS is supported, for details see clause 6.3. For MBS multicast communication, the switching between PTP and PTM delivery methods for 5GC Shared MBS traffic delivery shall be supported. NG-RAN is the decision point for switching between PTP and PTM delivery methods.