Content for  TS 23.501  Word version:  19.1.0

Two CM states are used to reflect the NAS signalling Connection of the UE with the AMF:

• CM-IDLE
• CM-CONNECTED

The CM state for 3GPP access and Non-3GPP access are independent of each other, i.e. one can be in CM-IDLE state at the same time when the other is in CM-CONNECTED state.

A UE in CM-IDLE state has no NAS signalling connection established with the AMF over N1. The UE performs cell selection/cell reselection according to TS 38.304 and PLMN selection according to TS 23.122. There are no AN signalling connection, N2 connection and N3 connections for the UE in the CM-IDLE state. If the UE is both in CM-IDLE state and in RM-REGISTERED state, the UE shall, unless otherwise specified in clause 5.3.4.1:

• Respond to paging by performing a Service Request procedure (see see clause 4.2.3.2 of TS 23.502), unless the UE is in MICO mode (see clause 5.4.1.3);
• perform a Service Request procedure when the UE has uplink signalling or user data to be sent (see see clause 4.2.3.2 of TS 23.502). Specific conditions apply for LADN, see clause 5.6.5.

When the UE state in the AMF is RM-REGISTERED, UE information required for initiating communication with the UE shall be stored. The AMF shall be able to retrieve stored information required for initiating communication with the UE using the 5G-GUTI. The UE provides 5G-S-TMSI as part of AN parameters during AN signalling connection establishment as specified in TS 38.331 and TS 36.331. The UE shall enter CM-CONNECTED state whenever an AN signalling connection is established between the UE and the AN (entering RRC_CONNECTED state over 3GPP access, or at the establishment of the UE-N3IWF connectivity over untrusted non-3GPP access or the UE-TNGF connectivity over trusted non-3GPP access). The transmission of an Initial NAS message (Registration Request, Service Request or Deregistration Request) initiates the transition from CM-IDLE to CM-CONNECTED state. When the UE states in the AMF are CM-IDLE and RM-REGISTERED, the AMF shall:

• perform a network triggered Service Request procedure when it has signalling or mobile-terminated data to be sent to this UE, by sending a Paging Request to this UE (see clause 4.2.3.3 of TS 23.502), if a UE is not prevented from responding e.g. due to MICO mode or Mobility Restrictions.

The AMF shall enter CM-CONNECTED state for the UE whenever an N2 connection is established for this UE between the AN and the AMF. The reception of initial N2 message (e.g. N2 INITIAL UE MESSAGE) initiates the transition of AMF from CM-IDLE to CM-CONNECTED state. The UE and the AMF may optimize the power efficiency and signalling efficiency of the UE when in CM-IDLE state e.g. by activating MICO mode (see clause 5.4.1.3).

A UE in CM-CONNECTED state has a NAS signalling connection with the AMF over N1. A NAS signalling connection uses an RRC Connection between the UE and the NG-RAN and an NGAP UE association between the AN and the AMF for 3GPP access. A UE can be in CM-CONNECTED state with an NGAP UE association that is not bound to any TNLA between the AN and the AMF. See clause 5.21.1.2 for details on the state of NGAP UE association for an UE in CM-CONNECTED state. Upon completion of a NAS signalling procedure, the AMF may decide to release the NAS signalling connection with the UE. In the CM-CONNECTED state, the UE shall:

• enter CM-IDLE state whenever the AN signalling connection is released (entering RRC_IDLE state over 3GPP access or when the release of the UE-N3IWF connectivity over untrusted non-3GPP access or the UE-TNGF connectivity over trusted non-3GPP access is detected by the UE), see TS 38.331 for 3GPP access.

When the UE CM state in the AMF is CM-CONNECTED, the AMF shall:

• enter CM-IDLE state for the UE whenever the logical NGAP signalling connection and the N3 user plane connection for this UE are released upon completion of the AN Release procedure as specified in TS 23.502.

The AMF may keep a UE CM state in the AMF in CM-CONNECTED state until the UE de-registers from the core network. A UE in CM-CONNECTED state can be in RRC_INACTIVE state, see TS 38.300. When the UE is in RRC_INACTIVE state the following applies:

• UE reachability is managed by the RAN, with assistance information from core network;
• UE paging is managed by the RAN.
• UE monitors for paging with UE's CN (5G S-TMSI) and RAN identifier.

When a UE enters CM-IDLE state, the UP connection of the PDU Sessions that were active on this access are deactivated.

RRC_INACTIVE state applies to NG-RAN. UE support for RRC_INACTIVE state is defined in TS 38.306 for NR and TS 36.306 for E-UTRA connected to 5GC. RRC_INACTIVE is not supported by NB-IoT connected to 5GC. The AMF shall provide assistance information to the NG-RAN, to assist the NG-RAN's decision whether the UE can be sent to RRC_INACTIVE state except due to some exceptional cases such as:

• PLMN (or AMF set) does not support RRC_INACTIVE;
• The UE needs to be kept in CM-CONNECTED State (e.g. for tracking).

The "RRC Inactive Assistance Information" includes:

• UE specific DRX values;
• UE specific extended idle mode DRX values (cycle length and Paging Time Window length);
• The Registration Area provided to the UE;
• Periodic Registration Update timer;
• If the AMF has enabled MICO mode for the UE, an indication that the UE is in MICO mode;
• Information from the UE identifier, as defined in TS 38.304 for NR and TS 36.304 for E-UTRA connected to 5GC, that allows the RAN to calculate the UE's RAN paging occasions;
• An indication that Paging Cause Indication for Voice Service is supported;
• AMF PEIPS Assistance Information (see clause 5.4.12.2) for paging a UE in CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state over NR as defined in TS 38.300;
• CN based MT communication handling support indication for RRC_INACATIVE state (see clause 5.31.7.2.1).

The RRC Inactive Assistance Information mentioned above is provided by the AMF during N2 activation with the (new) serving NG-RAN node (i.e. during Registration, Service Request, Handover) to assist the NG RAN's decision whether the UE can be sent to RRC Inactive state. If the AMF allocates a new Registration Area to the UE, the AMF should update the NG-RAN with the new Registration Area by sending the RRC Inactive Assistance Information accordingly. The Paging Cause Indication for Voice Service is used to assist NG RAN to perform RAN based paging. RRC_INACTIVE state is part of RRC state machine, and it is up to the RAN to determine the conditions to enter RRC_INACTIVE state. If any of the parameters included in the RRC Inactive Assistance Information changes as the result of NAS procedure, the AMF shall update the RRC Inactive Assistance Information to the NG-RAN node. When the UE is in CM-CONNECTED state, if the AMF has provided RRC Inactive assistance information, the RAN node may decide to move a UE to CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state. The state and "endpoints" (in the case of Dual Connectivity configuration) of the N2 and N3 reference points are not changed by the UE entering CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state. A UE in RRC_INACTIVE state is aware of the RAN Notification area and periodic RAN Notification Area Update timer. The 5GC network is not aware of the UE transitions between CM-CONNECTED with RRC_CONNECTED and CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state, unless the 5GC network is notified via N2 notification procedure in clause 4.8.3 of TS 23.502. At transition into CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state, the NG-RAN configures the UE with a periodic RAN Notification Area Update timer taking into account the value of the Periodic Registration Update timer value indicated in the RRC Inactive Assistance Information, and uses a guard timer with a value longer than the RAN Notification Area Update timer value provided to the UE. If the periodic RAN Notification Area Update guard timer expires in NG-RAN, the NG-RAN shall initiate AN Release procedure as specified in clause 4.2.6 of TS 23.502. When the UE is in CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state, the UE performs PLMN selection procedures as defined in TS 23.122 and TS 24.501. When the UE is CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state, the UE may resume the RRC Connection due to:

• Uplink data pending;
• Mobile initiated NAS signalling procedure;
• As a response to RAN paging;
• Notifying the network that it has left the RAN Notification Area;
• Upon periodic RAN Notification Area Update timer expiration.

If the UE resumes the connection in a different NG-RAN node within the same PLMN or equivalent PLMN or within the same SNPN or equivalent SNPN, the UE AS context is retrieved from the old NG-RAN node and a procedure is triggered towards the CN (see clause 4.8.2 of TS 23.502). If the RAN paging procedure applying DRX or eDRX value no longer than 10.24s, as defined in TS 38.300, is not successful in establishing contact with the UE the procedure shall be handled by the network as follows:

• If NG-RAN has at least one pending NAS PDU for transmission, the RAN node shall initiate the AN Release procedure (see clause 4.2.6 of TS 23.502,) to move the UE CM state in the AMF to CM-IDLE state and indicate to the AMF the NAS non-delivery.
• If NG RAN has only pending user plane data for transmission, the NG-RAN node may keep the N2 connection active or initiate the AN Release procedure (see clause 4.2.6 of TS 23.502) based on local configuration in NG-RAN.

If the RAN paging procedure applying eDRX value longer than 10.24s, as defined in TS 38.300, has not requested the CN based mobile terminated (MT) communication handling as described in clause 5.31.7.2.1 and is not successful in establishing contact with the UE after paging the UE, the procedure shall be handled by network as follows:

• If NG-RAN has at least one pending NAS PDU for transmission, the RAN node shall initiate the AN Release procedure (see clause 4.2.6 of TS 23.502) to move the UE CM state in the AMF to CM-IDLE state and indicate to the AMF the NAS non-delivery.
• If NG-RAN has only pending user plane data for transmission, the NG-RAN node may keep the N2 connection active and based on implementation send indication to the CN requesting the CN based mobile terminated (MT) communication handling as described in clause 5.31.7.2.1, or initiate the AN Release procedure (see clause 4.2.6 of TS 23.502) based on local configuration in NG-RAN.

If a UE in CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state performs cell selection to GERAN/UTRAN/E-UTRAN, it shall follow idle mode procedures of the selected RAT as specified in clause 5.17. In addition, a UE in CM-CONNECTED state with RRC_INACTIVE state shall enter CM-IDLE state and initiates the NAS signalling recovery (see TS 24.501) in the following cases:

• If RRC resume procedure fails,
• If the UE receives Core Network paging,
• If the periodic RAN Notification Area Update timer expires and the UE cannot successfully resume the RRC Connection,
• In any other failure scenario that cannot be resolved in RRC_INACTIVE state and requires the UE to move to CM-IDLE state.

When a UE is in CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state, and a trigger to change the UE's NG-RAN or E-UTRAN UE Radio Capability information happens, the UE shall move to CM-IDLE state and initiate the procedure for updating UE Radio Capability defined in clause 5.4.4.1. (For specific requirements for a UE operating in dual-registration mode see clause 5.17.2.1) When UE is in CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state, if RAN has received Location Reporting Control message from AMF with the Reporting Type indicating single stand-alone report or continuously reporting whenever the UE changes the cell, the RAN shall perform location reporting as specified in clause 4.10 of TS 23.502. When the UE is CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state. If the AMF receives Nudm_UECM_DeregistrationNotification from UDM, the AMF shall initiate AN Release procedure as specified in clause 4.2.6 of TS 23.502. When UE is in CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state, if RAN has received Location Reporting Control message from AMF with the Reporting Type of the Area Of Interest based reporting, the RAN shall send a Location Report message to AMF including UE presence in the Area Of Interest (i.e. IN, OUT, or UNKNOWN) and the UE's last known location with time stamp. When the UE is in CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state, if the old NG-RAN node that sents the UE into RRC_INACTIVE state receives the downlink N2 signalling, it initiates the RAN paging as defined in TS 38.300. If the UE resumes the RRC Connection towards a different NG-RAN node, the old NG-RAN node includes the "UE Context Transfer" indication into a response container to the NF (e.g. AMF or SMF) that generates such N2 downlink signalling. Then the NF shall reattempt the same procedure when the path switch from the old NG-RAN node to the new NG-RAN node is complete.

NAS signalling connection management includes the functions of establishing and releasing a NAS signalling connection.

NAS signalling connection establishment function is provided by the UE and the AMF to establish a NAS signalling connection for a UE in CM-IDLE state. The AMF shall provide the list of recommended cells/ TAs / NG-RAN node identifiers for paging, if the NG-RAN had provided that information in an earlier AN Release Procedure in the AN (see clause 4.2.6 of TS 23.502). When the UE in CM-IDLE state needs to transmit an NAS message, the UE shall initiate a Service Request, a Registration or a Deregistration procedure to establish a NAS signalling connection to the AMF as specified in clauses 4.2.2 and 4.2.3 of TS 23.502. If the NAS signalling connection is to be established via an NG-RAN node, but the AMF detects that this UE has already established a NAS signalling connection via old NG-RAN node, the AMF shall release the old established NAS signalling connection by triggering AN Release Procedure. Based on UE preferences, UE subscription, Mobility Pattern and network configuration, the AMF may keep the NAS signalling connection until the UE de-registers from the network.

The procedure of releasing a NAS signalling connection is initiated by the AN node (either 5G (R)AN node or N3IWF) or the AMF. The NG-RAN node may include the list of recommended cells/ TAs / NG-RAN node identifiers for paging, during the AN Release Procedure in the AN (see clause 4.2.6 of TS 23.502). The AMF stores this information, if provided by the NG-RAN. The UE considers the NAS signalling connection is released if it detects the AN signalling connection is released. The AMF considers the NAS signalling connection is released if it detects the N2 context is released.

Mobility Restrictions restrict mobility handling or service access of a UE. The Mobility Restriction functionality is provided by the UE (only for mobility restriction categories provided to the UE), the radio access network and the core network. Unless otherwise stated, Mobility Restrictions only apply to 3GPP access and wireline access, they do not apply to other non-3GPP accesses. The UE and the network shall override Mobility restriction as specified in clause 5.16.4.3 when accessing the network for Emergency Services. For MPS and MCX, based on operator policy or regional/national regulations, service area restrictions do not apply, as specified in TS 24.501. For UE requesting Disaster Roaming service, the UE is only allowed to receive services in the area with Disaster Condition as specified in clause 5.40.4. The other areas within the PLMN shall be considered as forbidden area for the UE registered for Disaster Roaming service. Service Area restrictions and handling of Forbidden Areas for CM-IDLE state and, for CM-CONNECTED state when in RRC_INACTIVE state are executed by the UE based on information received from the core network. Mobility Restrictions for CM-CONNECTED state when in RRC_CONNECTED state are executed by the radio access network and the core network. In CM-CONNECTED state, the core network provides Mobility Restrictions to the radio access network within Mobility Restriction List. Mobility Restrictions consists of RAT restriction, Forbidden Area, Service Area Restrictions, Core Network type restriction and Closed Access Group information as follows:

• RAT restriction:
  Defines the 3GPP and non-3GPP Radio Access Technology(ies), a UE is not allowed to access in a PLMN. In a restricted RAT a UE based on subscription is not permitted access to the network for this PLMN. For 3GPP access and CM-CONNECTED state, when radio access network determines target RAT and target PLMN during Handover or redirection procedure, it should take per PLMN RAT restriction into consideration. The RAT restriction is enforced in the network, and not provided to the UE.
• Forbidden Area:
  In a Forbidden Area, the UE, based on subscription, is not permitted to initiate any communication with the network for this PLMN. The UE behaviour in terms of cell selection, RAT selection and PLMN selection depends on the network response that informs the UE of Forbidden Area. A Forbidden Area applies either to 3GPP access or to non-3GPP access.
  Further description on Forbidden Area when using wireline access is available in TS 23.316.
  Support for Forbidden Area with NR satellite access is described in clause 5.4.11.8.
  Forbidden Areas should not be used for Untrusted or Trusted non-3GPP access.
• Service Area Restriction:
  Defines areas in which the UE may or may not initiate communication with the network as follows:
  • Allowed Area:
    In an Allowed Area, the UE is permitted to initiate communication with the network as allowed by the subscription.
  • Non-Allowed Area:
    In a Non-Allowed Area a UE is service area restricted based on subscription. The UE and the network are not allowed to initiate Service Request, or any connection requests for user plane data, control plane data, exception data reporting, or SM signalling (except for PS Data Off status change reporting) to obtain user services that are not related to mobility.
    The UE shall not use the entering of a Non-Allowed Area as a criterion for Cell Reselection, a trigger for PLMN Selection or Domain selection for UE originating sessions or calls. The RRC procedures while the UE is in CM-CONNECTED with RRC_INACTIVE state are unchanged compared to when the UE is in an Allowed Area. The RM procedures are unchanged compared to when the UE is in an Allowed Area.
    The UE in a Non-Allowed Area may initiate MA PDU Session establishment or activation over a non-3GPP access other than wireline access, but the User Plane resources on the 3GPP access for the MA-PDU shall not be established or activated. The handling of Non-Allowed Area when using wireline access is described in TS 23.316.
    The UE in a Non-Allowed Area:
    • shall respond with a Service Request to core network paging indicating 3GPP access type or to a NAS Notification message received over non-3GPP access indicating 3GPP access type or when RAN paging failed, but the UE shall not request User Plane resource establishment, except for emergency services or when the UE is MPS-subscribed or MCX-subscribed.
    • shall respond with Service Request to core network paging indicating non-3GPP access type or NAS Notification message received over 3GPP access indicating non-3GPP access type but the UE shall not request User Plane resource establishment, except when the UE is MPS-subscribed.
• Core Network type restriction:
  Defines whether UE is allowed to connect to 5GC only, EPC only, both 5GC and EPC for this PLMN. The Core Network type restriction when received applies in the PLMN either to both 3GPP and non-3GPP Access Types or to non-3GPP Access Type only.
• Closed Access Group information:
  As defined in clause 5.30.3.

For a given UE, the core network determines the Mobility Restrictions based on UE subscription information, UE location and/or local policy (e.g. if the HPLMN has not deployed 5GC, HPLMN ID of the UE and the operator's policy are used in the VPLMN for determining the Core Network type restriction). The Mobility Restriction may change due to e.g. UE's subscription, location change and local policy. Optionally the Service Area Restrictions or the Non-Allowed Area may in addition be fine-tuned by the PCF e.g. based on UE location, PEI and network policies. Service Area Restrictions may be updated during a Registration procedure or UE Configuration Update procedure. If the network sends Service Area Restrictions to the UE, the network sends only either an Allowed Area, or a Non-Allowed Area, but not both at the same time, to the UE. If the UE has received an Allowed Area from the network, any TA not part of the Allowed Area is considered by the UE as non-allowed. If the UE has received a Non-Allowed Area from the network, any TA not part of the Non-Allowed Area is considered by the UE as allowed. If the UE has not received any Service Area Restrictions, any TA in the PLMN is considered as allowed. If the UE has overlapping areas between Forbidden Areas, Service Area Restrictions, or any combination of them, the UE shall proceed in the following precedence order:

• The evaluation of Forbidden Areas shall take precedence over the evaluation of Service Area Restrictions.

The UDM shall provide to the AMF the information defined in TS 23.008 about the subscriber's NR or E-UTRA access restriction set by the operator determined e.g. by subscription scenario and roaming scenario:

• For NR:
  • NR not allowed as primary RAT, however any of the NR categories listed below may still be allowed.
  • NR not allowed as secondary RAT.
  • NR in unlicensed bands not allowed as primary RAT.
  • NR in unlicensed bands not allowed as secondary RAT.
  • NR(LEO) satellite access not allowed as primary RAT.
  • NR(MEO) satellite access not allowed as primary RAT.
  • NR(GEO) satellite access not allowed as primary RAT.
  • NR(OTHERSAT) satellite access not allowed as primary RAT.
  • NR RedCap not allowed as primary RAT.
  • NR eRedCap not allowed as primary RAT.
• For E-UTRA:
  • E-UTRA not allowed as primary RAT.
  • E-UTRA not allowed as secondary RAT.
  • E-UTRA in unlicensed bands not allowed as secondary RAT.
  • NB-IoT not allowed as primary RAT.
  • LTE-M not allowed as primary RAT.
  • WB-E-UTRAN (LEO) satellite access not allowed as primary access.
  • WB-E-UTRAN (MEO) satellite access not allowed as primary access.
  • WB-E-UTRAN (GEO) satellite access not allowed as primary access.
  • WB-E-UTRAN (OTHERSAT) satellite access not allowed as primary access.
  • LTE-M (LEO) satellite access not allowed as primary access.
  • LTE-M (MEO) satellite access not allowed as primary access.
  • LTE-M (GEO) satellite access not allowed as primary access.
  • LTE-M (OTHERSAT) satellite access not allowed as primary access.

In order to enforce all primary RAT restrictions, the related RAT has to be deployed in different Tracking Area Codes and the subscriber shall not be allowed to access the network in TAs using the particular RAT. With all secondary RAT restrictions, the subscriber shall not be allowed to use this RAT as secondary RAT.

This clause describes Service Area Restrictions for 3GPP access. For Service Area Restrictions when using wireline access, see TS 23.316. A Service Area Restriction may contain one or more (e.g. up to 16) entire Tracking Areas each or the Service Area Restriction may be set as unlimited (i.e. contain all Tracking Areas of the PLMN). The UE's subscription data in the UDM includes a Service Area Restriction which may contain either Allowed or Non-Allowed Areas-specified by using explicit Tracking Area identities and/or other geographical information (e.g. longitude/latitude, zip code, etc). The geographical information used to specify Allowed or Non-Allowed Area is only managed in the network, and the network will map it to a list of TAs before sending Service Area Restriction information to the PCF, NG-RAN and UE. When the AMF assigns a limited allowed area to the UE, the AMF shall provide the UE with Service Area Restrictions which consist of either Allowed Areas or Non-Allowed Areas. The Allowed Areas included in the Service Area Restrictions can be pre-configured and/or dynamically assigned by the AMF. The Allowed Area may alternatively be configured as unlimited i.e. it may contain all Tracking Areas of the PLMN. The Registration Area of a UE in the Non-Allowed Area should consist of a set of TAs which belongs to a Non-Allowed Area of the UE. The Registration Area of a UE in the Allowed Area should consist of a set of TAs which belongs to an Allowed Area of the UE. The AMF provides the Service Area Restriction in the form of TA(s), which may be a subset of full list stored in UE's subscription data or provided by the PCF, to the UE during the Registration procedure. The limited allowed area may also be limited by the AMF by a maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas, even though this limitation is not sent to the UE. If maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas is used in combination with Allowed Area, the maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas indicates (to the AMF) the maximum number of TAs allowed in limited allowed area inside the Allowed Area. If maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas is used in combination with Non-Allowed Area, the maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas indicates (to the AMF) the maximum number of TAs allowed in limited allowed area outside of the Non-Allowed Area. The UDM stores the Service Area Restrictions of a UE as part of the UE's subscription data. The PCF in the serving network may (e.g. due to varying conditions such as UE's location, application in use, time and date) further adjust Service Area Restrictions of a UE, either by expanding an Allowed Area or by reducing a Non-Allowed Area or by increasing the maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas. If NWDAF is deployed, the PCF may use analytics (i.e. statistics or predictions) on UE mobility from NWDAF (see TS 23.288) to adjust Service Area Restrictions. The UDM and the PCF may update the Service Area Restrictions of a UE at any time. For the UE in CM-CONNECTED state the AMF updates the UE and RAN immediately. For UE in CM-IDLE state the AMF may page the UE immediately or store the updated service area restriction and update the UE upon next signalling interaction with the UE, as defined in TS 24.501. During registration, if the Service Area Restrictions of the UE is not present in the AMF, the AMF fetches from the UDM the Service Area Restrictions of the UE that may be further adjusted by the PCF. The serving AMF shall enforce the Service Area Restrictions of a UE. A limited allowed area given by a maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas, may be dynamically assigned by the AMF adding any not yet visited (by the UE) Tracking Areas to the limited allowed area until the maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas is reached (i.e. the AMF adds new TAs to the limited allowed area until the number of TAs is equal to the maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas). The AMF deletes the list of TAs that have been used up under the maximum allowed number of Tracking Areas quota at every Initial Registration. For a UE in CM-CONNECTED state the AMF shall indicate the Service Area Restrictions of this UE to the RAN, using a Mobility Restriction List. The UE shall store the received Service Area Restrictions and, if there is previously stored Service Area Restrictions, replace them with the newly received information. If the Service Area Restrictions include a limited allowed area, the Service Area Restrictions are applicable for the Tracking areas indicated in Service Area Restrictions. If the Service Area Restrictions included an unlimited allowed area, the received Service Area Restrictions are either applicable for the registered PLMN and its equivalent PLMN(s) that are available in the Registration Area, or the registered SNPN that is available in the Registration Area. The RAN uses the Service Area Restrictions for target cell selection in Xn and N2 based handover. Upon change of serving AMF due to mobility, the old AMF may provide the new AMF with the Service Area Restrictions of the UE that may be further adjusted by the PCF. The network may perform paging for a UE to update Service Area Restrictions with Generic UE Configuration Update procedure (see in clause 4.2.4 of TS 23.502). In the case of roaming, the Service Area Restrictions are transferred from the UDM via the serving AMF to the serving PCF in the visited network. The serving PCF in the visited network may further adjust the Service Area Restrictions. Support for Service Area Restrictions with NR satellite access is described in clause 5.4.11.8.

To support radio resource management in NG-RAN the AMF provides the parameter 'Index to RAT/Frequency Selection Priority' (RFSP Index) to NG-RAN across N2. The RFSP Index is mapped by the RAN to locally defined configuration in order to apply specific RRM strategies, taking into account any available information in RAN. The RFSP Index is UE specific and applies to all the Radio Bearers. Examples of how this parameter may be used by the RAN:

• to derive UE specific cell reselection priorities to control idle mode camping.
• to decide on redirecting active mode UEs to different frequency layers or RATs (e.g. see clause 5.3.4.3.2).

The HPLMN may set the RFSP Index taking into account the Subscribed S-NSSAIs. The AMF receives the subscribed RFSP Index from the UDM (e.g. during the Registration procedure). For non-roaming subscribers, the AMF chooses the RFSP Index in use according to one of the following procedures, depending on operator's configuration:

• the RFSP Index in use is identical to the subscribed RFSP Index, or
• the AMF chooses the RFSP Index in use based on the subscribed RFSP Index, the locally configured operator's policies, the Allowed NSSAI and any Partially Allowed NSSAI, S-NSSAI(s) rejected partially in the RA, Rejected S-NSSAI(s) for the RA, Pending NSSAI and the UE related context information available at the AMF, including UE's usage setting, if received during Registration procedures (see TS 23.502).

The AMF may report to the PCF the subscribed RFSP Index received from the UDM for further evaluation as described in clause 6.1.2.1 of TS 23.503. When receiving the authorized RFSP Index from the PCF, the AMF shall apply the authorized RFSP Index instead of the subscribed RFSP Index for choosing the RFSP index in use (as described above). For roaming subscribers, the AMF may choose the RFSP Index in use based on the visited network policy, but can take input from the HPLMN into account (e.g. an RFSP Index value pre-configured per HPLMN, or a single RFSP Index value to be used for all roamers independent of the HPLMN). If the AMF receives authorized RFSP Index value from the V-PCF, the AMF chooses the RFSP index in use based on the authorized RFSP Index value. The RFSP Index in use is also forwarded from source to target NG-RAN node when Xn or N2 is used for intra-NG-RAN handover. The AMF stores the subscribed RFSP Index value received and the RFSP Index value in use. During the Registration procedure, the AMF may update the RFSP Index value in use (e.g. the AMF may need to update the RFSP Index value in use if the UE related context information in the AMF has changed). When the RFSP Index value in use is changed, the AMF immediately provides the updated RFSP Index value in use to NG-RAN node by modifying an existing UE context or by establishing a new UE context in RAN or by being configured to include the updated RFSP Index value in use in the NGAP DOWNLINK NAS TRANSPORT message if the user plane establishment is not needed. During inter-AMF mobility procedures, the source AMF forwards both RFSP Index values to the target AMF. The target AMF may replace the received RFSP Index value in use with a new RFSP Index value in use that is based on the operator's policies and the UE related context information available at the target AMF. In order to enable UE idle mode mobility control and priority-based reselection mechanism considering availability of Network Slices at the network and the Network Slices allowed for a UE, an RFSP is derived as described in clause 5.3.4.3, considering also the Allowed NSSAI and any Partially Allowed NSSAI for the UE. A UE supporting NSAG (see clause 5.15.14) may be configured, for some of the S-NSSAIs in the configured NSSAI, with NSAGs it can use as described in TS 38.300, TS 38.304, TS 38.331, TS 38.321, TS 24.501 and as described in clause 5.3.4.3.4.

The NG-RAN may prefer to use specific radio resources per data radio bearer(s), e.g. depending on the Network Slices associated to the data radio bearer used by the UE. The UE idle mode mobility control and priority-based reselection mechanism operates as described in clause 5.3.4.3.1, and when UP resources are activated e.g. for a specific S-NSSAI the NG-RAN can use local policies to decide on what specific radio resources to use for the associated data radio bearer(s). A UE may be served by a set of data radio bearers which may be served by cells in different bands, selected based on RRM policies.

If a Network Slice, S-NSSAI, is configured to be available only in TAs covering specific dedicated frequency band(s), then there may be a need to redirect the UE to the dedicated frequency band(s) when such S-NSSAI is requested. If the Requested NSSAI contains S-NSSAI(s) that are not available in the UE's current TA, see clause 5.15.8, the AMF itself or by interacting with the NSSF as described in clause 5.15.5.2.1 may determine a Target NSSAI to be used by the NG-RAN, in addition to the information the AMF receives, such as the Allowed NSSAI and the RFSP for the Allowed NSSAI, to attempt to redirect the UE to a cell and TA in another frequency band and TA that supports the S-NSSAIs in the Target NSSAI. The Target NSSAI includes at least one S-NSSAI from the Requested NSSAI not available in the current TA, but available in another TA in different frequency band possibly overlapping with the current TA, and optionally additional S-NSSAIs from the Requested NSSAI that are configured to be available within the same TAs as the S-NSSAIs not available in the current TA. If the serving PLMN supports the subscription-based restrictions to simultaneous registration of network slices (see clause 5.15.12), and if the UE has NSSRG as part of the subscription information received from the HPLMN, the Target NSSAI includes only S-NSSAIs sharing at least one NSSRG. The Target NSSAI may be excluding some of the S-NSSAIs in the Allowed NSSAI and include some of the rejected S-NSSAIs due to lack of support in the TA where the UE is located based on network policies that are in line with customer and operator agreements. The Target NSSAI shall only include S-NSSAIs that can be provided in an Allowed NSSAI, or in an Allowed NSSAI and Partially Allowed NSSAI, for the UE. The Target NSSAI includes at least one Rejected S-NSSAI and may include e.g.:

• all or a subset of the Rejected S-NSSAIs for RA, all or a subset of the S-NSSAIs rejected partially in the RA, all or a subset of Partially Allowed NSSAI when none of the S-NSSAIs in the Requested S-NSSAI were available in the TA where the UE is;
• all the S-NSSAIs of the Allowed NSSAI, all the S-NSSAIs of the Partially Allowed NSSAI and all or a subset of the Rejected S-NSSAIs for the RA and all or subset of S-NSSAIs rejected partially in the RA;
• a subset of the S-NSSAIs in the Allowed NSSAI, a subset of the S-NSSAIs in the Partially Allowed NSSAI and all or a subset of the Rejected S-NSSAIs for the RA and all or subset of S-NSSAIs rejected partially in the RA, if the operator policy is to prefer this Target S-NSSAI to the Allowed NSSAI.

The AMF should retrieve an RFSP Index suitable for the Target NSSAI and includes the RFSP Index in the information sent to the NG-RAN. The AMF retrieves the RFSP Index from the PCF or, in case PCF is not deployed the AMF determines the RFSP Index according to local configuration. The RFSP index associated to the Target NSSAI is considered if the NG-RAN succeeds to redirect the UE to a new TA where the Target NSSAI, or some S-NSSAIs of the Target NSSAI are supported, otherwise the RFSP index of the Allowed NSSAI is considered. If the Requested NSSAI contains S-NSSAI(s) which map to S-NSSAI(s) of the HPLMN subject to Network Slice-Specific Authentication and Authorization that are not available in the UE's current TA, the AMF shall proceed with the Network Slice-Specific Authentication and Authorization procedure as described in clause 4.2.9 of TS 23.502. If the AMF determines a new Allowed NSSAI and/or Partially Allowed NSSAI at the end of Network Slice-Specific Authentication and Authorization steps and some S-NSSAI is not available in the UE's current TA, a Target NSSAI and corresponding RFSP index may be determined and provided to NG-RAN during UE Configuration Update procedure as described in clause 4.2.4.2 of TS 23.502. The NG-RAN shall attempt to find cells of TAs that can support all the S-NSSAIs in the Target S-NSSAIs, and if no such cell of a TA is available the RAN can attempt to select cells of TAs that best match the Target S-NSSAI. The NG-RAN shall attempt to ensure continuity of the PDU Sessions with activated User Plane associated with the S-NSSAIs in the Allowed NSSAI and/or Partially Allowed NSSAI which are in the Target NSSAI. Also, the NG-RAN should attempt to ensure continuity of service for the S-NSSAIs of the Allowed NSSAI and/or Partially Allowed NSSAI also available in the Target NSSAI, before prioritizing cells that are not supporting one or more of the S-NSSAI of the Allowed NSSAI and/or Partially Allowed NSSAI also available in the Target NSSAI. The NG-RAN attempts to determine target cell(s) supporting the Target NSSAI considering the UE Radio Capabilities (i.e. the AMF (if available in the UE context) shall provide the NG-RAN with the current UE Radio Capability Information or the RACS UE Radio Capability ID when a Target NSSAI is provided, if the NG-RAN had not yet received any of them, or, if the AMF cannot provide any of these, the UE Radio Capability Information may be retrieved by the NG-RAN from the UE). Once the target cells are determined, the NG-RAN initiates RRC redirection procedure towards the target cells, or the NG-RAN initiates handover for the UE with active PDU Sessions associated with the S-NSSAIs which are in the Target NSSAI, if possible. After a successful redirection or handover of the UE to a new TA inside the current RA, the UE may request a PDU Session and activate UP resources for a PDU Session for S-NSSAIs of Partially Allowed NSSAI that are supported in the new TA, and the UE may request to register S-NSSAIs rejected partially in the RA that are not rejected in the new TA, as described in clause 5.15.17. After a successful redirection or handover of the UE to a new TA outside the current RA, the UE shall perform a Mobility Registration Update procedure and the S-NSSAIs that the new TA supports can be allowed if the UE requests them. In order to ensure that the UE is redirected to a TA outside the current RA when there are S-NSSAIs Rejected for the RA, thus triggering a Mobility Registration Update procedure enabling the UE to request the S-NSSAI(s) that were rejected for the RA, the AMF shall set the RA so that the RA does not include TAs supporting the S-NSSAIs rejected for the RA included in the Target NSSAI when the AMF provides a Target NSSAI to the RAN.

When one or more S-NSSAI(s) are associated with NSAG(s), the UE may perform Network Slice based cell reselection and Random Access as described in TS 38.300, TS 38.304, TS 38.331, TS 38.321 and TS 24.501. When providing NSAG Information to the UE, the AMF shall also provide the NSAG priority information for the NSAGs provided in the NSAG Information. The AMF determines the NSAG priority information based on configured local policy of the serving PLMN or SNPN. If the UE has received NSAG Information from the AMF, the UE shall use the NSAG Information provided by the AMF for cell reselection and Random Access as described below. If the UE has not received any NSAG Information from the AMF, the UE shall not use Network Slice based cell reselection and Random Access at all. The UE NAS provides to the UE AS the NSAG Information as received from the AMF and the S-NSSAIs in the Allowed NSSAI and any Partially Allowed NSSAI as input to cell reselection, except when the UE intends to register with a new (including any S-NSSAIs rejected partially in the RA) set of S-NSSAIs with a Requested NSSAI different from the current Allowed NSSAI and any Partially Allowed NSSAI, in which case the UE NAS provides to the UE AS layer the NSAG Information as received from the AMF and the S-NSSAIs in the Requested NSSAI, and this may trigger a cell reselection, before sending the Registration Request including the new Requested NSSAI. For Network Slice based Random Access, different Random Access resources may be assigned to different NSAG(s). The UE determines Random Access configuration among NSAGs that are published in SIB for Random Access and that are associated to the S-NSSAIs triggering the access. If the signalling transaction triggering the access attempt is related to more than one network slice, and the S-NSSAIs of these network slices are associated with more than one NSAG for Random Access, the NSAG with the highest priority is selected. When a S-NSSAI is replaced by an Alternative S-NSSAI for a UE supporting the Network Slice Replacement feature (see clause 5.15.19) then the AMF provides updated NSAG information also including the Alternative S-NSSAI to the UE when the Alternative S-NSSAI was not part of the UE Configured NSSAI and is Added to the UE configured NSSAI. The NSAG priority may take into account the Alternative S-NSSAI is a replacement of the replaced NSSAI if the Alternative S-NSSAI is not part of the UE subscription.