Reliance Jio is pursuing 5G network architecture option 6 to minimize costs by leveraging existing 4G infrastructure, though it may result in a service that is more of an enhanced 4G rather than true 5G. The need for this approach is amplified by the high congestion in India's 4G network, with most LTE cells operating at 90-98% capacity. Furthermore, Jio faces challenges including lack of spectrum, support from industry standards, and essential features like network slicing only available in 5G core.

1. Opinion:
Why does Jio want 5G Network
Architecture Option 6?
Zahid Ghadialy,
Principal Analyst and Consultant
@3g4gUK
eNB EPC
Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC
gNB 5GC
Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR
connected to EPC
EPC
eNB
en-gNB
EPC
Option 6: SA NR connected to EPC
en-gNB

2. 5G Deployment Options and Migration Strategy
©3G4G
EPC 5GC (NGCN)
SA
NSA
eNB EPC
Option 1: SA LTE connected to EPC Option 2: SA NR connected to 5GC
(Standalone)
(Non-Standalone)
[Dual Connectivity]
ng-eNBgNB 5GC
Option 5: SA LTE connected to 5GC
Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR
connected to EPC
Option 4: NSA NR assisted LTE
connected to 5GC
Option 7: NSA LTE assisted NR
connected to 5GC
Migration
Strategy Option 1
↗ Option 2
↘ Option 3
Option 3
↗ Option 7
↘ Option 5
Option 3
↗ Option 3
↘ Option 2
Option 3
↗ Option 4
↘ Option 2
[EN-DC] [NE-DC] [NGEN-DC]
5GC
5GC
gNB
ng-eNB
5GC
gNB
ng-eNB
EPC
eNB
en-gNB

3. ©3G4G

4. ©3G4G

5. Comparison of Option 1, 3 & 6
©3G4G
Option 1
eNB
EPC
S1-C
S1-U
S1-U
X2-U
X2-C
S1-C
S1-U

6. Comparison of Option 1, 3 & 6
©3G4G
Option 1
eNB
EPC
eNB
S1-U
S1-U
X2-C
X2-U
en-gNB
Option 3
X2-U
X2-C
S1-C
X2-U
X2-C
S1-C
S1-U
S1-C
S1-U

7. Comparison of Option 1, 3 & 6
©3G4G
Option 1
eNB
EPC
eNB
S1-U
S1-U
X2-C
X2-U
en-gNB
Option 3
en-gNB
(5G NR)
Option 6
S1-U
S1-C
X2-U
X2-C
S1-C
X2-U
X2-C
X2-U
X2-C
S1-C
S1-U
S1-C
S1-U

8. Why Option 6?
©3G4G
A recent article from Mint (link) points out the reason Reliance Jio (Jio) is
pushing for Option 6:
• It will save costs for the company, allowing it to leverage parts of the
existing 4G network for providing 5G service, at least initially.
• But it will only be a better version of 4G with higher capacity, rather
than the “true 5G" the world is anticipating.
• The non-standalone mode is not suitable for India (at least Jio) as the
4G network is running at almost full capacity due to an exponential rise
in user base.
• In India, LTE [4G] cells are 90-98% clogged, in contrast to other
countries which are at 5 to 40% capacity.

9. 5G: Multiple Layers for multiple needs
©3G4G
Coverage Layer
Sub-1GHz
Capacity Layer
1GHz – 7.125GHz
High Throughput Layers
24.25GHz – 52.6GHz

10. Comparison of Option 1, 3 & 6
©3G4G
4G
4G
4G
4G
4G
4G
4G
4G
5G
4G
4G
4G
4G
5G
5G
4G
4G
4G
4G
5G
5G
5G
5G 5G
5G
5G
5G
5G
Option 1 with LTE
Carrier Aggregation
(CA)
Option 3 Dual
Connectivity (DC)
with coverage 5G
and LTE CA
Option 3 DC with
coverage and
capacity 5G CA and
LTE CA
Option 3 DC with
coverage, capacity
& high-throughput
5G CA and LTE CA
Option 6 with
coverage 5G
Option 6 with
coverage and
capacity 5G CA
Option 6 with
coverage, capacity
& high-throughput
5G CA

11. Comparison of Option 1, 3 & 6
©3G4G

12. Comparison of Option 1, 3 & 6
©3G4G
Option 1 with LTE Carrier
Aggregation (CA)
Option 3 DC with coverage,
capacity & high-throughput
5G CA and LTE CA
Option 6 with
coverage 5G
Option 6 with coverage
and capacity 5G CA
Option 6 with coverage,
capacity & high-throughput
5G CA

13. What 5G Spectrum Does Jio Have?
©3G4G
• They haven’t got any 5G spectrum
as Spectrum has not been
auctioned.
• In July, they had requested for 800
megahertz of frequencies in the 26
gigahertz (Ghz) and 24 Ghz band as
well as 100 Mhz in 3.5 GHz band
for running field trials.
5G (3.5 GHz)
5G
(24/26 GHz)
5G
(24/26 GHz)
Jio possibly planned
trials using 5G CA
with Option 6

14. 5G with Option 6
©3G4G
✔
✘✘

15. What’s stopping Jio in Going Alone?
©3G4G
• No support from 3GPP Standards.
• No support from devices (because of no support from standards).
• No support from the main industry drivers and ecosystem.
• Advanced features like Network Slicing not available with 4G EPC
(Evolved Packet Core).
• New features bringing wireless & wireline together (WWC / FMC) only
supported with 5G Core.

16. References & Further Reading
©3G4G
• The 3G4G Blog: 5G Network Architecture Options (link)
• The 3G4G Blog: Would 5G NSA undergo Sunset? When? (link)
• The 3G4G Blog: 5G New Radio (NR), Architecture options and migration
from LTE (link)
• Mint: Inside Reliance Jio’s game plan for 5G (link)
• The 3G4G Blog: Carrier Aggregation (CA) and Dual Connectivity (DC) (link)
• Mint: Reliance Jio seeks spectrum for 5G trials, plans to sell tech overseas
(link)
• The 3G4G Blog: When does your 5G NSA Device Show 5G Icon? (link)
• The 3G4G Blog: 5G and Fixed-Mobile Convergence (FMC) (link)
• The 3G4G Blog: What about 5G Network Architecture Option 4 (a.k.a. NE-
DC) ? (link)

17. Thank You
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