This presentation looks at Control and User Plane Separation of EPC nodes (CUPS) which was completed by 3GPP as part of Release 14 specifications and is set to be a key core network feature for many operators. CUPS provides the architecture enhancements for the separation of functionality in the Evolved Packet Core’s SGW, PGW and TDF. This enables flexible network deployment and operation, by distributed or centralized deployment and the independent scaling between control plane and user plane functions - while not affecting the functionality of the existing nodes subject to this split.

1. Control and User Plane
Separation of EPC nodes
(CUPS)
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2. The ‘4G’ LTE Network Architecture
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BSC
BTS
MSC
Voice (PSTN)
Network
SGSN
Data (IP)
Network
RNC
Node BeNodeB
MME
GGSN
Access
Network
Core
Network
Air
Interface
MSUEUE
BSSRNS
S-GW
P-GW
2G 2.5G
3G 4G
EPC = Evolved Packet Core
MME = Mobility Management Entity
S-GW = Serving Gateway
P-GW = PDN Gateway
PDN = Packet Data Network
eNodeB = evolved NodeB
EPC

3. EPC before CUPS
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Data (IP)
Network
eNodeB
MME
UE
S-GW
P-GW
EPC
S1-MMES1-U
S11
SGi
HSS
S6a
PCRFTDF
SGi Gx
S5/S8

4. Control & User Plane Protocol Stacks
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Control Plane Protocol Stacks
User Plane Protocol Stacks Source: Netmanias

5. Example Message Flow for Bearer Establishment
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Source: Alcatel-Lucent Whitepaper

6. EPC before CUPS
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Data (IP)
Network
eNodeB
MME
UE
S-GW
P-GW
EPC
S1-MMES1-U
S11
SGi
HSS
S6a
PCRFTDF
SGi Gx
S5/S8

7. EPC after CUPS
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Data (IP)
Network
eNodeB
MME
UE
S-GW-C
P-GW-C
EPC
S1-MMES1-U
S11
SGi
HSS
S6a
PCRFTDF-U
SGi Gx
S5/S8-C
P-GW-U
S-GW-UTDF-C
S5/S8-U
Sxb
Sxa
Sxc

8. 3GPP CUPS Architecture
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Source: 3GPP

9. High Level Principles for CUPS Architecture
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• The CP function terminates the Control Plane protocols: GTP-C, Diameter
(Gx, Gy, Gz).
• A CP function can interface multiple UP functions, and a UP function can
be shared by multiple CP functions.
• An UE is served by a single SGW-CP but multiple SGW-UPs can be selected
for different PDN connections. A user plane data packet may traverse
multiple UP functions.
• The CP function controls the processing of the packets in the UP function
by provisioning a set of rules in Sx sessions
• A legacy SGW, PGW and TDF can be replaced by a split node without
effecting connected legacy nodes.

10. Advantages of CUPS Architecture
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• Reducing Latency on application service, e.g. by selecting User plane nodes
which are closer to the RAN or more appropriate for the intended UE
usage type without increasing the number of control plane nodes.
• Supporting Increase of Data Traffic, by enabling to add user plane nodes
without changing the number of SGW-C, PGW-C and TDF-C in the network.
• Locating and Scaling the CP and UP resources of the EPC nodes
independently.
• Independent evolution of the CP and UP functions.
• Enabling Software Defined Networking to deliver user plane data more
efficiently.

11. CUPS evolution to 5G - Ericsson
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Source: ITU

12. CUPS evolution to 5G Architecture
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Source: Heavy Reading

13. Further Reading Materials
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• 3GPP: Control and User Plane Separation of EPC nodes (CUPS) -
http://www.3gpp.org/cups
• ITU: 5G Network Architecture and FMC - Joe Wilke, Ericsson -
http://www.itu.int/
• Heavy Reading: Service-Based Architecture for 5G Core Networks -
http://www.3g4g.co.uk

14. Thank You
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