The document discusses the differences between standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) 5G networks, highlighting their deployment strategies, spectrum requirements, and expected speeds. NSA 5G utilizes existing 4G infrastructure to provide service, while SA 5G aims to deliver the true 5G experience but requires more spectrum. The author suggests that operators may adopt varied strategies, including re-farming older spectrum bands, impacting overall network performance.

1. Opinion:
The Politics of SA vs NSA
5G & 4G Speeds
Zahid Ghadialy,
Principal Analyst and Consultant
@3g4gUK

2. Typical Operator Spectrum – 2G, 3G, 4G
©3G4G
2G
3G
4G

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

4. Typical Operator Spectrum – 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
©3G4G
2G
3G
4G
5G
FR1 – 410 MHz to 7.125 GHz FR2 – 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz

5. 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
Non-Standalone 5G
Networks, Release-15, all 5G
networks today (SRIT)

6. Option 3: NSA LTE assisted NR, connected to EPC
©3G4G
• en-gNB: node
providing NR user
plane and control
plane protocol
terminations towards
the UE, and acting as
Secondary Node in EN-
DC.
• In simple English, it’s a
gNB that supports
legacy E-UTRAN
interface
MME/S-GW MME/S-GW
EPC
E-UTRAN
S1-U
X2
X2- U
eNB eNB
en-gNB
en-gNB
Based on:
3GPP TS 37.340 V15.4.0 (2018-12)
Figure 4.1.2-1:EN-DC Overall Architecture

7. 5G Dual Connectivity
©3G4G
f1 f2 f3 f4
LTE Carrier Aggregation
4G / LTE
f1 f2 f3 f4
Dual Connectivity (DC)
5G NSA
f5 f6
LTE Carrier Aggregation 5G NR Carrier Aggregation
While LTE-A supported up to 5 Component
Carriers (CC), each with a max of 20 MHz for
Carrier Aggregation, LTE-A Pro supports 32 CCs
5G NR supports up to 16 CCs of max 400 MHz

8. Current NSA 5G Speeds
©3G4G
f1 f2 f3 f4
Dual Connectivity (DC)
5G NSA
f5 f6
LTE Carrier Aggregation 5G NR Carrier Aggregation
5G NSA Speeds = 4G Speeds + 5G Coverage/Capacity Layer Speeds + 5G mmWave Speeds

9. UK: Only non-mmWave 5G right now
©3G4G
0 10 GHz 20 GHz 30 GHz 40 GHz 50 GHz 60 GHz 70 GHz 80 GHz 90 GHz 100 GHz
FR1: 450 MHz – 7.125 GHz FR2: 24.25 GHz – 52.6 GHz
Non-mmWave 5G mmWave 5G

10. USA: Mix of mmWave & non-mmWave
©3G4G
0 10 GHz 20 GHz 30 GHz 40 GHz 50 GHz 60 GHz 70 GHz 80 GHz 90 GHz 100 GHz
FR1: 450 MHz – 7.125 GHz FR2: 24.25 GHz – 52.6 GHz
Non-mmWave 5G mmWave 5G

11. Italy: Both non-mmWave & mmWave 5G
©3G4G
0 10 GHz 20 GHz 30 GHz 40 GHz 50 GHz 60 GHz 70 GHz 80 GHz 90 GHz 100 GHz
FR1: 450 MHz – 7.125 GHz FR2: 24.25 GHz – 52.6 GHz
Non-mmWave 5G mmWave 5G

12. Current NSA 5G Speeds
©3G4G
f1 f2 f3 f4
Dual Connectivity (DC)
5G NSA
f5 f6
LTE Carrier Aggregation 5G NR Carrier Aggregation
5G NSA Speeds = 4G Speeds + 5G Coverage/Capacity Layer Speeds + 5G mmWave Speeds

13. Current NSA 5G Speeds
©3G4G
f1 f2 f3 f4
Dual Connectivity (DC)
5G NSA
f5 f6
LTE Carrier Aggregation 5G NR Carrier Aggregation
5G NSA Speeds = 4G Speeds + 5G Coverage/Capacity Layer Speeds + 5G mmWave Speeds

14. 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
gNB
Future – Standalone 5G
Networks, after Release-16
is finalized (RIT)

15. SA 5G Speeds
©3G4G
5G SA
f5 f6
5G NR Carrier Aggregation
5G NSA Speeds = 5G Coverage/Capacity Layer Speeds + 5G mmWave Speeds

16. Typical Operator Spectrum – 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
©3G4G
2G
3G
4G
5G
FR1 – 410 MHz to 7.125 GHz FR2 – 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz

17. Summary
©3G4G
• NSA 5G can provide good speeds (eMBB & FWA)
• SA 5G on the other hand will provide a ‘real 5G’ experience
• SA 5G needs a lot of spectrum to provide ‘real 5G’ experience, mainly
in FR1 or sub-7.125 GHz spectrum
• The best option is for an operator to have lots of new 5G spectrum,
in coverage, capacity & high-throughput layer
• But some operators will choose to re-rafarm 2G/3G spectrum,
leading to switch off for some 2G/3G networks
• Some operators may also choose to re-farm 4G spectrum, leading to
decrease in 4G speeds, which will work in favour of 5G as well
• This is just an opinion, every operator will have a different strategy and
approach.

18. Thank You
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