Understanding the protocols that underpin 5G Standalone (SA) deployments is critical for anyone involved in mobile network design, deployment, or troubleshooting. This single-module course provides a practical overview of the key signalling and user plane protocols that enable communication within the 5G system.

In just three hours, you'll explore how 5G SA uses modern service-based interfaces, with a focus on HTTP/2 and JSON for communication between core network functions. You'll also learn about protocol roles such as PFCP for user plane control, GTPv2-C for EPC interworking, and NAS protocols for direct signalling with the user equipment.

The course also covers the essential signalling protocols in the NG-RAN, including NG-AP, Xn-AP, F1-AP, E1-AP, and RRC - critical for coordinating activity across the RAN and between the RAN and core.

On the user plane, you’ll examine how data transport is managed using PDU sessions, and how session types (IP, Ethernet, Unstructured) are established and handled. You’ll also gain an understanding of QoS Flows, with parameters such as 5QI and ARP used to deliver differentiated service levels.

This course is ideal for technical professionals who need a working knowledge of 5G SA protocol architecture, signalling behaviour, and data transport mechanisms - without going deep into packet-level analysis.

Course Contents                        

• PDU Sessions and QoS Flows
  
• 5G QoS Parameters, ARP and 5QI
  
• Implementation of PDU Sessions
  
• IP PDU Session Types, IP Ethernet and Unstructured
  
• Multiple PDU Sessions Anchors
  
• Reflective QoS
  
• User Plane Protocol Stack
  
• Core Network Signalling Overview
  
• Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
  
• HTTP 2 and JSON_2
  
• Non-Access Stratum (NAS) and Access Stratum (AS) Protocols
  
• Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) Signalling Protocols Overview
  
• RAN Protocols for the NG, FI, E1 and Xn Interfaces
  
• RAN User Plane Protocol