Wireless 5G NR & 5G Core Network

IP Network Analysis & Emulation

5G New Radio (NR) and 5G Core (5GC) Network Test Solution

Emulate multiple UEs and elements such as
UE + gNB, AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM, EIR and SMSF on the 5G core network.

 REQUEST A DEMO / QUOTE   Brochure
5G Core Network Test Measurement Suite

5G Core Network Emulation

Signaling and Traffic Emulation over 5G

MAPS™ 5GC Network emulator can emulate multiple UEs and elements such as UE+gNB, AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM, SMSF and EIR which form the 5G core network. The Emulator is designed to test 5G NR base stations (gNBs) and 5G Core Network Functions (NF) according to 3GPP standards. With the help of mobile phones, and other emulated wireless networks, the 5G Lab setup can be operated in real-time for making VoNR calls and for interworking with 4G, 3G, 2G , PSTN and VoIP networks. It includes ready-to-use scripts, as per IETF specification. Test scripts include general messaging and call flow scenarios for multimedia call session setup and control over IP networks.

5G End-to-End Wireless Lab Testing Solution

GL’s End-to-End Wireless Network Emulation Test Suite provides you an advanced full-fledged “Live Network” at your company premises in any customized package to suit test requirements. The test suite provides reliable integrated solutions to vendors and service providers for emulation, monitoring, troubleshooting any wireless network, including, 5G, 4G, 3G, and 2G. All functionalities conform to industry standards.

GL’s MAPS™ supports emulation of 5GC network interfaces - N1N2, N4, N8, N10, N11, N12, N13, N17, N20, N21, N22, N29, N51 and other GTP interfaces.

Key Features

  • Supports generation and verification of traffic over 5G, including VoNR (Voice), Email, FTP, Web (HTTP), Video, and more with additional licenses - Mobile traffic core – GTP (ETH101) and Mobile Traffic Core – Gateway (ETH102)
  • Emulate up to 500 Smartphones (UEs) powering up and down
  • Integrate 5G core network easily with any other networks (wired or wireless) to test any call scenario. It can emulate various nodes across 5G network
  • Authenticate and confirm security procedures
  • QoS requests for greater or lesser bandwidth
  • Temporary addressing management for mobility and security
  • Provides data connectivity and services
  • User-friendly web-based interface supports multi-user and multi-location access, allowing users to configure test parameters

Supported procedures include both roaming and non-roaming, including interworking between 5GS (NG RAN +5GC) and EPS (4G RAN+EPC), mobility within 5GS, QoS, policy control and charging, authentication and in general 5G System-wide features such as SMS, Location Services, Emergency Services.

Multi-User, Browser-Based Platform for 5G Functions

MAPS™ is enhanced to support Linux® environments, offering users expanded deployment options. With MAPS™ web interface, the 5G emulation and testing tools are accessible on Linux® web servers, making it more adaptable to varied network infrastructure and development needs. The platform includes a user-friendly, multi-user interface that supports multi-location access, enabling easy configuration of test parameters from anywhere and on any device.

The Need for Comprehensive 5G Testing

The 5G technology standard, as defined by 3GPP, has brought a new radio access technology and a 5G Core network referred to as 5GC. With 5G, it is possible to integrate elements of different generations in Standalone (SA) and Non-standalone (NSA) configurations. However, deploying high-quality voice, video, and data services over 5G poses significant challenges for service providers, including backward compatibility, inter-operability, and high-quality requirements. Therefore, rigorous 5G network testing and troubleshooting are essential for ensuring smooth operations.

5G network testing involves the simulation of control plane signaling with network traffic and data traffic ensure that the network's functionalities and performance meet the expected standards. GL's comprehensive Signaling and Traffic Emulation 5G test equipment suite, commonly referred to as MAPS™, provides a unique programmable, scriptable framework for 5G device testing, including 5G simulation and 5G Core network testing.

5G Network Architecture and Components

In the End-to-End 5G network architecture, the network comprises various components, including the 5G Access Network (gNB), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Session Management Function (SMF), Short Message Service Function (SMSF), Equipment Identity Register (EIR), and User Plane Function (UPF) connected to Data Server or Application Functions, and to EPC/IMS core for interoperability. All these underlying entities of the core network can be accurately tested for functionalities and performance with MAPS™ 5G test equipment suite.

With the capability of supporting enormous services and applications, massive connections, and new channel coding schemes at very high bandwidth, 5G network testing and troubleshooting are vital for ensuring the smooth operations of 5G networks. The use of a comprehensive 5G test equipment suite like MAPS™ is crucial for performing cross-domain testing, 5G Emulation, and 5G analysis using GL's PacketScan™ application leading to the successful transition to new technology such as 5G.

Optimizing 5G Testing with Remote Operation and Automation

MAPS™ 5G emulators have been enhanced to support remote operation, automation, and multi-site connectivity through Python Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Users can seamlessly control the MAPS™ server to configure tests, emulate calls, and exercise fine control over each call to perform various traffic actions, such as playback of a pre-recorded voice file, recording incoming traffic to a file, and transmitting and detecting digits or tones. Users can also generate and receive calls through commands. This client application is distributed along with the MAPS™ server application.

GL’s MAPS™ emulation for 5G network interfaces -

  • MAPS™ N1 N2 Interface Emulator - gNodeB (also called Next Generation RAN), and AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) nodes
  • MAPS™ N4 Interface Emulator - Session Management Function (SMF) and User Plane Function (UPF) elements
  • MAPS™ N8 Interface Emulator - Unified Data Management (UDM) and Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)
  • MAPS™ N10 Interface Emulator - Unified Data Management (UDM) and Session Management Function (SMF)
  • MAPS™ N11 Interface Emulator - Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and Session Management Function (SMF)
  • MAPS™ N12 Interface Emulator - Authentication Server Function (AUSF) and Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)
  • MAPS™ N13 Interface Emulator - Authentication Server Function (AUSF) and User Data Management (UDM)
  • MAPS™ N17 Interface Emulator - Equipment Identity Register (EIR) and Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)
  • MAPS™ N20 Interface Emulator - Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and Short Message Service Function (SMSF)
  • MAPS™ N21 Interface Emulator - Unified Data Management (UDM) and Short Message Service Function (SMSF)
  • MAPS™ N22 Interface Emulator - Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) and Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF)
  • MAPS™ N29 Interface Emulator - Network Exposure Function (NEF) and Session Management Function (SMF)
  • MAPS™ N51 Interface Emulator - Mobility Management Function (AMF) and Network Exposure Function (NEF)

Emulate Core Network Functions

  • End-to-End 5G Network Emulation
  • Emulates 5G - UE+gNB, AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM, SMSF and EIR
  • Feature and Functional Testing
  • Performance Testing
  • Inter-Operability Testing
  • Migration Testing
  • Advanced Voice Feature Testing - IVR, Voice Recognition, Speech-to-Text


5G Protocol Analysis

GL’s PacketScan™ 5G protocol analyzer supports monitoring of 5G networks. It captures, segregates, monitors, and collects statistics on all calls over N1N2, N4, N8, N10, N11, N12 and N13 interfaces of the 5G network. GL's 5G Protocol Analyzer is an optional module (PKV112) available within PacketScan™ on purchase of additional licensing.

GL’s Monitoring Probes for 5G Wireless Networks capture CDRs, detect fraudulent activities, alert on critical parameters, measure KPIs, and performance statistics.

Performance based on Massive UEs, GTP Traffic and Voice Quality Metrics

  • Emulate Massive UEs (up to 64,000) with Voice Traffic
  • Emulate User-plane GTP traffic at high line rates (up to 40 Gbps)
  • Assess Voice Quality (eModel, PESQ, POLQA)

Monitoring Core Network

  • Voice Quality, Data Retention, Lawful Interception, Fraud Detection
  • Record thousands of Voice Calls - Filter & Record Only Calls-Of-Interest
  • Capture up to 30,000 Simultaneous Voice Calls
Testing 5G network components against 3GPP (Release 17) standards
System Architecture for the 5G TS 23.501
Procedures for the 5G System (5GS) TS 23.502
NG Application Protocol (NGAP) TS 38.413
Non-Access-Stratum (NAS) TS 24.501
GPRS Tunnelling Protocol for Control Plane (GTPv2-C) TS 29.274
NR and NG-RAN Overall Description TS 28.300
Packet Forwarding Control Protocol (PFCP) TS 29.244
Security architecture and procedures for 5G system TS 33.501
General principles for Service-Based Architecture (SBA) in the 5GC TS 29.500
Session Management Services (N11) TS 29.502
Unified Data Management Services (N8, N10, N21) TS 29.503
Equipment Identity Register Services(N17) TS 29.506
Authentication Server Services (N12) TS 29.509
Network function repository services TS 29.510
Access and Mobility Management Services (N11, N51) TS 29.518
SMS Services (N20) TS 29.540
Network Slice Selection Services (N22) TS 29.531
Session Management Event Exposure Service (N29) TS 29.508
Additional IETF RFCs for Security, Transport, and Common Protocols
JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) RFC 8259
HTTP/2 for SBA Communications in 5G Core RFC 7540
The Transport Layer Security (TLS) Protocol Version 1.2 RFC 5246
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) RFC 793
User Datagram Protocol (UDP) RFC 768
Internet Protocol RFC 791
Internet Protocol, Version 6 (IPv6) RFC 2460
Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) RFC 4960

Monitoring 5G Network

GL's PacketScan™ - an All-IP Network Monitoring software offers powerful features to capture and monitor live signaling and traffic over IP with Voice, Data, and Video QoS capability addresses customers long felt need of call quality analysis in IP networks. GL’s 5G protocol analyzer supports monitoring of 5G networks. The 5G Analyzer captures, segregates, monitors, and collects statistics on all calls over N1N2, N4, N8, N10, N11, N12 and N13 interfaces of the 5G network.

  • Capable of capture, decode and perform various test measurements between any two nodes across various interfaces of the 5G network
  • Support for wide-range of codecs, including AMR, AMR WB and EVS – visit Voice Codec webpage for more details
  • Supports QoS parameters such as E-model (G.107) based MOS/R-Factor scores, Media Delivery Index (Delay Factor: Media Loss Rate) for video calls, Jitter, Delay, and Gap for Audio and Video traffic
  • Segregates, captures, and collects statistics on VoIP and Wireless calls
  • Live monitoring of traffic statistics - digits, tones, voice, video, and T.38 fax over IPv4 and IPv6 (version 4 and version 6) networks
  • Monitors QoS (quality of service) on voice and video calls
  • Supports both real-time and offline analysis
  • Trace files for analysis can be loaded through simple command-line arguments
  • The protocols supported for decoding across all these interfaces are NAS, NGAP, GTP-U, SCTP, UDP, TCP, and IP
Typical 5G Network Call Capture

Typical 5G Network Call Capture

As an example, the screenshot below illustrates how 5G call is easily decoded in GL’s Packetscan™ All-IP analyzer

Visit PacketScan™ for Wireless Networks webpage for more details. For centralized web-based monitoring network, visit NetSurveyorWeb™ page.

Validating the Functions of 5G Network Elements

From the architecture, any of the network elements can be replaced with user's DUT to perform single interface, multi-interface, or wrap-around testing -


  • Single Interface Test Setup - With this solution, a single interface can be tested using MAPS™, which can embed all the functionalities of the entities interacting with this interface
  • Multi Interface Test Setup - With this solution, DUTs over different interfaces can be tested simultaneously using a single MAPS™, which provides all the required functionalities over these interfaces
  • Wrap Around Test Setup - With this solution, vendors can test their DUT by replacing all the nodes interacting with the device with appropriate MAPS™ products
MAPS gNB Emulator Testing 5G Core Network (DUT)
Testing gNB as a DUT by emulating AMF
Isolated AMF Testing
Isolated UDM Testing
Isolated AUSF Testing
Isolated SMF Testing
Isolated SMSF Testing
Isolated EIR Testing
Isolated UPF Testing
Isolated NRF Testing

Resources

Item Description
PKS305 MAPS™ 5G Multi-Interface Emulation
PKS500 MAPS™ 5G N1N2 Interface Emulator
PKS501 MAPS™ 5G N4 Interface Emulator
PKS502 MAPS™ 5G Service based Emulation (Prerequisite base license for all service based (Open API) interface emulations)
PKS502 MAPS™ 5G N17 Interface Emulation
PKS503 MAPS™ 5G N8 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
PKS504 MAPS™ 5G N10 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
PKS505 MAPS™ 5G N11 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
PKS506 MAPS™ 5G N12 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
PKS507 MAPS™ 5G N13 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
PKS508 MAPS™ 5G N20 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
PKS509 MAPS™ 5G N21 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
PKS510 MAPS™ 5G N22 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
PKS511 MAPS™ 5G N29 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
PKS511 MAPS™ 5G N51 Interface Emulation (Requires PKS502)
  GTP Mobile Traffic Options
ETH100 Packet Traffic Simulation - GTP
ETH101 Mobile Traffic Core – GTP
ETH102 Mobile Traffic Core - Gateway
  5G Monitoring Solution
PKV100 PacketScan™ - (Online and Offline)
PKV101 PacketScan™ - Offline
PKV110 IMS Protocol Decodes (Optional with PacketScan™)
PKV107 LTE (Long Term Evolution) Analyzer (Optional with PacketScan™)
PKV108 Offline LTE (Long Term Evolution) Analyzer (Optional with PacketScan™)
PKV112 5G Analyzer (Optional with PacketScan™)
PKV113 Offline 5G Analyzer - Optional with PKV101 (offline PacketScan™) and PKV170 (NetsurveyorWeb™)
Brochures
MAPS™ 5G Network Test Solutions Combined Brochure
MAPS™ 5G Unified Data Management Services Brochure
PacketScan™ 5G Protocol Analyzer Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N1N2 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N4 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N8 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N10 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N11 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N12 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N13 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N17 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N20 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N21 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N22 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N29 Interface Emulator - Brochure
MAPS™ 5G N51 Interface Emulator - Brochure
GL Product Lists
Presentations
MAPS™ 5G Network Emulation Suite - Presentation
PacketScan™ 5G Protocol Analyzer Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N1N2 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N4 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N8 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N10 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N11 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N12 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N13 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N17 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N20 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N21 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N22 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N29 Interface Emulator - Presentation
MAPS™ 5G N51 Interface Emulator - Presentation
Webinar
5G End-to-End Wireless Lab Testing Solution
5G Core Network Emulation