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nr nsa bands

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5G & 6G Prime Membership Telecom


In the context of 5G, NSA (Non-Standalone) refers to a deployment option where 5G is deployed on top of an existing 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network. NR NSA (5G Non-Standalone) bands are the frequency bands used for the 5G New Radio (NR) component in NSA deployments. In NSA mode, 5G NR relies on the LTE network for certain functions, such as mobility management and control signaling. Here's a technical explanation of NR NSA bands:

Frequency Bands for NR NSA Deployment:

  1. Sub-6 GHz Bands (Frequency Range 1 - FR1):
    • NR NSA deployments utilize sub-6 GHz frequency bands for providing 5G services. These bands offer a good balance between coverage and capacity. Common sub-6 GHz bands include 600 MHz, 700 MHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz, and others.
  2. mmWave Bands (Frequency Range 2 - FR2):
    • While mmWave bands are typically associated with higher frequencies and shorter ranges, they are not as commonly used in NR NSA deployments. However, in some cases, operators may deploy mmWave bands for enhanced capacity and data rates. Common mmWave bands include 24 GHz, 28 GHz, 39 GHz, and others.

Carrier Aggregation and Dual Connectivity:

  1. Carrier Aggregation (CA):
    • NR NSA deployments often involve carrier aggregation, where multiple carriers from different frequency bands are aggregated to increase the overall bandwidth and data rates. CA can involve the aggregation of LTE and 5G NR carriers.
  2. Dual Connectivity:
    • Dual Connectivity allows a device to simultaneously connect to both LTE and 5G NR networks. In NR NSA deployments, this ensures a seamless transition between LTE and 5G for devices that support both technologies.

LTE Anchor and NR Secondary Node:

  1. LTE Anchor Node:
    • In NR NSA deployments, LTE serves as the anchor node, providing control signaling and mobility management. LTE carries out the control plane functions for the connected devices.
  2. NR Secondary Node:
    • NR acts as the secondary node, handling the user plane functions and providing enhanced data rates compared to LTE. NR in NSA mode uses LTE for control plane functions and relies on NR for data plane services.

Deployment Scenarios:

  1. Urban and Dense Urban Areas:
    • NR NSA bands are often deployed in urban and dense urban areas to enhance network capacity and provide higher data rates, especially in areas with a high concentration of users.
  2. Indoor Deployments:
    • NR NSA can be deployed indoors, using sub-6 GHz bands to provide high-speed connectivity in venues such as stadiums, airports, shopping malls, and office buildings.
  3. Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) Services:
    • NR NSA deployments focus on delivering enhanced mobile broadband services, providing users with higher data rates and improved network capacity for applications like high-definition video streaming and large file downloads.

Frequency Band Considerations:

  1. Regulatory Considerations:
    • The deployment of NR NSA bands is subject to regulatory decisions, and specific frequency bands may be allocated based on regulatory approvals in each region.
  2. Spectrum Availability:
    • Spectrum availability plays a crucial role in determining the specific frequency bands used for NR NSA. Operators acquire spectrum licenses to deploy 5G services in designated bands.

Interworking with LTE:

  1. Mobility Management and Handovers:
    • LTE and NR interwork for mobility management and handovers. Devices moving between LTE and NR coverage areas experience seamless handovers, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.
  2. Control Plane Interworking:
    • Control plane signaling, including procedures like registration and paging, is managed by the LTE anchor node in NR NSA deployments.

Evolution to Standalone (SA) Deployment:

  1. Path to SA Deployment:
    • NR NSA provides a smooth transition path to Standalone (SA) deployments, where NR operates independently without reliance on LTE. As the 5G ecosystem matures, operators may progressively move towards SA deployments.

In summary, NR NSA bands represent the frequency bands used for 5G New Radio in Non-Standalone deployments, where 5G is deployed on top of an existing LTE network. These deployments leverage both sub-6 GHz and, in some cases, mmWave bands to provide enhanced mobile broadband services with a focus on capacity, data rates, and seamless interworking with LTE.