Load Balancing and Network Sharing

This chapter presents the two important functions and features of a mobile communications network, that is, load balancing within an operator and network sharing among the participating network operators. It also presents the load balancing and radio access network (RAN) sharing features that are described in 3rd Generation Partnership Project specifications. As part of a User Equipment (UE)/mobile station (MS) registration procedure with the core network, a temporary identity is assigned to the UE/MS by the concerned core network element. A Network Resource Identifier enables the RAN element to forward the user traffic to the correct core network element. A mobile communications network consisting of the RAN and Core Network Systems is owned and run by an operator. The 5G system also supports the sharing of 5G Next-Generation Radio Access Network of an operator with the 5G core network of other participating operators.