Attach procedure in LTE

SOHAN DSOUZA

Overview of Attach
UE needs to register to the network. Mutual Authentication Integrity and security algorithms negotiated. SGW, PGW selection. PDN connectivity Establishment of default bearer, ip address allocation.

Step 1 - UE Sends NAS Attach Request

UE NAS - Attach Request eNB RRC Connection Setup Complete MME

NAS Parameters - Old GUTI - IMSI if no GUTI - UE Network capable integrity, encryption algorithms. - PDN Type ipv4, ipv6 - ESM Container: PDN Connectivity Request. - Last TAI RRC parameters Old GUMMEI

Step 2 MME Selection

eNB derives MME from RRC parameter sent previously by UE. If GUMMEI not available, use MME Selection Function to select new MME. - Load Balancing - Redundancy

Step 3 Setup S1 connection

To setup UE associated signaling on S1AP eNB MME Initial UE message NAS Attach Request

eNB

MME Downlink NAS Transport NAS - Authentication Request.

Step 4a - Authentication
UE MME HSS
K, RAND

Authen Info Request (IMSI)

Authen Info Response ( KASME, AUTN , XRES) Authen Request (AUTN, RAND) - N/W authenticated Authen Response - UE authenticated - KASME used for AS, NAS encryption and Integrity

Step 4b Security
UE eNB MME

NAS security mode command procedure AS Security Command procedure

Result Encryption and integrity protection on NAS and RRC

Step 5 SGW, PGW Selection

PGW selection MME (IMSI)

HSS

Update Location Request SUBSCRIPTION info Update Location Response Default APN

SGW Selection: Geography

Step 6 Create EPS bearer part1

S5-S8 bearer creation MME
Create session Request (IMSI, APN, PDN type, PGW ip) Create Session Request (S5 SGW GTP-U TEID )

SGW

PGW

Create Session Response (IP Address, PGW GTP-U TEID, )

Create Session Response

Create EPS Bearer part 2

Radio Bearer creation UE eNB
Initial Ctxt Setup request RRC Connection Reconfiguration NAS - Attach Accept - Activate default EPS bearer RRC Connection Reconfiguration Complete NAS -Attach Complete

MME

Create EPS Bearer part3

S1U and EPS bearer creation eNB MME
Ctxt Setup Response (EPS Bearer Ctxt, Enb ip, S1U TEID) NAS Attach Complete

SGW

PGW

Modify Bearer Request

Modify Bearer Response

Default EPS Bearer created

References
23.401 24.301 Ericsson LTE Training manual