Standalone 5G vs Non-Standalone 5G: What is the difference

After spending ₹88,078 crore on the 5G spectrum across multiple bands, Reliance Jio is set to roll out services by Diwali across key cities. At the company’s 45th annual general meeting (AGM), RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani said that most operators are deploying something called a Non-Standalone (NSA) version of 5G in the rush to be the first to launch 5G services in India. He said that Jio will launch another version of 5G, called Standalone (SA) 5G, which will allow it to deliver its full benefits including ultra-low latency connectivity, 5G voice, network slicing, and massive machine-to-machine communication.

Ambani explained during the AGM that in NSA 5G, radio signals are delivered over an existing 4G infrastructure. On the other hand, SA 5G has zero dependencies on 4G network.

To understand the difference, its important to look at the structure of a mobile network. It includes a Radio Access Network (RAN) connects devices to the mobile towers. Then there is the Core Network which connects users to the internet service or another person. The core and the network are linked with a third layer called Transport Network.

What is NSA?

In NSA, the RAN (radio access network) is upgraded to 5G, while the core network remains on 4G. The core network is the central part of the network, which provides services to the customer. The RAN is what connects this part to end-users and other devices, thereby bringing this services to consumers.

Upgrading the RAN alone means that the 5G networks will run on existing 4G infrastructure. NSA makes sense for telecom operators who want to roll out 5G services with whatever resources they have instead of waiting to upgrade the core network to 5G first, which is costly and time taking.

What is SA?

In the SA format, both RAN and core are upgraded for 5G. A 5G core, comprises virtualised, software-based network functions, which allows operators to meet diverse network requirements which are not possible in the NSA version of 5G.

Some of the benefits of SA include five times higher throughput, six times faster access to the 5G spectrum, lower latency, and improved network capabilities. This would allow them to offer capabilities such as edge computing and network slicing (this can be used to create a dedicated virtual network on demand for temporary ultra-low latency use cases).

Unlike older 2G and 3G networks, 4G and 5G networks are more heavily dependent on cloud infrastructure and software. Legacy telcos like Airtel etc. have build older systems, having existed from the early days of telecom in this country. Jio, on the other hand, started in the 4G-era, and hence it's no surprise that the company is better poised to start with a standalone 5G network.

Who will benefit from SA? 

NSA is quite capable of handling most consumer requirements, however, in specific use cases such as cloud gaming, ultra-low latency can make a huge difference in user experience. Its key beneficiary is going to be enterprises as it will enable them to deploy time-sensitive industrial applications, smart manufacturing, and autonomous vehicles.

Migration from NSA to SA 

Deploying 5G through NSA allows operators to offer 5G services to consumers without having to first upgrade to the 5G core. Eventually, they will have to migrate to SA format to offer the enhanced capabilities required by enterprise users. Even if Jio offers SA 5G from the beginning, an individual user may not be in a position to leverage its full benefits.