techiny.com Evolved Packet Core (EPC) is the foundational core network architecture for 4G LTE, emphasizing EPC's centralized control and simplified packet switching to support high-speed data and voice services. In contrast, 5G Core (5GC) introduces a service-based architecture (SBA) that enables enhanced flexibility, scalability, and network slicing to meet diverse 5G use cases with ultra-low latency. Transitioning from EPC to 5GC allows telecommunications providers to leverage advanced features such as edge computing, improved Quality of Service (QoS), and native support for IoT environments.
Table of Comparison
| Feature | Evolved Packet Core (EPC) | 5G Core (5GC) |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Monolithic, centralized | Modular, service-based architecture (SBA) |
| Network Technology | 4G LTE | 5G NR (New Radio) |
| Latency | Relatively higher latency | Ultra-low latency support |
| Network Slicing | Not supported | Fully supported |
| Control and User Plane | Tightly coupled | Decoupled for flexibility |
| Cloud-Native Support | Limited | Designed for cloud-native and virtualization |
| Security | Legacy security mechanisms | Enhanced security with flexible policies |
| Service Support | Primarily mobile broadband | Supports enhanced mobile broadband, IoT, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) |
Understanding EPC and 5GC: A Brief Overview
The Evolved Packet Core (EPC) serves as the core network architecture for 4G LTE, enabling high-speed data services with an emphasis on centralized control and integrated mobility management. The 5G Core (5GC), designed for 5G networks, introduces a service-based architecture that enhances flexibility, scalability, and supports advanced features such as network slicing and ultra-low latency. Understanding the shift from EPC to 5GC reveals the evolution in mobile network technology, focusing on improved performance, efficiency, and support for diverse applications.
Key Architectural Differences between EPC and 5GC
The Evolved Packet Core (EPC) relies on a flat, centralized architecture with separate control and data planes using the Serving Gateway (SGW) and Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW), while the 5G Core (5GC) employs a service-based architecture (SBA) with modular, cloud-native network functions, enabling enhanced flexibility and scalability. EPC uses GTP (GPRS Tunneling Protocol) for data transport, whereas 5GC introduces HTTP/2 and RESTful APIs for control signaling, supporting network slicing and ultra-low latency services. The 5GC also integrates User Plane Functions (UPF) closer to the edge, improving traffic routing and optimizing network performance compared to EPC's centralized data handling.
Evolution from EPC to 5GC: What’s Changed?
The evolution from Evolved Packet Core (EPC) to 5G Core (5GC) introduces a service-based architecture (SBA) that enhances network flexibility and scalability, supporting ultra-low latency and massive IoT connectivity. Unlike the EPC's centralized design, 5GC employs network slicing and edge computing to optimize resource allocation and enable diverse 5G use cases. Key changes include the adoption of cloud-native principles, control and user plane separation (CUPS), and improved support for network automation and orchestration.
Core Network Functions: EPC vs 5GC
The EPC (Evolved Packet Core) architecture supports 4G LTE networks with core functions like MME, SGW, and PGW focused on mobility management and packet data routing, while the 5GC (5G Core) introduces a service-based architecture using network functions such as AMF, SMF, and UPF, enabling enhanced flexibility, scalability, and support for diverse 5G services. 5GC employs a cloud-native, microservices approach that improves network slicing, edge computing integration, and ultra-low latency, surpassing EPC's more rigid, hardware-based design. This evolution in core network functions drives the transformation from fixed broadband to dynamic, user-centric, and context-aware telecommunications ecosystems.
Network Slicing: 5GC Advancements over EPC
5GC introduces advanced network slicing capabilities enabling multiple virtual networks tailored to specific use cases, unlike EPC's limited slicing support. This flexibility enhances resource allocation, ensuring optimized performance and security for diverse applications such as IoT, eMBB, and URLLC. Enhanced control and automation in 5GC empower dynamic slice management, significantly improving network efficiency compared to the static EPC architecture.
Latency and Throughput: Performance Comparison
Evolved Packet Core (EPC) networks typically exhibit higher latency and lower throughput compared to 5G Core (5GC) due to their legacy architecture and centralized control functions. 5GC leverages a service-based architecture with edge computing capabilities, significantly reducing end-to-end latency to sub-10 milliseconds and supporting throughput beyond 10 Gbps per user. This performance improvement in 5GC enables advanced applications such as ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services.
Support for IoT: EPC versus 5GC Capabilities
The Evolved Packet Core (EPC) supports IoT through LTE-M and NB-IoT technologies, primarily designed for low-power, wide-area network (LPWAN) applications with limited device density and latency requirements. The 5G Core (5GC) offers enhanced IoT support with network slicing, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and massive machine-type communication (mMTC), enabling diverse IoT use cases from smart cities to industrial automation. 5GC's native service-based architecture improves scalability and flexibility, making it better suited for the exponential growth and varied demands of IoT devices compared to EPC.
Security Enhancements in 5GC over EPC
5GC introduces advanced security enhancements over EPC with a native support for enhanced authentication frameworks such as 5G-AKA and EAP-AKA', reducing vulnerabilities to IMSI catchers and replay attacks. The 5G core leverages a Service-Based Architecture (SBA) that facilitates more granular and dynamic security policies via Network Functions like AUSF and SEPP, improving inter-network authentication and signaling protection. Enhanced encryption algorithms and integrity protection mechanisms in 5GC ensure stronger user data confidentiality and integrity compared to EPC's 4G LTE framework.
Deployment Strategies: Migrating from EPC to 5GC
Migrating from EPC (Evolved Packet Core) to 5GC (5G Core) involves phased deployment strategies that balance service continuity with technological advancement, often deploying Non-Standalone (NSA) 5G initially before transitioning to Standalone (SA) 5G. Operators leverage network slicing and edge computing capabilities native to 5GC to optimize resource allocation and reduce latency, while EPC remains active to support legacy 4G services. Strategic integration of EPC with 5GC enables a smooth migration path, ensuring interoperability and gradual infrastructure upgrades aligned with evolving 5G standards.
Future Trends: The Road Beyond 5GC
EPC, the Evolved Packet Core, laid the foundation for 4G LTE networks with its all-IP architecture, but 5GC (5G Core) introduces a service-based architecture enabling ultra-low latency and network slicing crucial for diverse 5G use cases. Future trends highlight the evolution beyond 5GC toward Open RAN and AI-driven automation, supporting dynamic network management and enhanced edge computing capabilities. Integration of AI/ML for predictive analytics and network optimization will drive the next phase of telecommunications, fostering seamless connectivity and scalability for IoT and 6G innovations.
EPC vs 5GC Infographic
