Glossary & Acronym Index
Every acronym on the site, expanded and defined in one line, with a link to the page that explains it in depth.
This is the site-wide acronym index for 5G NR and LTE. Every important abbreviation used across the tutorials is expanded and given a one-line, 3GPP-accurate meaning here. Terms are grouped by theme and ordered alphabetically inside each group. Where an acronym has its own deep-dive page, the acronym links straight to it โ and remember the search box at the top of every page also jumps to full articles as you type.
How to use this page: skim the section that matches what you are studying, or use your browser's find (Ctrl/Cmd‑F) to land on a specific acronym. Linked acronyms open the dedicated explainer; unlinked ones are defined here in one line.
Architecture & Core Network
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
5GC | 5G Core Network | The service-based cloud-native core for NR, replacing the EPC. |
AMF | Access and Mobility Management Function | 5GC control node handling registration, connection and mobility (the MME's successor). |
AUSF | Authentication Server Function | 5GC function that runs primary authentication with the UE and home network. |
CU | Central Unit | The gNB part hosting RRC/PDCP (and SDAP), split from the DU over F1. |
DU | Distributed Unit | The gNB part hosting RLC/MAC/high-PHY, connected to the CU over F1. |
eNB | evolved Node B | The LTE base station terminating the radio interface toward the UE. |
en-gNB | E-UTRA-NR gNB | An NR node acting as secondary node under a master eNB in EN-DC (NSA). |
EN-DC | E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity | NSA mode: LTE eNB master plus NR gNB secondary, anchored on EPC. |
EPC | Evolved Packet Core | The LTE core network (MME, S-GW, P-GW, HSS, PCRF). |
EPS | Evolved Packet System | The complete LTE system: E-UTRAN plus EPC. |
E-UTRAN | Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network | The LTE radio access network, i.e. the collection of eNBs. |
gNB | next generation Node B | The 5G NR base station connecting to the 5GC over the NG interface. |
HSS | Home Subscriber Server | LTE central subscriber and authentication database (UDM/UDR in 5G). |
IMS | IP Multimedia Subsystem | The SIP-based network that delivers VoLTE and VoNR voice/multimedia. |
MME | Mobility Management Entity | LTE control-plane core node for attach, mobility, bearer and paging control. |
MR-DC | Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity | Umbrella term for dual connectivity combining LTE and NR (includes EN-DC). |
N3IWF | Non-3GPP Interworking Function | 5GC gateway that lets untrusted non-3GPP access (e.g. Wi-Fi) reach the core. |
NG-RAN | Next Generation Radio Access Network | The 5G RAN made of gNBs and ng-eNBs connected to the 5GC. |
ng-eNB | next generation eNB | An LTE eNB upgraded to connect to the 5GC (used in NG-RAN / Option 5, 7). |
NRF | Network Repository Function | 5GC registry where network functions discover and register each other. |
NSA | Non-Standalone | NR deployed with an LTE anchor and EPC/EN-DC rather than a standalone 5GC. |
NSSF | Network Slice Selection Function | 5GC function that selects the serving slice(s) and AMF set for the UE. |
PCF | Policy Control Function | 5GC policy engine for QoS and charging rules (successor to PCRF). |
PCRF | Policy and Charging Rules Function | LTE node deciding QoS and charging policy per service data flow. |
P-GW | Packet Data Network Gateway | LTE anchor to external PDNs, doing IP allocation, charging and policy enforcement. |
RU | Radio Unit | The gNB low-PHY/RF unit (O-RAN), connected to the DU over fronthaul. |
SA | Standalone | NR deployed directly on the 5GC with no LTE anchor (Option 2). |
SEPP | Security Edge Protection Proxy | 5GC edge proxy securing signalling between different operators' networks. |
S-GW | Serving Gateway | LTE user-plane node anchoring bearers during handover and routing to the P-GW. |
SGSN | Serving GPRS Support Node | Legacy 2G/3G packet core node for mobility and session management. |
SMF | Session Management Function | 5GC node that sets up and controls PDU sessions and the UPF. |
UDM | Unified Data Management | 5GC subscriber-data and authentication management (HSS successor). |
UDR | Unified Data Repository | 5GC backend store holding subscription, policy and application data. |
UPF | User Plane Function | 5GC user-plane anchor: packet routing, QoS enforcement and PDU-session gateway. |
Physical Layer & Radio
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
BWP | Bandwidth Part | A contiguous subset of carrier PRBs with its own numerology the UE operates within. |
CA | Carrier Aggregation | Combining multiple component carriers to widen bandwidth and boost throughput. |
CBG | Code Block Group | A group of code blocks that can be retransmitted independently within a TB. |
CP | Cyclic Prefix | A guard copy prepended to each OFDM symbol to absorb multipath delay spread. |
CQI | Channel Quality Indicator | UE-reported index telling the gNB which MCS the downlink can currently sustain. |
DFT-s-OFDM | DFT-spread OFDM | The low-PAPR uplink waveform (transform precoding) option for PUSCH. |
FDD | Frequency Division Duplex | Duplex mode with separate paired frequencies for uplink and downlink. |
FR1 | Frequency Range 1 | NR sub-7 GHz bands (roughly 410 MHz–7.125 GHz). |
FR2 | Frequency Range 2 | NR millimetre-wave bands (roughly 24.25–71 GHz). |
LDPC | Low-Density Parity-Check code | The forward-error-correction code used for NR data channels. |
MCS | Modulation and Coding Scheme | Index selecting modulation order and code rate for a transmission. |
MIMO | Multiple-Input Multiple-Output | Using multiple antennas for spatial multiplexing, diversity or beamforming. |
OFDM | Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing | The multicarrier waveform used on the NR downlink (and CP-OFDM uplink). |
PMI | Precoding Matrix Indicator | UE-recommended precoder for downlink MIMO transmission. |
Polar | Polar code | The FEC code used for NR control channels (PBCH, PDCCH, PUCCH). |
PRG | Precoding Resource-block Group | Set of contiguous PRBs over which the same precoder is assumed. |
QAM | Quadrature Amplitude Modulation | Modulation family (QPSK, 16/64/256QAM) mapping bits to constellation points. |
RB | Resource Block | 12 contiguous subcarriers in frequency, the basic scheduling unit. |
RBG | Resource Block Group | A bundle of consecutive RBs used for type-0 frequency-domain allocation. |
RE | Resource Element | One subcarrier over one OFDM symbol โ the smallest resource unit. |
RI | Rank Indicator | UE-reported number of usable MIMO layers (spatial streams). |
RIV | Resource Indicator Value | Compact encoding of a contiguous RB start and length in a DCI grant. |
RSRP | Reference Signal Received Power | Average power of the reference signals โ the main coverage/serving-cell metric. |
RSRQ | Reference Signal Received Quality | RSRP relative to total RSSI โ a quality metric factoring in load/interference. |
RSSI | Received Signal Strength Indicator | Total wideband received power including signal, interference and noise. |
SCS | Subcarrier Spacing | NR numerology parameter (15×2^μ kHz) trading bandwidth for symbol duration. |
SINR | Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio | Ratio of wanted signal to interference plus noise, driving achievable MCS. |
SRS | Sounding Reference Signal | Uplink pilot the gNB uses to estimate the uplink channel and for reciprocity. |
SUL | Supplementary Uplink | An extra low-band uplink carrier paired with a TDD downlink to extend UL coverage. |
TA | Timing Advance | Offset the UE applies to its uplink so bursts arrive time-aligned at the gNB. |
TAG | Timing Advance Group | Group of serving cells sharing one timing-advance value in CA. |
TB | Transport Block | The MAC-layer payload handed to PHY for one transmission (one HARQ process). |
TBS | Transport Block Size | Number of information bits in a transport block, derived from MCS and resources. |
TDD | Time Division Duplex | Duplex mode sharing one frequency between uplink and downlink in time. |
Turbo | Turbo code | The FEC code used for LTE data channels (replaced by LDPC in NR). |
Channels & Signals
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
BCCH | Broadcast Control Channel | Logical channel carrying system information (MIB/SIBs) to all UEs. |
BCH | Broadcast Channel | Transport channel carrying the MIB, mapped to PBCH. |
CCCH | Common Control Channel | Logical channel for RRC signalling before a UE has a dedicated connection. |
CRS | Cell-specific Reference Signal | Always-on LTE downlink pilot for demodulation and measurements (not in NR). |
CSI-RS | Channel State Information Reference Signal | Downlink pilot the UE measures to report CQI/PMI/RI and for beam management. |
DCCH | Dedicated Control Channel | Logical channel carrying dedicated RRC signalling to a connected UE. |
DCI | Downlink Control Information | Control message on PDCCH carrying scheduling grants and assignments. |
DL-SCH | Downlink Shared Channel | Main downlink transport channel carrying user data and most signalling, on PDSCH. |
DMRS | Demodulation Reference Signal | Pilot embedded in a channel so the receiver can coherently demodulate it. |
DTCH | Dedicated Traffic Channel | Logical channel carrying user-plane data to/from one UE. |
MIB | Master Information Block | Minimal system info on PBCH pointing the UE to SIB1. |
PBCH | Physical Broadcast Channel | Physical channel carrying the MIB inside the SSB. |
PCCH | Paging Control Channel | Logical channel carrying paging messages to idle UEs. |
PCFICH | Physical Control Format Indicator Channel | LTE channel signalling how many symbols the PDCCH occupies (not in NR). |
PCH | Paging Channel | Transport channel carrying paging, mapped to PDSCH. |
PDCCH | Physical Downlink Control Channel | Carries DCI: scheduling grants, assignments and power-control commands. |
PDSCH | Physical Downlink Shared Channel | The workhorse downlink channel carrying user data and signalling. |
PHICH | Physical HARQ Indicator Channel | LTE channel carrying uplink HARQ ACK/NACK (replaced by DCI in NR). |
PRACH | Physical Random Access Channel | Uplink channel carrying the RACH preamble for initial/uplink access. |
PSS | Primary Synchronisation Signal | First sync signal in the SSB giving symbol timing and part of the PCI. |
PTRS | Phase Tracking Reference Signal | Pilot tracking phase noise/CFO, important at high frequencies (FR2). |
PUCCH | Physical Uplink Control Channel | Carries UCI: HARQ feedback, scheduling requests and CSI reports. |
PUSCH | Physical Uplink Shared Channel | The main uplink channel carrying user data and some control. |
RACH | Random Access Channel | Transport channel for the random-access preamble, mapped to PRACH. |
SIB | System Information Block | Broadcast blocks (SIB1, SIB2…) carrying cell access and configuration info. |
SPS | Semi-Persistent Scheduling | Pre-configured periodic resources granted without per-slot DCI. |
SSB | Synchronisation Signal Block | The NR beacon bundling PSS, SSS and PBCH for cell search and beam sweep. |
SSS | Secondary Synchronisation Signal | Second SSB sync signal completing the physical cell ID. |
UCI | Uplink Control Information | Control feedback (HARQ-ACK, SR, CSI) carried on PUCCH or piggybacked on PUSCH. |
UL-SCH | Uplink Shared Channel | Main uplink transport channel carrying user data, mapped to PUSCH. |
MAC / RLC / PDCP / SDAP
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
BSR | Buffer Status Report | MAC report telling the gNB how much uplink data the UE has buffered. |
COUNT | PDCP COUNT | The HFN + PDCP SN value used as input to ciphering and integrity per PDU. |
DRX | Discontinuous Reception | Sleep/wake cycle letting the UE power down its receiver to save battery. |
HARQ | Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest | Fast retransmission scheme combining FEC with soft-combining of retries. |
HFN | Hyper Frame Number | The high-order part of PDCP COUNT that extends the wrapping SN. |
LCG | Logical Channel Group | Grouping of logical channels used to compress buffer status reporting. |
LCID | Logical Channel ID | MAC subheader field identifying the logical channel or MAC CE in a PDU. |
LCP | Logical Channel Prioritisation | MAC procedure sharing a grant across logical channels by priority. |
MAC CE | MAC Control Element | In-band MAC control message (e.g. TA command, BSR, DRX command). |
PDCP | Packet Data Convergence Protocol | L2 layer doing ciphering, integrity, ROHC, reordering and duplication. |
PDU | Protocol Data Unit | A protocol layer's output packet (its SDU plus that layer's header). |
PHR | Power Headroom Report | MAC report of how much transmit-power margin the UE still has. |
RLC | Radio Link Control | L2 layer providing segmentation and (in AM) ARQ retransmission. |
ROHC | Robust Header Compression | PDCP feature compressing IP/UDP/RTP headers to save air-interface bytes. |
SDAP | Service Data Adaptation Protocol | NR-only L2 layer mapping QoS flows to DRBs and marking QFI. |
SDU | Service Data Unit | The payload a layer receives from the layer above, before adding its header. |
SN | Sequence Number | Per-PDU counter (RLC/PDCP) enabling ordering, reassembly and duplicate detection. |
SR | Scheduling Request | Minimal uplink signal on PUCCH asking the gNB for an uplink grant. |
RRC & Mobility
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
Cell Reselection | Cell Reselection | Idle/inactive-mode procedure where the UE itself picks a better cell to camp on. |
CHO | Conditional Handover | Handover pre-configured with trigger conditions the UE executes autonomously. |
HO | Handover | Network-controlled transfer of a connected UE from a source to a target cell. |
Meas | Measurement (RSRP/RSRQ/SINR) | UE radio measurements reported to drive mobility and link-adaptation decisions. |
MG | Measurement Gap | Scheduled pause in data so the UE can measure other frequencies/RATs. |
NSSAI | Network Slice Selection Assistance Information | The set of S-NSSAIs signalling which network slices the UE wants/uses. |
RRC | Radio Resource Control | Layer-3 protocol configuring the radio: connection, bearers, mobility, SI. |
RLF | Radio Link Failure | Declared when the radio link degrades beyond recovery, triggering re-establishment. |
RLM | Radio Link Monitoring | UE monitoring of in-sync/out-of-sync on reference signals to detect RLF. |
S-NSSAI | Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information | Identifier of one slice, made of SST plus optional SD. |
SD | Slice Differentiator | Optional field distinguishing multiple slices of the same SST. |
SMTC | SSB Measurement Timing Configuration | The window telling the UE when to measure neighbour SSBs. |
SST | Slice/Service Type | Field of an S-NSSAI naming the slice's service class (eMBB, URLLC, MIoT). |
NAS & Core Procedures
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
APN | Access Point Name | LTE name of the external packet network a PDN connection targets (DNN in 5G). |
Attach | EPS Attach | LTE procedure by which the UE registers and gets a default EPS bearer. |
DNN | Data Network Name | 5G name of the data network a PDU session connects to (APN successor). |
EMM | EPS Mobility Management | LTE NAS sublayer for attach, TAU and mobility state. |
ESM | EPS Session Management | LTE NAS sublayer for default/dedicated bearer setup and modification. |
5GMM | 5GS Mobility Management | 5G NAS sublayer for registration, service request and mobility. |
5GSM | 5GS Session Management | 5G NAS sublayer for PDU-session establishment and modification. |
NAS | Non-Access Stratum | Signalling directly between UE and core (AMF/MME), transparent to the RAN. |
PDU Session | Protocol Data Unit Session | 5G end-to-end connectivity between UE and a data network via the UPF. |
Registration | 5GS Registration | 5G procedure by which the UE registers with the AMF (attach successor). |
TAU | Tracking Area Update | LTE procedure updating the network on the UE's tracking area / periodic check-in. |
Identifiers & RNTIs
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
5G-GUTI | 5G Globally Unique Temporary Identity | Temporary UE identity assigned by the AMF to avoid exposing the SUPI. |
5G-S-TMSI | 5G S-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity | Shortened part of the 5G-GUTI used for paging and RACH. |
C-RNTI | Cell RNTI | Unique identity of a connected UE within a cell, addressing its PDCCH. |
CS-RNTI | Configured Scheduling RNTI | RNTI addressing configured-grant / SPS transmissions. |
ECGI | E-UTRAN Cell Global Identifier | Globally unique LTE cell identity (PLMN + 28-bit cell ID). |
GUAMI | Globally Unique AMF Identifier | Identifier of a specific AMF (PLMN + AMF region/set/pointer). |
GUMMEI | Globally Unique MME Identifier | Identifier of a specific MME (PLMN + MME group/code). |
GUTI | Globally Unique Temporary Identity | LTE temporary UE identity assigned by the MME. |
IMEI | International Mobile Equipment Identity | Permanent identity of the device hardware itself. |
IMSI | International Mobile Subscriber Identity | Permanent subscriber identity stored on the SIM/USIM. |
NCGI | NR Cell Global Identity | Globally unique NR cell identity (PLMN + 36-bit NR cell ID). |
P-RNTI | Paging RNTI | Fixed RNTI used to scramble PDCCH scheduling paging messages. |
PCI | Physical Cell Identity | One of 1008 physical-layer cell IDs derived from PSS and SSS. |
PLMN | Public Land Mobile Network | An operator's network, identified by MCC + MNC. |
RA-RNTI | Random Access RNTI | RNTI addressing the Random Access Response, derived from PRACH time/frequency. |
SI-RNTI | System Information RNTI | Fixed RNTI used to scramble PDCCH scheduling system information. |
S-TMSI | S-Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity | Shortened LTE GUTI used for paging and initial access. |
SUCI | Subscription Concealed Identifier | Encrypted (public-key concealed) form of the SUPI sent over the air. |
SUPI | Subscription Permanent Identifier | The permanent 5G subscriber identity (usually the IMSI). |
TAC | Tracking Area Code | Code identifying a tracking area used for paging and registration areas. |
TAI | Tracking Area Identity | Globally unique tracking area (PLMN + TAC). |
TC-RNTI | Temporary C-RNTI | Provisional RNTI given in Msg2 before contention resolution completes. |
TPC-RNTI | Transmit Power Control RNTI | RNTI addressing group power-control commands on PDCCH. |
QoS & Bearers
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
5QI | 5G QoS Identifier | Scalar pointing to a standardised set of 5G QoS characteristics (QCI successor). |
AMBR | Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate | Ceiling on total non-GBR throughput per UE or per session. |
ARP | Allocation and Retention Priority | Priority governing admission and which bearers get pre-empted under congestion. |
DRB | Data Radio Bearer | Radio bearer carrying user-plane data between UE and RAN. |
GBR | Guaranteed Bit Rate | QoS class with reserved, guaranteed throughput (e.g. voice). |
GFBR | Guaranteed Flow Bit Rate | The guaranteed rate of a GBR QoS flow. |
MBR | Maximum Bit Rate | Upper throughput limit enforced on a bearer or flow. |
MFBR | Maximum Flow Bit Rate | The maximum rate a GBR QoS flow may use. |
PDB | Packet Delay Budget | Target upper bound on packet latency for a QoS class. |
PER | Packet Error Rate | Target residual error rate for a QoS class after L2 delivery. |
QCI | QoS Class Identifier | LTE scalar naming a standardised QoS profile (5QI successor in 5G). |
QFI | QoS Flow Identifier | Marks each 5G QoS flow so SDAP/UPF can map and enforce it. |
QoS Flow | Quality of Service Flow | Finest QoS granularity in 5G, mapped onto DRBs by SDAP. |
SDF | Service Data Flow | A set of IP flows matched by a filter and given a common QoS treatment. |
SRB | Signalling Radio Bearer | Radio bearer carrying RRC/NAS signalling (SRB0/1/2/3). |
TFT | Traffic Flow Template | Packet-filter set binding IP flows to a specific EPS bearer. |
Security
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
AKA | Authentication and Key Agreement | Challenge-response protocol authenticating UE and network and deriving keys. |
AV | Authentication Vector | The set of authentication parameters (RAND, AUTN, XRES, keys) from the home network. |
EEA | EPS Encryption Algorithm | LTE ciphering algorithm family (EEA0/1/2/3). |
EIA | EPS Integrity Algorithm | LTE integrity-protection algorithm family (EIA0/1/2/3). |
KAMF | KAMF | 5G key held at the AMF, root of the access-stratum and NAS key branches. |
KASME | KASME | LTE top-level key derived after AKA, root of the LTE key hierarchy. |
KAUSF | KAUSF | 5G key derived at UE and AUSF as the anchor for further key derivation. |
KeNB | KeNB | LTE access-stratum key at the eNB, from which RRC/UP keys derive. |
KgNB | KgNB | 5G access-stratum key at the gNB, root of AS RRC/UP keys. |
KSEAF | KSEAF | 5G anchor key derived from KAUSF for the serving network. |
KDF | Key Derivation Function | The HMAC-SHA-256 function generating child keys in the hierarchy. |
MAC-I | Message Authentication Code for Integrity | Integrity token appended to protected messages to detect tampering. |
NCC | Next-hop Chaining Counter | Counter driving forward key separation across handovers. |
NEA | NR Encryption Algorithm | 5G ciphering algorithm family (NEA0/1/2/3). |
NH | Next Hop | Derived key material providing forward security at handover. |
NIA | NR Integrity Algorithm | 5G integrity-protection algorithm family (NIA0/1/2/3). |
RES / XRES | (Expected) Response | UE-computed response and network-expected response compared during AKA. |
SMC | Security Mode Command | Procedure activating ciphering and integrity for AS or NAS. |
Voice (VoLTE / VoNR)
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
AMR | Adaptive Multi-Rate | Narrowband speech codec family used for VoLTE/VoNR. |
AMR-WB | Adaptive Multi-Rate Wideband | Wideband ("HD Voice") variant of the AMR codec. |
CSFB | Circuit-Switched Fallback | Falling back from LTE to 2G/3G circuit-switched for a voice call. |
EPS Fallback | EPS Fallback | 5G voice mechanism redirecting the UE to LTE/VoLTE when VoNR isn't available. |
EVS | Enhanced Voice Services | Super-wideband/full-band codec giving the best VoLTE/VoNR voice quality. |
RTCP | RTP Control Protocol | Companion to RTP carrying media quality/statistics reports. |
RTP | Real-time Transport Protocol | Transport carrying the encoded voice media packets. |
SIP | Session Initiation Protocol | IMS signalling protocol that sets up, modifies and tears down voice sessions. |
SRVCC | Single Radio Voice Call Continuity | Handing an in-progress VoLTE call to 2G/3G circuit-switched without a break. |
VoLTE | Voice over LTE | IMS voice carried over LTE on a dedicated QCI-1 bearer. |
VoNR | Voice over NR | IMS voice carried natively over 5G NR on a 5QI-1 QoS flow. |
Interfaces & Transport Protocols
| Acronym | Expansion | One-line meaning |
|---|---|---|
Diameter | Diameter | AAA/signalling protocol used on LTE interfaces such as S6a (MME–HSS). |
E1AP | E1 Application Protocol | Signalling between the gNB-CU-CP and gNB-CU-UP over the E1 interface. |
F1AP | F1 Application Protocol | Signalling between the gNB-CU and gNB-DU over the F1 interface. |
GTP-C | GPRS Tunnelling Protocol – Control | Control-plane tunnelling for bearer/session management in the EPC. |
GTP-U | GPRS Tunnelling Protocol – User plane | Encapsulates user data in tunnels between RAN and core (identified by TEID). |
NGAP | NG Application Protocol | Control signalling between the gNB and the AMF over the NG interface. |
S1AP | S1 Application Protocol | Control signalling between the eNB and the MME over the S1 interface. |
SCTP | Stream Control Transmission Protocol | Reliable multi-stream transport carrying RAN control signalling (NGAP/S1AP). |
TEID | Tunnel Endpoint Identifier | Identifies a specific GTP tunnel endpoint for user-plane routing. |
X2AP | X2 Application Protocol | Inter-eNB signalling for LTE handover and dual connectivity over X2. |
XnAP | Xn Application Protocol | Inter-gNB signalling for NR handover and dual connectivity over Xn. |
Where to go next
Now that the vocabulary is in place, follow a guided path through the topics or line up LTE against 5G side by side.