5G QoS Parameters

We had QoS Parameters in LTE as well, but in 5G, there are some differences and enhancements made
in terms of QoS measurement levels and flows.

✓ In 4G, LTE QoS is enforced at the EPS bearer level. In 5G, QoS is enforced at the QoS flow level.
✓ 4G LTE uses EPS bearers each assigned an EPS bearer ID. 5G uses QoS Flows, each identified by a
QoS Flow ID (QFI). As with 4G LTE both non-GBR flows and GBR flows are supported in 5G, along
with a new delay-critical GBR. 5G also introduces a new concept - Reflective QoS.

Following are the 5G QoS Parameters as part of QoS Implementation:

• 5G QoS Identifier (5GQI)

• Allocation and Retention Priority (ARP)
• Reflective QoS Attribute (RQA)
• Notification Control
• Flow Bit Rates
• Aggregate Bit Rates
• Maximum Packet Loss Rate

1. 5QI: It is a scalar and is used as a reference to the characteristics of 5G QoS. There is one-to-one
mapping of standardized 5QI values to a standardized combination of 5G QoS characteristics.

2. ARP: It is a 5G QoS parameter in which information about the priority level, the pre-emption
capability and the pre-emption vulnerability is contained.

3. RQA: The Reflective QoS attribute is an optional parameter. Certain traffic carried on the QoS
Flow is indicated by RQA. Only when the RQA is signaled for a QoS Flow, the RAN/AN enables
the transfer of the RQI for AN resource corresponding to this QoS Flow.

4. Notification control: It is indicated by the notification control that whether there is a request of
notification from the NG-RAN or not. A GBR QoS Flow uses the notification control if the change
in the QoS is adapted by the application traffic.

5. Flow Bit Rates: The following additional QoS parameters exist only for GBR QoS Flows i.e.
Guaranteed Flow Bit Rate (GFBR) and Maximum Flow Bit Rate (MFBR). The
GFBR denotes the bit rate using which the QoS Flow is provided over the
Averaging Time Window by the network. The bit rate is limited to the highest bit
rate that is expected by the QoS Flow by the MFBR.
 6. Aggregate Bit Rates: Per UE Aggregate Maximum Bit Rate (UE-AMBR) aggregate rate limit QoS
parameter that is used by each UE.
7. Maximum Packet Loss Rate: The maximum rate for lost packets of the QoS flow is indicated by
the Maximum Packet Loss Rate. The QoS is provided by this if compliant to the GFBR.

Standardized 5QI to QoS characteristics mapping:

Note: For a delay critical GBR QoS flows, a packet delayed more than PDB is counted as lost (it can be
either delivered or discarded depending on implementation), if the transmitted data burst is less than
Maximum Data Burst Volume within the period of PDB, the QoS flow is not exceeding the GFBR.