5G • 5G-Advanced (Rel-18)
NCR Functional Split (NCR-MT & NCR-Fwd)
Mobile Termination and Forwarding Entity Separation in NCR
Architectural division of an NCR into a lightweight Mobile Termination unit (NCR-MT for control) and an RF Forwarding unit (NCR-Fwd for signal amplification).
Technical Explanation
Rel-18 establishes a clean two-part architecture inside every Network-Controlled Repeater: the NCR-MT (Mobile Termination) acts as a minimal 5G terminal that communicates with the gNodeB to receive control signaling and timing; the NCR-Fwd (Forwarding entity) contains the high-power RF beamforming and amplification circuits that repeat user plane data.
Key Functions
- Separates control plane termination (NCR-MT) from high-power RF forwarding (NCR-Fwd)
- Enables the NCR-MT to maintain standard RRC Connected state with the serving gNodeB
- Applies received control parameters to the physical phase shifters and amplifiers of the NCR-Fwd
- Simplifies hardware design, keeping equipment costs below 20% of a standard small cell
Specifications
3GPP TR 38.867, TS 38.401 (Rel-18)
Interfaces
NCR-MT / NCR-Fwd Internal Interface
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