A tier-one North American operator has deployed Enea’s 5G network data layer (NDL) system, Stratum to create the industry’s first 3GPP Release 16 interoperability interface in a 5G standalone (5GSA) environment. The interface will allow the mobile operator to bring together all network and subscriber data from across its 4G and 5G networks.

Stratum, part of Enea’s 5G data management suite originally developed by Openwave Mobility, combines all system and subscriber data silos into a single network data layer. Aligned with 3GPP service based architecture this enables a distinct separation between 5G functions and their data. Using Stratum within the 5G Core, operators are able to define and manage their most valuable asset, data about their consumers- avoiding vendor-lock in and silos.

Release 16, due to be launched later this year, places great emphasis on the interoperability between 4G and 5G providing a bridge between network generations. Using Release 16-compliant software, operators will be able to manage subscriptions and session data across access networks. This interoperability is crucial for a smooth user experience. Additionally, dynamic session data management allows operators to accelerate new service launches and to recover faster from any interruption – avoiding signaling storms in the 5G control plane.

Dimitris Mavrakis, Senior Research Director at ABI Research commented: “Release 16 will give operators an incredible amount of flexibility. In the past, most device data got siloed in proprietary vendor databases, which restricted new applications and innovation on the mobile network. Enea’s Stratum allows operators to unleash the full potential of private 5G networks and IoT. This is also important when it comes to making the transition from 4G to 5G – as painless as possible”.

版本16架构还大大简化了运营商通过5G物联网获利的能力，该市场预计将迅速增长。McKinsey＆Company估计，5G IoT模块的总收入将从2022年的1.8亿美元增加到到2030年的100亿美元以上。这要求运营商必须实施强大的5G数据管理解决方案，以便可以处理实时身份验证并安全地分享数十亿个设备的数据。层以开放的云天然方式提供这些功能。它使数据能够编写和更新一次，并在任何地方读取 - 从核心到边缘到边缘无缝无缝地。

“我们的研究发现third of operators will look to deploy 5G SA over the next two years and the transition from 4G to 5G is well underway”, said Indranil Chatterjee, Chief Customer Officer at Enea. “The Stratum interface will help operators to transition their subscriber data from 4G seamlessly and leverage all of the benefits that come with Release 16.”

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