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NGAP Dictionary (NGAP / N2)

A dictionary for looking up the key procedures and messages of NGAP (NG Application Protocol), which handles the control between (R)AN and AMF (N2). It runs over SCTP.

Related: Protocol Dictionary / Interface Dictionary (N2) / N2 page / Registration chapter


NGAP key procedures/messages

Procedure/Message Category Direction Purpose Related Spec
NG Setup Request / Response / Failure Non-UE-associated RAN⇔AMF Initialization/establishment of the N2 interface (Procedure Code, etc. to be confirmed) N2 page TS 38.413
Initial UE Message UE-associated RAN→AMF Carries the UE's first NAS (Registration Request, etc.) to the core Registration chapter TS 38.413
Downlink / Uplink NAS Transport UE-associated Bidirectional Carries NAS-PDU over N2 Protocol Dictionary TS 38.413
Initial Context Setup Request / Response UE-associated AMF→RAN Setup of UE context, security, and DRB Registration chapter TS 38.413
PDU Session Resource Setup / Modify / Release UE-associated AMF→RAN Setup/modification/release of PDU session resources (DRB, etc.) PDU Session chapter TS 38.413
UE Context Release Command / Complete UE-associated Bidirectional Release of UE context (Service Request/Paging related) Service Request chapter / Paging chapter TS 38.413
Paging Non-UE-associated AMF→RAN Paging the UE on incoming Paging chapter TS 38.413
Handover Required / Request / Command / Notify, etc. UE-associated Bidirectional N2-based handover control Handover chapter TS 38.413

(Numeric values such as the Procedure Code / IE values of each procedure are to be confirmed)


NGAP's two categories and transport

NGAP procedures are broadly divided into "UE-associated (tied to a specific UE)" and "non-UE-associated (involving the whole interface, such as NG Setup / Paging)". NAS messages are carried to the AMF with NGAP (Initial UE Message / NAS Transport) as the carrier. The transport is SCTP, and the destination port 38412 is the registered value (TS 38.412).