ETSI TS 123 503 V19.7.0 (2026-03)

5G; Policy and charging control framework for the 5G System (5GS); Stage 2 (3GPP TS 23.503 version 19.7.0 Release 19)

RTS/TSGS-0223503vj70

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Technical Committee: 3GPP SA 2 - Architecture
• Current Stage: 8 - Draft receipt by ETSI Secretariat
• Completion Date: 13-Mar-2026

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
5G;
Policy and charging control framework
for the 5G System (5GS);
Stage 2
(3GPP TS 23.503 version 19.7.0 Release 19)

3GPP TS 23.503 version 19.7.0 Release 19 1 ETSI TS 123 503 V19.7.0 (2026-03)

Reference
RTS/TSGS-0223503vj70
Keywords
5G
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ETSI
3GPP TS 23.503 version 19.7.0 Release 19 2 ETSI TS 123 503 V19.7.0 (2026-03)
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ETSI
3GPP TS 23.503 version 19.7.0 Release 19 3 ETSI TS 123 503 V19.7.0 (2026-03)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 2
Legal Notice . 2
Modal verbs terminology . 2
Foreword . 7
Introduction . 7
1 Scope . 8
2 References . 8
3 Definitions and abbreviations . 10
3.1 Definitions . 10
3.2 Abbreviations . 13
4 High level architectural requirements . 13
4.1 General requirements . 13
4.2 Non-session management related policy control requirements . 14
4.2.1 Access and mobility related policy control requirements . 14
4.2.2 UE policy control requirements . 14
4.2.3 Network analytics information requirements . 14
4.2.4 Management of packet flow descriptions . 14
4.2.5 SMF selection management related policy control requirements . 15
4.2.6 Support for non-session management related network capability exposure . 15
4.2.7 Slice replacement related policy control requirements . 15
4.3 Session management related policy control requirements . 16
4.3.1 General requirements . 16
4.3.2 Charging related requirements . 16
4.3.2.1 General . 16
4.3.2.2 Charging models . 16
4.3.2.3 Charging requirements . 17
4.3.2.4 Examples of Service Data Flow Charging . 17
4.3.3 Policy control requirements . 17
4.3.3.1 Gating control requirements . 17
4.3.3.2 QoS control requirements . 18
4.3.3.2.1 QoS control at service data flow level . 18
4.3.3.2.2 QoS control at QoS Flow level . 18
4.3.3.2.3 QoS control at PDU Session level . 18
4.3.3.3 Subscriber spending limits requirements . 18
4.3.4 Usage monitoring control requirements . 19
4.3.5 Application detection and control requirements . 19
4.3.6 Support for session management related network capability exposure . 19
4.3.7 Traffic steering control . 20
4.3.8 Handling of Payload Headers . 20
4.4 Network slice related policy control requirements . 20
5 Architecture model and reference points . 20
5.1 General . 20
5.2 Reference architecture . 21
5.2.1 Non-roaming architecture . 21
5.2.2 Roaming architecture . 22
5.2.3 Void . 24
5.3 Service-based interfaces and reference points . 25
5.3.1 Interactions between PCF and AF . 25
5.3.2 Interactions between PCF and SMF . 25
5.3.3 Interactions between PCF and AMF . 26
5.3.4 Interactions between V-PCF and H-PCF . 26
5.3.5 Interactions between PCF and UDR . 26
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5.3.6 Interactions between SMF and CHF . 26
5.3.7 Void . 27
5.3.8 Interactions between PCF and CHF . 27
5.3.9 Interactions between SMF and NEF . 27
5.3.10 Interactions between NEF and PCF . 27
5.3.11 Interactions between NWDAF and PCF . 28
5.3.12 Interactions between PCF for the UE and PCF for the PDU Session . 28
5.3.13 Interactions between PCF and TSCTSF . 28
5.3.14 Interactions between NWDAF and NEF (PFDF) . 28
6 Functional description . 28
6.1 Overall description . 28
6.1.1 General . 28
6.1.1.1 PCF Discovery and Selection . 28
6.1.1.2 Binding an AF request targeting an UE address to the relevant PCF . 29
6.1.1.2.1 General . 29
6.1.1.2.2 The Binding Support Function (BSF). 29
6.1.1.2a Binding an NF request targeting a UE to the relevant PCF for the UE . 31
6.1.1.3 Policy decisions based on network analytics. 31
6.1.1.4 Policy decisions based on spending limits . 37
6.1.1.5 Policy control decisions based on awareness of URSP rule enforcement . 38
6.1.1.5.1 General . 38
6.1.1.5.2 Policy control decisions based on awareness of URSP rule enforcement with UE assistance . 39
6.1.1.5.3 Policy control decisions based on awareness of URSP rule enforcement without UE
assistance . 39
6.1.2 Non-session management related policy control . 39
6.1.2.1 Access and mobility related policy control . 39
6.1.2.1.1 General . 39
6.1.2.1.2 Handling of the AM Policy Association . 42
6.1.2.2 UE policy control . 43
6.1.2.2.1 General . 43
6.1.2.2.2 Distribution of the policies to UE . 45
6.1.2.2.3 URSP rule provisioning in EPS . 48
6.1.2.2.4 Distribution of VPLMN specific URSP rules to the UE . 49
6.1.2.2.5 Handling of the UE Policy Association . 50
6.1.2.3 Management of packet flow descriptions . 50
6.1.2.3.1 PFD management . 50
6.1.2.3.2 Packet Flow Description . 52
6.1.2.4 Negotiation for future background data transfer . 53
6.1.2.5 Policy Control Request Triggers relevant for AMF . 55
6.1.2.6 AF influence on Access and Mobility related policy control . 59
6.1.2.6.0 General . 59
6.1.2.6.1 AF request Access and Mobility related Policy Control for a UE . 59
6.1.2.6.2 AF request to influence on Access and Mobility related Policy Control . 60
6.1.2.7 Negotiation for planned data transfer with QoS requirements . 61
6.1.3 Session management related policy control . 62
6.1.3.1 General . 62
6.1.3.2 Binding mechanism . 62
6.1.3.2.1 General . 62
6.1.3.2.2 Session binding . 63
6.1.3.2.3 PCC rule authorization . 63
6.1.3.2.4 QoS Flow binding. 63
6.1.3.3 Reporting . 65
6.1.3.4 Credit management . 66
6.1.3.5 Policy Control Request Triggers relevant for SMF . 66
6.1.3.6 Policy control . 76
6.1.3.7 Service (data flow) prioritization and conflict handling . 77
6.1.3.8 Termination action . 78
6.1.3.9 Handling of packet filters provided to the UE by SMF . 78
6.1.3.10 IMS emergency session support . 78
6.1.3.11 Multimedia Priority Service support . 79
6.1.3.12 Redirection . 81
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6.1.3.13 Resource sharing for different AF sessions . 81
6.1.3.14 Traffic steering control . 82
6.1.3.15 Resource reservation for services sharing priority . 82
6.1.3.16 3GPP PS Data Off . 83
6.1.3.17 Policy decisions based on spending limits . 85
6.1.3.18 Event reporting from the PCF . 85
6.1.3.19 Mission Critical Services support . 92
6.1.3.20 Access Traffic Steering, Switching and Splitting . 93
6.1.3.21 QoS Monitoring control . 96
6.1.3.22 AF session with required QoS . 98
6.1.3.23 Support of integration with Time Sensitive Networking. 100
6.1.3.23a Support of Time Sensitive Communication and Time Synchronization . 101
6.1.3.23b Support of IETF Deterministic Networking . 101
6.1.3.24 Policy control for redundant PDU Sessions . 103
6.1.3.25 User Plane Remote Provisioning of UE SNPN Credentials in Onboarding Network . 103
6.1.3.26 Packet Delay Variation monitoring and reporting . 104
6.1.3.27 Support of eXtended Reality and Interactive Media Services . 104
6.1.3.27.1 Exposure of network information . 104
6.1.3.27.2 UL/DL policy control based on round-trip latency requirement . 105
6.1.3.27.3 Support for delivery of multi-modal services . 105
6.1.3.27.4 PDU Set based handling . 106
6.1.3.27.5 Data Burst Based Handling . 107
6.1.3.27.6 Traffic Parameter Information and Traffic Parameter Measurement . 107
6.1.3.27.7 Traffic identification and differentiated QoS for multiplexed media flows . 108
6.1.3.27.8 Support of transferring media related information over N6 . 108
6.1.3.27.9 Expedited Data Transfer with Reflective QoS . 108
6.1.3.27.10 Support of RAN-controlled UL bitrate recommendation . 109
6.1.3.28 AF requested QoS for a UE or group of UEs not identified by a UE address . 109
6.1.3.29 Network Slice replacement for a PDU Session . 110
6.1.3.30 Handling of Payload Headers Control. 111
6.1.3.31 Policy control for non-3GPP devices connecting behind a UE . 111
6.1.4 Network slice related policy control . 111
6.1.4.1 General . 111
6.1.4.2 Limitation of data rate per network slice with assistance of the NWDAF . 112
6.1.4.3 Limitation of data rate per network slice with PCF based monitoring . 112
6.1.5 Group related policy control . 113
6.1.6 Void . 113
6.2 Network functions and entities . 113
6.2.1 Policy Control Function (PCF) . 113
6.2.1.1 General . 113
6.2.1.1.1 Session management related functionality . 113
6.2.1.1.2 Non-session management related functionality . 115
6.2.1.1.3 Network slice related functionality . 115
6.2.1.1.4 Group related functionality . 115
6.2.1.2 Input for PCC decisions . 116
6.2.1.3 Policy control subscription information management . 116
6.2.1.4 V-PCF . 121
6.2.1.5 H-PCF . 121
6.2.1.6 Application specific policy information management. 121
6.2.1.7 Usage monitoring . 122
6.2.1.8 Sponsored data connectivity. 123
6.2.1.9 Monitoring the data rate per Network Slice for a UE . 123
6.2.1.10 Monitoring the data rate per Network Slice . 123
6.2.1.10.1 General . 123
6.2.1.10.2 Monitoring the data rate per Network Slice by using QoS parameters. 124
6.2.1.11 Monitoring the data rate per Group . 124
6.2.1.11.1 General . 124
6.2.1.11.2 Monitoring the data rate per Group by using QoS parameters . 124
6.2.1.12 VPLMN Specific Offloading Policy . 125
6.2.1.13 Local Offloading Management Policy . 125
6.2.2 Session Management Function (SMF) . 125
6.2.2.1 General . 125
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6.2.2.2 Service data flow detection . 127
6.2.2.3 Measurement . 127
6.2.2.4 QoS control . 129
6.2.2.5 Application detection . 130
6.2.2.6 Traffic steering . 130
6.2.2.7 Access Traffic Steering, Switching and Splitting . 130
6.2.2.8 Network Slice Replacement . 130
6.2.3 Application Function (AF) . 130
6.2.4 Unified Data Repository (UDR) . 131
6.2.5 Charging Function (CHF) . 132
6.2.6 Void . 132
6.2.7 Network Exposure Function (NEF) . 132
6.2.8 Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) . 132
6.2.9 Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) . 132
6.2.10 Void . 132
6.2.11 Time Sensitive Communication and Time Synchronization Function (TSCTSF) . 132
6.3 Policy and charging control rule . 132
6.3.1 General . 132
6.3.2 Policy and charging control rule operations . 149
6.4 PDU Session related policy information . 150
6.5 Access and mobility related policy information . 156
6.6 UE policy information . 159
6.6.1 Access Network Discovery & Selection Policy Information . 159
6.6.1.1 General . 159
6.6.1.2 UE selecting a WLANSP rule . 160
6.6.1.3 UE procedure for selecting a WLAN access based on WLANSP rules . 160
6.6.2 UE Route Selection Policy information . 161
6.6.2.1 Structure Description . 161
6.6.2.2 Configuration and Provision of URSP . 167
6.6.2.2.1 General . 167
6.6.2.2.2 URSP rules for an SNPN-enabled UE . 167
6.6.2.2.3 Void . 168
6.6.2.3 UE procedure for associating applications to PDU Sessions based on URSP . 168
6.6.2.4 Support of URSP rule enforcement reporting . 171
6.6.3 V2X Policy information . 172
6.6.4 ProSe Policy information . 172
6.6.5 Ranging/Sidelink Positioning Policy information . 172
6.6.6 A2X Policy information . 172
6.6.7 UE Policy Association supplementary information . 173
Annex A (informative): URSP rules example . 174
Annex B (informative): Deployment option to support of BSF and DRA coexistence due to
network migration . 177
Annex C (Normative): Support for Application Functions supporting Rx interface . 178
Annex D (informative): PCC usage for sponsored data connectivity . 180
D.1 General . 180
D.2 Reporting for sponsored data connectivity . 181
Annex E (informative): Change history . 182
History . 195

ETSI
3GPP TS 23.503 version 19.7.0 Release 19 7 ETSI TS 123 503 V19.7.0 (2026-03)
Foreword
This Technical Specification has been produced by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
The contents of the present document are subject to continuing work within the TSG and may change following formal
TSG approval. Should the TSG modify the contents of the present document, it will be re-released by the TSG with an
identifying change of release date and an increase in version number as follows:
Version x.y.z
where:
x the first digit:
1 presented to TSG for information;
2 presented to TSG for approval;
3 or greater indicates TSG approved document under change control.
y the second digit is incremented for all changes of substance, i.e. technical enhancements, corrections,
updates, etc.
z the third digit is incremented when editorial only changes have been incorporated in the document.
Introduction
For references to TS 23.203 [4] made in this document,
- the IP-CAN session of TS 23.203 [4] maps to the PDU Session in 5GC.
- the APN of TS 23.203 [4] maps to DNN in 5GC.
- the IP-CAN bearer of TS 23.203 [4] maps to the QoS Flow in 5GC.
- The PCRF of TS 23.203 [4] maps to the PCF in 5GC.
- The PCEF of TS 23.203 [4] maps to the combination of SMF and UPF in 5GC.
- The BBF shall be considered as being located in the PCEF.
- TDF related description does not apply.
- NBIFOM related description does not apply.
ETSI
3GPP TS 23.503 version 19.7.0 Release 19 8 ETSI TS 123 503 V19.7.0 (2026-03)
1 Scope
The present document defines the Stage 2 policy and charging control framework for the 5G System specified in
TS 23.501 [2] and TS 23.502 [3].
The policy and charging control framework encompasses the following high level functions:
- Flow Based Charging for network usage, including charging control and online credit control, for service data
flows;
- Policy control for session management and service data flows (e.g. gating control, QoS control, etc.);
- Management for access and mobility related policies;
- Management of UE policy information.
Interworking with E-UTRAN connected to EPC is described in TS 23.501 [2].
TS 23.502 [3] contains the stage 2 procedures and flows for the policy and charging control framework and it is a
companion specification to this specification.
TS 32.255 [21] contains the functional description of the converged offline and online charging functionality for the 5G
System.
2 References
The following documents contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute provisions of the present
document.
- References are either specific (identified by date of publication, edition number, version number, etc.) or
non-specific.
- For a specific reference, subsequent revisions do not apply.
- For a non-specific reference, the latest version applies. In the case of a reference to a 3GPP document (including
a GSM document), a non-specific reference implicitly refers to the latest version of that document in the same
Release as the present document.
[1] 3GPP TR 21.905: "Vocabulary for 3GPP Specifications".
[2] 3GPP TS 23.501: "Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects; System
Architecture for the 5G System".
[3] 3GPP TS 23.502: "Procedures for the 5G System; Stage 2".
[4] 3GPP TS 23.203: "Policies and Charging control architecture; Stage 2".
[5] 3GPP TS 23.228: "IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS); Stage 2".
[6] 3GPP TS 23.179: "Functional architecture and information flows to support mission-critical
communication service; Stage 2".
[7] Void.
[8] 3GPP TS 32.240: "Charging management; Charging architecture and principles".
[9] 3GPP TS 23.402: "Architecture enhancements for non-3GPP accesses".
[10] 3GPP TS 23.161: "Network-Based IP Flow Mobility (NBIFOM); Stage 2".
[11] 3GPP TS 23.261: "IP flow mobility and seamless Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) offload;
Stage 2".
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3GPP TS 23.503 version 19.7.0 Release 19 9 ETSI TS 123 503 V19.7.0 (2026-03)
[12] 3GPP TS 23.167: "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Services
and Systems Aspects; IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) emergency sessions".
[13] 3GPP TS 29.507: "Access and Mobility Policy Control Service; Stage 3".
[14] Void.
[15] 3GPP TS 22.011: "Service Accessibility".
[16] 3GPP TS 23.221: "Architectural requirements".
[17] 3GPP TS 29.551: "5G System; Packet Flow Description Management Service; Stage 3".
[18] 3GPP TS 32.421: "Telecommunication management; Subscriber and equipment trace; Trace
concepts and requirements".
[19] 3GPP TS 24.526: "UE Equipment (UE) policies for 5G System (5GS); Stage 3".
[20] 3GPP TS 32.291: "Charging management; 5G system, Charging service; stage 3"
...