ETSI TS 138 463 V16.17.0 (2026-04)

5G; NG-RAN; E1 Application Protocol (E1AP) (3GPP TS 38.463 version 16.17.0 Release 16)

RTS/TSGR-0338463vgh0

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Technical Committee: 3GPP RAN 3 - lub specification, lur specification, lu specification and UTRAN & O&M
• Current Stage: 12 - Citation in the OJ (auto-insert)
• Completion Date: 09-Apr-2026

Standards Content (Sample)

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
5G;
NG-RAN;
E1 Application Protocol (E1AP)
(3GPP TS 38.463 version 16.17.0 Release 16)

3GPP TS 38.463 version 16.17.0 Release 16 1 ETSI TS 138 463 V16.17.0 (2026-04)

Reference
RTS/TSGR-0338463vgh0
Keywords
5G
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ETSI
3GPP TS 38.463 version 16.17.0 Release 16 2 ETSI TS 138 463 V16.17.0 (2026-04)
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ETSI
3GPP TS 38.463 version 16.17.0 Release 16 3 ETSI TS 138 463 V16.17.0 (2026-04)
Contents
Intellectual Property Rights . 2
Legal Notice . 2
Modal verbs terminology . 2
Foreword . 9
1 Scope . 10
2 References . 10
3 Definitions and abbreviations . 11
3.1 Definitions . 11
3.2 Abbreviations . 12
4 General . 13
4.1 Procedure specification principles . 13
4.2 Forwards and backwards compatibility . 13
4.3 Specification notations . 13
5 E1AP services . 13
6 Services expected from signalling transport . 14
7 Functions of E1AP . 14
8 E1AP procedures . 14
8.1 List of E1AP Elementary Procedures . 14
8.2 Interface Management procedures . 16
8.2.1 Reset . 16
8.2.1.1 General . 16
8.2.1.2 Successful Operation . 16
8.2.1.2.1 Reset Procedure Initiated from the gNB-CU-CP . 16
8.2.1.2.2 Reset Procedure Initiated from the gNB-CU-UP . 17
8.2.1.3 Abnormal Conditions . 18
8.2.2 Error Indication . 18
8.2.2.1 General . 18
8.2.2.2 Successful Operation . 18
8.2.2.3 Abnormal Conditions . 18
8.2.3 gNB-CU-UP E1 Setup . 19
8.2.3.1 General . 19
8.2.3.2 Successful Operation . 19
8.2.3.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 20
8.2.3.4 Abnormal Conditions . 20
8.2.4 gNB-CU-CP E1 Setup . 20
8.2.4.1 General . 20
8.2.4.2 Successful Operation . 21
8.2.4.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 22
8.2.4.4 Abnormal Conditions . 22
8.2.5 gNB-CU-UP Configuration Update . 22
8.2.5.1 General . 22
8.2.5.2 Successful Operation . 23
8.2.5.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 24
8.2.5.4 Abnormal Conditions . 24
8.2.6 gNB-CU-CP Configuration Update . 24
8.2.6.1 General . 24
8.2.6.2 Successful Operation . 25
8.2.6.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 26
8.2.6.4 Abnormal Conditions . 26
8.2.7 E1 Release . 26
8.2.7.1 General . 26
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8.2.7.2 Successful Operation . 26
8.2.7.2.1 E1 Release Procedure Initiated from the gNB-CU-CP . 26
8.2.7.2.2 E1 Release Procedure Initiated from the gNB-CU-UP . 27
8.2.7.3 Abnormal Conditions . 27
8.2.8 gNB-CU-UP Status Indication . 28
8.2.8.1 General . 28
8.2.8.2 Successful Operation . 28
8.2.8.3 Abnormal Conditions . 28
8.2.9 Resource Status Reporting Initiation . 28
8.2.9.1 General . 28
8.2.9.2 Successful Operation . 28
8.2.9.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 29
8.2.9.4 Abnormal Conditions . 29
8.2.10 Resource Status Reporting . 29
8.2.10.1 General . 29
8.2.10.2 Successful Operation . 30
8.2.10.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 30
8.2.10.4 Abnormal Conditions . 30
8.3 Bearer Context Management procedures . 30
8.3.1 Bearer Context Setup . 30
8.3.1.1 General . 30
8.3.1.2 Successful Operation . 30
8.3.1.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 35
8.3.1.4 Abnormal Conditions . 35
8.3.2 Bearer Context Modification (gNB-CU-CP initiated) . 35
8.3.2.1 General . 35
8.3.2.2 Successful Operation . 36
8.3.2.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 41
8.3.2.4 Abnormal Conditions . 41
8.3.3 Bearer Context Modification Required (gNB-CU-UP initiated) . 42
8.3.3.1 General . 42
8.3.3.2 Successful Operation . 42
8.3.3.3 Abnormal Conditions . 42
8.3.4 Bearer Context Release (gNB-CU-CP initiated). 42
8.3.4.1 General . 42
8.3.4.2 Successful Operation . 43
8.3.4.3 Abnormal Conditions . 43
8.3.5 Bearer Context Release Request (gNB-CU-UP initiated). 43
8.3.5.1 General . 43
8.3.5.2 Successful Operation . 43
8.3.5.3 Abnormal Conditions . 44
8.3.6 Bearer Context Inactivity Noti ficatio n . 44
8.3.6.1 General . 44
8.3.6.2 Successful Operation . 44
8.3.6.3 Abnormal Conditions . 44
8.3.7 DL Data Notification . 45
8.3.7.1 General . 45
8.3.7.2 Successful Operation . 45
8.3.7.3 Abnormal Conditions . 45
8.3.8 Data Usage Report . 45
8.3.8.1 General . 45
8.3.8.2 Successful Operation . 46
8.3.8.3 Abnormal Conditions . 46
8.3.9 gNB-CU-UP Counter Check. 46
8.3.9.1 General . 46
8.3.9.2 Successful Operation . 46
8.3.9.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 46
8.3.9.4 Abnormal Conditions . 46
8.3.10 UL Data Notification . 47
8.3.10.1 General . 47
8.3.10.2 Successful Operation . 47
8.3.10.3 Abnormal Conditions . 47
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8.3.11 MR-DC Data Usage Report . 47
8.3.11.1 General . 47
8.3.11.2 Successful Operation . 47
8.3.11.3 Abnormal Conditions . 47
8.3.12 Early Forwarding SN Transfer. 48
8.3.12.1 General . 48
8.3.12.2 Successful Operation . 48
8.3.12.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 48
8.3.12.4 Abnormal Conditions . 48
8.3.13 GNB-CU-CP Measurement Results Information. 48
8.3.13.1 General . 48
8.3.13.2 Successful Operation . 49
8.3.13.3 Abnormal Conditions . 49
8.4 Trace Procedures . 49
8.4.1 Trace Start . 49
8.4.1.1 General . 49
8.4.1.2 Successful Operation . 49
8.4.1.3 Abnormal Conditions . 49
8.4.2 Deactivate Trace . 50
8.4.2.1 General . 50
8.4.2.2 Successful Operation . 50
8.4.2.3 Abnormal Conditions . 50
8.4.3 Cell Traffic Trace. 50
8.4.3.1 General . 50
8.4.3.2 Successful Operation . 50
8.4.3.3 Abnormal Conditions . 51
8.5 IAB Procedures . 51
8.5.1 IAB UP TNL Address Update . 51
8.5.1.1 General . 51
8.5.1.2 Successful Operation . 51
8.5.1.3 Unsuccessful Operation . 52
8.5.1.4 Abnormal Conditions . 52
8.5.2 IAB PSK Notification . 52
8.5.2.1 General . 52
8.5.2.2 Successful Operation . 52
8.5.2.3 Abnormal Conditions . 53
9 Elements for E1AP communication . 53
9.1 General . 53
9.2 Message Functional Definition and Content . 53
9.2.1 Interface Management messages . 53
9.2.1.1 RESET . 53
9.2.1.2 RESET ACKNOWLEDGE . 54
9.2.1.3 ERROR INDICATION . 54
9.2.1.4 GNB-CU-UP E1 SETUP REQUEST . 55
9.2.1.5 GNB-CU-UP E1 SETUP RESPONSE. 55
9.2.1.6 GNB-CU-UP E1 SETUP FAILURE . 56
9.2.1.7 GNB-CU-CP E1 SETUP REQUEST . 56
9.2.1.8 GNB-CU-CP E1 SETUP RESPONSE . 56
9.2.1.9 GNB-CU-CP E1 SETUP FAILURE . 57
9.2.1.10 GNB-CU-UP CONFIGURATION UPDATE . 57
9.2.1.11 GNB-CU-UP CONFIGURATION UPDATE ACKNOWLEDGE . 58
9.2.1.12 GNB-CU-UP CONFIGURATION UPDATE FAILURE . 58
9.2.1.13 GNB-CU-CP CONFIGURATION UPDATE . 59
9.2.1.14 GNB-CU-CP CONFIGURATION UPDATE ACKNOWLEDGE . 60
9.2.1.15 GNB-CU-CP CONFIGURATION UPDATE FAILURE . 60
9.2.1.16 E1 RELEASE REQUEST . 61
9.2.1.17 E1 RELEASE RESPONSE . 61
9.2.1.18 GNB-CU-UP STATUS INDICATION. 61
9.2.1.19 RESOURCE STATUS REQUEST . 61
9.2.1.20 RESOURCE STATUS RESPONSE . 62
9.2.1.21 RESOURCE STATUS FAILURE . 63
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9.2.1.22 RESOURCE STATUS UPDATE . 63
9.2.2 Bearer Context Management messages . 63
9.2.2.1 BEARER CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST . 63
9.2.2.1 BEARER CONTEXT SETUP REQUEST . 63
9.2.2.2 BEARER CONTEXT SETUP RESPONSE . 65
9.2.2.3 BEARER CONTEXT SETUP FAILURE . 65
9.2.2.4 BEARER CONTEXT MODIFICATION REQUEST . 65
9.2.2.5 BEARER CONTEXT MODIFICATION RESPONSE . 67
9.2.2.6 BEARER CONTEXT MODIFICATION FAILURE . 68
9.2.2.7 BEARER CONTEXT MODIFICATION REQUIRED . 68
9.2.2.8 BEARER CONTEXT MODIFICATION CONFIRM . 69
9.2.2.9 BEARER CONTEXT RELEASE COMMAND . 69
9.2.2.10 BEARER CONTEXT RELEASE COMPLETE . 69
9.2.2.11 BEARER CONTEXT RELEASE REQUEST . 70
9.2.2.12 BEARER CONTEXT INACTIVITY NOTIFICATION . 70
9.2.2.13 DL DATA NOTIFICATION . 71
9.2.2.14 DATA USAGE REPORT . 72
9.2.2.15 GNB-CU-UP COUNTER CHECK REQUEST . 72
9.2.2.16 UL DATA NOTIFICATION . 73
9.2.2.17 MR-DC DATA USAGE REPORT . 73
9.2.2.18 EARLY FORWARDING SN TRANSFER . 74
9.2.2.19 GNB-CU-CP MEASUREMENT RESULTS INFORMATION . 74
9.2.3 Trace Messages . 74
9.2.3.1 TRACE START . 75
9.2.3.2 DEACTIVATE TRACE . 75
9.2.3.3 CELL TRAFFIC TRACE . 75
9.2.4 IAB Messages . 76
9.2.4.1 IAB UP TNL ADDRESS UPDATE . 76
9.2.4.2 IAB UP TNL ADDRESS UPDATE ACKNOWLEDGE . 76
9.2.4.3 IAB UP TNL ADDRESS UPDATE FAILURE . 77
9.2.4.4 IAB PSK NOTIFICATION . 77
9.3 Information Element Definitions . 77
9.3.1 Radio Network Layer Related IEs . 77
9.3.1.1 Message Type . 77
9.3.1.2 Cause . 78
9.3.1.3 Criticality Diagnostics . 81
9.3.1.4 gNB-CU-CP UE E1AP ID . 82
9.3.1.5 gNB-CU-UP UE E1AP ID . 82
9.3.1.6 Time To wait . 82
9.3.1.7 PLMN Identity . 82
9.3.1.8 Slice Support List . 83
9.3.1.9 S-NSSAI . 83
9.3.1.10 Security Information . 83
9.3.1.11 Cell Group Information . 83
9.3.1.12 QoS Flow List . 84
9.3.1.13 UP Parameters . 84
9.3.1.14 NR CGI . 85
9.3.1.15 gNB-CU-UP ID . 85
9.3.1.16 DRB ID . 85
9.3.1.17 E-UTRAN QoS . 85
9.3.1.18 E-UTRAN Allocation and Retention Priority . 86
9.3.1.19 GBR QoS Information . 86
9.3.1.20 Bit Rate . 87
9.3.1.21 PDU Session ID . 87
9.3.1.22 PDU Session Type . 87
9.3.1.23 Security Indication . 88
9.3.1.24 QoS Flow Identifier. 88
9.3.1.25 QoS Flow QoS Parameters List . 88
9.3.1.26 QoS Flow Level QoS Parameters . 89
9.3.1.27 Non Dynamic 5QI Descriptor . 90
9.3.1.28 Dynamic 5QI Descriptor . 91
9.3.1.29 NG-RAN Allocation and Retention Priority . 91
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9.3.1.30 GBR QoS Flow Information . 92
9.3.1.31 Security Algorithm . 93
9.3.1.32 User Plane Security Keys . 93
9.3.1.33 UL Configuration . 93
9.3.1.34 gNB-CU-UP Cell Group Related Configuration . 94
9.3.1.35 PDCP Count . 94
9.3.1.36 NR CGI Support List . 94
9.3.1.37 QoS Parameters Support List . 95
9.3.1.38 PDCP Configuration . 95
9.3.1.39 SDAP Configuration . 97
9.3.1.40 ROHC Parameters . 97
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