TS 38.473 – F1 Application Protocol (F1AP)
3GPP TS 38.473 is the 3GPP Technical Specification for F1 Application Protocol (F1AP). It is published in 5 releases (Rel-15 to Rel-19); the latest version is 19.4.0 in Rel-19.
Defines 5G F1 interface signalling between gNB-CU and gNB-DU, supporting UE contexts, mobility, resource management, transport, positioning, and multicast services.
Releases and versions of TS 38.473
| Release | Latest version | Links |
|---|---|---|
| Rel-19 | 19.4.0 | Read · Download (3GPP) |
| Rel-18 | 18.11.0 | Read · Download (3GPP) |
| Rel-17 | 17.16.0 | Read · Download (3GPP) |
| Rel-16 | 16.23.0 | Read · Download (3GPP) |
| Rel-15 | 15.18.0 | Read · Download (3GPP) |
Scope of TS 38.473
Category: Radio Access (RAN Signalling Protocol). Technology generation: 5G. Network layer: RAN.
Who should read this specification?
- Network operators
- Device manufacturers
- Regulators and standards bodies
- Researchers and academics
Implementation notes
Complexity level: Expert. Implementation difficulty: High.
Key technologies
Specifications referenced by TS 38.473
- TS 23.401 Evolved Packet System Architecture
- TS 23.203 Policy and Charging Control Architecture
- 25.921 (version.7.0.0): "Guidelines and principles for protocol description and error"
- TS 36.413 S1 Application Protocol (S1AP) for E-UTRAN
- TS 38.321 NR MAC Protocol Specification
- TS 38.104 NR Base Station RF Requirements
- TS 29.281 GTPv1-U Protocol Specification
- TS 38.414 NG Interface User Plane Protocol
- TR 21.905 3GPP Terminology and Definitions
- TS 36.300 E-UTRAN Radio Interface Protocol Architecture
- TS 23.501 5G System Architecture
- TS 38.472 F1 Interface Signalling Transport Specification
Specifications that reference TS 38.473
- TS 38.331 NR Radio Resource Control (RRC)
- TS 28.541 5G Network Resource Model (NRM) Stage 2 and 3
- TS 28.552 5G Network Performance Measurements
- TS 28.554 5G End-to-End KPI Definitions
- TS 37.340 Overview of Multi-Connectivity Operation using E-UTRA and NR
- TS 38.321 NR MAC Protocol Specification
- TS 38.401 NG-RAN Architecture Description
- TS 38.213 NR Physical Layer Control Procedures
- TS 23.700 Study on SEAL Phase 4
- TS 38.423 NG-RAN Xn Application Protocol
- TS 32.423 Trace Data Definition and Management
- TS 36.423 X2 Application Protocol (X2AP) Specification
Other specifications in the 38 series
- TS 38.463 E1 Application Protocol (E1AP)
- TS 38.470 F1 Interface Specification for NG-RAN
- TS 38.471 F1 Interface Layer 1 Specification
- TS 38.472 F1 Interface Signalling Transport Specification
- TS 38.474 F1 Interface User Plane Protocol
- TS 38.508 5G NR UE ICS Proforma
- TS 38.508-1 NR Test Frequencies and Band Configurations
- TS 38.508-2 5G NR UE ICS Proforma for Conformance Testing
Frequently asked questions
What is 3GPP TS 38.473?
3GPP TS 38.473 is the 3GPP Technical Specification for F1 Application Protocol (F1AP). Defines 5G F1 interface signalling between gNB-CU and gNB-DU, supporting UE contexts, mobility, resource management, transport, positioning, and multicast services.
Which 3GPP releases include TS 38.473?
TS 38.473 is published in 5 releases, from Rel-15 to Rel-19. The latest version on 3GPP Explorer is 19.4.0 (Rel-19).
What category does TS 38.473 belong to?
TS 38.473 belongs to the Radio Access (RAN Signalling Protocol) category of 3GPP specifications. It applies to 5G networks.
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