5GCore

5GCore refers to the central component of a 5G core network (5GC), the collection of functions that control and route traffic for 5G services. It is designed to support flexible, cloud-native deployment and to enable rapid service innovation, scalability, and network slicing. The 5G Core replaces or augments the 4G EPC with new functions and interfaces, and is capable of operating in standalone mode or in combination with legacy cores during transition.

The 5G Core uses a service-based architecture in which network functions expose their capabilities through service interfaces and interact via standard protocols. This enables modular composition, dynamic service discovery, and scalable deployment across public clouds or private data centers. Core network functions commonly include the Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), and User Plane Function (UPF) for control and data plane tasks; authentication and subscriber data functions such as the Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Unified Data Management (UDM) and data repository (UDR); policy and charging controls like the Policy Control Function (PCF); and service exposure and discovery components such as the Network Repository Function (NRF), Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), and Network Exposure Function (NEF). An Application Function (AF) can interact with the PCF to influence policy decisions.

Key capabilities include control and user plane separation (CUPS), mobility management, session management, subscriber authentication, policy and charging rules, and support for network slicing and edge computing. 5G Core is standardized by 3GPP in releases continuing beyond Release 15, with ongoing enhancements for performance, security, and interoperability.