Kernnetzes

Kernnetze are the central part of a telecommunications network that provides signaling, control, and the routing of user data between access networks and external networks. They are distinct from the access or radio networks and are responsible for core functions such as authentication, mobility management, policy enforcement, charging, and interconnection.

Historically, core networks evolved from circuit-switched constructs to packet-switched architectures. In 2G and 3G networks, the core included elements like mobile switching centers (MSC), visitor/location registration centers (VLR/HLR), serving GPRS support nodes (SGSN), and gateway GPRS support nodes (GGSN). In modern mobile networks, the core components of the LTE/EPC core are theMobility Management Entity (MME), Serving Gateway (SGW), and Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW), along with the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) and policy components such as PCRF. In 5G, the core is designated as the 5G Core (5GC), featuring functions like AMF, SMF, UPF, AUSF, UDM, PCF, and supporting service-based architecture and network slicing.

Functions within Kernnetze include signaling and control plane operations (authentication, session management, mobility, roaming), user plane data routing, IP address allocation, interconnection with other networks (public switched telephone network and the Internet), and charging and policy enforcement. Modern trends emphasize virtualization and cloud-native design, network functions virtualization (NFV), software-defined networking (SDN), and agile service-based architectures to improve scalability, resilience, and time-to-market for new services.

In German technical usage, Kernnetze refer to the core, central network that adapters the entire communications system, with the term widely used across mobile and fixed network contexts. See also: core network, NFV, 5G Core.