5G NR ENDC SSB Location in the OFMD
Frequency & Time Domain
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5G NR SSB vs. LTE
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5G NR SSB vs. LTE
The 5G NR synchronization signal block (SSB) frequency and time location differ
significantly from LTE's primary broadcast channel (PBCH) and primary/secondary
synchronization signals (PSS/SSS) due to several key technical and design
considerations aimed at enhancing 5G New Radio (NR) performance. The main
reasons include:
- Bandwidth Flexibility: Unlike LTE, which operates in fixed bandwidth
configurations, 5G NR supports a wide range of frequencies, from sub-1 GHz to
millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands. The SSB in 5G NR is designed to adapt to
different carrier frequencies and bandwidths. Its flexible location helps
accommodate the diversity in frequency bands, ensuring efficient utilization of
spectrum across different deployments. In contrast, LTE’s PSS/SSS are fixed in
the center of the carrier bandwidth.
- Beamforming Support: 5G NR extensively employs beamforming, particularly
at higher frequencies where signal propagation is more challenging. The SSB is
transmitted periodically in multiple beam directions, and its flexible location in time
and frequency allows the gNB to optimize the beamforming and beam
management procedures. This is a significant departure from LTE, where the
PSS/SSS and PBCH are transmitted omnidirectionally from the eNodeB without
the need for beam alignment.
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5G NR SSB vs. LTE
- SSB Burst Structure: The SSB in 5G NR is transmitted in bursts, typically
consisting of multiple SSBs (up to 64 in high-frequency deployments). These
bursts allow the user equipment (UE) to detect and align with the best beam
direction. The frequency and time location of each SSB within the burst is flexible,
allowing for adaptive transmission based on the specific network deployment. LTE
does not have this type of burst structure and relies on fixed locations for the
PSS/SSS and PBCH.
- Frequency Range and Numerology: 5G NR introduces the concept of
numerology, which defines the subcarrier spacing (SCS) based on the frequency
range. As 5G NR operates in both low-frequency and high-frequency bands (e.g.,
mmWave), the SSB can be placed at different frequency locations depending on
the SCS. This flexibility is essential for enabling efficient transmission and
reception across the diverse frequency ranges of 5G NR. LTE, on the other hand,
has a fixed subcarrier spacing and is limited to lower frequency ranges, resulting
in fixed locations for its synchronization signals.
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5G NR SSB vs. LTE
- Initial Access Procedure: The initial access process in 5G NR is more complex
and involves more stages compared to LTE. The flexible positioning of the SSB in
both time and frequency allows for better initial access performance, especially in
dense urban environments or in scenarios with high mobility. In LTE, the PSS/SSS
and PBCH are statically positioned, which may lead to suboptimal performance in
more challenging radio environments.
- Synchronization Accuracy and Reference Signals: 5G NR provides better
synchronization accuracy by allowing the UE to detect SSBs in different beams
and frequencies. The position of the SSB is designed to optimize the UE's ability
to achieve time and frequency synchronization, even in scenarios where the signal
is weak or obstructed. LTE’s synchronization procedure, based on fixed PSS/SSS
positioning, lacks the flexibility and precision offered by 5G NR’s adaptive SSB
structure.
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5G NR SSB vs. LTE
- Coverage and Mobility: In 5G NR, the location of the SSB is also designed to
support diverse deployment scenarios, including urban, suburban, and rural areas.
By allowing the SSB to be transmitted at different time and frequency positions, 5G
NR can offer improved coverage and mobility performance, especially in high-
frequency bands. LTE’s fixed PSS/SSS positioning limits its adaptability to different
coverage requirements, particularly in high-frequency deployments where
beamforming is crucial.
- Reduced Overhead: In 5G NR, the flexible placement of the SSB in both time and
frequency helps reduce signaling overhead by concentrating the synchronization and
broadcast information where it is needed most. This is particularly beneficial in
scenarios with high user density or in ultra-reliable low-latency communications
(URLLC) applications. In LTE, the fixed PSS/SSS and PBCH locations can lead to
inefficient use of resources, especially in scenarios where the demand for
synchronization and broadcast signaling varies dynamically.
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5G NR SSB vs. LTE
In summary, the difference in frequency and time location between 5G NR SSB and
LTE PSS/SSS/PBCH is driven by the need for greater flexibility, support for
beamforming, improved synchronization accuracy, and better resource efficiency in
5G networks.
The SSB's adaptive nature in 5G NR allows it to cater to a wider range of
frequencies, deployment scenarios, and performance requirements, making it a key
enabler of 5G’s enhanced capabilities.
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5G NR SSB Synchronization Procedure
In 5G NR, User Equipment (UE) detects the Synchronization Signal Block (SSB)
frequency and time location on the OFDM grid through the following steps:
- SSB Burst Scanning: The gNB periodically transmits multiple SSBs in a burst,
each corresponding to a different beam direction. The UE scans across different
frequencies and time slots within a defined search space to find these SSBs.
- PSS/SSS Detection: The UE first detects the Primary Synchronization Signal
(PSS) and Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) within each SSB. These
synchronization signals help the UE establish frame timing (from SSS) and
frequency synchronization (from PSS) relative to the SSB's location.
- PBCH Decoding: Once the PSS/SSS are detected, the UE decodes the Physical
Broadcast Channel (PBCH) within the SSB. The PBCH carries the Master
Information Block (MIB), which provides essential system information, such as
subcarrier spacing (SCS) and the reference point for the carrier.
Time and Frequency Positioning: Using the timing and frequency synchronization
from PSS/SSS and system information from PBCH, the UE identifies the exact
location of the SSB in the OFDM grid. This allows it to align its reception window and
begin further procedures like Random Access Channel (RACH) for connection
establishment. [Link]
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5G NR ENDC SSB Frequency Domain location
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5G NR ENDC SSB Frequency location
Reference: Syed M. @LinkedIn
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Supported Bandwidths
SCS 30 MHz
NR Band 5 MHz 10 MHz 15 MHz 20 MHz 25 MHz 40 MHz 50 MHz 60 MHz 80 MHz 100MHz
kHz
15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
n1 30 Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes
15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
n2 30 Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes
n3 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
30 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
n5 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
5 MHz BW option only supported for numerology n7
30
60
15
30
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
of 15 kHz SCS n8
60
15
30
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
60
Bands around 1700 MHz supporting larger BW
n20 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
30 Yes Yes Yes
60
n28 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
such as 25 MHz n38
30
60
15 Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
30 Yes Yes Yes
Support of 30 MHz BW limited to bands of 3.3 –
60 Yes Yes Yes
n41 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
30 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
4.2 GHz n50 15
30
60
Yes Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes Yes Yes
n51 15 Yes
30
Larger BWs mostly limited to TDD bands such as n66
60
15
30
Yes Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes Yes
– 2.496 – 2.69 GHz
60 Yes Yes Yes Yes
n70 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
30 Yes Yes Yes Yes
– 3.3 – 4.2 GHz
60 Yes Yes Yes Yes
n71 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
30 Yes Yes Yes
– 4.4 – 5 GHz
60
n74 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
30 Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes
70 and 90 MHz BW rarely used
n75 15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
30 Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes
n76 15 Yes
– Band numbers 257 ... 512 are reserved for NR bands in
30
60
15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
n77 30 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
FR2 60
15
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes Yes Yes
n78 30 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
15 Yes Yes
n79 30 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
15 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
n80 30 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
n81 30 Yes Yes Yes
60
15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
n82 30 Yes Yes Yes
Source: TS38.101 table 5.3.5-1 60
15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
n83 30 Yes Yes Yes
60
15 Yes Yes Yes Yes
n84 30 Yes Yes Yes
60 Yes Yes Yes
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EN-DC call Setup Example Overview
NR DRB Setup - eNB to gNB with UL in NR
UE MeNB SgNB SGW MME
RRC Connection Reconfiguration
In case of TDD, a BWP-pair (UL BWP and DL BWP with the same
bwp-Id) must have the same location
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SSB Frequency location
Following formula and table: FREF = FREF-Offs + ΔFGlobal (NREF – NREF-Offs)
100
SCS 5MHz 10MHz 15MHz 20 MHz 25 MHz 30 MHz 40 MHz 50MHz 60 MHz 80 MHz
MHz
(kHz)
NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB
15 25 52 79 106 133 160 216 270 N/A N/A N/A
30 11 24 38 51 65 78 106 133 162 217 273
60 N/A 11 18 24 31 38 51 65 79 107 135
absoluteFrequencyPointA: It represents the common reference point A, this
reference point is the 0th RB of 273 RBs, which is the center point of RB#0.
absoluteFrequencySSB: It represent the center frequency of SSB Block.
- An SSB block is 20 RBs results 20 * 12 =240 Subcarriers and from above logs
snippet absoluteFrequencySSB= 643008 (NREF)
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SSB Frequency location, con’t
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 1
Following below formula and table:
FREF = FREF-Offs + ΔFGlobal (NREF – NREF-Offs)
absoluteFrequencyPointA: absoluteFrequencyPointA= 3000 MHz + 15* (646724 -
600000) KHz= 3,700.86 MHz
absoluteFrequencySSB: 3000 MHz + 15* (649920 -600000) KHz= 3,748.80 MHz
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 2
3,748.80 MHz
3,700.86 MHz
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 3
100
SCS 5MHz 10MHz 15MHz 20 MHz 25 MHz 30 MHz 40 MHz 50MHz 60 MHz 80 MHz
MHz
(kHz)
NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB NRB
15 25 52 79 106 133 160 216 270 N/A N/A N/A
30 11 24 38 51 65 78 106 133 162 217 273
60 N/A 11 18 24 31 38 51 65 79 107 135
Carrier Center Frequency: From total number of RB’s=273 and Resource Block,
corresponding center frequency is 273/2=137
Center Frequency= absoluteFrequencyPointA + 137 RBs * 12 * Subcarrier Spacing
Center Frequency= 3,700.86 MHz + 137 * 12 *30 KHz = 3,750.18 MHz
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 4
3,750.18 MHz
3,748.80 MHz
3,700.86 MHz
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 5
In NR, there are two different type of reference coordinate system and these reference coordinate
system is called Reference PRB.
In sub 6 Ghz(FR1), we use the reference PRB system based on 15 Khz subcarrier spacing
in mmWave(FR2) we use the reference PRB sysbem based on 60 khz subcarrier spacing
Position of SSB from Point A
Frequency offset to SSB from Point A = offsetToPointA + Kssb
offsetToPointA= It defines the frequency offset between point A and the lowest
subcarrier of the RB overlapping with SSB.
The unit for RB is expressed as 15KHz for FR1 (RB BW = 15 KHz * 12 = 180 KHz) and 60 KHz (RB BW = 60 KHz * 12
= 720 KHz) for FR2
Kssb= it defines the frequency of RB#0 of SSB and the unit for RB is expressed as
15KHz for FR1 and 60 KHz for FR2
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 6
3,750.18 MHz
3,748.80 MHz
3,700.86 MHz
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 7
In NR, there are two different type of reference coordinate system and these reference coordinate
system is called Reference PRB.
In sub 6 Ghz(FR1), we use the reference PRB system based on 15 Khz subcarrier spacing
in mmWave(FR2) we use the reference PRB sysbem based on 60 khz subcarrier spacing
Position of SSB from Point A
Frequency offset to SSB from Point A = offsetToPointA + Kssb
The 3GPP Difference between:
- the SSB center frequency (absoluteFrequencySSB) and
- point A (absoluteFrequencyPointA):
3,748.80 MHz - 3,700.86 MHz = 47.94 MHz
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 8
Difference between absoluteFrequencySSB and absoluteFrequencyPointA
47.94 MHz
3,750.18 MHz
3,748.80 MHz
3,700.86 MHz
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 9
Position of SSB from Point A
Frequency offset to SSB from Point A = offsetToPointA + Kssb
upper 10 RB of SSB
10 SSB RBs
Lower 10 RB of SSB 10 SSB RBs
Difference between previous (absoluteFrequencySSB and point A
(absoluteFrequencyPointA) and 0th subcarrier RB#0 of SSB:
47940 KHz – 10* subccarier per RB (12) * subcarrier spacing (30 KHz) = 44340 KHz = 44.34 MHz
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 10
In NR, there are two different type of reference coordinate system and these reference coordinate
system is called Reference PRB.
In sub 6 Ghz(FR1), we use the reference PRB system based on 15 Khz subcarrier spacing
in mmWave(FR2) we use the reference PRB sysbem based on 60 khz subcarrier spacing
Position of SSB from Point A
Frequency offset to SSB from Point A = offsetToPointA + Kssb
Calculating No. of RBs in difference = 44340 KHz / 180 KHz =246.333
offsetToPointA= It defines the frequency offset between point A and the lowest subcarrier of
the RB overlapping with SSB 246 RBs = 246 * 12 * 30 KHz = 88.56 MHz
Kssb= it defines the frequency of RB#0 of SSB = (44340 KHz – 246 * 12 *15) / 15 KHz
= 4 Subcarriers = 4 * 30 Hz = 120 KHz
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SSB Frequency location, con’t 11
246 Resource blocks =
88.56 MHz
3,750.18 MHz
3,748.80 MHz
4 Subcarriers = 120 KHz
3,700.86 MHz
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5G NR ENDC SSB Time Domain location
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SSB time domain location
SS block consists of 4 consecutive OFDM symbols
1st OFDM symbol Position is determined by combination of Carrier Bandwidth (CBW) + Sub-carrier spacing (SCS)
3GPP TS 38.213 provided side table to determines the position of starting OFDM Symbol of each SCS in a CBW
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