to a specific new radio or system features like 5G V2X or 5G-U (as covered earlier in this chapter), while some of them are system-wide features (with smaller impacts in radio specification) or some features which are specific to the core only. There is the work going on to enable connection of Release 16 NB-IoT/eMTC devices to 5G Core (as long as the UEs choose to implement the necessary optional 5G signaling) The key Release 16 5G Core items include the following: Service-based architecture (SBA) enhancements: Release 16 will support additional deployment options with an expanded service framework (delegated selection and discovery). The 5G Core reliability concept developed solely for the Access and Mobil- ity Management Function (AMF) in Release 15 is extended to other network func- tions. This will equally enable stateless and stateful implementation in an elegant and dynamic manner. Enhancing the topology of the Session Management Function (SMF) and the User Plane Function (UPF) in 5G networks: The Release 15 design imposes deployment restrictions where the control span between the SMF and the UPF is limited. Release Rel-17 content agreed Rel-17 SI/WI phase Rel-17 Rel-17 content L1 freeze freeze Rel-17 ASN.1 Figure 15.12 Release 17 schedule. 15.3 Summary and Outlook for Release 17 16 introduced intermediate SMF to control local UPF(s) in regions where they cannot be controlled by the SMF. This will improve mobility and scalability for the largest network deployments. Enhanced network slicing support: Release 15 introduced a network slicing frame- work and the Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI), as was COV- ered in Chapter 5. In Release 16, there will be enablers for new business models to support greater flexibility for third parties, and network slicing interworking support from EPC to 5G Core is improved. Network automation enablers: Expansion of data analytics reporting beyond the standard Policy Control Function (PCF) specified in Release 15. Provides architecture enhancements for th