for Public Networks The 5G technology aims to provide agile, scalable, programmable, and automated network services with ultralow latency and ultrahigh data rate, coverage, availability, reliability, and positioning accuracy. In order to achieve high QoS, the 5G eco- system adopts drastic changes on the NG-RAN and core involving new radio, enabling technologies and deployment options. Due to the several enhancements required on the 5G RAN and core, the 5G technology is envisaged to be deployed in a non-standalone (NSA) phase, first, to pave the way for the standalone (SA) phase. The NSA phase is to facilitate a smooth transition from the evolved packet core (EPC) of the long-term evolution (LTE) technology into the 5G core (5GC). In the SA deployment scenario, the 5G network operates independently of the EPC where the NG-RAN will be connected directly into the 5GC [21-23]. Based on the SA and NSA deployment phases, eight architectural options have been discussed in [24] for 5G and LTE networks as follows: 1. Option 2 or SA: The gNB is connected directly into the 5GC and isolated from the LTE architecture. 2. Option 3, 3a and 3x or NSA: It is the first commercial 5G architecture to address the mobile broadband (MBB) services. In this option, the gNB is connected to the LTE EPC. 3. Option 4: The LTE BS or the eNB is connected to the 5GC via the gNB. 4. Option 5: The eNB is connected directly to the 5GC. 5. Option 7: The gNB is connected to the 5GC via the eNB. 6. Options 6 and 8: The gNB is connected directly to the EPC. This section investigates the 5G architectures considering the SA deployment scenario. Several 5G architectural frameworks have been proposed by the 5G telecommunication bodies for 5G SA deployment. Table 1.2 presents the 5G SA architectures proposed by the international business machines (IBM) corporation, O-RAN alliance, 5GPPP, and 3GPP for public 5G networks as well as MuLTEfire Table 1.2 References for 5G Architecture References Section SA architectures C-RAN [25-28] 1.2.1 H-CRAN [27], and [29-