Improvements in and relating to encoding of slice and PLMN prioritization information in a telecommunication network

Abstract

A method wherein a User Equipment (UE) is communicatively coupled to a first visited public land mobile network (VPLMN), and the UE wishes to activate a service or application requiring a network slice not offered by the first VPLMN, then a home PLMN (HPLMN) provides the UE with information regarding at least one second VPLMN with which the UE may register for the required network slice i.e. a list of VPLMNs for which the slice is available. The PLMN and slice availability information may be provided in one of a plurality of formats, and the format used is encoded within the information received (e.g. as an information element (IE)), thereby enabling the UE to decode it appropriately. Details of the PLMN or slice may be associated with a priority level and indicated in a preference order. The UE may be provided with a prioritised network list per slice (e.g. list of PLMNs for S-NSSAI entry), or a prioritised network list and details of slices supported in each network (e.g. list of S-NSSAIs for PLMN entry).

Images