Method and apparatus for determining whether to transmit network slice selection assistance information

A user equipment in a communication network, the user equipment comprising:

• a transceiver that receives an indication from the network at an access stratum layer in the user equipment as to whether the network slice selection assistance information stored in a non-access stratum layer is required to be included in the radio connection establishment signaling associated with establishing a connection;
• and
• a controller, where the transmission of the network slice selection assistance information from the user equipment to the network in the radio connection establishment signaling is activated by the controller, when the network slice selection assistance information is determined to be required, and where the transmission of the network slice selection assistance information from the user equipment to the network in the radio connection establishment signaling is deactivated by the controller, when the network slice selection assistance information is determined to not be required;
• wherein the controller further informs the access stratum layer via the non-access stratum layer about the network slice selection assistance information during an initiation of service request procedure when the user equipment is in a connection management idle state;
• and
• wherein the network slice selection assistance information is transmitted in the radio connection establishment signaling to the network by the transceiver, when the transmission of the network slice selection assistance information is activated.