Next generation Node-B (GNB) and methods to indicate a type of access for paging of a user equipment (UE)

A method, comprising:

• by a base station distributed unit (DU):
• receiving a first paging message from a base station central unit (CU) to initiate paging of a User Equipment (UE), wherein the first paging message includes:
• a UE paging identity that identifies the UE;
• and
• a first information element (IE) pertaining to an access type, wherein the first IE indicates whether the paging of the UE pertains to a protocol data unit (PDU) session from a non-Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access network;
• and
• receiving a second paging message from the base station CU, wherein the second paging message includes:
• the UE paging identity, and
• a second IE pertaining to an access type which indicates whether the paging of the UE pertains to a PDU session from a non-3GPP access network.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to cause a base station central unit (CU) to:
• receive a first paging message from an access management function (AMF) entity to initiate paging of a User Equipment (UE), wherein the first paging message includes:
• a UE paging identity that identifies the UE;
• and
• a first information element (IE) pertaining to an access type, wherein the first IE indicates whether the paging of the UE pertains to a protocol data unit (PDU) session from a non-Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access network;
• and
• send a second paging message for transmission to a base station distributed unit (DU), wherein the second paging message includes:
• the UE paging identity, and
• a second IE pertaining to an access type which indicates whether the paging of the UE pertains to a PDU session from a non-3GPP access network.