Providing multicast/broadcast services in 5G networks

A method for providing a multicast/broadcast service to one or more user equipments (UEs) in a cellular communication network using one or more user plane functions of a plurality of selectable user plane functions, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for a multicast/broadcast service for the one or more UEs, wherein the request comprises one or more identifiers that identify the one or more UEs and a service area comprising a plurality of communication cells of the cellular communication network;
• transmitting the one or more identifiers to an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity of the cellular communication network;
• receiving, from the AMF entity in response to transmission of the one or more identifiers thereto, a UE location update message comprising one or more further identifiers identifying one or more communication cells of the cellular communication network in which the one or more UEs are currently located and/or one or more base stations of the cellular communication network defining the one or more communication cells;
• selecting, based on the one or more identifiers and the one or more further identifiers, one or more user plane functions of the plurality of selectable user plane functions for providing the multicast/broadcast service to the one or more UE;
• and
• providing the one or more selected user plane functions with information about the multicast/broadcast service,
• wherein the one or more identifiers are one or more service area identifiers (SAIs) and the one or more further identifiers include one or more cell IDs that correspond to the one or more SAIs.

An access and mobility management function (AMF) entity for a cellular communication network comprising a plurality of selectable user plane functions for providing a multicast/broadcast service to one or more user equipments (UEs) of the cellular communication network, the AMF entity comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• receive, from a network entity of the communication network, one or more identifiers that identify the one or more UEs and a service area comprising a plurality of communication cells of the cellular communication network;
• in response to receiving the one or more identifiers from the network entity of the communication network, determine one or more further identifiers identifying one or more communication cells of the cellular communication network in which the one or more UEs are currently located and/or one or more base stations of the cellular communication network defining one or more communication cells, wherein the one or more further identifiers are determined based on the one or more identifiers received from the network entity;
• and
• transmit a UE location update message comprising the one or more further identifiers to the network entity,
• wherein the one or more identifiers are included in a request, received by the network entity, for multicast/broadcast service for the one or more UEs,
• wherein the one or more identifiers are one or more service area identifiers (SAIs) and the one or more further identifiers include one or more cell IDs that correspond to the one or more SAIs, and
• wherein the network entity is configured to select, based on the one or more identifiers and the one or more further identifiers, one or more user plane functions of the plurality of selectable user plane functions for providing the multicast/broadcast service to the one or more UEs and to provide the one or more selected user plane functions with information about the multicast/broadcast service.