Radio access network connectivity enhancements for network slicing

A user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a transceiver configured to communicate with multiple networks;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to perform operations comprising:
• receiving a radio resource control (RRC) release message comprising network slice based dedicated priority information for the UE from a currently camped cell, wherein the network slice based dedicated priority information comprises a list of frequencies and one or more physical cell identifications (PCIs) corresponding to a network slice;
• receiving geographic location information, wherein the network slice based dedicated priority information is only applicable when the current UE location is encompassed by the geographic location information;
• selecting a frequency band for camping based on a configured network slice and the network slice based dedicated priority information when the current UE location is encompassed by the geographic location information;
• and
• establishing a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the configured network slice when camped on the frequency band.

An apparatus comprising processing circuitry configured to:

• process, based on signals received from a cell, a radio resource control (RRC) release message comprising network slice based dedicated priority information for the UE from a currently camped cell, the network slice based dedicated priority information includes a list of frequencies and one or more physical cell identifications (PCIs) corresponding to a network slice;
• process, based on the signals received from the cell, geographic location information, wherein the dedicated priority information is only applicable when the current UE location is encompassed by the geographic location information;
• select a frequency band for camping based on a configured network slice and the network slice based dedicated priority information when the current UE location is encompassed by the geographic location information;
• and
• establish a protocol data unit (PDU) session with the configured network slice when camped on the frequency band.