5G-NR Physical Layer Specifications overview

The Physical layer specifications of 5G-NR are spread across six Specification documents and one general description document;

The relation between Multiple PHY Layer specifications is illustrated below.

5G-NR Physical Layer Specifications overview
TS 38.201: 5G NR Physical layer; General description

The scope of the document is to describe:

  • The contents of the Layer 1 documents (TS 38.200 series);
  • Brief overview of contents of all PHY Specifications
TS 38.202: 5G NR Physical layer services provided by the physical layer

The scope is this document is to describe the services provided by the physical layer and to specify:

  • Services and functions of the physical layer;
  • Model of the physical layer of the UE;
  • Parallel transmission of simultaneous physical channels and SRS;
  • Measurements provided by the physical layer
TS 38.211: 5G NR Physical channels and modulation

The scope is to establish the characteristics of the Layer-1 physical channels, generation of physical layer signals and

modulation, and to specify:

  • Definition of the uplink and downlink physical channels;
  • Frame structure and physical resources;
  • Modulation mapping (BPSK, QPSK, etc);
  • OFDM signal generation;
  • Scrambling, modulation and upconversion;
  • Layer mapping and precoding;
  • Physical shared channel in uplink and downlink;
  • Reference signal in uplink and downlink;
  • Physical random access channel;
  • Primary and secondary synchronization signals
TS 38.212: 5G NR Multiplexing and channel coding

The scope is to describe the transport channel and control channel data processing, including multiplexing, channel coding, and interleaving, and to specify:

  • Channel coding schemes;
  • Rate matching;
  • Uplink transport channels and control information;
  • Downlink transport channels and control information.
TS 38.213: Physical layer procedures for control

The scope is to establish the characteristics of the physical layer procedures for control, and to specify:

  • Synchronization procedures;
  • Uplink power control;
  • Random access procedure;
  • UE procedure for reporting control information;
  • UE procedure for receiving control information.
TS 38.214: 5G NR Physical layer procedures for data

The scope is to establish the characteristics of the physical layer procedures for data, and to specify:

  • Power control;
  • Physical downlink shared channel-related procedures;
  • Physical uplink shared channel-related procedure.
38.215: 5G NR Physical layer measurements

The scope is to establish the characteristics of the physical layer measurements, and to specify:

  • Control of UE/NG-RAN measurements;
  • Measurement capabilities for NR

3GPP has also specified the Mathematical notations that have been used across all the Phy Layer specifications.

The following table contains the preferred mathematical notations used in L1 documentation

Preferred mathematical notations and 5G-NR Physical Layer Specifications overview

Reference: 3GPP TS 38.201 T NR Physical layer; General description