Specification
3GPP TS 23.401: General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enhancements for Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) access
At a glance
- Title
- General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) enhancements for Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) access
- Newest version
- V20.1.0 (Rel-20)
- Versions indexed
- 7
- Newest per release
- Rel-16: V16.14.0 (2023-06-21); Rel-17: V17.11.0 (2024-06-26); Rel-18: V18.8.0 (2024-12-20); Rel-19: V19.6.0 (2026-06-22); Rel-20: V20.1.0 (2026-09-24)
In plain words
TS 23.401 defines the Stage 2 service description for the Evolved 3GPP Packet Switched Domain, also known as the Evolved Packet System (EPS), which provides IP connectivity using E-UTRAN. It covers "both roaming and non-roaming scenarios", mobility between E-UTRAN and pre-E-UTRAN 3GPP radio access technologies, policy control and charging, and authentication. V20.1.0 includes CRs on IMS voice over NB-IoT (GEO), dedicated bearer support for IMS Voice over NB-IoT(GEO), and Control of Cross Border Mobility.
Source: 3GPP TS 23.401 V20.1.0, clause 1. © 3GPP Organizational Partners (ARIB, ATIS, CCSA, ETSI, TSDSI, TTA, TTC). Official text: https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/23_series/23.401/23401-k10.zip
Newest version in each release
| Release | Newest version | In the archive | TSG meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rel-20 | V20.1.0 | 2026-09-24 | TSG SA #113 |
| Rel-19 | V19.6.0 | 2026-06-22 | TSG SA #112 |
| Rel-18 | V18.8.0 | 2024-12-20 | TSG SA #106 |
| Rel-17 | V17.11.0 | 2024-06-26 | TSG SA #104 |
| Rel-16 | V16.14.0 | 2023-06-21 | TSG SA #100 |
| Rel-15 | V15.13.0 | 2022-09-22 | TSG SA #97-e |
Source: 3GPP specification archive, versions indexed by 3GPP Scout. Each version links its official file.
Change requests in V20.1.0
V20.1.0 of TS 23.401 includes 6 CRs.
| CR | Category | Subject | Source | Working group meeting | TSG TDoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CR 3995 | F | Clarifying PGW and MME behaviour for PCO handling during dedicated bearer | Nokia | SA2 #176 | SP-260745 |
| CR 3996 rev 2 | C | Broadcast indicator for IMS emergency calls in NB-IoT (GEO) | Qualcomm Incorporated | SA2 #176 | SP-260745 |
| CR 3997 rev 3 | F | Clarifications for the use of IMS voice over NB-IoT (GEO) for emergency PDN connections | Ericsson | SA2 #176 | SP-260745 |
| CR 4002 rev 1 | F | Dedicated bearer and GBR bearer support for IMS Voice over NB-IoT(GEO) | LG Electronics | SA2 #176 | SP-260745 |
| CR 4003 rev 3 | B | Support of Control of Cross Border Mobility | Deutsche Telekom AG, Vodafone, Nokia | SA2 #176 | SP-260751 |
| CR 4006 rev 4 | B | Detailed procedure description on support of IMS voice call over NB-IoT(GEO) | Huawei, HiSilicon, vivo, LG Electronics, CATT, ZTE, Skylo Technologies | SA2 #176 | SP-260745 |
Source: 3GPP CR database.
Meetings behind the latest versions
Working group meetings that agreed the CRs in V20.1.0:
- SA2 #176: 6 CRs
Plenary meetings:
- TSG SA #113 approved V20.1.0 (Rel-20)
- TSG SA #112 approved V20.0.0 (Rel-20)
- TSG SA #112 approved V19.6.0 (Rel-19)
Source: 3GPP CR database and specification archive, as indexed by 3GPP Scout.
Clauses changed in V20.1.0
15 clauses changed or added in V20.1.0. The 10 with the largest edits are listed. Each clause number opens Scout on that clause.
| Clause | Title | Change | CRs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3.5.7 | Mobility Restrictions | changed | CR 4003 |
| 5.3.2.1 | E-UTRAN Initial Attach | changed | CR 4003, CR 4006 |
| 5.4.1 | Dedicated bearer activation | changed | CR 4006 |
| 5.7.1 | HSS | changed | CR 4003 |
| 5.7.2 | MME | changed | CR 4003 |
| 5.10.2 | UE requested PDN connectivity | changed | CR 4006 |
| M | Annex M (informative): Functions and procedures over NB-IoT RAT | changed | CR 4002 |
| 4.3.12.1 | Introduction | changed | CR 3996 |
| 4.13.12.2 | Support of UDP/IP Header Removal & Restoration (UHRR) | changed | CR 3995, CR 3997 |
| 5.3.3.1 | Tracking Area Update procedure with Serving GW change | changed | CR 4003 |
Source: 3GPP Scout comparison of this version with the one before it.
Sources
- 3GPP TS 23.401 V20.1.0, clause 1. © 3GPP Organizational Partners (ARIB, ATIS, CCSA, ETSI, TSDSI, TTA, TTC). Official text: https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/Specs/archive/23_series/23.401/23401-k10.zip
- 3GPP CR database.
How this page was made
The facts box and the tables come straight from the 3GPP specification archive and CR database as indexed by 3GPP Scout. An AI model (GPT-6 Luna) wrote the paragraph and named the source of each sentence. Code checked every quote word for word against the stored source text and every number against the cited source. A second AI model from another company (Claude Opus 5.5) reviewed the paragraph against the same sources. The 3GPP documents themselves govern.