scope:

This document specifies the functional architecture, procedures and information flows needed to support mission critical services in the IOPS mode of operation. The IOPS mode of operation is defined in 3GPP TS 23.401 [2].

The corresponding service requirements are defined in 3GPP TS 22.346 [9] and 3GPP TS 22.280 [11].

The present document is applicable primarily to support mission critical services in the IOPS mode of operation defined in 3GPP TS 23.401 [2]. For that, the mission critical services are supported using E-UTRAN access based on the EPC architecture.

The functional architecture to support mission critical services in the IOPS mode of operation can be used for public safety applications and also for general commercial applications, e.g. utility companies and railways, for the case of a backhaul failure.