eMBB (enhanced Mobile Broadband)

Also known as: Enhanced Mobile Broadband

eMBB is the 5G service category focused on high per-user throughput and dense broadband coverage: peak data rates in the multi-Gbit/s range, high spectral efficiency and support for demanding consumer and enterprise applications such as 4K/8K video, immersive media and fixed wireless access. eMBB is the first commercial 5G workload and drives most current NR deployments.

Categories: Radio Access NetworkProtocols and Standards

eMBB in context

The radio access network is the layer where mobile devices attach to the operator's infrastructure. Attacks in this layer include IMSI catching, rogue base stations, downgrade attacks and jamming, and defenses hinge on mutual authentication, integrity-protected signaling and Open RAN supply-chain hygiene.

Telecom security is written into standards from 3GPP, GSMA, ETSI, IETF and ITU-T. Understanding which body owns which specification, and how the specs interlock (for example 3GPP TS 33.501 with GSMA FS.34 for 5G SBA security), is essential for both design and audit work.

To place eMBB in the wider telecom-security picture, review Zigbee, ETSI ISG MEC, DOCSIS, MPLS, E2AP and E2SM.

Related terms

Related topic hubs

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.