Small Data Transmission (SDT) is a procedure allowing data and/or signalling transmission while remaining in RRC_INACTIVE state (i.e. without transitioning to RRC_CONNECTED state). SDT is enabled on a radio bearer basis and can be initiated either by the UE in case of MO-SDT (Mobile Originated SDT) or by the network in case of MT-SDT (Mobile Terminated SDT). MO-SDT is initiated by the UE only if less than or equal to a configured amount of UL data awaits transmission across all radio bearers for which SDT is enabled, the DL RSRP is above a configured threshold, and a valid SDT resource is available as specified in clause 5.27.1 of TS 38.321. MT-SDT is initiated by the network with an indication to the UE in a paging message when DL data awaits transmission for radio bearers configured for SDT; based on the indication, the UE initiates the MT-SDT only if the DL RSRP is above a configured threshold as specified in clause 5.27.1 of TS 38.321. When MT-SDT is initiated by the UE, a resume cause indicating MT-SDT is included in the RRCResumeRequest / RRCResumeRequest1. Maximum duration the SDT procedure can last is dictated by a SDT failure detection timer that is configured by the network (see clause 6.2.2 of TS 38.331). Network can enable MO-SDT, MT-SDT, or both in a cell. SDT procedure is initiated with either a transmission over RACH (configured via system information) or over Type 1 CG resources (configured via dedicated signalling in RRCRelease). The SDT resources can be configured on initial BWP for both RACH and CG. RACH and CG resources for SDT can be configured on either or both of NUL and SUL carriers. The CG resources for SDT are valid only within the PCell of the UE when the RRCRelease with suspend indication is received. CG resources are associated with one or multiple SSB(s). For RACH, the network can configure 2-step and/or 4-step RA resources for MO-SDT. When both 2-step and 4-step RA resources for MO-SDT are configured, the UE selects the RA type according to clause 9.2.6. If MT-SDT procedure is initiated over RACH, only the RACH resources not configured for SDT can be used by the UE. CFRA is not supported for SDT over RACH. Once initiated, the SDT procedure is either:

• successfully completed after the UE is directed to RRC_IDLE (via RRCRelease) or to continue in RRC_INACTIVE (via RRCRelease or RRCReject) or to RRC_CONNECTED (via RRCResume or RRCSetup); or
• unsuccessfully completed upon cell re-selection, expiry of the SDT failure detection timer, a MAC entity reaching a configured maximum PRACH preamble transmission threshold, an RLC entity reaching a configured maximum retransmission threshold, or integrity check failure while SDT procedure is ongoing, or expiry of SDT-specific timing alignment timer or configuredGrantTimer while SDT procedure is ongoing over CG and the UE has not received a response from the network after the initial PUSCH transmission.

Upon unsuccessful completion of the SDT procedure, the UE transitions to RRC_IDLE. For SDT, network should not send RRCReject in response to RRCResumeRequest / RRCResumeRequest1 if DL data over any radio bearer configured for SDT is transmitted. The initial PUSCH transmission during the SDT procedure includes at least the CCCH message. When using CG resources for initial SDT transmission, the UE can perform autonomous retransmission of the initial transmission if the UE does not receive confirmation from the network (dynamic UL grant or DL assignment) before a configured timer expires as specified in clause 5.4.1 of TS 38.321. After the initial PUSCH transmission, subsequent transmissions are handled differently depending on the type of resource used to initiate the SDT procedure:

• When using CG resources, the network can schedule subsequent UL transmissions using dynamic grants or they can take place on the following CG resource occasions. The DL transmissions are scheduled using dynamic assignments. The UE can initiate subsequent UL transmission only after reception of confirmation (dynamic UL grant or DL assignment) for the initial PUSCH transmission from the network. For subsequent UL transmission, the UE cannot initiate re-transmission over a CG resource.
• When using RACH resources, the network can schedule subsequent UL and DL transmissions using dynamic UL grants and DL assignments, respectively, after the completion of the RA procedure.

When SDT procedure is initiated, AS security is applied for all the radio bearers enabled for SDT as specified in clause 5.3.13.3 of TS 38.331. While the SDT procedure is ongoing, if data appears in a buffer of any radio bearer not enabled for SDT, the UE initiates a transmission of a non-SDT data arrival indication using UEAssistanceInformation message to the network and, if available, includes the resume cause. SDT procedure over CG resources can only be initiated with valid UL timing alignment. The UL timing alignment is maintained by the UE based on a SDT-specific timing alignment timer configured by the network via dedicated signalling and, for initial CG-SDT transmission, also by DL RSRP of configured number of highest ranked SSBs which are above a configured RSRP threshold. Upon expiry of the SDT-specific timing alignment timer, the CG resources are released while maintaining the CG resource configuration. Logical channel restrictions configured by the network while in RRC_CONNECTED state and/or in RRCRelease message for radio bearers enabled for SDT, if any, are applied by the UE during SDT procedure. The network may configure UE to apply ROHC continuity for SDT either when the UE initiates SDT in the PCell of the UE when the RRCRelease with suspend indication was received or when the UE initiates SDT in a cell of its RNA. For SDT procedure over CG resources, the network may configure maximum time duration until the next valid CG occasion for initial CG-SDT transmission based on which the UE decides whether SDT procedure over CG resources can be initiated. The maximum time duration is configured per logical channel for MO-SDT and per UE for MT-SDT.

For SDT procedure over RACH, if the UE accesses a gNB other than the last serving gNB, the UL SDT data/signalling is buffered at the receiving gNB, and then the receiving gNB triggers the XnAP Retrieve UE Context procedure. The receiving gNB indicates SDT to the last serving gNB and the last serving gNB decides whether to relocate the UE context or not. Other SDT assistance information (e.g., single packet, multiple packets) may also be provided by the receiving gNB to help the decision of UE context relocation. If the UE is configured with the clock quality control information, the last serving gNB may perform full UE context relocation. If the last serving gNB decides not to relocate the full UE context, it transfers a partial UE context containing SDT RLC context information necessary for the receiving gNB to handle SDT via the Partial UE Context Transfer procedure. Then, in case SDT is used for user data over DRBs, UL/DL tunnels are established for DRBs configured for SDT between the receiving gNB and the last serving gNB. The PDCP PDU of UL/DL data is transferred over the tunnels, until the last serving gNB terminates the SDT session and directs the UE to continue in RRC_INACTIVE by sending the RRCRelease message. Or in case SDT is used for signalling, SRB PDCP PDUs are transferred between the receiving gNB and the last serving gNB via the XnAP RRC Transfer procedure, until the last serving gNB terminates the SDT session and directs the UE to continue in RRC_INACTIVE by sending the RRCRelease message. During the SDT session, in case the receiving gNB detects that no more packets are to be transmitted, or radio link problem is detected, the receiving gNB may also request to terminate the SDT session to the last serving gNB via the UE Context Retrieve Confirmation procedure.

The overall procedure for SDT procedure over RACH with UE context relocation is illustrated in the Figure 18.2-1.

The overall procedure for SDT procedure over RACH without UE context relocation is illustrated in the Figure 18.3-1.

The overall procedure for MT-SDT procedure with/without UE context relocation is illustrated in the Figure 18.4-1.