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What does Modify Bearer Request / Response mean?

A Modify Bearer Request / Response updates LTE data paths and QoS settings during an ongoing session, like during handover or policy change.

Jakub Kubinski avatar
Written by Jakub Kubinski
Updated over 2 weeks ago

Environment

  • Onomondo Core Network

  • Onomondo app: Signaling Logs

  • Cellular technology:

    • LTE

    • LTE-M

    • NB-IoT

Question

  • What does Modify Bearer Request / Response mean?

  • I see frequent loops of Modify Bearer events in signaling. Why?

Answer

A Modify Bearer Request / Response updates LTE data paths and QoS settings during an ongoing session, like during handover or policy change.

  • Modify Bearer Requests sent from the RAN include updates to existing bearers.

  • Modify Bearer Responses sent by Onomondo confirm whether bearer modifications succeeded or failed.

Cause

A "bearer" is a data path that carries your internet traffic between your IoT module and the Onomondo Core.

  • When the initial Create Session Request is processed successfully (when the device first connects to the network), the first bearer — called the default bearer — is created by the Packet Gateway (PGW) in coordination with other core network elements.

  • Next, the Modify Bearer Requests coming from the RAN update existing LTE bearers with new QoS parameters, TEIDs (Tunnel Endpoint Identifiers), IP addresses, or user-plane routing, typically triggered by handovers, QoS changes, or policy updates.

  • Modify Bearer Responses confirm whether bearer modifications succeeded or failed.

While Modify Bearer are most often related to handovers between different cells (typical for mobile devices that stay on the move), any updates in tunnelling would also apply to stationary devices.

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