The Medium Access Control (MAC) layer is the heart of the 5G NR Layer-2 protocol stack. It is responsible for scheduling radio resources, multiplexing logical channels, Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ), Random Access procedures, Buffer Status Reporting (BSR), Scheduling Requests (SR), Discontinuous Reception (DRX), and many other critical functions that directly impact network performance.
This comprehensive course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of the complete 3GPP TS 38.321 specification while bridging the gap between theory and real-world implementation through extensive Amarisoft Test Bed Log Analysis.
Unlike courses that only explain protocol concepts, this training demonstrates how MAC procedures actually appear in live protocol logs, allowing you to understand what happens inside a commercial 5G network. Every major MAC procedure is correlated with practical examples so you can confidently analyze and troubleshoot real network issues.
Throughout the course, you will study every important chapter of TS 38.321, including MAC architecture, services provided to upper layers, logical channels, transport channels, MAC entities, MAC PDU formats, MAC Control Elements (CEs), scheduling mechanisms, HARQ operation, Random Access procedures, Buffer Status Reports, Power Headroom Reports (PHR), Scheduling Requests, DRX operation, Timing Advance procedures, multiplexing and demultiplexing, priority handling, uplink and downlink transmission procedures, sidelink MAC procedures, and the latest enhancements introduced in recent 3GPP releases.
To reinforce every concept, the course includes extensive hands-on decoding of Amarisoft gNB and UE logs, where you will learn to identify MAC PDUs, interpret MAC Control Elements, analyze scheduler decisions, understand HARQ retransmissions, investigate Random Access failures, decode Buffer Status Reports, verify Timing Advance updates, monitor DRX behavior, and troubleshoot common MAC-layer issues encountered in live deployments.
By the end of this course, you will be able to read and interpret MAC logs with confidence, correlate MAC events with RLC, PDCP, and PHY activities, identify scheduling and radio resource allocation issues, perform protocol-level troubleshooting, and understand how MAC contributes to the overall performance of a 5G NR network.
Whether you are preparing for telecom interviews, working in protocol development, integration, protocol testing, optimization, or troubleshooting, this course will provide the practical knowledge needed to understand and analyze the 5G NR MAC layer from both the 3GPP specification and real network implementation perspectives.
Master the complete 5G NR MAC protocol from specification to real-world implementation and gain the practical skills required to analyze, decode, and troubleshoot MAC-layer procedures using industry-standard Amarisoft logs.
External Reference:
https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=3194
Internal Reference:
https://edunavo.com/courses/5g-rlc-mastery-complete-ts-38-322-with-hands-on-log/
Founder & Chief Trainer | EDUNAVO | Telecom, AI, Cloud & Cyber Security Learning Leader
Technology leader, corporate trainer, and entrepreneur with 18+ years of experience in the ICT industry, spanning Telecom, Software Engineering, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, AI/ML, and Management domains.
As Founder & Chief Trainer at EDUNAVO, I help professionals, engineers, and organizations build industry-ready skills through practical, hands-on, and outcome-driven learning programs.
Core Expertise:
• 5G Testing & Automation
• 5G Protocol & Device Testing
• Telecom Development & Open RAN
• Cloud Computing & AWS
• Cyber Security
• Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
• Software Development & Automation
• Project & Technology Management
Key Achievements:
• Trained 5,000+ students and professionals globally
• Created and delivered 30+ industry-focused certification programs
• Designed 20+ animated practical labs and simulation-based learning modules
• Built and deployed 8+ open-source lab environments for hands-on training
• Served 10+ corporate and institutional clients
• Expanded EDUNAVO's learner presence across 20+ countries
• Delivered corporate training programs in Telecom, Cloud, AI, Cyber Security, and Software Engineering domains
• Mentored engineers for career transitions, certifications, and interview success
At EDUNAVO, our mission is simple: bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry expectations through practical, job-oriented, and future-ready training.
"Learn Skills. Build Confidence. Accelerate Careers."
