Unified Data Management
5G unified data management platform providing subscriber data management, authentication, and service authorization for 5GC.
Beyond the Legacy HSS
4G HSS was a monolithic subscriber database. 5G needs a cloud-native data layer that serves every network function in real time.
Single point of failure
Legacy HSS runs on dedicated hardware. A failure takes down authentication for the entire network — no graceful degradation.
Tightly coupled to 4G
HSS speaks Diameter. 5G NFs speak HTTP/2. Without UDM, every 5G service needs a protocol translation layer.
One-size-fits-all data model
HSS stores a fixed schema for all subscribers. Network slicing and IoT need flexible, per-service subscriber profiles.
Unified Data, Unlimited Scale
UDM is the subscriber data backbone of 5G — stateless, cloud-native, and designed for the service-based architecture
Service-Based Interface
UDM exposes subscriber data via HTTP/2 REST APIs. Any authorized NF can query, subscribe, or update — no Diameter translation needed.
Stateless Architecture
Subscriber data stored in UDR (Unified Data Repository), not local memory. Any UDM instance can serve any request — horizontal scale, no single point of failure.
Unified 4G + 5G
One platform serves both HSS (Diameter S6a/Cx) and UDM (HTTP/2 Nudm). Single subscriber view across 4G and 5G — no dual provisioning.
Slice-Aware Profiles
Store different subscription data per network slice. An enterprise subscriber gets different QoS and service permissions on their URLLC slice vs their eMBB slice.
What Operators Gain
Moving subscriber data to a cloud-native platform changes how the entire network operates
Zero-Downtime Upgrades
Stateless UDM instances can be upgraded one at a time. Subscriber data stays available throughout — no maintenance windows, no service disruption.
Simplified 5G Migration
Dual-protocol support means you can launch 5G services while 4G keeps running. Migrate subscribers between HSS and UDM without dual provisioning or data sync issues.
Lower Data Costs
Commodity hardware, independent scaling, and shared UDR storage eliminate the per-subscriber cost premium of legacy HSS platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is UDM different from HSS?
HSS is the 4G subscriber database using Diameter protocol. UDM is the 5G evolution — it provides the same subscriber data services but over HTTP/2 REST APIs (Nudm interface), stores data in a separate UDR for stateless operation, supports network slicing profiles, and is designed for cloud-native deployment. ZBensoft UDM supports both protocols on one platform.
Can UDM work alongside our existing HSS?
Yes. ZBensoft UDM can operate in dual-mode — serving 4G NFs via Diameter (S6a, Cx) while simultaneously serving 5G NFs via HTTP/2 (Nudm). This enables a phased 5G migration without replacing the entire subscriber data infrastructure at once.
What happens to subscriber data during migration?
Subscriber data is migrated from HSS to UDM/UDR through automated provisioning tools with zero downtime. Both systems can run in parallel during transition, and subscriber profiles are kept synchronized. Once migration is complete, the legacy HSS can be decommissioned.
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