BACKGROUND

A 5thgeneration (5G) cellular networking system includes the following components: a 5G access network (5G-AN), a 5G core network (5GC), and use equipment (UE). The 5G core network may include various virtualized network functions (NFs), including, for example, an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Core Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a policy control function (PCF), and a session management function (SMF), to name a few. A 5G core network may also include an Network Repository Function (NRF), which provides for network function service registration, authorization, and discovery, and otherwise enables network functions to identity one another. Specifically, an NRF may maintain and otherwise manage the network function profile of available network function instances, allow network function instances to subscribe to, and be notified about, the registration of new network function instances at the NRF, and satisfy network function discovery requests from network function instances.

