NAS LTE UE to MME 3GPP TS 24.301

LTE ESM Dummy Message

ESM Dummy Message is the LTE NAS session-management message used as a minimal protected ESM payload in specific control-plane or procedure-maintenance branches.

Message Fact Sheet

Protocol	nas	Network	lte
Spec	3GPP TS 24.301	Spec Section	Release 18 message definition for ESM Dummy Message
Direction	UE to MME	Message Type	ESM signaling

Full message name	LTE ESM Dummy Message
Protocol	NAS
Technology	LTE
Direction	UE to MME
Interface	N1 over LTE access / S1-MME control path
Signaling bearer / channel	NAS signaling / Used in control-plane or maintenance branches where a lightweight protected ESM payload is sufficient.
Typical trigger	Triggered when the procedure needs a minimal ESM payload rather than a full bearer or PDN message.
Main purpose	Provides a lightweight ESM message body when the procedure needs ESM-level signaling presence without a full session-management payload.
Main specification	3GPP TS 24.301, Release 18 message definition for ESM Dummy Message
Release added	Release 13
Procedures where used	Control Plane CIoT EPS Optimization, ESM maintenance handling

What is LTE ESM Dummy Message in simple terms?

ESM Dummy Message is the LTE NAS session-management message used as a minimal protected ESM payload in specific control-plane or procedure-maintenance branches.

Provides a lightweight ESM message body when the procedure needs ESM-level signaling presence without a full session-management payload.

Why this message matters

ESM Dummy Message is a minimal ESM payload used when the branch needs ESM signaling presence but no richer content.

Where this message appears in the call flow

Minimal ESM signaling presence

ESM Dummy Message shows that the branch needed an ESM-level placeholder rather than a richer session-management payload.

Call flow position: Placeholder ESM message used when a control-plane or procedure branch needs ESM-layer signaling presence.

Typical state: The wider branch continues, but there is no richer ESM payload to carry.

Preconditions:

The procedure expects an ESM-level message.

Next likely message: Procedure continuation

Call flow position

Previous message(s): Control Plane Service Request

Next message(s): Procedure continuation

Message direction and transport

Sender and receiver: UE to MME

Interface: N1 over LTE access / S1-MME control path

Domain: Core-side EPS session management procedure maintenance.

Signaling bearer: NAS signaling

Logical channel: Used in control-plane or maintenance branches where a lightweight protected ESM payload is sufficient.

Transport / encapsulation: EPS NAS ESM message carrying a minimal placeholder payload.

Security context: Usually protected because it is used in already active session-management branches.

Message Structure Overview

ESM Dummy Message is a lightweight placeholder ESM payload.

ASN.1 Message Syntax for LTE ESM Dummy Message

ESM Dummy Message

How to read this message syntax

This message is procedural rather than information-rich. Its value is that it shows the branch needed ESM-layer presence without a full ESM payload.

LTE ESM Dummy Message - Example Dump

ESM Dummy Message
  Protocol discriminator: EPS session management
  EPS bearer identity: 0
  Procedure transaction identity: 0
  Message type: ESM Dummy Message

How to read this dump

The main value is contextual: why the branch used a dummy ESM payload.

What to check in logs and traces

Check the wider control-plane or maintenance branch.
Confirm why a richer ESM payload was not needed.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

The trace contains ESM signaling but no obvious bearer or PDN message content.

Likely cause: The branch may be using ESM Dummy Message as a placeholder ESM payload.

What to inspect: Check the wider control-plane or maintenance procedure context.

Next step: Treat it as a structural procedure placeholder rather than missing decode content.

FAQ

What is ESM Dummy Message in LTE?

It is a minimal LTE NAS ESM payload used when a branch needs ESM signaling presence without a richer bearer or PDN message.

Related message pages

Related Procedures

Related Tools

Use This Reference in Practice

Decode this message with the 3GPP Decoder, inspect the related message database, or open the matching call flow to see where this signaling step fits in the full procedure.