In another alternative, existing parameters in the system information can be used by the UE to determine whether to include NSSAI information in the RRC signaling when initiating the service request procedure. For example, this can be a particular access category (such as for example, access category “5” or any reserved, special, or operator use access category) as part of the unified access control (UAC). The barring timer for the corresponding access category need not be present.

As another possibility, an implicit indication can be made by an access restriction of any of the access categories, which may act as the new and above discussed broadcast indication.

As a further enhancement, certain access category(ies) and/or access identities and/or UE types/classes/categories may be exempted from including any NSSAI information in the RRC signaling. For example NAS layer of UEs belonging to any of the exempted access category(ies), access identities and/or UE types/classes/categories might not provide the access stratum any NSSAI information. The indication can be sent in the SI for different UE categories, such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra reliable low latency communications (URLLC), and/or vehicle to everything (v2x), etc.

In another or second possible alternative, related to a further possible solution, dedicated (i.e. unicast) signaling from the RAN node (e.g. gNB or eNB) to the UE may be used to indicate whether the UE should include the NSSAI information in the RRC signaling. For example, RRC message #4 (RRCSetup message) can contain such an express indication to the UE.