Channel mapping: Logical → Transport → Physical

The Three-Layer Channel Architecture

NR inherits and refines the three-layer channel mapping model from LTE. Logical channels define what type of information is being transferred — broadcast, paging, common control, dedicated control, or dedicated traffic. Transport channels define how the data is transferred, specifying the error protection scheme and the transport format. Physical channels define where the data is actually transmitted on the air interface. This layered abstraction lets higher protocol layers remain independent of the physical transmission details, enabling flexibility as the radio technology evolves.