The Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol is used in UMTS, LTE and 5G on the Air interface.
The major functions of the RRC protocol include connection establishment and release functions, broadcast of system information, radio bearer establishment, reconfiguration and release, RRC connection mobility procedures, paging notification and release and outer loop power control.
[5] By means of the signalling functions the RRC configures the user and control planes according to the network status and allows for Radio Resource Management strategies to be implemented.
[7] The configuration of RRC inactivity timers in a W-CDMA network has considerable impact on the battery life of a phone when a packet data connection is open.
[8] The transitions to lower energy consuming states occur when inactivity timers trigger.