diff --git a/executables/nr-softmodem.c b/executables/nr-softmodem.c
index 5c419f1905..dfe2193d70 100644
--- a/executables/nr-softmodem.c
+++ b/executables/nr-softmodem.c
@@ -298,6 +298,7 @@ static int create_gNB_tasks(void) {
   LOG_D(GNB_APP, "%s(gnb_nb:%d)\n", __FUNCTION__, gnb_nb);
   itti_wait_ready(1);
   LOG_I(PHY, "%s() Task ready initialize structures\n", __FUNCTION__);
+  ngran_node_t node_type = get_node_type();
 
   RCconfig_NR_L1();
   RCconfig_nr_prs();
@@ -314,13 +315,11 @@ static int create_gNB_tasks(void) {
 
   LOG_I(GNB_APP,"Allocating gNB_RRC_INST for %d instances\n",RC.nb_nr_inst);
 
-  RC.nrrrc = (gNB_RRC_INST **)malloc(RC.nb_nr_inst*sizeof(gNB_RRC_INST *));
-  LOG_I(PHY, "%s() RC.nb_nr_inst:%d RC.nrrrc:%p\n", __FUNCTION__, RC.nb_nr_inst, RC.nrrrc);
-  ngran_node_t node_type = get_node_type();
-  for (int gnb_id = gnb_id_start; (gnb_id < gnb_id_end) ; gnb_id++) {
-    RC.nrrrc[gnb_id] = (gNB_RRC_INST*)calloc(1,sizeof(gNB_RRC_INST));
-    LOG_I(PHY, "%s() Creating RRC instance RC.nrrrc[%d]:%p (%d of %d)\n", __FUNCTION__, gnb_id, RC.nrrrc[gnb_id], gnb_id+1, gnb_id_end);
-    configure_nr_rrc(gnb_id);
+  if (RC.nb_nr_inst > 0) {
+    AssertFatal(RC.nb_nr_inst == 1, "multiple RRC instances are not supported\n");
+    RC.nrrrc = calloc(1, sizeof(*RC.nrrrc));
+    RC.nrrrc[0] = calloc(1,sizeof(gNB_RRC_INST));
+    RCconfig_NRRRC(RC.nrrrc[0]);
   }
 
   if (RC.nb_nr_inst > 0 &&
diff --git a/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_def.h b/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_def.h
index 19a339db7c..8609aa45d2 100644
--- a/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_def.h
+++ b/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_def.h
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@ MESSAGE_DEF(RRC_STATE_IND,              MESSAGE_PRIORITY_MED,       RrcStateInd,
 // eNB: ENB_APP -> RRC messages
 MESSAGE_DEF(RRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ,      MESSAGE_PRIORITY_MED,       RrcConfigurationReq,        rrc_configuration_req)
 MESSAGE_DEF(NBIOTRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ, MESSAGE_PRIORITY_MED,       NbIoTRrcConfigurationReq,   nbiotrrc_configuration_req)
-MESSAGE_DEF(NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ,    MESSAGE_PRIORITY_MED,       gNB_RrcConfigurationReq,    nrrrc_configuration_req)
 
 // UE: NAS -> RRC messages
 MESSAGE_DEF(NAS_KENB_REFRESH_REQ,       MESSAGE_PRIORITY_MED,       NasKenbRefreshReq,          nas_kenb_refresh_req)
diff --git a/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h b/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h
index 6a29ee1ae7..ef44b31e69 100644
--- a/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h
+++ b/openair2/COMMON/rrc_messages_types.h
@@ -69,8 +69,6 @@
 
 #define NBIOTRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ(mSGpTR)   (mSGpTR)->ittiMsg.nbiotrrc_configuration_req
 
-#define NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ(mSGpTR)   (mSGpTR)->ittiMsg.nrrrc_configuration_req
-
 #define NAS_KENB_REFRESH_REQ(mSGpTR)    (mSGpTR)->ittiMsg.nas_kenb_refresh_req
 #define NAS_CELL_SELECTION_REQ(mSGpTR)  (mSGpTR)->ittiMsg.nas_cell_selection_req
 #define NAS_CONN_ESTABLI_REQ(mSGpTR)    (mSGpTR)->ittiMsg.nas_conn_establi_req
diff --git a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_app.c b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_app.c
index 1366624414..5769d98626 100644
--- a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_app.c
+++ b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_app.c
@@ -58,25 +58,6 @@ extern RAN_CONTEXT_t RC;
 
 #define GNB_REGISTER_RETRY_DELAY 10
 
-/*------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
-void configure_nr_rrc(uint32_t gnb_id)
-{
-  MessageDef *msg_p = NULL;
-  //  int CC_id;
-
-  msg_p = itti_alloc_new_message (TASK_GNB_APP, 0, NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ);
-
-  if (RC.nrrrc[gnb_id]) {
-    RCconfig_NRRRC(msg_p,gnb_id, RC.nrrrc[gnb_id]);
-    
-    LOG_I(GNB_APP, "RRC starting with node type %d\n", RC.nrrrc[gnb_id]->node_type);
-    LOG_I(GNB_APP,"Sending configuration message to NR_RRC task\n");
-    itti_send_msg_to_task (TASK_RRC_GNB, GNB_MODULE_ID_TO_INSTANCE(gnb_id), msg_p);
-
-  }
-  else AssertFatal(0,"NRRRC context for gNB %u not allocated\n",gnb_id);
-}
-
 /*------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
 
diff --git a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_app.h b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_app.h
index 44c4374fc3..0b70ca0bdb 100644
--- a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_app.h
+++ b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_app.h
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 #include <stdint.h>
 
 void *gNB_app_task(void *args_p);
-void configure_nr_rrc(uint32_t gnb_id);
 uint32_t gNB_app_register(uint32_t gnb_id_start, uint32_t gnb_id_end);
 uint32_t gNB_app_register_x2(uint32_t gnb_id_start, uint32_t gnb_id_end);
 #endif /* GNB_APP_H_ */
diff --git a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.c b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.c
index 88a784225c..d1d24dd484 100644
--- a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.c
+++ b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.c
@@ -1242,13 +1242,14 @@ static void check_ssb_raster(uint64_t freq, int band, int scs)
                gscn, freq, band);
 }
 
-void RCconfig_NRRRC(MessageDef *msg_p, uint32_t i, gNB_RRC_INST *rrc)
+void RCconfig_NRRRC(gNB_RRC_INST *rrc)
 {
 
   int num_gnbs = 0;
   char aprefix[MAX_OPTNAME_SIZE*2 + 8];
   int32_t gnb_id = 0;
   int k = 0;
+  int i = 0;
 
   paramdef_t GNBSParams[] = GNBSPARAMS_DESC;
   ////////// Identification parameters
@@ -1268,6 +1269,7 @@ void RCconfig_NRRRC(MessageDef *msg_p, uint32_t i, gNB_RRC_INST *rrc)
   config_get( GNBSParams,sizeof(GNBSParams)/sizeof(paramdef_t),NULL); 
   num_gnbs = GNBSParams[GNB_ACTIVE_GNBS_IDX].numelt;
   AssertFatal (i<num_gnbs,"Failed to parse config file no %uth element in %s \n",i, GNB_CONFIG_STRING_ACTIVE_GNBS);
+  AssertFatal(num_gnbs == 1, "required section \"gNBs\" not in config!\n");
 
   if (num_gnbs > 0) {
 
@@ -1334,6 +1336,7 @@ void RCconfig_NRRRC(MessageDef *msg_p, uint32_t i, gNB_RRC_INST *rrc)
     
     // search if in active list
     
+    gNB_RrcConfigurationReq nrrrc_config = {0};
     for (k=0; k <num_gnbs ; k++) {
       if (strcmp(GNBSParams[GNB_ACTIVE_GNBS_IDX].strlistptr[k], *(GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_GNB_NAME_IDX].strptr) )== 0) {
 	
@@ -1350,8 +1353,8 @@ void RCconfig_NRRRC(MessageDef *msg_p, uint32_t i, gNB_RRC_INST *rrc)
         for (int I = 0; I < sizeof(PLMNParams) / sizeof(paramdef_t); ++I)
           PLMNParams[I].chkPptr = &(config_check_PLMNParams[I]);
 
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).cell_identity     = gnb_id;
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).tac               = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_TRACKING_AREA_CODE_IDX].uptr;
+        nrrrc_config.cell_identity     = gnb_id;
+        nrrrc_config.tac               = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_TRACKING_AREA_CODE_IDX].uptr;
         AssertFatal(!GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_MOBILE_COUNTRY_CODE_IDX_OLD].strptr
                     && !GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_MOBILE_NETWORK_CODE_IDX_OLD].strptr,
                     "It seems that you use an old configuration file. Please change the existing\n"
@@ -1367,46 +1370,46 @@ void RCconfig_NRRRC(MessageDef *msg_p, uint32_t i, gNB_RRC_INST *rrc)
           AssertFatal(0, "The number of PLMN IDs must be in [1,6], but is %d\n",
                       PLMNParamList.numelt);
 
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ(msg_p).num_plmn = PLMNParamList.numelt;
+        nrrrc_config.num_plmn = PLMNParamList.numelt;
 
         for (int l = 0; l < PLMNParamList.numelt; ++l) {
 	
-	  NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).mcc[l]               = *PLMNParamList.paramarray[l][GNB_MOBILE_COUNTRY_CODE_IDX].uptr;
-	  NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).mnc[l]               = *PLMNParamList.paramarray[l][GNB_MOBILE_NETWORK_CODE_IDX].uptr;
-	  NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).mnc_digit_length[l]  = *PLMNParamList.paramarray[l][GNB_MNC_DIGIT_LENGTH].u8ptr;
-	  AssertFatal((NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).mnc_digit_length[l] == 2) ||
-		      (NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).mnc_digit_length[l] == 3),"BAD MNC DIGIT LENGTH %d",
-		      NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).mnc_digit_length[l]);
+	  nrrrc_config.mcc[l]               = *PLMNParamList.paramarray[l][GNB_MOBILE_COUNTRY_CODE_IDX].uptr;
+	  nrrrc_config.mnc[l]               = *PLMNParamList.paramarray[l][GNB_MOBILE_NETWORK_CODE_IDX].uptr;
+	  nrrrc_config.mnc_digit_length[l]  = *PLMNParamList.paramarray[l][GNB_MNC_DIGIT_LENGTH].u8ptr;
+	  AssertFatal((nrrrc_config.mnc_digit_length[l] == 2) ||
+		      (nrrrc_config.mnc_digit_length[l] == 3),"BAD MNC DIGIT LENGTH %d",
+		      nrrrc_config.mnc_digit_length[l]);
 	}
         LOG_I(GNB_APP,"pdsch_AntennaPorts N1 %d\n",*GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PDSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_N1_IDX].iptr);
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).pdsch_AntennaPorts.N1 = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PDSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_N1_IDX].iptr;
+        nrrrc_config.pdsch_AntennaPorts.N1 = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PDSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_N1_IDX].iptr;
         LOG_I(GNB_APP,"pdsch_AntennaPorts N2 %d\n",*GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PDSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_N2_IDX].iptr);
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).pdsch_AntennaPorts.N2 = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PDSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_N2_IDX].iptr;
+        nrrrc_config.pdsch_AntennaPorts.N2 = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PDSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_N2_IDX].iptr;
         LOG_I(GNB_APP,"pdsch_AntennaPorts XP %d\n",*GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PDSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_XP_IDX].iptr);
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).pdsch_AntennaPorts.XP = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PDSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_XP_IDX].iptr;
+        nrrrc_config.pdsch_AntennaPorts.XP = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PDSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_XP_IDX].iptr;
         LOG_I(GNB_APP,"pusch_AntennaPorts %d\n",*GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PUSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_IDX].iptr);
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).pusch_AntennaPorts = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PUSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_IDX].iptr;
+        nrrrc_config.pusch_AntennaPorts = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_PUSCH_ANTENNAPORTS_IDX].iptr;
         LOG_I(GNB_APP,"minTXRXTIME %d\n",*GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_MINRXTXTIME_IDX].iptr);
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).minRXTXTIME = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_MINRXTXTIME_IDX].iptr;
-        DevAssert(NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).minRXTXTIME == minRXTXTIME);
+        nrrrc_config.minRXTXTIME = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_MINRXTXTIME_IDX].iptr;
+        DevAssert(nrrrc_config.minRXTXTIME == minRXTXTIME);
         LOG_I(GNB_APP,"SIB1 TDA %d\n",*GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_SIB1_TDA_IDX].iptr);
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).sib1_tda = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_SIB1_TDA_IDX].iptr;
+        nrrrc_config.sib1_tda = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_SIB1_TDA_IDX].iptr;
         LOG_I(GNB_APP,"Do CSI-RS %d\n",*GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DO_CSIRS_IDX].iptr);
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).do_CSIRS = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DO_CSIRS_IDX].iptr;
+        nrrrc_config.do_CSIRS = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DO_CSIRS_IDX].iptr;
         LOG_I(GNB_APP, "Do SRS %d\n",*GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DO_SRS_IDX].iptr);
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).do_SRS = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DO_SRS_IDX].iptr;
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).force_256qam_off = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_FORCE256QAMOFF_IDX].iptr;
-        LOG_I(GNB_APP, "256 QAM: %s\n", NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).force_256qam_off ? "force off" : "may be on");
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).scc = scc;
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).scd = scd;
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).enable_sdap = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_ENABLE_SDAP_IDX].iptr;
-        LOG_I(GNB_APP, "SDAP layer is %s\n", NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).enable_sdap ? "enabled" : "disabled");
-        NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).drbs = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DRBS].iptr;
-        LOG_I(GNB_APP, "Data Radio Bearer count %d\n", NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ (msg_p).drbs);
+        nrrrc_config.do_SRS = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DO_SRS_IDX].iptr;
+        nrrrc_config.force_256qam_off = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_FORCE256QAMOFF_IDX].iptr;
+        LOG_I(GNB_APP, "256 QAM: %s\n", nrrrc_config.force_256qam_off ? "force off" : "may be on");
+        nrrrc_config.scc = scc;
+        nrrrc_config.scd = scd;
+        nrrrc_config.enable_sdap = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_ENABLE_SDAP_IDX].iptr;
+        LOG_I(GNB_APP, "SDAP layer is %s\n", nrrrc_config.enable_sdap ? "enabled" : "disabled");
+        nrrrc_config.drbs = *GNBParamList.paramarray[i][GNB_DRBS].iptr;
+        LOG_I(GNB_APP, "Data Radio Bearer count %d\n", nrrrc_config.drbs);
 
       }//
     }//End for (k=0; k <num_gnbs ; k++)
-    memcpy(&rrc->configuration, &NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ(msg_p), sizeof(NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ(msg_p)));
+    openair_rrc_gNB_configuration(rrc, &nrrrc_config);
   }//End if (num_gnbs>0)
 
   config_security(rrc);
diff --git a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.h b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.h
index 3e5b43b0f0..d00ac09e43 100644
--- a/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.h
+++ b/openair2/GNB_APP/gnb_config.h
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ extern void NRRCConfig(void);
 //void                          enb_config_display(void);
 //void                          ru_config_display(void);
 
-void RCconfig_NRRRC(MessageDef *msg_p, uint32_t i, gNB_RRC_INST *rrc);
+void RCconfig_NRRRC(gNB_RRC_INST *rrc);
 int RCconfig_NR_NG(MessageDef *msg_p, uint32_t i);
 int RCconfig_NR_X2(MessageDef *msg_p, uint32_t i);
 int RCconfig_NR_DU_F1(MessageDef *msg_p, uint32_t i);
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR/nr_rrc_extern.h b/openair2/RRC/NR/nr_rrc_extern.h
index 18185fa081..64e6095dcd 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR/nr_rrc_extern.h
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR/nr_rrc_extern.h
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@
 #include "LAYER2/RLC/rlc.h"
 #include "openair2/RRC/common.h"
 
+void openair_rrc_gNB_configuration(gNB_RRC_INST *rrc, gNB_RrcConfigurationReq *configuration);
+
 extern UE_RRC_INST *UE_rrc_inst;
 
 extern uint8_t DRB2LCHAN[8];
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB.c b/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB.c
index 746216d12a..4731745771 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/NR/rrc_gNB.c
@@ -296,18 +296,12 @@ static void rrc_gNB_CU_DU_init(gNB_RRC_INST *rrc)
   cu_init_f1_ue_data();
 }
 
-static void openair_rrc_gNB_configuration(const module_id_t gnb_mod_idP, gNB_RrcConfigurationReq *configuration)
+void openair_rrc_gNB_configuration(gNB_RRC_INST *rrc, gNB_RrcConfigurationReq *configuration)
 {
-  protocol_ctxt_t      ctxt = { 0 };
-  gNB_RRC_INST         *rrc=RC.nrrrc[gnb_mod_idP];
-  PROTOCOL_CTXT_SET_BY_MODULE_ID(&ctxt, gnb_mod_idP, GNB_FLAG_YES, NOT_A_RNTI, 0, 0,gnb_mod_idP);
-  LOG_I(NR_RRC,
-        PROTOCOL_NR_RRC_CTXT_FMT" Init...\n",
-        PROTOCOL_NR_RRC_CTXT_ARGS(&ctxt));
   AssertFatal(rrc != NULL, "RC.nrrrc not initialized!");
   AssertFatal(NUMBER_OF_UE_MAX < (module_id_t)0xFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF, " variable overflow");
   AssertFatal(configuration!=NULL,"configuration input is null\n");
-  rrc->module_id = gnb_mod_idP;
+  rrc->module_id = 0;
   rrc_gNB_CU_DU_init(rrc);
   uid_linear_allocator_init(&rrc->uid_allocator);
   RB_INIT(&rrc->rrc_ue_head);
@@ -316,7 +310,6 @@ static void openair_rrc_gNB_configuration(const module_id_t gnb_mod_idP, gNB_Rrc
    /// System Information INIT
   pthread_mutex_init(&rrc->cell_info_mutex,NULL);
   rrc->cell_info_configured = 0;
-  LOG_I(NR_RRC, PROTOCOL_NR_RRC_CTXT_FMT" Checking release \n",PROTOCOL_NR_RRC_CTXT_ARGS(&ctxt));
   init_NR_SI(rrc, configuration);
   return;
 } // END openair_rrc_gNB_configuration
@@ -2620,11 +2613,6 @@ void *rrc_gnb_task(void *args_p) {
         rrc_gNB_process_NGAP_PDUSESSION_RELEASE_COMMAND(msg_p, instance);
         break;
 
-      /* Messages from gNB app */
-      case NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ:
-        openair_rrc_gNB_configuration(instance, &NRRRC_CONFIGURATION_REQ(msg_p));
-        break;
-
       /* Messages from F1AP task */
       case F1AP_SETUP_REQ:
         AssertFatal(NODE_IS_CU(RC.nrrrc[instance]->node_type), "should not receive F1AP_SETUP_REQUEST, need call by CU!\n");