diff --git a/executables/nr-softmodem.h b/executables/nr-softmodem.h
index 7976d563e5..27e3ba1e3e 100644
--- a/executables/nr-softmodem.h
+++ b/executables/nr-softmodem.h
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #include "PHY/defs_gNB.h"
 #include "proto_agent.h"
 
-#define DEFAULT_DLF 0
+#define DEFAULT_DLF 2680000000
 
 /***************************************************************************************************************************************/
 /* command line options definitions, CMDLINE_XXXX_DESC macros are used to initialize paramdef_t arrays which are then used as argument
diff --git a/executables/softmodem-common.h b/executables/softmodem-common.h
index 84bd9a987f..a8a05a5971 100644
--- a/executables/softmodem-common.h
+++ b/executables/softmodem-common.h
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ extern "C"
 
 #define DEFAULT_RFCONFIG_FILE    "/usr/local/etc/syriq/ue.band7.tm1.PRB100.NR40.dat";
 
-#define DEFAULT_DLF 0
+#define DEFAULT_DLF 2680000000
 
 #define CMDLINE_PARAMS_DESC {  \
     {"rf-config-file",       CONFIG_HLP_RFCFGF,       0,              strptr:(char **)&RF_CONFIG_FILE,    defstrval:NULL,        TYPE_STRING, sizeof(RF_CONFIG_FILE)},\
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/asn1_msg.c b/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/asn1_msg.c
index 5d733a0efe..8572fcbc15 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/asn1_msg.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/asn1_msg.c
@@ -3510,8 +3510,6 @@ uint8_t do_UECapabilityEnquiry( const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,
 {
   LTE_DL_DCCH_Message_t dl_dcch_msg;
   LTE_RAT_Type_t rat=LTE_RAT_Type_eutra;
-  LTE_RAT_Type_t rat_nr=LTE_RAT_Type_nr;
-  LTE_RAT_Type_t rat_eutra_nr=LTE_RAT_Type_eutra_nr;
   asn_enc_rval_t enc_rval;
   memset(&dl_dcch_msg,0,sizeof(LTE_DL_DCCH_Message_t));
   dl_dcch_msg.message.present           = LTE_DL_DCCH_MessageType_PR_c1;
@@ -3523,6 +3521,57 @@ uint8_t do_UECapabilityEnquiry( const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,
   dl_dcch_msg.message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry.criticalExtensions.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry_r8.ue_CapabilityRequest.list.count=0;
   ASN_SEQUENCE_ADD(&dl_dcch_msg.message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry.criticalExtensions.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry_r8.ue_CapabilityRequest.list,
                    &rat);
+
+  if ( LOG_DEBUGFLAG(DEBUG_ASN1) ) {
+    xer_fprint(stdout, &asn_DEF_LTE_DL_DCCH_Message, (void *)&dl_dcch_msg);
+  }
+
+  enc_rval = uper_encode_to_buffer(&asn_DEF_LTE_DL_DCCH_Message,
+                                   NULL,
+                                   (void *)&dl_dcch_msg,
+                                   buffer,
+                                   100);
+
+  if(enc_rval.encoded == -1) {
+    LOG_I(RRC, "[eNB AssertFatal]ASN1 message encoding failed (%s, %lu)!\n",
+          enc_rval.failed_type->name, enc_rval.encoded);
+    return -1;
+  }
+
+  LOG_D(RRC,"[eNB %d] UECapabilityRequest for UE %x Encoded %zd bits (%zd bytes)\n",
+        ctxt_pP->module_id,
+        ctxt_pP->rnti,
+        enc_rval.encoded,
+        (enc_rval.encoded+7)/8);
+
+  if (enc_rval.encoded==-1) {
+    LOG_E(RRC,"[eNB %d] ASN1 : UECapabilityRequest encoding failed for UE %x\n",
+          ctxt_pP->module_id,
+          ctxt_pP->rnti);
+    return(-1);
+  }
+
+  return((enc_rval.encoded+7)/8);
+}
+
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+uint8_t do_NR_UECapabilityEnquiry( const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,
+                                   uint8_t               *const buffer,
+                                   const uint8_t                Transaction_id)
+//------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+{
+  LTE_DL_DCCH_Message_t dl_dcch_msg;
+  LTE_RAT_Type_t rat_nr=LTE_RAT_Type_nr;
+  LTE_RAT_Type_t rat_eutra_nr=LTE_RAT_Type_eutra_nr;
+  asn_enc_rval_t enc_rval;
+  memset(&dl_dcch_msg,0,sizeof(LTE_DL_DCCH_Message_t));
+  dl_dcch_msg.message.present           = LTE_DL_DCCH_MessageType_PR_c1;
+  dl_dcch_msg.message.choice.c1.present = LTE_DL_DCCH_MessageType__c1_PR_ueCapabilityEnquiry;
+  dl_dcch_msg.message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry.rrc_TransactionIdentifier = Transaction_id;
+  dl_dcch_msg.message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry.criticalExtensions.present = LTE_UECapabilityEnquiry__criticalExtensions_PR_c1;
+  dl_dcch_msg.message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry.criticalExtensions.choice.c1.present =
+    LTE_UECapabilityEnquiry__criticalExtensions__c1_PR_ueCapabilityEnquiry_r8;
+  dl_dcch_msg.message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry.criticalExtensions.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry_r8.ue_CapabilityRequest.list.count=0;
   ASN_SEQUENCE_ADD(&dl_dcch_msg.message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry.criticalExtensions.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry_r8.ue_CapabilityRequest.list,
                    &rat_nr);
   ASN_SEQUENCE_ADD(&dl_dcch_msg.message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry.criticalExtensions.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityEnquiry_r8.ue_CapabilityRequest.list,
@@ -3548,6 +3597,8 @@ uint8_t do_UECapabilityEnquiry( const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,
   r13_10.nonCriticalExtension = &r14_30;
   r14_30.nonCriticalExtension = &r15_10;
 
+  /* TODO: no hardcoded values here */
+
   OCTET_STRING_t req_freq;
   //unsigned char req_freq_buf[5] = { 0x00, 0x20, 0x1a, 0x02, 0x68 };  // bands 7 & nr78
   //unsigned char req_freq_buf[5] = { 0x00, 0x20, 0x1a, 0x08, 0x18 };  // bands 7 & nr260
@@ -3579,14 +3630,14 @@ uint8_t do_UECapabilityEnquiry( const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,
     return -1;
   }
 
-  LOG_D(RRC,"[eNB %d] UECapabilityRequest for UE %x Encoded %zd bits (%zd bytes)\n",
+  LOG_D(RRC,"[eNB %d] NR UECapabilityRequest for UE %x Encoded %zd bits (%zd bytes)\n",
         ctxt_pP->module_id,
         ctxt_pP->rnti,
         enc_rval.encoded,
         (enc_rval.encoded+7)/8);
 
   if (enc_rval.encoded==-1) {
-    LOG_E(RRC,"[eNB %d] ASN1 : UECapabilityRequest encoding failed for UE %x\n",
+    LOG_E(RRC,"[eNB %d] ASN1 : NR UECapabilityRequest encoding failed for UE %x\n",
           ctxt_pP->module_id,
           ctxt_pP->rnti);
     return(-1);
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/asn1_msg.h b/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/asn1_msg.h
index 925f09416e..34b2909394 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/asn1_msg.h
+++ b/openair2/RRC/LTE/MESSAGES/asn1_msg.h
@@ -362,6 +362,13 @@ do_UECapabilityEnquiry(
   const uint8_t                Transaction_id
 );
 
+uint8_t
+do_NR_UECapabilityEnquiry(
+  const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,
+  uint8_t               *const buffer,
+  const uint8_t                Transaction_id
+);
+
 uint8_t do_SecurityModeCommand(
   const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,
   uint8_t *const buffer,
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_defs.h b/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_defs.h
index 53ba6d9314..f050733a13 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_defs.h
+++ b/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_defs.h
@@ -647,6 +647,7 @@ typedef struct eNB_RRC_UE_s {
   uint8_t                            e_rab_release_command_flag;
   int8_t                             reestablishment_xid;
   int                                does_nr;
+  int                                nr_capabilities_requested;
 } eNB_RRC_UE_t;
 
 typedef uid_t ue_uid_t;
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_eNB.c b/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_eNB.c
index 051012ce28..aafd1cbf6f 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_eNB.c
+++ b/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_eNB.c
@@ -1287,6 +1287,52 @@ rrc_eNB_generate_UECapabilityEnquiry(
     PDCP_TRANSMISSION_MODE_CONTROL);
 }
 
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+void
+rrc_eNB_generate_NR_UECapabilityEnquiry(
+  const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,
+  rrc_eNB_ue_context_t          *const ue_context_pP
+)
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+{
+  uint8_t                             buffer[100];
+  uint8_t                             size;
+  T(T_ENB_RRC_UE_CAPABILITY_ENQUIRY, T_INT(ctxt_pP->module_id), T_INT(ctxt_pP->frame),
+    T_INT(ctxt_pP->subframe), T_INT(ctxt_pP->rnti));
+  size = do_NR_UECapabilityEnquiry(
+           ctxt_pP,
+           buffer,
+           rrc_eNB_get_next_transaction_identifier(ctxt_pP->module_id));
+  LOG_I(RRC,
+        PROTOCOL_RRC_CTXT_UE_FMT" Logical Channel DL-DCCH, Generate NR UECapabilityEnquiry (bytes %d)\n",
+        PROTOCOL_RRC_CTXT_UE_ARGS(ctxt_pP),
+        size);
+  LOG_D(RRC,
+        PROTOCOL_RRC_CTXT_UE_FMT" --- PDCP_DATA_REQ/%d Bytes (NR UECapabilityEnquiry MUI %d) --->[PDCP][RB %02d]\n",
+        PROTOCOL_RRC_CTXT_UE_ARGS(ctxt_pP),
+        size,
+        rrc_eNB_mui,
+        DCCH);
+  MSC_LOG_TX_MESSAGE(
+    MSC_RRC_ENB,
+    MSC_RRC_UE,
+    buffer,
+    size,
+    MSC_AS_TIME_FMT" rrcNRUECapabilityEnquiry UE %x MUI %d size %u",
+    MSC_AS_TIME_ARGS(ctxt_pP),
+    ue_context_pP->ue_context.rnti,
+    rrc_eNB_mui,
+    size);
+  rrc_data_req(
+    ctxt_pP,
+    DCCH,
+    rrc_eNB_mui++,
+    SDU_CONFIRM_NO,
+    size,
+    buffer,
+    PDCP_TRANSMISSION_MODE_CONTROL);
+}
+
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void
 rrc_eNB_generate_RRCConnectionReject(
@@ -6396,6 +6442,16 @@ rrc_eNB_process_RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete(
     free(DRB_Release_configList2);
     ue_context_pP->ue_context.DRB_Release_configList2[xid] = NULL;
   }
+
+  /* let's request NR capabilities if the UE supports NR
+   * maybe not the right place/time to request
+   */
+  if (ue_context_pP->ue_context.does_nr &&
+      !ue_context_pP->ue_context.nr_capabilities_requested) {
+    ue_context_pP->ue_context.nr_capabilities_requested = 1;
+    rrc_eNB_generate_NR_UECapabilityEnquiry(ctxt_pP, ue_context_pP);
+  }
+
 }
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -7214,6 +7270,48 @@ rrc_eNB_decode_ccch(
   return rval;
 }
 
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+static int
+is_en_dc_supported(
+  LTE_UE_EUTRA_Capability_t *c
+)
+//-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+{
+  /* to be refined - check that the eNB is connected to a gNB, check that
+   * the bands supported by the UE include the band of the gNB
+   */
+#define NCE nonCriticalExtension
+  return c != NULL
+      && c->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->irat_ParametersNR_r15 != NULL
+      && c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->irat_ParametersNR_r15->en_DC_r15 != NULL
+      && *c->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->NCE->irat_ParametersNR_r15->en_DC_r15 == LTE_IRAT_ParametersNR_r15__en_DC_r15_supported;
+#undef NCE
+}
+
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 int
 rrc_eNB_decode_dcch(
@@ -7743,13 +7841,6 @@ rrc_eNB_decode_dcch(
 
         LOG_I(RRC, "got UE capabilities for UE %x\n", ctxt_pP->rnti);
 
-        if (ue_context_p->ue_context.UE_Capability) {
-          LOG_I(RRC, "freeing old UE capabilities for UE %x\n", ctxt_pP->rnti);
-          ASN_STRUCT_FREE(asn_DEF_LTE_UE_EUTRA_Capability,
-                          ue_context_p->ue_context.UE_Capability);
-          ue_context_p->ue_context.UE_Capability = 0;
-        }
-
         int eutra_index = -1;
 
         for (i = 0; i < ul_dcch_msg->message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityInformation.criticalExtensions.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityInformation_r8.ue_CapabilityRAT_ContainerList.list.count; i++) {
@@ -7760,9 +7851,17 @@ rrc_eNB_decode_dcch(
             }
             eutra_index = i;
           }
-          /* todo: improve nr dual connectivity capability checking */
-          if (ul_dcch_msg->message.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityInformation.criticalExtensions.choice.c1.choice.ueCapabilityInformation_r8.ue_CapabilityRAT_ContainerList.list.array[i]->rat_Type == LTE_RAT_Type_eutra_nr)
-            ue_context_p->ue_context.does_nr = 1;
+        }
+
+        /* do nothing if no EUTRA capabilities (TODO: may be NR capabilities, to be processed somehow) */
+        if (eutra_index == -1)
+          break;
+
+        if (ue_context_p->ue_context.UE_Capability) {
+          LOG_I(RRC, "freeing old UE capabilities for UE %x\n", ctxt_pP->rnti);
+          ASN_STRUCT_FREE(asn_DEF_LTE_UE_EUTRA_Capability,
+                          ue_context_p->ue_context.UE_Capability);
+          ue_context_p->ue_context.UE_Capability = 0;
         }
 
         dec_rval = uper_decode(NULL,
@@ -7786,6 +7885,9 @@ rrc_eNB_decode_dcch(
           ue_context_p->ue_context.UE_Capability = 0;
         }
 
+        if (dec_rval.code == RC_OK)
+          ue_context_p->ue_context.does_nr = is_en_dc_supported(ue_context_p->ue_context.UE_Capability);
+
         if (EPC_MODE_ENABLED) {
           rrc_eNB_send_S1AP_UE_CAPABILITIES_IND(ctxt_pP,
                                                 ue_context_p,
diff --git a/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_proto.h b/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_proto.h
index d5009de270..8f6baabcbf 100644
--- a/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_proto.h
+++ b/openair2/RRC/LTE/rrc_proto.h
@@ -584,6 +584,12 @@ rrc_eNB_generate_UECapabilityEnquiry(
   rrc_eNB_ue_context_t          *const ue_context_pP
 );
 
+void
+rrc_eNB_generate_NR_UECapabilityEnquiry(
+  const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,
+  rrc_eNB_ue_context_t          *const ue_context_pP
+);
+
 void
 rrc_eNB_generate_SecurityModeCommand(
   const protocol_ctxt_t *const ctxt_pP,