An apparatus including at least one processing circuitry, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least: to acquire service policy rules to be applied to a communication of a service data flow in a communication network, wherein the service policy rules are to be used for routing a service data flow to and within at least one external service function and/or at least one external service function chain; and to provide, to an external service function providing side, the acquired service policy rules as information related to an intended usage of at least one external service function and/or at least one external service function chain in a service data flow communicated in a communication network; wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least: to acquire, as the service policy rules, generic service policy rules by one of referring to set configuration information including information related to the generic service policy rules, or processing information obtained from a third entity, wherein the generic service policy rules include at least one of an identification information for the service data flow, an identification information for at least one service function and/or at least one service function chain via which the service data flow is to be routed, and rules for a usage of the at least one service function and/or at least one service function chain via which the service data flow is to be routed. to acquire service policy rules to be applied to a communication of a service data flow in a communication network, wherein the service policy rules are to be used for routing a service data flow to and within at least one external service function and/or at least one external service function chain; and to provide, to an external service function providing side, the acquired service policy rules as information related to an intended usage of at least one external service function and/or at least one external service function chain in a service data flow communicated in a communication network; wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least: to acquire, as the service policy rules, generic service policy rules by one of referring to set configuration information including information related to the generic service policy rules, or processing information obtained from a third entity, wherein the generic service policy rules include at least one of an identification information for the service data flow, an identification information for at least one service function and/or at least one service function chain via which the service data flow is to be routed, and rules for a usage of the at least one service function and/or at least one service function chain via which the service data flow is to be routed. to acquire, as the service policy rules, generic service policy rules by one of referring to set configuration information including information related to the generic service policy rules, or processing information obtained from a third entity, referring to set configuration information including information related to the generic service policy rules, or processing information obtained from a third entity, wherein the generic service policy rules include at least one of an identification information for the service data flow, an identification information for at least one service function and/or at least one service function chain via which the service data flow is to be routed, and rules for a usage of the at least one service function and/or at least one service function chain via which the service data flow is to be routed.