Time was too short to check the results of SA plenary (although the author spent significant time on the AI/ML SI there)

RAN Rel-19

-      Only one new band-related WI was approved and the existing work was progressed.

RAN Rel-20 (5G)

-      Progress was made on the possible content and available time per topic (no firm decisions yet).

RAN Rel-20 (6G)

-      IMT-2030-related Technical Performance Requirements (TPRs) were discussed and the SI was updated with 3GPP objectives on top of the existing IMT-2030-related objectives.

Elections

-      RAN Chair: Younsun Kim (Samsung); VCs: Enrico Buracchini (Telecom Italia), Jerome Vogedes (AT&T), Xutao Zhou (vivo)

-      SA Chair: Puneet Jain (Intel); VCs: Tao Sun (CMCC), Johannes Achter (DT), Laeyoung Kim (LGE)

-      CT Chair: Peter Schmitt (Huawei); VCs: Biao Long (China Telecom), Hiroshi Ishikawa (NTT DOCOMO), François Piroard (Airbus)

Closed Rel-19 Work Items and Study Items (excluding spectrum-related and conformance testing)

Rel-19 NR

-      SI: Study on IMT parameters for NR for 4400 to 4800 MHz, 7125 to 8400 MHz and 14800 to 15350 MHz

-      Core: NR channel BW less than 5MHz for FR1 Phase 2

Rel-19 RAN Work Item Summaries (descriptions of features in the release after the work has actually finished)

RAN

-      RP-250464 NR channel BW less than 5MHz for FR1 Phase 2

Rel-19 NR: AI/ML for NR air interface (Approved revised WID: RP-250792; Noted NEC WF: RP-250769)

The 2nd priority issues were removed.

Rel-19 NR: Ambient IoT (Endorsed WF: RP-250777; Approved revised WID: RP-250796)

Applying or not applying the Forward Error Correction (FEC) to Device-to-Reader (D2R) is in scope of the WID, and will be specified by ensuring it is under the reader control and applies to all devices targeted by the reader. All devices are assumed to support applying and not applying the FEC for D2R.

Rel-19 NR: XR (eXtended Reality) for NR Phase 3 (Endorsed WF: RP-250778; Approved revised WID: RP-250107)

RAN3 objectives were added to the XR Work Item.

Rel-19 NR: No new core WIs for Rel-19

In this meeting, no RAN1/2/3/4 core WIs were approved, no NR WIs at all, and only one satellite band-related WI for LTE.

Rel-19 LTE: NTN for IoT Phase 3 (Approved revised WID: RP-250472)

It was proposed to add monitoring of Public Warning System (PWS) notifications in RRC_CONNECTED mode. This was controversial and it was decided neither to work on this in RAN1, nor in RAN2.

Rel-19 NR: NTN Ku band numerology (Endorsed WF: RP-243301)

Downscoping agreements include removal of VSAT types 1, 2 and 3 and removal of conducted requirements (only do radiated).

Upscoping agreements: Dual numerology, specification of NGSO and GSO connectivity based on existing type 5 RF requirements and RRM timing requirements for the considered numerologies (for mobile VSAT served by NGSO and GSO in Ku bands only).

Rel-19 LTE: 5G Broadcast (Approved new WIs: RP-243290, RP-243268)

The main new topics of these new WIs are time and frequency interleaving and additional bands for early deployment.

Approved Rel-19 Work Items and Study Items RAN (excluding spectrum-related; excluding conformance testing)

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN1

• RP-243326 WI: Solutions for Ambient IoT (Internet of Things) in NR
  • Keywords: PRDCH and PDRCH, R2D, D2R, lightweight signalling to enable DO-DTT and DT data transmission, architecture, signalling between A-IoT RAN and CN, RF requirements for Ambient-IoT BS, device 1, and CW, RRM core requirements for device 1, if necessary, OTA test for A-IoT device 1.
• RP-243245 SI: Study on Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for NR air interface Phase 2
  • Keywords: Study CSI feedback enhancement; Necessity and details of model Identification concept and procedure in the context of LCM for two-sided models; CN/OAM/OTT collection of UE-sided model training data; Model transfer/ delivery; Testability and interoperability.

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN2

• <None>

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN3

• <None>

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN4

• RP-243317 WI: Low band carrier aggregation via switching
  • Keywords: Introduce physical layer procedures and requirements to enable low band carrier aggregation via switching.
• RP-243323 WI: 7 MHz Channel Bandwidth for n26 and n5
  • Keywords: Core and performance requirements to support 7 MHz NR FR1 channel bandwidth in n5, n26 bands.

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN1

• RP-243290 WI: LTE-based 5G Broadcast Phase 2 (EBU)
  • Keywords: For MBMS-dedicated cells, specify time-frequency interleavers and corresponding signalling.

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN2

• <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN3

• <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN4

• <None>

Approved Rel-19 Work Items and Study Items SA

SA1

• <None>

SA2

• SP-241979 WI: Architecture support of Ambient power-enabled Internet of Things (endorsed for one meeting cycle only)
• SP-241498 WI: MSISDN verification operation support to Nnef_UEId Service
• SP-241500 WI: ATSSS Rule Provisioning via 3GPP access connected to EPC
• SP-241502 WI: Network Controlled Network Slice Selection
• SP-241504 WI: PRU Usage Extension supported by Core Network

SA3

• SP-241955 SI: 3GPP Cryptographic Inventory
• SP-241956 WI: Security Aspects of Proximity Based Services in 5GS Phase 3
• SP-241773 WI: Security of Uncrewed Aerial System Phase 3
• SP-241775 WI: Security aspects of 5G Mobile Metaverse services
• SP-241776 WI: Security aspects of CAPIF Phase3
• SP-241958 WI: Security aspects of 5G NR Femto
• SP-241778 WI: Security support for the Next Generation Real Time Communication services Phase 2
• SP-241959 WI: Security Aspects of Enhancement of Support for Edge Computing in 5GC - phase 3
• SP-241780 WI: Security Aspects of 5G Satellite Access Phase 3
• SP-241960 WI: Automatic Certificate Management Environment (ACME) for the Service Based Architecture (SBA)
• SP-241782 WI: Security for PLMN hosting a NPN
• SP-241957 WI: Security aspects of Core Network Enhanced Support for AIML Multi-Access

SA4

• SP-241961 WI: 5G Real-time Transport Protocol Configurations, Phase 2
• SP-241962 WI: Diverse audio CApturing system for Smartphone devices
• SP-241963 WI: Architectural Updates for Advanced Media Delivery

SA5

• SP-241938 WI: Management aspects of Network Digital Twin
• SP-241939 WI: Service Based Management Architecture enhancement phase 3
• SP-241940 WI: Energy efficiency and energy saving aspects of 5G networks and services
• SP-241941 WI: Management aspects of RedCap features
• SP-241942 WI: Enhanced OAM for management exposure to external consumers
• SP-241943 WI: Closed Control Loop Management
• SP-241944 WI: AI/ML management phase 2
• SP-241945 WI: Management for MonStra
• SP-241946 WI: Intent driven management services for mobile network phase 3
• SP-241947 WI: Management Data Analytics (MDA) - Phase 3
• SP-241948 WI: Management of IAB nodes
• SP-241949 WI: Management Aspects of NTN Phase 2
• SP-241950 WI: Management of Network Sharing Phase 3

SA6

• SP-241695 WI: Application Data Analytics Enablement Service

Rel-20 (5G) Planning (Rel-20 5G work is ongoing; no explicit milestone)

Stage 1 approval of SIDs: June 2024

RAN Workshop: took place in December 2024

SA Workshop: took place in December 2024

Stage 1 freezing target: June 2025

Stage 2 approval of SIDs: June 2025

RAN1/2/3 work package: planned for June 2025

RAN4 work package: planned for September 2025

Stage 3 (CT) approval of SIDs: planned for March 2026 or earlier;

Stage 2: freezing target June 2026 (80%); September 2026 (100%)

RAN1: freezing target December 2026

RAN2/3/4 core functionality: freezing target March 2027

Stage 3: freezing target March 2027

ASN.1 and open APIs: freezing target June 2027

RAN4 Perf: freezing target June 2027

Rel-20 (5G): 5G Advanced content discussion (Endorsed Chair summary: RP-250812; Noted RAN4 summary: RP-250817)

Rel-20 5G Advanced was discussed in multiple offline sessions with in total about 300 documents. Only the RAN4 inputs were presented. The endorsed Chair summary organizes a list of items led by RAN1/2/3 that will form the basis for further discussion (but no email discussion on the reflector). It is still possible that items are dropped or added but the summary gives a good idea what the direction may be:

RAN1-led:

-      Enhancements on AI/ML Air Interface

-      NR-MIMO Phase 6

-      Enhancements on Ambient IoT

-      NR-NTN Enhancement

-      Coverage Enhancement

-      ISAC

RAN2-led:

-      AI Mobility

-      NTN IoT

-      Mobility

-      XR

RAN3-led:

-      AI/ML for NG-RAN

-      SON/MDT Enhancements

-      ISAC

Others:

-      200 MHz CBW or aggregated BW for n104

-      SBFD (limited scope)

-      Sidelink enh. (incl. SL relay)

Rel-20 (6G)

Rel-20 (6G) Planning (TSG-wide 6G Workshop was held; RAN approved 6G general addition to existing 6G SI)

Stage 1 approval of SIDs: September 2024 (TSG 105)

NOTE: SA plenary approved the first 6G Study Item (SA1) in SP-241391

RAN plenary SI Rel-20 focusing on ITU-IMT-2030: 12/24 until 06/25

NOTE: RAN plenary approved the first RAN 6G Study Item focusing on ITU-IMT-2030 in RP-243327

TSG-wide 6G Workshop: March 2025 (TSG#107)

RAN plenary SI Rel-20 focusing on 6G General: approved 03/25 (after WS) in RP-250810 (revision of RP-243327), until 06/26

SA2 and RAN WG SIDs approval: June 2025 (TSG 108)

RAN1 starts in 3Q/25 until 1Q/27; RAN2/3/4 start in 4Q/25 until 2Q/27

Stage 1 (study): freezing target: March 2026

CT WG SIDs approval: March 2026

SA2 (study) freeze: December 2026 or Mar 2027

SA1/SA2 6G SI may continue beyond Stage-1/Stage-2 freeze dates for 5G-Advanced

Other SA WG (SA3, SA4, SA5, SA6) SIDs approval: tbd at future TSG meeting

Rel-20 (6G): Proposals to change 3GPP specification handling in 6G (Disc: RP-250108, RP-250169, RP-250422)

A number of companies proposed to consider changing the handling of specifications in 6G, moving away from Word-based documents towards e.g. ETSI Forge tools, MD/MSC/JSON tools, Gitlab, and/or Markdown. Nothing was decided. The proponents may approach other companies with more concrete ideas, including possible trials.

Rel-20 (6G): 6G Study (Endorsed WF: RP-250813, RP-250819, RP-250820; Approved revised 6G SID: RP-250810; Endorsed Skeleton TR RP-250809)

In December, a first version of the 6G plenary level Study Item was approved, focusing on ITU-R-related issues only. That SI was revised to include additional high level objectives not related to ITU-R. This included a number of design principles, such as minimization of options for the same functionality, avoiding excessive configurations and UE capabilities, common 6G radio design for mobile broadband as well as verticals, harmonized radio design for TN and NTN, system simplification etc.

RAN endorsed as a positive statement after the 6G Workshop that "The update of 6G RAN-level SID includes work scope for new/existing services and significantly improved 6G radio performance. It reflects the spirits from 6G workshop contributions."

On the IMT-2030 related discussion, RAN asked PCG to be allowed to communicate directly with ITU-R WP5D to ensure its inputs on the TPRs can be submitted in time (deadline is before the next plenaries). Also, the following was endorsed on TPRs:

Define positioning accuracy as a quantitative TPR

Define Sensing-related capabilities as a TPR.

Define AI-related capabilities as qualitative TPR evaluated by inspection.

Define energy efficiency as a TPR.

For user experienced data rate, further discuss applicable deployment scenarios, and revisit the evaluation methodology before setting values for UL

For bandwidth TPR, it is proposed to set a target value of 400MHz (same definition as IMT-2020)

-           TBD on other TPR values

Define TPR (e.g. joint/composite requirement) related to data rate, latency, reliability, capacity etc. as a candidate IMT-2030 TPR.

3GPP 6G Workshop (Chairs' summary: 6GWS-250243)

1676 registrations, of which 748 on-site (in-person) participants.

See separate slide set created by the 3GPP leadership.