Summary Report from 3GPP plenaries #104 (Shanghai, China, 17 - 20 June 2024)

Rel-18

• ASN.1 and open APIs (CT) were frozen. All RAN core work and most performance work have been completed.

Rel-19

• RAN introduced a new approach to RAN4 basket work items, approving fewer separate ones compared to Rel-18. RAN also approved a number of spectrum work items, in particular for NTN (e.g. the Ku band, S-band for IoT and NR and extended L-band) and three non-spectrum WIs/SIs that had been agreed in principle at earlier meetings.
• SA approved many new WIs/SIs, including a plenary-level AI/ML 'coordination' SI.

6G

• For the 6G Workshop (11-12 March 2025), RAN/SA/CT will have joint sessions at the beginning and end and work in parallel in between
• An additional 5G Advanced Workshop will also be held (December 2024, during the plenaries)

General

CA Power Class Support (Endorsed WF: RP-241687)

RAN tasked RAN4 to investigate how to enable HPUE maximum transmit power in downlink CA with a single configured UL, to be concluded by RAN#106

Rel-18

Rel-18 Planning and progress (some RAN4 perf. work remaining; ASN.1/open APIs frozen; Stage 3 exceptions complete)

Stage 1: frozen December 2021 without exceptions

RAN1/2/3 work package: approved December 2021

RAN4 work package: approved March 2022

Stage 2: frozen June 2023 without exceptions

SA3: frozen September 2023

RAN1: frozen September 2023

RAN2/3/4 core functionality: frozen December 2023 with exceptions (no more exceptions by June 2024)

Stage 3: frozen March 2024 with exceptions (no more exceptions by June 2024)

ASN.1 and open APIs: frozen June 2024

RAN4: frozen June 2024 (remaining in June 2024: RAN4 perf. work for NR positioning and TRP/TRS)

Closed Rel-18 Work Items and Study Items (excluding spectrum-related and conformance testing)

Rel-18 NR

• Perf.: Enhancement of NR Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)
• Perf.: Multi-carrier enhancements for NR
• Perf.: Further NR coverage enhancements
• Perf.: NR MIMO evolution for downlink and uplink
• Perf.: NR sidelink evolution
• Perf.: NR network-controlled repeaters
• Perf.: Enhanced support of reduced capability NR devices
• Perf.: Network energy savings for NR
• Perf.: Further NR mobility enhancements
• Perf.: Dual Transmission Reception (TxRx) Multi-SIM for NR
• Perf.: NR sidelink relay enhancements
• Core: NR NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) enhancements
• Perf.: NR NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) enhancements
• Perf.: Mobile IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) for NR
• Perf.: NR support for dedicated spectrum less than 5MHz for FR1
• Perf.: Further RF requirements enhancement for NR and EN-DC in frequency range 1 (FR1)
• Perf.: NR RF requirements enhancement for frequency range 2 (FR2), Phase 3
• Perf.: Requirement for NR frequency range 2 (FR2) multi-Rx chain DL reception
• Perf.: Enhanced NR support for high speed train scenario in frequency range 2 (FR2)
• Perf.: Even Further RRM enhancement for NR and MR-DC
• Perf.: Further enhancements on NR and MR-DC measurement gaps and measurements without gaps
• Perf.: NR demodulation performance evolution
• Perf.: Enhancement of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Over-the-Air (OTA) requirements for NR UEs
• Perf.: Complete the specification support for BandWidth Part operation without restriction in NR

Rel-18 LTE

• Perf.: IoT (Internet of Things) NTN (non-terrestrial network) enhancements

Rel-18 RAN Work Item Summaries (descriptions of features in the release after the work has actually finished)

Overall draft TR with Rel-18 description (under construction, incomplete)

• TR 21.918 TR 21.918 v1.0.0

RAN

• RP-240922 NR NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) enhancements

SA

• SP-240779 Immersive Real-time Communication for WebRTC
• SP-240576 Network Slice Replacement charging
• SP-240700 Immersive Audio for Split Rendering Scenarios (ISAR)
• SP-240781 NSCALE
• SP-240782 5G Security Assurance Specification (SCAS) for the Policy Control Function (PCF)
• SP-240783 Tactile and multi-modality communication services
• SP-240798 5GMARCH_Ph2
• SP-240854 5G Timing Resiliency System (5TRS)
• SP-240860 Enhancements to UE Testing (eUET)
• SP-240863 EDGEAPP_Ph2
• SP-240866 IMS-based AR Conversational Services (IBACS)
• SP-240867 5G-enabled fused location service capability exposure
• SP-240869 5G system with satellite access to Support Control and/or Video Surveillance
• SP-240882 SCAS_5G_Ph2
• SP-240883 UC3S_SEC_Ph2
• SP-240884 SEALDD
• SP-240885 HN_Auth
• SP-240886 NG_RTC_SEC
• SP-240887 EDGE_Ph2
• SP-240888 PALS
• SP-240889 UAS-ph2
• SP-240892 SCAS for split gNB
• SP-240893 VMR
• SP-240894 Split Rendering Media Service Enabler
• SP-240895 5G Media Streaming Protocols Phase 2 (5GMS_Pro_Ph2)
• SP-240896 UPF enhancement for Exposure and SBA
• SP-240897 Architecture Enhancements for XR (Extended Reality) and media service
• SP-240898 EVS Codec Extension for Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS_Codec)
• SP-240901 SCAS_5G_AAnF
• SP-240902 AKMA_Ph2
• SP-240903 SECAM and SCAS for 3GPP virtualized network products
• SP-240905 ADAES
• SP-240907 Ranging-based Service and sidelink positioning
• SP-240930 UASAPP_Ph2

Rel-19 Planning (Stage 1 normative work completed)

RAN Workshop: took place in June 2023

SA Workshop: took place in June 2023

Stage 1: frozen December 2023 with exceptions (no more exceptions by June 2024)

SA Stage 2 work package: approved December 2023

RAN1/2/3 work package: approved December 2023

RAN4 work package: approved March 2024

Stage 2: freezing target December 2024

RAN1: freezing target June 2025

RAN2/3/4 core functionality: freezing target September 2025

Stage 3: freezing target September 2025

ASN.1 and open APIs: freezing target December 2025

RAN4: freezing target December 2025

Rel-19 RAN4 basket work item definition (Moderator summary: RP-241675)

This was the main discussion in this RAN plenary. New basket WIs were approved based on following agreements:

• Keep PC3 and HPUE class band combinations in the normal basket WIs and HPUE basket WIs separately.
• In the WIDs of HPUE, the rule how to complete the work as described in TR will be captured.
• Capture 3Tx with high power classes and PC3 as fallback in HPUE_DC_LTE_NR_R19 and HPUE_NR_CADC_SUL_R19.
• Do not merge the spreadsheets (multiple files) in this meeting, and merge them into one spreadsheet with additional column(s) to indicate the corresponding objective in the next meeting.

Rel-19 Discussion on NTZ (WF: RP-241658; LSout: RP-241668))

The RAN network should not be involved in the process of informing the UE on Non Transmit Zone(s)

The RAN network should not be involved in the process of enforcing UE behaviour when it is located within the NTZ(s).

The UE is responsible of following any applicable NTZ(s) regulations.

The RAN network should not receive the NTZ(s) information.

Any solution that breaks the above principles should be excluded from SA2 discussions.

Rel-19 NR: Ambient IoT (Endorsed moderator summary: RP-241688)

RAN3 is the responsible WG for RAN architecture discussion on Ambient IoT. RAN1 to define "successfully received" for the purpose of evaluations of the latency for a single A-IoT device. It is in scope of the study to define inventory completion time for multiple devices. Companies are encouraged also to contribute to RAN4 on co-existence for deployment scenario options 2-1 and 2-2. No conclusion regarding device energy harvesting.

Rel-19 NR: MIMO (Endorsed moderator summary: RP-241633)

The following topics will not be discussed in RAN1 before the decision in RAN#105:

• Support of two TAs as part of enhancement for asymmetric DL sTRP/UL mTRP deployment scenarios
• SRS port grouping as part of CSI enhancement
• Partial-coherent UL codebook for 3Tx multi-panel
• Open loop based UL precoder cycling

Rel-19 NR: Network Energy Saving (Endorsed moderator summary: RP-241616)

The spatial domain was removed. For the discussion of On Domain SIB1 and SSB Adaptation in Time Domain no changes to the WID were considered needed.

Rel-19 NR: Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) (Endorsed moderator summary: RP-241659)

For downlink coverage, RAN1 was tasked to report latest by December with the list of targeted physical channels/signals for link level enhancements (if any), and with the targeted system-level enhancements (if any), including impact on backward compatibility of potential extension of the SSB periodicity.

For uplink capacity/throughput enhancement, Orthogonal Cover Codes for DFT-s-OFDM PUSCH will be specified at least for multiplexing 2 or 4 UEs when PUSCH repetitions are used.

For RedCap and eRedCap UEs, half-duplex FDD was added to the scope.

Rel-19 NR: XR (Endorsed WF: RP-241651)

It is planned to replace the current note in the WID in RAN#105 with the objective to address uplink rate control from RAN, which is complementary to upper layer solutions (e.g. L4S). For RAN#105 there should also be agreement on which layer the gNb would provide the information in the downlink direction. RAN2 in August is expected to make conclusions on the other aspects as per current WID, such that we are able to have a scope fitting to the time available for XR work going forward after RAN#105.

Rel-19 NR: SRS antenna switching 3T6R and 4T6R (Endorsed moderator summary: RP-241621)

RAN1 to study and specify, if necessary, SRS antenna switching to support 3T6R depending on UE capability.

Note 1: SRS antenna switching to support 4T6R is precluded.

Note 2: RAN1 discussion starts from RAN1#118bis (Oct. 2024).

Rel-19 NR: New RAN2 WI on SL multi-hop relay (Endorsed moderator summary: RP-241635); Approved new WI: RP-241609)

Apart from RAN4 WIs, the only other WI approved in this RAN meeting was a RAN2 WI as endorsed already in RAN#102 in December 2023. The WI aims at specifying (1) mechanisms to support up to two additional hops relays on top of Rel-17 UE-to-Network (U2N) relay; (2) intra-gNB service continuity scenarios for multi-hop U2N relay based on Rel-17/18 procedures (for remote UE).

Rel-19: Energy efficiency coordination between SA2 and SA5 (Endorsed WF: SP-240972)

It has been identified that SA2 and SA5 are not well co-ordinated on the topic of energy efficiency. SA tasked SA2 and SA5 to have a joint conference call before the August meetings, to agree a work split on collection and calculation of energy consumption and on exposure of energy consumption. SA asked SA5 also to consider liaising with RAN WGs and other appropriate WGs in addition.

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

(usually this summary does not list new spectrum-related work, but that was the main focus this meeting)

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN1

• <None>

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN2

• RP-241609 WI: NR sidelink multi-hop relay
• Keywords: Specify (1) mechanisms to support up to two additional hops relays on top of Rel-17 UE-to-Network (U2N) relay; (2) intra-gNB service continuity scenarios for multi-hop U2N relay based on Rel-17/18 procedures (for remote UE).

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN3

• <None>

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN4

Not spectrum-related

• RP-241669 SI: Study on NR FR1 DL Fragmented Carriers
• Keywords: Identify methods for reducing the number of UE Rx chains (e.g. from separate RF chains per CC to shared RF chains ) needed for single DL band with frequency span ≤ 100 MHz, containing two non-contiguous CCs within a CA combination for the inter-operator co-located scenario.
• RP-241610 SI: Study on spatial channel model for demodulation performance requirements
• Keywords: Study practical spatial channel modelling methodology for both SU- and MU-MIMO demodulation requirements and CSI reporting requirements.

Spectrum-related

• RP-241673 WI: Dual connectivity (DC) of x LTE band(s), y NR band(s) (x<6, y<6, x+y<=6) and single or two NR Supplementary Uplink (SUL) bands
• RP-241674 WI: NR Carrier Aggregation (CA)/Dual Connectivity (DC) for x bands DL with y bands UL (x<7, y<3) and Supplementary Uplink (SUL) band combinations/CA band combinations with a single SUL or two SUL cells
• RP-241680 WI: High power UE (power class 1.5 and 2) for NR FR1 TDD/FDD single band, and high power UE operation (power class 1) for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in a single NR band
• RP-241678 WI: High power UE (power class 1.5 or 2) for Dual Connectivity (DC) combinations of LTE band(s) and NR band(s)
• RP-241679 WI: High power UE (power class 1.5 or 2) for NR intra-band Carrier Aggregation (CA) or NR inter-band CA/Dual connectivity (DC) band combinations with/without NR SUL (supplementary uplink)
• RP-241677 WI: Additional NR bands for NR features
• RP-241672 WI: Downlink interruption for NR and EN-DC band combinations at dynamic Tx Switching in Uplink
• RP-241682 WI: Simultaneous Rx/Tx band combinations for NR CA/DC, NR SUL and LTE/NR DC
• RP-241684 WI: Adding channel bandwidth support to existing NR bands
• RP-241690 WI: Introduction of Ku Band for NR NTN
• RP-241648 WI: Introduction of the 1.4 GHz Band
• RP-241664 WI: Introduction of NR band n68
• RP-241663 WI: Introduction of NR bands n87 and n88
• RP-241661 WI: Introduction of NR-NTN S-band (MSS band 2000-2020 MHz UL and 2180-2200 MHz DL)
• RP-241662 WI: Introduction of IoT-NTN S-band (MSS band 2000-2020 MHz UL and 2180-2200 MHz DL)
• RP-241689 WI: Introduction of new NR NTN bands to support the Extended L-band (UL 1668-1675MHz, DL 1518-1525MHz) and the combined MSS L-band and Extended L-band ranges (DL 1518-1559 MHz, UL 1626.5-1660 MHz and 1668-1675 MHz)
• RP-241660 WI: Introduction of Power Class 2 and UE 40MHz Channel Bandwidth in NR band n28
• RP-241665 WI: NR power class 2 RedCap (Reduced Capability) UE in FR1

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN1

• <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN2

• <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN3

• <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN4

Not spectrum-related

• <None>

Spectrum-related

• RP-241676 WI: LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation for x bands (x<= 6) DL with y bands (y=1, 2) UL
• RP-241649 WI: Introduction of LTE FDD band in 1800 – 1830 MHz for Canada
• RP-241681 WI: High power UE (power class 2) and high power operation (power class 1) for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in a single LTE band

Approved Rel-19 Work Items and Study Items SA

SA plenary

• SP-240970 SI: Study on AI/ML E2E framework
• (plenary level study to identify AI/ML related activities of all 3GPP working groups, identify potential inconsistencies on terminology, identify potential misalignments and inconsistencies among existing AI/ML features and provide information of the outcome to the appropriate WGs).

SA1

• SP-240793 WI: Monitoring of Encrypted Signalling Traffic (MonSTra)

SA2

• SP-240971 WI: User Identities and Authentication Architecture
• SP-240997 WI: Phase 3 for UAS, UAV and UAM
• SP-240985 WI: System architecture for Next Generation Real time Communication services Phase 2
• SP-240986 WI: Integration of satellite components in the 5G architecture Phase III
• SP-240629 WI: System aspects of 5G NR Femto
• SP-240987 WI: MPS for IMS Messaging and SMS services
• SP-240988 WI: Proximity-based Services in 5GS Phase 3
• SP-240989 WI: Vehicle Mounted Relays (VMR) Phase 2
• SP-240990 WI: 5GS XRM Ph2
• SP-240991 WI: Core Network Enhanced Support for Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML)
• SP-240994 WI: Multi-Access (ATSSS_Ph4)
• SP-240995 WI: UPF enhancement for Exposure and SBA Phase 2
• SP-240996 WI: Enhancement of support for Edge Computing in 5G Core network phase 3

SA3

• SP-240978 SI: Study on Security aspects of CAPIF Phase 3
• SP-240999 WI: Security aspects of NR mobility enhancement Phase 1
• SP-240653 WI: Security for mobility over non-3GPP access to avoid full primary authentication

SA4

• SP-240979 SI: Study on Haptics in 5G Media Services
• SP-240927 SI: Study on Spatial Computing for AR Services
• SP-241000 WI: EVS Codec Extension for Immersive Voice and Audio Services, Phase 2

SA5

• SP-240980 SI: Study on Charging aspects of satellite access Phase 3
• SP-240981 SI: Study on Charging Aspects of CAPIF
• SP-240982 SI: Study on Charging aspects of next generation real time communication services phase 2
• SP-240983 SI: Study on Charging Aspects of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle
• SP-241001 WI: CHF Segmentation
• SP-241002 WI: Charging Aspects of Ranging and Sidelink Positioning
• SP-241003 WI: Charging Aspects for Energy Efficiency of 5G
• SP-241004 WI: Charging enhancement for indirect network sharing

SA6

• SP-241017 SI: Study on MC services support on IOPS mode of operation for 5G
• SP-241005 WI: Enhanced application layer support for location services
• SP-241019 WI: Service aspects for supporting the eMMTel Service
• SP-241007 WI: Application enabler for XR Services
• SP-241008 WI: Application layer support for AI/ML services
• SP-241009 WI: Application enablement architecture for mobile metaverse services
• SP-241010 WI: Satellite access enabled 5G services

6G and 5G Advanced Workshops (Endorsed details: RP-241647; SP-240952)

6G Workshop

• Monday 10 - Tuesday 11 March 2025
  • Joint RAN/SA/CT session: Monday morning 0900-1
  • Parallel RAN/SA sessions Monday 1400-1800; Tuesday 0900-1530 (CT will meet as plenary)
  • Joint RAN/SA/CT session: Tuesday 1600-1800: summary of the workshop

5G-Advanced in Rel-20 for TSG-RAN

• 1-day Workshop for 5G-Advanced in Rel-20 as part of RAN#106 in December (still a 4-day RAN plenary meeting)

5G-Advanced in Rel-20 for TSG-SA

• 1-day Workshop for 5G-Advanced in Rel-20 as part of SA#106 in December (still a 4-day SA plenary meeting)
• Rel-20 prioritization in SA to take place after December 2024: 1-step Prioritization (June 2025), or 2-step Prioritization (March 2025 + June 2025)? [TBD no later than December 2024]