Summary Report from 3GPP plenaries #103 (Maastricht, the Netherlands, 18 - 21 March 2024)

Since there was a large time overlap between RAN and SA, this report covers the status in RAN from full first-hand participation, but also a significant amount of information from SA based on part-time participation and reviewing the draft SA report.

This was Hans' 100th consecutive attendance of 3GPP plenary meetings :-) (starting from #4; missing only plenaries#1, #2 & #3)

Rel-18

• For Rel-18, RAN core work exceptions remaining are for NR NTN and RAN4 core work. For Stage 3, CT approved 15 exceptions and SA approved 7 SA4 exceptions.

Rel-19

• For Rel-19, a RAN4 work package was approved. SA approved a large number of new WIs and SIs and an SA1 exception.

6G

• For 6G, additional timeline decisions were made.

Rel-18

Rel-18 Planning and progress (Second exceptions for NR NTN and RAN4 core work; Stage 3 frozen with CT & SA4 exceptions)

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; (remaining in March 2024: NR NTN, RAN4 core work)

Stage 3: frozen March 2024 with 15 CT and 7 SA4 exceptions (iRTCW, IBACS, SR_MSE, ATIAS, IVAS_Codec, ISAR, 5GMS_Pro_Ph2)

ASN.1 and open APIs: freezing target June 2024

RAN4: freezing target June 2024

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

Rel-18 NR

• SI: Study on 6 GHz for LTE and NR in Licensed and Unlicensed Operations
• Core: Expanded and improved NR positioning
• Core: Further NR mobility enhancements
• Perf.: Air-to-ground network for NR

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

RAN

• RP-240303 Expanded and Improved NR positioning
• RP-240444 Further NR mobility enhancements
• RP-240138 Enhancement of UE TRP and TRS requirements and test methodologies for FR1 (NR SA and EN-DC)
• RP-240100 Support of intra-band non-collocated EN-DC NR-CA deployment
• RP-240306 4Rx handheld UE low NR bands (<1GHz) and/or 3Tx for NR inter-band UL Carrier Aggregation and EN-DC
• RP-240077 High Power UE (Power Class 2) for LTE FDD Band 14

SA (see https://www.3gpp.org/FTP/tsg_sa/TSG_SA/TSGS_103_Maastricht_2024-03/Docs)

• SP-240069 Self-Configuration of RAN network entities
• SP-240070 Guidelines for Extra-territorial 5G Systems
• SP-240071 Additional NRM features phase 2
• SP-240072 5G Real-time Media Transport Protocol Configurations (5G_RTP)
• SP-240074 B2B Charging
• SP-240075 TSN Charging
• SP-240142 Service based management architecture
• SP-240189 IETF DTLS protocol profile for AKMA and GBA
• SP-240203 Management Data Analytics (MDA) phase 2
• SP-240204 AI/ML management
• SP-240206 AIMLsys
• SP-240207 AIMLsysNEF_CH
• SP-240209 Media Capabilities for Augmented Reality
• SP-240218 Multiparty Real-Time Text (MP_RTT)
• SP-240219 Management Aspects related to NWDAF
• SP-240247 Access Control for Management Services
• SP-240249 Management aspects of 5G system supporting satellite backhaul
• SP-240283 Management of cloud-native Virtualized Network Functions
• SP-240285 Management aspects of NTN
• SP-240286 Management of Trace/MDT phase 2
• SP-240289 NR RedCap UE with long eDRX for RRC_INACTIVE state
• SP-240323 Charging Aspects of Network Slicing Phase 2
• SP-240324 Charging Aspects of NSSAA
• SP-240326 Smart Energy and Infrastructure
• SP-240327 5G performance measurements and KPIs phase 3
• SP-240328 TEI18_MBS4V2X
• SP-240333 Charging Aspects of IMS Data Channel
• SP-240334 Charging Aspects for Enhanced Support of Non-Public Networks
• SP-240336 Charging Aspects for SMF and MB-SMF to Support 5G Multicast-broadcast Services
• SP-240337 RNAA
• SP-240378 5G System Enabler for Service Function Chaining
• SP-240380 Network and Service Operations for Energy Utilities
• SP-240381 Enhanced support of Non-Public Networks Phase 2
• SP-240382 Wireless and Wireline Convergence Phase 2
• SP-240383 Secondary DN Authentication and authorization in EPC IWK cases
• SP-240387 5G_ProSe_Ph2
• SP-240389 5G_eLCS_Ph3
• SP-240390 Charging enhancement for Network Slice based wholesale in roaming
• SP-240392 Signal level Enhanced Network Selection - SENSE
• SP-240400 Charging aspects of Satellite Access in 5GS
• SP-240401 Charging aspects of Satellite Backhaul in 5GS
• SP-240402 5GSAT_Ph2, SA part
• SP-240413 CHF Distributed Availability
• SP-240415 Security Aspects of the 5G Service Based Architecture Phase 2
• SP-240423 Management Aspect of 5GLAN
• SP-240428 5G-Advanced media PROfiles for MessagIng SErvices (PROMISE)
• SP-240468 Enhancement of 5G UE Policy

Rel-18 Exceptions (RAN1/2/3 Core part; second exception)

Rel-18 NR

• RP-240142 NR NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) enhancements

Rel-18 Exceptions (RAN4 Core part; second exception)

Rel-18 NR

• RP-240483 Dual Connectivity (DC) of 1 band LTE (1DL/1UL) and 1 NR band (1DL/1UL)
• RP-240416 Dual Connectivity (DC) of 2 bands LTE inter-band CA (2DL/1UL) and 1 NR band (1DL/1UL)
• RP-240383 Dual Connectivity (DC) of x bands (x=3,4,5) LTE inter-band CA (xDL/1UL) and 1 NR band (1DL/1UL)
• RP-240326 Dual Connectivity (DC) of x bands (x=1,2,3,4) LTE inter-band CA (xDL/1UL) and 2 bands NR inter-band CA (2DL/1UL)
• RP-240249 Dual Connectivity (DC) of x bands (x=1,2,3) LTE inter-band CA (xDL/1UL) and y bands (3<=y<=5 and x+y <= 6) NR inter-band CA (yDL/1UL)
• RP-240375 Dual Connectivity (DC) of x LTE bands and y NR bands with z bands DL and 3 bands UL (x=1, 2, 3, 4; y=1, 2; 3<=z<=6))
• RP-240239 NR intra band Carrier Aggregation for xCC DL/yCC UL including contiguous and non-contiguous spectrum (x>=y)
• RP-240246 NR Inter-band Carrier Aggregation/Dual Connectivity for 2 bands DL with x bands UL (x=1,2)
• RP-240168 NR Inter-band Carrier Aggregation/Dual Connectivity for 3 bands DL with x bands UL (x=1,2)
• RP-240504 NR inter-band Carrier Aggregation/Dual Connectivity for y bands DL (y=4, 5, 6) with x bands UL (x=1, 2)
• RP-240419 Band combinations for SA NR supplementary uplink (SUL), NSA NR SUL, NSA NR SUL with UL sharing from the UE perspective (ULSUP)
• RP-240363 High-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands
• RP-240121 High power UE (power class 2) for NR FR1 FDD single band
• RP-240427 High power UE (power class 1.5 or 2) for intra-band Carrier Aggregation combinations of a single NR FR1 TDD band
• RP-240242 High power UE (power class m with 1<m<3) for a single FR1 band in UL of Dual Connectivity (DC) combinations of x bands (x=1,2,3, 4 for y=1 or x=1, 2 for y=2) LTE inter-band CA (xDL/1UL) and y bands NR inter-band CA (yDL/1UL)
• RP-240357 High power UE (power class 1,5 and 2) for a single FR1 NR TDD band in UL of NR inter-band CA/DC combinations with/without NR SUL (supplementary uplink) with y bands downlink (y=2,3,4,5,6) and x bands uplink (x=1,2)
• RP-240124 High power UE (power class 2) for a single FR1 NR FDD band in UL of NR inter-band CA/DC combinations with y bands downlink (y=1,2,3,4,5,6) and x bands uplink (x=1)
• RP-240424 Simultaneous Rx/Tx band combinations for NR CA/DC, NR SUL and LTE/NR DC
• RP-240309 Basket WI 3Tx NR inter-band UL Carrier Aggregation (CA) and EN-DC

Rel-18 LTE

• RP-240413 LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation for x bands (2<=x<= 6) DL with y bands (y=1, 2) UL

Rel-18 Exceptions SA (see https://www.3gpp.org/FTP/tsg_sa/TSG_SA/TSGS_103_Maastricht_2024-03/Docs)

• SP-240053 SR_MSE (SA WG4)
• SP-240054 ATIAS (SA WG4)
• SP-240055 IVAS_Codec (SA WG4)
• SP-240056 ISAR (SA WG4)
• SP-240057 IBACS (SA WG4)
• SP-240058 iRTCW (SA WG4)
• SP-240059 5GMS_Pro_Ph2 (SA WG4)

Rel-18 NR: NTN enhancements (Granted exception: RP-240142; Via Satellite Award: RP-240844)

Apart from the RAN4 basket work items, the only Rel-18 core work not yet finished is NTN (controversial topic is NTN UE RF requirements). 3GPP NTN also won the prestigious Via Satellite Award as Technology of the Year 2023.

Rel-18: 2Rx for XR (Endorsed WF: RP-240847)

For this highly controversial topic, RAN approved the set of endorsed RAN2 CRs corresponding to 2 Rx XR UEs by "default are allowed to access" cell if "cellBarred2RxXR IE = Barred" is not broadcast in SIB1.

Rel-19 Planning (Stage 1 normative work completed with 1 exception; RAN4 work package approved)

RAN Workshop: took place in June 2023

SA Workshop: took place in June 2023

Stage 1: frozen December 2023 with all exceptions completed March 2024; 1 new exception for Interconnect of Standalone Non-Public Network (ISN)

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 work package definition (Endorsed summary not covering all RAN4 topics): RP-240019)

The following list of RAN4 topics will be part of Rel-19. For individual WIs and SIs, see further down in this executive summary.

Rel-19: RAN addition to work package: New RAN2 WI on Inter RAT mobility enhancements from E-UTRAN to NR-NTN (Endorsed WF: RP-240813); Approved new WI: RP-240846)

Apart from RAN4 WIs, the only other WI approved in this RAN meeting was a RAN2 WI. The WI aims at specifying support for the following objectives: Idle mode mobility based on cell reselection from E-UTRA TN to NR NTN, where E-UTRA TN provides satellite information for NR NTN neighbour cells in a System Information Block (SIBX). The solutions shall be reusing the existing signalling introduced for IoT NTN and mobility procedures between NR TN and NR NTN to the maximum extent.

Rel-19: SA additions to work package

SA approved the following additions to its work Rel-19 package

https://www.3gpp.org/FTP/tsg_sa/TSG_SA/TSGS_103_Maastricht_2024-03/Docs

Rel-19 Exceptions SA

• SP-240195 Interconnect of SNPN (ISN) (SA WG1)

Rel-19 Discussion on SA2 topics (LSout on NTZ: RP-240810); LSout on per UE energy consumption: RP-240825)

RAN answered two LSs from SA2, both controversial in RAN. On No-Transit Zones, RAN responded in essence that this is out of scope of RAN's past Rel-18 work and current Rel-19 work but might be addressed in a future WI to be discussed in September 2024. On per UE energy consumption, there is no consensus and RAN2/3 experts reported that such information at gNB level is extremely difficult to obtain as the RAN2 protocols are not aware of energy consumption per QoS flows or PDU sessions and RAN does not expect to proceed on this aspect in Rel-19.

Rel-19: Fragmented carriers (Endorsed WF: RP-240768)

At the strong request of more than 10 operators, it was decided to study the use of fewer Rx chains than carrier fragments in a band from Q3.

Rel-19: Spatial Channel Modelling (Endorsed WF: RP-240792)

At the strong request of more than 20 operators, it was decided to study practical spatial channel modelling methodology for both SU- and MU-MIMO demodulation requirements and CSI reporting requirements from Q3.

Rel-19: Sub-band Full Duplex (SBFD) (Endorsed summary: RP-240783; Approved revised WID: RP-240789)

Regarding a mechanism for adjacent channel CLI, the word "co-channel" was removed from the WI objective on CLI handling. RAN3 will not specify enhancements to network signalling to support inter-operator coordination for CLI handling.

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

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN1

<None>

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN2

<None>

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN3

<None>

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN4

• RP-240787 SI: Study on IMT parameters for 4400 to 4800 MHz, 7125 to 8400 MHz and 14800 to 15350 MHz. 
  Keywords: Study IMT parameters relevant for sharing and compatibility for (1) 7125 to 8400 MHz frequency range; (2)  14800 to 15350 MHz frequency. Reuse IMT parameters relevant for sharing and compatibility for 4400 to 4800 MHz from the already available RAN4 evaluations. Perform additional work relevant for the ITU-R request.
• RP-240828 WI: UE RF enhancements for NR FR1/FR2 and EN-DC, Phase 4
  Keywords: (1) High power UE (HPUE) for CA in terrestrial network (TN); (2) Power boosting and/or MPR reduction; (3) 6Rx for handheld and FWA UE.
• RP-240832 WI: NR channel BW less than 5MHz for FR1 Phase 2
  Keywords: (1) Common co-located and non-co-located inter-band NR CA/DC UE RF requirements with 3MHz CBW in the one band and 5MHz or 10MHz CBW in the other band; (2) RRM requirements for inter-band CA and DC for combinations introduced in RF part.
• RP-240838 WI: Support of intra-band non-collocated EN-DC/NR-CA deployment Phase2: new receiver type(s)
  Keywords: (1) Specify core requirements for type 4a/4b capable FWA UE that supports non-co-located scenarios for FR1 inter-band non-contiguous EN-DC with overlapping or partially overlapping bands and/or FR1 intra-band non-contiguous NR-CA for up to 4-layer DL MIMO per CC, where MRTD>CP is assumed; (2) Discuss/specify UE behaviour when the UE supports type 4a/b but operates in co-located scenarios depending on whether network signalling is provided. R18 handling of UE behaviour can be used as a reference.
• RP-240829 WI: NR base station (BS) RF requirement evolution for FR1/FR2 and testing
  Keywords: (1) Expected EIRP mask for upper 6GHz; (2) OTA test enhancement
• RP-240841 WI: TRP (Total Radiated Power), TRS (Total Radiated Sensitivity) and MIMO OTA (Over the Air) testing enhancement Phase 3
  Keywords: (1) Define test methodology for FR1 non-RedCap headworn XR devices; (2) Study and define test methodology and radiated performance metric for FR1 NTN devices (including NR NTN and IoT NTN); (3) Study and develop FR1 dynamic MIMO OTA test methodology.
• RP-240856 SI: Study on NR FR2 OTA (Over the Air) testing enhancement Phase 3
  Keywords: Study and define RF testing methodology for FR2 non-handheld UE that can transmit simultaneously with multi-panel.
• RP-240830 WI: NR Radio Resource Management (RRM) Phase 5
  Keywords: (1) FR2-1 SSB based L3 measurement delay reduction for connected mode; (2) Fast SCell activation for UE supporting Rel-18 EMR.
• RP-240831 WI: NR demodulation performance: Phase 5
  Keywords: (1) UE performance requirements for 8Rx CPE/FWA/vehicle/industrial devices; (2) FR1 PUSCH performance requirements with inter-cell interference in homogeneous and heterogeneous deployment.
• RP-240857 WI: Enhanced requirements and test methodology for NR and IoT NTN
  Keywords: (1) High power UE (HPUE) for NTN; (2) Less than 5MHz for NTN
• RP-240839 WI: Enhancements for Air-to-ground network for NR
  Keywords: (1) RF and RRM core requirements for intra-band co-located and inter-band co-located DL CA; (2) RF requirements for support of UL MIMO with 2TX for single CC for UE; (3) Signalling and UE capabilities if necessary
• RP-240840 WI: NR Sidelink: Intra-band Carrier Aggregation in ITS band
  Keywords: RF requirements for NR sidelink CA in n47: (1) Intra-band non-contiguous CA with power class 2 and power class 3, with Component Carrier (CC) combinations 10MHz + 10MHz and 10MHz + 20MHz; (2) Intra-band contiguous CA with power class 2

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN1

<None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN2

• RP-240846 WI: Inter RAT mode mobility support from E-UTRAN TN to NR-NTN
  Keywords: (1) Specify IDLE mode mobility from E-UTRA TN to NR NTN (GSO and NGSO (LEO and MEO); Earth fixed tracking area; Quasi-Earth fixed & Earth moving cells for NGSO; UEs with GNSS capability; FDD mode for NR-NTN; NTN-FR1 band is priority; Implicit compatibility to support HAPS and ATG scenarios);
  (2) Specify support for idle mode mobility based on cell reselection from E-UTRA TN to NR NTN, where E-UTRA TN provides satellite information for NR NTN neighbour cells in a System Information Block.

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN3

<None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN4

<None>

The following decisions from the December plenaries were reconfirmed:

6G and IMT-2030 Planning (Endorsed timeline: RP-233985)

• First TSG-wide 6G workshop is expected to be in March 2025.
• SA1 plans a 3GPP Stage 1 workshop on IMT-2030 use cases in May 2024. (8-10 May, Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
• Studies for 6G in 3GPP are expected to start from Release 20
• Requirements studies: SA1 SID approval expected in September 2024; RAN plenary SID see below
• Technology studies: SA2 SID approval expected in June 2025. Other SA WG SIDs tbd

RAN WG SIDs approval expected in June 2025, CT WG SIDs tbd

• MT-2030 submission and normative work for 6G in 3GPP are expected to start from Release 21
• Requirements studies: SA1 SID approval expected in September 2024; RAN plenary SID see below
• Release 21 to produce 1st set of 3GPP 6G technical specifications, will be release for IMT-2030 submission before 2030
• Release 21 is expected to be delivered with a single drop (i.e., a single code freeze)

In addition:

6G and IMT-2030 Planning (Endorsed timeline: RP-240823; RAN perspective: RP-240790)

• First TSG-wide 6G workshop will be Monday-Tuesday of TSGs#107 in March 2025, followed by regular plenaries.
• RAN plenary study for 6G will be split into ITU-focused SI and general RAN SI.
• IMT-2030 discussion is expected in RAN from 09/24 to 12/24 (may involve ITU-R Ad Hoc and LS exchanges)
• RAN plenary SI Rel-20 focusing on ITU– IMT-2030 to be approved 12/24 and continue until 06/25
• RAN plenary SI Rel-20 focusing on 6G General to be approved 03/25 (after WS) and continue until 06/26
• Rel-20 5G Advanced 18 month assuming no delay of Rel-19
  • Stage-1 freeze : June 2025
  • Stage-2 freeze : June 2026 (>=80%); September 2026 (100%)
  • Stage-3 freeze : March 2027
• Rel-20 6G SI
  • SA1 6G SI completion: March 2026
  • SA2 6G SI completion: December 2026 or March 2027
  • RAN WGs: 21 months (RAN1 starts in 3Q/25 until 1Q/27; RAN2/3/4 start in 4Q/25 until 2Q/27)
  • CT WGs: at least 9 months (SI will start 9 months after approval of SA2 SI)
• Rel-21
  • Rel-21 timeline is to be decided no later than June 2026; ASN.1/OpenAPI freeze date is no earlier than March 2029