RAN took 4.5 days (with more than 1000 documents); SA took 3.5 days.

Rel-19

-      RAN: RAN1 work was completed and only one new band-related WI was approved.

-      SA/CT: Stage 2 still has three remaining exceptions. A small number of SA3 and SA4 WIs were approved.

Rel-20 (5G)

-      RAN: A work package of RAN1/2/3 WIs and SIs was approved and RAN4 discussions were continued.

-      SA/CT: Stage 1 was frozen with one exception and the content of SA2 work was approved.

Rel-20 (6G)

-      RAN: IMT-2030-related TPRs were discussed (including sending an LS reply to ITU-R) and a Study Item for the RAN WGs was approved.

-      SA/CT: The content of the SA2 Study Item was approved.

Rel-19: Planning (Three remaining Stage 2 exceptions; RAN1 frozen without exceptions)

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: frozen December 2024 with exceptions (remaining by June 2025: Core Network Enhanced Support for Artificial Intelligence (AIML_CN), Next Generation Real time Communication services (NG_RTC), Ambient IoT)

RAN1: frozen June 2025 without exceptions

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

 

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

Rel-19 NR

-      SI: Study on channel modelling enhancements for 7-24GHz for NR

-      SI: Study on channel modelling for Integrated Sensing And Communication (ISAC) for NR

-      SI: Study on NR FR1 DL fragmented carriers

-      Perf.: Introduction of A-GNSS support for NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) L1 SPS (Standard Positioning Service) in NR & LTE

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

-      Core: NR Sidelink: Intra-band Carrier Aggregation in ITS band

 

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

RAN

-      RP-250999 NR Sidelink: Intra-band Carrier Aggregation in ITS band

SA

-      <None>

 

Rel-19 NR: AI/ML for NR air interface (Endorsed WF: RP-251823)

For Rel-19, a UE can report support for N (up to 2) AI/ML PU pools for AI/ML features. For each of the N AI/ML PU pools, UE reports the maximum number of simultaneous AI/ML PUs, respectively. If N = 2, for each AI/ML use case feature, UE reports which AI/ML PU pool it belongs to.

 

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

-      <None>

 

Approved Rel-19 Work Items and Study Items SA

SA1

-      <None>

 

SA2

-      <None>

SA3

-      SP-250813 SI: Lawful Interception Rel-19

-      SP-250815 WI: Roaming and interconnect authorization aspects in indirect communication

-      SP-250655 WI: Public key distribution and Issuer claim verification of the Access Token

SA4

-      SP-250632 WI: Media Messaging Enhancements (MeME-MED)

SA5

-      <None>

SA6

-      <None>

Rel-20 (5G) Planning (SA2 and RAN Rel-20 5G work packages approved; Stage 1 frozen with 1 exception)

Stage 1 SIDs: approved June 2024

RAN Workshop: took place in December 2024

SA Workshop: took place in December 2024

Stage 1: frozen June 2025 with 1 exception (FRMCS_Ph6-REQ)

Stage 2 SIDs: approved June 2025

RAN1/2/3 work package: approved 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

 

Approved Rel-20 Stage 1 Exceptions

-      SP-250746 Future Railway Mobile Communication System (FRMCS_Ph6-REQ)

 

Rel-20 (5G): 5GAdvanced content (Endorsed Moderator summaries RP-251796, RP-251854; Endorsed RAN4 Chair summary: RP-251879)

The RAN1/2/3 Rel-20 5GAdvanced content was approved in the following WIs and SIs. For scopes, see further below.

NR RAN1-led:

RP-251870 WI: AI/ML for NR air interface enhancements (summary RP-251822)

RP-251856 WI: NR MIMO Phase 6 (summary RP-251787)

RP-251884 SI: Study on enhancements for solutions for Ambient IoT in NR outdoor for active device (summary RP-251877)

RP-251885 WI: Solutions for Ambient IoT in NR Phase 2 (summary RP-251877)

RP-251861 SI: Study on Integrated Sensing And Communication (ISAC) for NR (summary RP-251824)

RP-251862 WI: Coverage enhancements for NR Phase 3 (summary RP-251827)

RP-251863 SI: Study on GNSS resilient NR-NTN operation (summary RP-251829)

(according to endorsed moderator summary RP-251854, for SBFD the Rel-19 WID was updated and for NES, RAN2 may consider TEI19 or TEI20 to cover UE recommended Cell DTX/DRX via UAI for RRC connected UEs)

NR RAN2-led:

RP-251864 WI: AI/ML for mobility in NR (summary RP-251792)

RP-251865 WI: NR mobility enhancements Phase 5 (summary RP-251794)

RP-251866 WI: NR XR Phase 4 (summary RP-251834)

(according to endorsed moderator summary RP-251796, RAN2 may consider TEI19 or TEI20 for UAV enhancements)

NR RAN3-led:

RP-251868 SI: Study on AI/ML for NG-RAN Phase 3 (summary RP-251797)

RP-251869 WI: Data collection for SON/MDT in NR Phase 5 (summary RP-251799)

(no consensus on other topics)

LTE RAN2-led:

RP-251867 WI: NTN for IoT Phase 4 (summary RP-251832)

RP-251878 WI: E-UTRA TN to NR NTN handover enhancements (summary RP-251829)

In addition, the RAN4-related discussion led to an endorsed summary that will be the basis for September discussion.

 

Approved Rel-20 5G Work Items and Study Items RAN (excluding spectrum-related; excluding conformance testing)

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN1

-      RP-251870 WI: Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for NR air interface enhancements
Keywords: AI/ML framework for two sided AI/ML models; CSI feedback enhancement; Inter-vendor training collaboration for two-sided AI/ML models; Data collection; Interoperability and RRM requirement

-      RP-251856 WI: NR MIMO Phase 6
Keywords: (1) Enhancing UL capacity and coverage: SRS; (2) Enhancing DL CSI acquisition, targeting FR1: Early SRS/CSI/CSI-RS triggering; CSI-RS density fully reusing legacy CSI-RS RE mapping per RB for CDM group generation.

-      RP-251884 SI: Study on enhancements for solutions for Ambient IoT (Internet of Things) in NR outdoor for active device
Keywords: Study necessary and feasible changes to support A-IoT in outdoor scenarios: (1) Deployment scenario 4 with topology 1 with no external carrier wave; (2) Traffic types DO-DTT, DT, DO-A; (3) Representative use cases rUC5 (outdoor inventory), rUC6 (outdoor sensor), and rUC8 (outdoor command); (4) FR1 licensed spectrum in FDD in-band to NR and in standalone bands, with R2D in DL spectrum and D2R in UL spectrum.

-      RP-251885 WI: Solutions for Ambient IoT (Internet of Things) in NR Phase 2
Keywords: (1) Specify necessary support for active Device(s) in indoor scenarios; (2) Specify support for Deployment Scenario 2 with Topology 2 with intermediate UE as Reader; (3) Specify device (un)availability via Direction 2.

-      RP-251861 SI: Study on Integrated Sensing And Communication (ISAC) for NR
Keywords: (1) Evaluate the performance of gNB-based mono-static sensing (i.e., single TRP with co-located sensing transmitter and receiver) for UAV use case; (2) Study the procedures, signalling between RAN and CN to support ISAC; (3) Study network architecture for gNB-based mono-static sensing for UAV sensing target use cases.

-      RP-251862 WI: Coverage enhancements for NR Phase 3
Keywords: (1) Specify following PRACH coverage enhancements; (2) Specify enhancements to support PUSCH repetition scheduled by DCI 0_0 with C-RNTI; (3) Specify enhancements to improve PUSCH coverage for higher uplink data rate by extending pi/2-BPSK to more MCS entries in MCS tables; (4) Specify base station demodulation performance requirements and conformance testing.

-      RP-251863 SI: Study on GNSS resilient NR-NTN operation
Keywords: Assess impact on initial access and connected mode procedures for NR-NTN, including potential implications if any on RAN4 RRM specifications

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN2

-      RP-251864 WI: Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for mobility in NR
Keywords: (1) Specify support for RRM measurement prediction for both UE and network sided models; (2) Specify support for measurement event prediction for UE sided models; (3) For both RRM measurement prediction and measurement event prediction, specify signalling and protocol aspects to enable LCM functionality management for UE sided model; (4) For RRM measurement prediction, specify signalling and protocol aspects to enable LCM functionality management for network sided model.

-      RP-251865 WI: NR mobility enhancements Phase 5
Keywords: (1) LTM SCell activation improvements for further reducing interruption delays; (2) Dynamic L1 measurement and reporting configuration change.

-      RP-251866 WI: NR XR Phase 4
Keywords: (1) Study the transmission characteristics of mobile AI traffic and specify (if justified) potential enhancements (e.g., mobile AI awareness, PDU set for mobile AI data), for uplink mobile AI traffic by taking into account transmission characteristics of uplink mobile AI traffic; (2) Specify coordination between gNB and CN to enable/disable N3 interface delay measurement from CN to gNB, for better latency guarantee.

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN3

-      RP-251868 SI: Study on Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for NG-RAN Phase 3
Keywords: Study the AI/ML-based mobility use case: (1) Multi-hop UE trajectory across gNBs; (2) Intra-CU LTM; (3) Handover enhancements.

-      RP-251869 WI: Data collection for SON (Self-Organising Networks)/MDT (Minimization of Drive Tests) in NR Phase 5
Keywords: MRO enhancement for R19 mobility mechanisms, including inter-CU LTM and intra-CU conditional LTM.

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN4

-      <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN1

-      <None>

 

 

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN2

-      RP-251867 WI: Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) for Internet of Things(IoT) Phase 4
Keywords: (1) Down-select between CP and UP solutions for voice support over NB-IoT-NTN; (2) Support of semi-persistent scheduling for NB-IoT-NTN for DL and UL data transmission for voice packets; (3) Support of necessary modifications to RRC connection setup procedure for NB-IoT-NTN; (4) Support of necessary modifications for emergency call for voice over NB-IoT-NTN; (5) Study and if feasible, specify UE transmit power higher than PC1 (e.g. up to 37dBm) for NB-IoT-NTN.

-      RP-251878 WI: E-UTRA TN to NR NTN handover enhancements
Keywords: (1) Specify necessary enhancements on inter-RAT measurements to support E-UTRA TN to NR NTN handover in RRC connected mode; (2) Specify necessary RRM requirements for mobility scenario of "E-UTRA TN to NR NTN" in CONNECTED mode.

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN3

-      <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN4

-      <None>

 

Approved Rel-20 5G Work Items and Study Items SA

SA1

-      SP-250627 WI: CPAS specific requirement (already completed)

SA2

-      SP-250834 SI: Study on Architecture support of Ambient power-enabled Internet of Things - Phase 2

-      SP-250855 SI: Study on system architecture for next generation real time communication services phase 3

-      SP-250837 SI: Study on Short Message Service to Emergency Response Centre

-      SP-250854 WI: MPS Enhancements for IoT

-      SP-250838 WI: Indirect Network Sharing phase2

-      SP-250839 WI: ProSe Phase 4

SA3

-      SP-250858 SI: Study on Preparing for Transition to Post Quantum Cryptography in 3GPP

-      SP-250653 WI: Mission Critical security for Release 20

-      SP-250876 WI: Security related Events Handling

-      SP-250877 WI: Security Assurance Specification for 5G-Advanced

SA4

-      SP-250636 SI: Study on Media Energy Consumption Exposure and Evaluation Framework phase 2

-      SP-250878 WI: AI/ML for IMS services

SA5

-      SP-250860 SI: Study on Energy efficiency and energy saving aspects of 5G Advanced

-      SP-250861 SI: Study on Intent driven management services for mobile network phase 4

-      SP-250862 SI: Study on Management Data Analytics (MDA) - Phase 4

-      SP-250863 SI: Study on SBMA enhancement phase 4

-      SP-250864 SI: Study on Enhanced exposure of management services

-      SP-250865 SI: Study for Data management phase 3

-      SP-250866 SI: Study on Management aspect of Network Digital Twins phase 2

-      SP-250867 SI: Study on AI/ML management enhancements

-      SP-250868 SI: Study on Closed Control Loop Management -Ph2

-      SP-250869 SI: Study on Charging Aspects of CAPIF Phase 3

-      SP-250879 WI: 5G performance measurements&KPIs and Trace&MDT&QoE

-      SP-250880 WI: OAM for Extended Reality and Media service (XRM) Phase 2

-      SP-250881 WI: Enhancement of Management Aspects related to NWDAF Phase 3

-      SP-250882 WI: 5G Advanced NRM features phase 4

SA6

-      SP-250870 SI: Study on Application enablement for Ambient IoT services

-      SP-250871 SI: Study on Application enablement to support Energy Saving

-      SP-250872 SI: Study on Application user consent

-      SP-250873 SI: Study on CAPIF Phase 4

-      SP-250874 SI: Study on Enhancements to application enablement for satellite access enabled 5G services

-      SP-250875 SI: Study on Utilization of Sensing Results for Vertical Applications

-      SP-250883 SI: Study on Guidelines for Application Enablement usage and alignment with External Organizations

 

Rel-20 (6G) Planning (SA2 and RAN 6G RAN WGs SIs approved)

Stage 1 SID: approved at September 2024 (TSG 105)

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

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

RAN plenary SI Rel-20 focusing on 6G General: approved at March 2025, until 06/26

SA2 and RAN WGs SID: approved at 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): Modernization of Specification Format and Procedures for 6G (RAN: RP-251810; Approved SI: SP-250802)

RAN, CT and SA have approved a new study, formally as an SA Study Item, to investigate modern tools such as ETSI Forge tools, MD/MSC/JSON tools, Gitlab, and/or Markdown. Dedicated email reflector: 3GPP_Spec_Modernisation@list.etsi.org

 

Rel-20 (6G): O-RAN collaboration (Noted WF: RP-251876; Approved LSout: SP-250831)

3GPP and O-RAN held a Workshop in April to discuss how to cooperate in 6G. There is a general understanding how this could look like, but companies have different views on specific topics, such as the 6G fronthaul interface and discussions will continue.

 

Rel-20 (6G): 6G Study (Reply LS to ITU-R on TPRs: RP-251825, RP-251814; Agreed TR: RP-251873)

RAN agreed on values for part of the Technical Performance Requirements TPRs and communicated them to ITU-R WP5D. It is expected that in future, RAN will follow up with additional or more precise values for TPRs. RAN populated TR 38.914 with the first approved Text Proposals.

 

Rel-20 (6G): 6G Study for RAN WGs (Approved SI: RP-251881)

In addition to the existing RAN plenary-level study, RAN approved another 6G SI for the RAN WGs. For the scope, see below.

 

Approved Rel-20 6G Work Items and Study Items RAN (excluding spectrum-related; excluding conformance testing)

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN1

-      RP-251881 SI: Study on 6G Radio
Keywords: (1) Single technology framework based on a stand-alone architecture; (2) Physical Layer structure for 6GR; (3) Radio interface protocol architecture and procedures for 6GR; (4) Mobility for 6GR (for all RRC states), including related RRM; (5) 6GR core and performance requirements; (6) Radio Access Network architecture, interface protocols and procedures considering support of various services and functionalities (e.g. AI/ML, sensing, etc); (7) Migration from 5G NR to 6GR as well as interworking and mobility between 5G NR and 6GR; (8) AI/ML for 6GR and Radio Access Network, leveraging 5G AI/ML framework, as appropriate; (9) Sensing – Studies to be based on use cases and associated requirements.

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN2

-      <None>

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN3

-      <None>

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN4

-      <None>

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

-      <None>

 

Approved Rel-20 6G Work Items and Study Items SA

SA1

-      <None>

SA2

-      SP-250806 SI: Study on Architecture for 6G System

SA3

-      <None>

SA4

-      <None>

SA5

-      <None>

SA6

-      <None>