Apart from completing the ASN.1 for Rel-19, there was no major milestone at this meeting.

-      For Rel-20 6G, content for the WG SI was discussed and IMT-2030-related peak rate was discussed.

-      For Rel-20 5G Advanced, basket WIs and two Japan-centric non-basket spectrum-related WIs were approved.

-      For Rel-19, all exceptions were completed and ASN.1 was completed. Only the RAN4 work remains open.

Rel-19: Planning (ASN.1 completed; no more Stage 2, RAN2/3/4 core and Stage 3 exceptions; RAN4 target March 2026)

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 (no more exceptions by December 2025)

RAN1: frozen June 2025 without exceptions

RAN2/3/4 core functionality: frozen September 2025 with exceptions (no more exceptions by December 2025)

Stage 3: frozen September 2025 with exceptions (no more exceptions by December 2025)

ASN.1 and open APIs: frozen December 2025

RAN4: freezing target March 2026

Rel-19: TR 21.919 v0.1.0 Rel-19 description (RP-253784)

This is the first version of a full Rel-19 description, as created for every release when it is nearing completion.

Rel-19: Support of SIB1 repetition for TN (Endorsed WF: RP-253829)

The following was endorsed: 

SIB1 repetition is supported for TN, following the exact same implementation as for NTN.

- Update RAN1 UE features accordingly to align with the current specifications.

Rel-19: TR 22.850 Study on 3GPP AI/ML Consistency Alignment (Approved TR: SP-251698)

This study investigated ongoing AI/ML work in TSG CT, TSG RAN and TSG SA Working Groups, analysed AI/ML related activities in all working groups and investigated any potential misalignments and inconsistencies for AI/ML across 3GPP. The study confirms that AI/ML-related terminology across 3GPP WGs is broadly aligned at the conceptual level but shows differences in emphasis, scope, and granularity. Most variations are intentional and linked to domain requirements and the relevant specific use cases, rather than contradictions. The analysis of AI/ML terminology revealed that several AI/ML terms were overlapping across Working Groups. Unified definitions are proposed for adoption by WGs, and are documented in a CR to TR 21.905 in SP-251666.

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

Rel-19 NR

-      Core: Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for NR air interface 5

-      Core: NR base station (BS) RF requirement evolution for FR1/FR2 and testing

Rel-19 LTE

-      Perf.: LTE-based 5G Broadcast Phase 2

Rel-20 (5G) Planning (confirmation that CT SIDs will be approved in March, not earlier)

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 (no more exceptions in September 2025)

Stage 2 SIDs: approved June 2025

RAN1/2/3 work package: approved June 2025

RAN4 work package: approved 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): NR-NTN in terrestrial bands (moderator summary: RP-253859; agreed LSout: RP-253878; motivation docs: RP-253861; RP-253699; not approved WIs: RP-253700; RP-253609)

An Australian and an American operator proposed WIs to implement NR-NTN in terrestrial bands, in line with regulators' views. However, similar to the discussion at RAN#109 in Beijing, strong opposition came from European operators, Chinese companies and satellite companies. The most that could be agreed was an LS to ITU-R, asking for some sort of advice.

Rel-20 (5G): Two Japanese spectrum-related WIs approved (approved WIs: RP-253811; RP-253840)

Japanese operators proposed two spectrum-related WIs. Both were approved and apart from a handful of basket WIs, these were the only two approved WIs.

Rel-20 (5G): UE-side data collection and inter-vendor collaboration (endorsed moderator summary proposal: RP-253823; LSout: RP-253846; RP-253847; approved revised WID: RP-253340)

RAN will not pursue UE-side data collection in Rel-20 5G and come back on it for 6G and informed SA, SA2, SA5 accordingly:

Way forward agreements on inter-vendor collaboration 

- Remove RAN4 checkpoints and SA checkpoints

- From RAN perspective move forward with normative phase: both Direction A (3a-1, 4-1) with non-OTA solution and Direction C.

- Indicate to SA the intention to move forward and ask SA to kindly decide on the best way forward and down selection between SA5 and SA2 options.

- This does NOT imply that all three options will be done in 6G 

Way forward agreement on UE sided data collection:

1. To avoid parallel work in 5G and 6G, no normative work in Rel-20 for UE side data collection.  Focus data collection framework work on 6G, and use the lesson learned across all the WGs to design something for 6G.

2. From RAN perspective, we see value for SA2/SA5 and SA3 to complete/finalize their study so we can use lessons learned in 6G.

3. The fact that 5G didn’t have normative phase does not preclude standardized solutions in 6G.

Note: SA plenary subsequently decided not to progress the work in SA WGs, as it was seen as a likely waste of time.

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

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN4

Not spectrum-related

-      <None>

Spectrum-related (non-basket WIs)

-      RP-253811 WI: Introduction of a new band for 1.5GHz Japanese allocation

-      RP-253840 WI: Introduction of EESS protection and PC1 for 40GHz

Spectrum-related (basket WIs)

-      RP-253855 WI: Addition of channel bandwidths and power classes to existing NR bands and CA/DC combinations

-      RP-253833 WI: Additional NR and LTE band combinations for features in Rel-20

-      RP-253842 WI: Rel-20 Dual connectivity (DC) of x LTE band(s), y NR band(s) (1<=x<6, 1<=y<6, x+y<=6) and single or two NR Supplementary Uplink (SUL) bands

-      RP-253850 WI: Additional NR bands for NR features in Rel-20

-      RP-253841 WI: Rel Introduction of the higher power classes, 3MHz channel bandwidth and eRedCap for the existing NR/IoT NTN bands

-      RP-253849 WI: Rel-20 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

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN4

Not spectrum-related

-      <None>

Spectrum-related (non-basket WIs)

-      <None>

Spectrum-related (basket WIs)

-      RP-253814 WI: Basket WI on Rel-20 LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation for x bands (1<=x<= 6) DL with y bands (y=1, 2)

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

SA1

-      <None>

SA2

-      SP-251692 SI: Study on IMS Architecture Enhancement

-      SP-251669 WI: Core Network Enhanced Support for Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) Phase 2

-      SP-251670 WI: Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving Phase 2

-      SP-251703 WI:  Integration of satellite components in the 5G architecture Phase 4

SA3

-      SP-251658 SI: Study on enhanced security management service for security configuration provisioning

-      SP-251672 WI: Security Assurance Specification (SCAS) for the CAPIF Core Function

SA4

-      SP-251659 SI: Study on evaluation of QUIC-based protocols for on-demand and live video services (FS_QStream-MED)

-      SP-251660 SI: Study on IMS Data Channel Enhancements

-      SP-251661 SI: Study on QUIC-based media delivery for real-time communication (FS_Q4RTC-MED)

-      SP-251662 SI: Study on image formats

-      SP-251663 SI: Study on Avatar communication Phase 2

-      SP-251352 WI: Terminal Audio quality performance and Test methods

SA5

-      SP-251664 SI: Study on Charging Aspects of satellite access phase 4

-      SP-251665 SI: Study on 5GA Charging Aspects of integrated sensing and communications

-      SP-251668 SI: Study on Management aspects of Integrated Sensing and Communication

-      SP-251675 WI: Management for Security related Events Handling

-      SP-251695 WI: Charging enhancements of next generation real time communication services phase 2

-      SP-251697 WI: Life Cycle Management (LCM) of NF Deployment

SA6

-      SP-251457 WI: SEAL data delivery Phase 3

-      SP-251685 WI: Application enablement for AI/ML service Phase 2

-      SP-251696 WI: Application enabler for XR Services Phase 3

Rel-20 (6G) Planning (RAN WGs started work; remaining SA WG SIDs approved and  freezing targets set)

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 started in 3Q/25 until 1Q/27; RAN2/3/4 started in 4Q/25 until 2Q/27

SA3 and SA5-CH SID: approved at September 2025 (TSG 109)

SA3_LI, SA4, SA5_OAM and SA6 SID: approved at December 2025 (TSG 110)

Stage 1 (study): freezing target: March 2026

CT WG SIDs approval: March 2026 

SA2 (study) freezing target: December 2026 or March 2027

SA6 (study) freezing target: March 2027

SA4 (study) freezing target: March 2027

SA5_CH (study) freezing target: March 2027

SA3 (study) freezing target: June 2027

SA5_OAM (study) freezing target: June 2027

SA3_LI (study) freezing target: December 2027

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

Rel-20 (6G): Study on 6G scenarios and requirements (Agreed TR: RP-253750)

The agreed TR 38.914 v0.3.0 implements all approved pCRs at RAN#110 meeting.

Rel-20 (6G): Moderators' reports Study on 6G scenarios and requirements

The following moderators' reports summarise the discussion at RAN#110 meeting:

Note: pCRs are not mentioned here, as they have all been implemented in the above-mentioned agreed TR 38.914 v0.3.0.

-      RP-253802 Deployment scenarios

-      RP-253852 Key performance indicators

-      RP-253872 Operational requirements: spectrum

-      RP-253856 Operational requirements: diverse device types

-      RP-253871 Requirements of new and existing services

-      RP-253782 Key technical principles

Rel-20 (6G): Study on 6G radio (approved revised SID: RP-253876)

The result of the controversial discussion of the 6GR peak data rate was as follows:

-      RP-253867 6GR peak data rate
The minimum requirements for 6GR peak data rate are as follows:
– Downlink peak data rate is 36 Gbps.
– Uplink peak data rate is 18 Gbps.
Note: The above peak data rate assumes 600 MHz aggregated BW
Note: the actual peak data rate depends on actual spectrum allocation for each MNO

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

-      <None>

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

SA1

-      <None>

SA2

-      <None>

SA3

-      SP-251651 SI: Study on Lawful Interception Rel-20

SA4

-      SP-251652 SI: Study on Media Aspects for 6G System

SA5

-      SP-251653 SI: Study on 6G Management and Orchestration

SA6

-      SP-251688 SI: Study on 6G Application Enablement

Rel-21: Timeline discussion to take place at RAN#111 (Tdocs: RP-253769)

A joint session will be organized at TSG#111 (March 2026) for companies to share their views on Rel-21 timeline. The TSG Chairs will provide a joint input paper outlining the proposed Rel-21 timeline. 

Further details on joint session will be provided as part of TSG#111 meeting agenda. 

Some Rel-21 dates (e.g., Stage-1 Rel-21 freeze date) may be tentatively agreed at TSG#111.

Final approval of the Rel-21 timeline is targeted for TSG#112 (June 2026).

Approved Rel-21 Work Items and Study Items RAN

-      <None>

Approved Rel-21 Work Items and Study Items SA

SA1

-      SP-251655 SI: Feasibility Study on 5G Requirements Simplification for 6G