General
The only milestone at this meeting was for Stage 2 work to be 80% complete. Normative work is 75% complete but including studies the level of completion is 87%.

• For Rel-19, the RAN4 performance work for AI/ML for air interface was still not completed. SA approved TR 21.919, which gives a full description of the content of Rel-19.
• For Rel-20 5G Advanced, SA approved a large number of new WIs for SA3 and SA5, a few WIs for SA4 and SA6 and two SIs for SA5. RAN approved new Work Items based on completed Study Items for GNSS resilient NR-NTN operation and ISAC for NR. RAN also approved a new Work Item for RAN4 on Extended guard band for NR NTN and IoT NTN and two spectrum-related Work Items. The discussion in RAN on TN-NTN again did not come to any conclusion.
• For Rel-20 6G, SA approved an SA6 Study on capability exposure. RAN completed the Study Item on Scenarios and Requirements and reviewed the checkpoints for the Study Item on Radio.
• For Rel-21, target dates for 5GA/6G work package approval, Stage 2, Stage 3 and ASN.1/OpenAPI freeze were set and SA approved an SA1 Study on additional capabilities for emergency communications.

Rel-19: Planning (RAN4 performance work on AI/ML for air interface has still not 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: 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: All performance WIs completed March 2025 except AI/ML for NR air interface
 

Rel-19: TR 21.919 v2.1.0 Rel-19 description (RP-261487; slide version: RP-261488)

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

Rel-20 (5G) Planning (Stage 2 at 75% (normative) or 87% (including studies))
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: approved March 2026
Stage 2: normative work at 75% (87% including studies) in June 2026 (target 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: completion target June 2027
 

Rel-20 (5G): NR-NTN in terrestrial bands (noted moderator summary: RP-261569)
Australian, North American and Japanese operators again proposed WIs to implement NR-NTN in terrestrial bands, with explicit support from Australian, Canadian and US regulators. However, similar to the discussions at RAN#109 in Beijing, RAN#110 in Baltimore and RAN#111 in Fukuoka, strong opposition came from European operators, Chinese companies and satellite companies. It was even impossible to agree on putting inputs on regulatory status into a report, so nothing was agreed

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

Rel-20 NR

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

-      SI: Study on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) resilient NR-NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) operation

Rel-20 (5G) Work Item Summaries (descriptions of features in the release after the work has actually finished)

SA

-      SP-260616 Media aspects for AI/ML in IMS services (AIML_IMS-MED)

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

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN1

-      RP-261568 WI: GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) resilient NR-NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) operation

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN3

-      RP-261566 WI: Integrated Sensing And Communication (ISAC) for NR

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN4

Not spectrum-related

-      RP-261532 WI: Extended guard band for NR NTN and IoT NTN

Spectrum-related (non-basket WIs)

-      RP-261570 WI: Introduction of a new NR FDD band for the US 1900 MHz allocation

Spectrum-related (basket WIs)

-      <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN4

Not spectrum-related

-      <None>

Spectrum-related (non-basket WIs)

-      RP-261571 WI: Introduction of a new LTE FDD band for the US 1900 MHz allocation

Spectrum-related (basket WIs)

-      <None>

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

SA1

-      <None>

SA2

-      <None>

SA3

-      SP-260658 WI: 5G Security Assurance Specification (SCAS) for the Container-based Produc

-      SP-260659 WI: Security for AIMLE Service aspects

-      SP-260660 WI: Security for a PLMN Hosting a Non-Public Network (NPN) Phase 2

-      SP-260661 WI: Security aspect of NSSAA in EPS

-      SP-260662 WI: Security for CAPIF Phase 4

-      SP-260663 WI: Post-quantum Cryptography Migration

-      SP-260664 WI: Withdrawal of Rel-18 and Rel-19 Specification of 256bit Cryptographic Algorithm ScHemes

-      SP-260665 WI: Security Aspect for Ambient power-enabled Internet of Things-Phase 2

-      SP-260666 WI: Security support for the Next Generation Real Time Communication services Phase 3

-      SP-260667 WI: Removal of Duplicated Content in the 256-bit Integrity and Confidentiality Algorithm Specifications

-      SP-260668 WI: Security Aspects of 5G Satellite Access Phase 4

-      SP-260669 WI: Security Aspects of WAB nodes for NR

SA4

-      SP-260673 WI: System architecture for application energy consumption information collection and reporting - Stage 2

-      SP-260674 WI: Architectural Updates for Advanced Media Delivery Phase 2

-      SP-260696 WI: Ultra Low Bitrate Speech Codec for Voice over GEO
(NOTE: The discussion on this WI brought up questions related to 3GPP involvement and legal requirements related to the dataset needed to train the AI model specific to 3GPP work; this will be discussed in parallel involving PCG, legal experts, etc.)

SA5

-      SP-260656 SI: Charging enhancements of Ambient power-enabled Internet of Things

-      SP-260657 SI: Study on the charging aspects related to NWDAF in 5GS

-      SP-260675 WI: Service Based Management Architecture (SBMA) Phase 4

-      SP-260676 WI: Rel-20 WI: management enhancements related to NR MIMO

-      SP-260677 WI: Exposure of management services - Phase 2

-      SP-260678 WI: Data management phase 3

-      SP-260460 WI: AI/ML management phase 3

-      SP-260680 WI: Energy related information for charging

-      SP-260681 WI: Charging Aspects of MINT - Phase 2

-      SP-260682 WI: 5GA roaming charging reliability - Phase 2

-      SP-260683 WI: Charging Aspects on Indirect Network Sharing phase 2

-      SP-260684 WI: Charging aspects of User Plane Media Distribution

SA6

-      SP-260685 WI: Application enablement for satellite access enabled 5G services Phase 4

Rel-20 (6G) Planning (RAN plenary SI completed; CT SIDs 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 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): frozen March 2026

RAN plenary SI Rel-20: completed at June 2026

CT WG SIDs: approved at June 2026

SA2 (study) freezing target: 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): 6G Progress Summary in 3GPP SA (noted SA Vice-Chair report: SP-260703)

This is a new type of summary on 6G progress (Rel-20 and Rel-21) in SA, extracted from the SA WG Reports. It is intended to be developed to have more granularity and include some RAN dependency aspects for future meetings.

Rel-20 (6G): Study on 6G scenarios and requirements (SR: RP-261223; Approved TR 38.914: RP-261565)

The study was completed. The approved TR 38.914 v2.0.0 implements all approved pCRs at RAN#112 meeting.

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

The following moderators' reports summarise the discussion at RAN#112 meeting:

All pCRs mentioned here have been implemented in the above-mentioned agreed TR 38.914 v2.0.0.

-      Deployment scenarios (no moderated offline discussion this plenary) (pCR: RP-261528)

-      RP-261543 Key performance indicators (pCR: RP-261496)

-      RP-261561 Requirements for architecture and migration (pCR: RP-261562)

-      RP-261544 Operational requirements: diverse device types (pCR: RP-261498)

-      RP-261545 Requirements of new and existing services (pCR: RP-261546)

-      RP-261526 Testing and conformance requirements (pCR: RP-261495)

Rel-20 (6G): Study on 6G radio (SR: RP-261157; approved revised SID: RP-261559)

Positioning was added to the objective. Moderated discussions were held on positioning, channel coding and modulation. RAN decided that RAN1 will not be involved in 6G positioning during the 6G study phase, that RAN2 will reuse LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) and that for NG-RAN, RAN2 and RAN3 share the responsibility for the 6G RAN positioning architecture, coordinating with SA2 as needed.

Rel-20 (6G): Study on 6G radio - Channel coding (endorsed moderator's summary: RP-261556)

RAN established a framework for Low-Density Parity-Check (LDPC) extensions and supported a new Base Graph (BG3) designed for data rates beyond current 5G NR limits.

Rel-20 (6G): Study on 6G radio - RAN-CN interface (RAN3 Chair input: RP-261167)

A joint session of RAN/SA/CT discussed RAN-CN interface. The following conclusions were reached:

• "Checkpoint in December 2026 for RAN-CN other than connectivity services"
• "Interface naming will be further discussed until TSG #113 to decide there (WGs will then be informed)"

Rel-20 (6G): Study on 6G radio-Modulation (noted moderator's summary: RP-261501)

The most controversial discussion during this meeting on geometric vs. probabilistic shaping was not resolved:

Stop study (16 companies)

Downselect now (19 companies)

Study PS and GS for another quarter (36 companies)

The issue was sent back to RAN1, which has to resolve it by September. If no agreement, neither GS nor PS will be adopted.

Rel-20 (6G): Study on 6G radio - High Level Split (disc: RP-261322)

The following was endorsed:

6G RAN Architecture shall support HLS Architecture to enable smooth migration from 5G to 6G Split Architecture.

6G HLS shall support both CU-DU, CU-CP & CU-UP separation and standardized open interfaces to support inter-operability

RAN tasks RAN3 to make decision on 6G HLS by Q3/26: Whether to support 5G HLS for 6G or introduce optimizations for HLS.

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

Rel-20 6G

-      SI: Study on 6G Scenarios and Requirements

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

-      <None>

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

SA6

-      SP-260690 SI: Study on 3GPP Capability Exposure

Rel-21 Planning (Work package approval date, Stage 2 freeze, Stage 3 freeze and ASN.1/OpenAPI freeze dates decided)

5G-A/6G Package Approval: March 2027

Stage 1: freezing target: March 2027.

Stage 2 80% completion checkpoint: March 2028

Stage 2 freeze : June 2028 (100%)

Stage-3 freeze : December 2028

ASN.1/OpenAPI freeze: March 2029

Rel-21: Timeline discussion (endorsed TSG Chairs input: RP-260868)

A joint session of RAN/SA/CT discussed the Rel-21 timeline based on inputs from the TSG Chairs (other contributions were not treated). The chair' s proposal was endorsed.

Rel-21: RAN2/SA3 security coordination (endorsed RAN2/SA3 Chairs input: RP-261456)

A joint session of RAN/SA/CT discussed RAN2/SA3 security coordination. The following was endorsed:

Next Steps - December Checkpoints

• RAN2 and SA3 to continue to work together by exchanging questions and feedback on risk analysis and solutions.

• Check Point#1: MAC CE Security
  • SA3 to provide guidance and requirement based on risk analysis (which information exchange requires security) and some possible security solution design directions based on close interaction with RAN2.
  • RAN2 continues discussions on how the SA3 security requirements would be met in RAN2 protocols taking into account RAN plenary guidance. 
• Check Point#2: MAC-I Size
  • SA3 to conclude on the MAC-I size (specifically whether it is fixed for all packets or dynamic), enabling RAN2 to design the UP headers accordingly.
  • NOTE: From RAN2 perspective, it is important that the MAC-I length is not variable in PDCP PDU format. 
• Check Point#3: Supported Algorithms for AS security,
  • SA3 to conclude on the support of 128-bit and/or 256-bit algorithms.
• NOTE: SA3 will provide progress report at TSG#113(Sep 2026)

Rel-21: 6G Progress Summary in 3GPP SA (noted SA Vice-Chair report: SP-260703)

This is a new type of summary on 6G progress (Rel-20 and Rel-21) in SA, extracted from the SA WG Reports. It is intended to be developed to have more granularity and include some RAN dependency aspects for future meetings.

Approved Rel-21 Work Items and Study Items RAN

-      <None>

Approved Rel-21 Work Items and Study Items SA

SA1

-      SP-260654 SI: Study on additional capabilities for emergency communications