Summary Report from 3GPP plenaries (mainly RAN) #102 (Edinburgh, UK, 11 - 15 December 2023)

The RAN#102 plenary covered a record 1380 documents, roughly half of which related to Rel-19.

Since there was 100% time overlap between RAN and SA, this report covers mostly the status in RAN only.

Rel-18

- For Rel-18, most RAN1/2/3 core WIs and SIs were finished and closed and exceptions approved for the rest and for RAN4.
Rel-18 was functionally frozen.

Rel-19

- For Rel-19, a work package for RAN1/2/3 was approved.

Rel-18 Planning and progress (RAN2/3/4 core functionality frozen)

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 (NR Positioning, NR mobility, NR NTN, RAN4 core work)

Stage 3: freezing target March 2024

ASN.1 and open APIs: freezing target June 2024 (review date March 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 self-evaluation towards the IMT-2020 submission of the 3GPP Satellite Radio Interface Technology

-     SI: Study on evolution of NR duplex operation

-     SI: Study on AI/ML for NR air interface

-     SI: Study on low-power wake-up signal and receiver for NR

-     SI: Study on NR frequency range 2 (FR2) Over-the-Air (OTA) testing enhancements

-     SI: Study on simplification of band combination specification for NR and LTE

-     Core: Enhancement of NR Dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS)

-     Core: Multi-carrier enhancements for NR

-     Core: Further NR coverage enhancements

-     Core: NR MIMO evolution for downlink and uplink

-     Core: NR sidelink evolution

-     Core: NR network-controlled repeaters

-     Core: Enhanced support of reduced capability NR devices

-     Core: Network energy savings for NR

-     Core: Mobile Terminated-Small Data Transmission (MT-SDT) for NR

-     Core: Dual Transmission Reception (TxRx) Multi-SIM for NR

-     Core: NR sidelink relay enhancements

-     Core: In-Device Co-existence (IDC) enhancements for NR and MR-DC

-     Core: NR Support for UAV (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles)

-     Core: Enhancements of NR Multicast and Broadcast Services

-     Core: XR (eXtended Reality) enhancements for NR

-     Core: Further enhancement of data collection for SONMDT in NR standalone and MR-DC

-     Core: Enhancement on NR QoE management and optimizations for diverse services

-     Core: Mobile IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) for NR

-     Core: Artificial Intelligence (AI)Machine Learning (ML) for NG-RAN

-     Core: NR Timing Resiliency and URLLC enhancements

-     Core: Network Slicing Phase 3 NR aspects

-     Core: Non-Public Networks Phase 2: NG-RAN aspects

-     Core: NR support for dedicated spectrum less than 5MHz for FR1

-     Core: Further RF requirements enhancement for NR and EN-DC in frequency range 1 (FR1)

-     Core: NR RF requirements enhancement for frequency range 2 (FR2), Phase 3

-     Core: Requirement for NR frequency range 2 (FR2) multi-Rx chain DL reception

-     Core: Even Further RRM enhancement for NR and MR-DC

-     Core: Further enhancements on NR and MR-DC measurement gaps and measurements without gaps

-     Core: BS/UE EMC enhancements for NR and LTE

-     Perf.: BS/UE EMC enhancements for NR and LTE

-     Core: Air-to-ground network for NR

-     Core: Support of intra-band non-collocated EN-DC NR-CA deployment

-     Core: NR demodulation performance evolution

-     Core: Enhancement of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Over-the-Air (OTA) requirement for NR UEs

-     Core: Enhancement of UE TRP and TRS requirements and test methodologies for FR1 (NR SA and EN-DC)

-     Core: Complete the specification support for BandWidth Part operation without restriction in NR

-     Core: NR channel raster enhancement

Rel-18 LTE

-     Core: IoT (Internet of Things) NTN (non-terrestrial network) enhancements

-     Core: Enhanced LTE Support for UAV (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles)

-     Core: Additional LTE bands for UE categories M1/M2/NB1/NB2

-     Perf.: Additional LTE bands for UE categories M1/M2/NB1/NB2

-     Core: Introduction of FDD LTE band (L+S band) for IoT NTN operation

 

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

-     RP-233808 Enhancement of NR Dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS)

-     RP-233547 Multi-carrier enhancements for NR

-     RP-233559 Further NR coverage enhancements

-     RP-232914 NR MIMO evolution for downlink and uplink

-     RP-233982 NR Sidelink Evolution

-     RP-232884 NR network-controlled repeaters

-     RP-233638 Enhanced support of reduced capability NR devices

-     RP-233657 Network energy savings for NR

-     RP-232943 Mobile Terminated-Small Data Transmission (MT-SDT) for NR

-     RP-233072 Dual Transmission Reception (TxRx) Multi-SIM for NR

-     RP-232973 NR Sidelink Relay Enhancements

-     RP-233486 In-Device Co-existence (IDC) enhancements for NR and MR-DC

-     RP-233387 NR Support for UAV (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles)

-     RP-232994 Enhancements of NR Multicast and Broadcast Services

-     RP-232988 XR Enhancements

-     RP-233439 Further enhancement of data collection for SON/MDT in NR standalone and MR-DC

-     RP-233604 Enhancement on NR QoE management and optimizations for diverse services

-     RP-233321 Mobile IAB for NR

-     RP-233442 Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for NG-RAN

-     RP-232865 NR Timing Resiliency and URLLC enhancements

-     RP-233947 Network Slicing Phase 3: NR aspects

-     RP-233568 Non-Public Networks Phase 2 NG-RAN aspects

-     RP-234062 NR support for dedicated spectrum less than 5MHz for FR1

-     RP-233188 Further RF requirements enhancement for NR and EN-DC in frequency range 1 (FR1)

-     RP-232792 NR RF requirements enhancement for frequency range 2 (FR2), Phase 3

-     RP-233926 Requirement for NR frequency range 2 (FR2) multi-Rx chain DL reception

-     RP-233495 Even Further RRM enhancement for NR and MR-DC

-     RP-233257 Further enhancements on NR and MR-DC measurement gaps and measurements without gaps

-     RP-233684 BS/UE EMC Enhancements for NR and LTE

-     RP-233444 Air-to-ground

-     RP-233585 NR demodulation performance evolution

-     RP-233743 Enhancement of MIMO OTA test methodology and requirements for NR UEs

-     RP-233074 Enhancement of UE TRP and TRS requirements and test methodologies for FR1 (NR SA and EN-DC)

-     RP-234000 Complete the specification support for BandWidth Part operation without restriction in NR

-     RP-234071 NR channel raster enhancement

-     RP-233308 Introduction of the satellite L-/S-band

-     RP-233798 Adding new NR FDD bands for RedCap (Reduced Capability)

-     RP-233713 Addition of FDD bands using the uplink from n28 and the downlink of n75 and n76

-     RP-232939 4Rx handheld UE for low NR bands (<1GHz) and/or 3Tx for NR inter-band UL CA and EN-DC

-     RP-233859 Enhancements of NR shared spectrum bands

-     RP-233261 IoT (Internet of Things) NTN (non-terrestrial network) enhancements

-     RP-233390 Enhanced LTE Support for UAV (Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles)

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

Rel-18 NR

-     RP-233383 Expanded and Improved NR Positioning

-     RP-233969 Further NR mobility enhancements

-     RP-233958 NR NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) enhancements

 

Rel-18 Exceptions (RAN4 Core part)

Rel-18 NR

-     RP-233199 Additional NR bands for UL-MIMO

-     RP-233243 Dual Connectivity (DC) of 1 band LTE (1DL/1UL) and 1 NR band (1DL/1UL)

-     RP-233193 Dual Connectivity (DC) of 2 bands LTE inter-band CA (2DL/1UL) and 1 NR band (1DL/1UL)

-     RP-233649 Dual Connectivity (DC) of x bands (x=3,4,5) LTE inter-band CA (xDL/1UL) and 1 NR band (1DL/1UL)

-     RP-233490 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-232924 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-233145 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-233223 NR intra band Carrier Aggregation for xCC DL/yCC UL including contiguous and non-contiguous spectrum (x>=y)

-     RP-232921 NR Inter-band Carrier Aggregation/Dual Connectivity for 2 bands DL with x bands UL (x=1,2)

-     RP-233233 NR Inter-band Carrier Aggregation/Dual Connectivity for 3 bands DL with x bands UL (x=1,2)

-     RP-233693 NR inter-band Carrier Aggregation/Dual Connectivity for y bands DL (y=4, 5, 6) with x bands UL (x=1, 2)

-     RP-233196 Band combinations for SA NR supplementary uplink (SUL), NSA NR SUL, NSA NR SUL with UL sharing from the UE perspective (ULSUP)

-     RP-233447 NR Carrier Aggregation (CA) band combinations with two SUL cells

-     RP-233179 High-power UE operation for fixed-wireless/vehicle-mounted use cases in LTE bands and NR bands

-     RP-233033 High power UE (power class 2) for NR FR1 FDD single band

-     RP-233205 High power UE (power class 1.5 or 2) for intra-band Carrier Aggregation combinations of a single NR FR1 TDD band

-     RP-233226 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-233563 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-233036 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-232953 Adding new channel bandwidth(s) support to existing NR bands

-     RP-233202 Simultaneous Rx/Tx band combinations for NR CA/DC, NR SUL and LTE/NR DC

-     RP-232942 Basket WI 3Tx NR inter-band UL Carrier Aggregation (CA) and EN-DC

-     RP-234003 4Rx for NR bands for FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) UEs (<2.6GHz) and handheld UEs (1GHz to 2.6GHz)

Rel-18 LTE

-     RP-233857 Introduction of the Extended L-band (UL 1668-1675MHz, DL 1518-1525MHz) for IoT NTN

-     RP-232947 High Power UE (Power Class 2) for LTE FDD Band 14

-     RP-233190 LTE Carrier Aggregation related basket WIs

 

Rel-18 NR: 6 GHz for LTE and NR in Licensed and Unlicensed Operations (SR: RP-234074; Approved pCR: RP-233995)

This was the only Rel-18 Study Item that was not finished, to be able to capture the WRC-23 results by next plenary. However, it will become a Rel-19 SI.

 

Rel-18 NR: IMT-2020 Satellite submission (LSout: RP-233981; TR: RP-233980)

3GPP submitted its proposal for satellite IMT-2020 to ITU-R WP4B.

 

Rel-18 NR: XR (eXtended Reality) enhancements for NR (Endorsed WF 2Rx XR: RP-234015)

1. RAN2/3 to develop signaling support for '2Rx non-REDCAP XR devices' in draft Rel-18 CRs for RAN#103:

-     A new dedicated UE capability indication per band and setting of corresponding existing UE capability(ies). [RAN2]

      Note: no need is foreseen to add an indication to Msg1 or Msg3.

-     Indication in SIB, to be used to re-direct to another frequency layer, or to bar the device altogether. [RAN2]

-     SPID indication from the Core Network to gNB. [RAN3]

-     N2-NGAP indication for '2Rx non-REDCAP XR devices' from gNB to Core Network to take action based on operator policy. [RAN3] 

2. RAN4 to develop Rel-18 draft CRs for '2Rx non-REDCAP XR devices' for RAN#103:

-     Capture definition of 2Rx non-REDCAP XR devices in [38.101-1] using the definition from RAN#101 (c.f. RP-232657)

-     Determine the feasibility of tightened 2Rx REFSENS requirements (in relation to existing 2Rx and 4Rx REFSENS) for the bands where 4Rx is mandatory and provide the feasible REFSENS values. RAN4 shall consider both conducted requirements as well as OTA considerations.

3. TSG-RAN#103 in March:

1)   Consider approving the draft CRs from RAN2, RAN3 and RAN4 for Rel-18 (as TEI18)

2)   Consider approving Rel-19 work to be conducted on detailed OTA work for '2Rx non-REDCAP XR devices'.

3)   Points 1) and 2) represent a package, each one is dependent on the other moving forward. 

Rel-19 Planning (Stage 1 normative work frozen; SA/CT work package approved; RAN1/2/3 work package approved)

RAN Workshop: took place in June 2023

SA Workshop: took place in June 2023

Stage 1: frozen December 2023 with 2 exceptions (Ambient power-enabled IoT; Timestamp for critical IoT Applications)

SA Stage 2 work package: approved December 2023

RAN1/2/3 work package: approved December 2023

RAN4 work package: planned to be 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 RAN/SA CT coordination (RAN answers to SA questions: RP-233986)

SA asked RAN questions for its own planning, on Ambient IoT, ISAC, AI/ML, Sidelink time synchronization and ProSe. RAN's response was that Ambient Iot device types are controversial and that there is no consensus on whether RAN has any requirements for SA to support AI/ML for air interface and NG-RAN in RAN.

 

Rel-19 RAN1/2/3 work package definition (Endorsed summary: RP-232745)

The following list of topics will be part of Rel-19. For individual WIs and SIs, see further down in this executive summary. Possible additional work or scope expansion will not be discussed before September 2024.

RAN R19 Package: RAN1-led Projects

WID/SID	Project	TU estimate
RP-234039	AI/ML - Air Interface	~4 TUs
RP-234007	NR-MIMO Evolution	~2.5 TUs in 1st half, ~2TUs in the 2nd half
RP-234035	Evolution of duplex operation	~2 TUs
RP-234058	Ambient IoT	~3.5 TUs (TUs budgeted for the entire release, target 12-month for SI completion, check in Dec'24 for conversion to WI or if necessary, continuation of SI)
RP-234065	Network energy savings	~2 TUs
RP-234056	Low power WUS/WUR	~1.5 TUs
RP-234069	ISAC	SI only, starting from 2Q'24, ~1 TU for 15 months. Focusing on channel model; check in Sept'24 for possibly additional study beyond channel model
RP-234018	Exploring study in new spectrum (7-24GHz)	SI only, starting from 2Q'24, ~1 TU for 15 months for channel model

 

RAN R19 Package: RAN2-led Projects

WID/SID	Project	TU estimate
RP-234036	Mobility Enhancements	~2 TUs
RP-234080	Enhancements for XR	~2 TUs
RP-234078	NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) evolution - NR	~2 TUs
RP-234077	NTN (Non-Terrestrial Networks) evolution - IoT	~1 TU
RP-234055	AI/ML for Air Interface (Mobility)	~2 TUs

 

RAN R19 Package: RAN3-led Projects

WID/SID	Project	TU estimate
RP-234054	AI/ML for NG-RAN	6 months SI, followed by 12-month WI, ~2 TUs
RP-234038	SON/MDT Enhancements	~1.5 TUs
RP-234041	Additional topological improvements	6 months SI, followed by 12-month WI,  ~2TUs for SI, and ~1.5TUs for WI

 

Rel-19 RAN4 work package (Summary RF/OTA: RP-233918; RRM: RP-233951; Both: RP-233920; Other: RP-233921)

The RAN4 Rel-19 package will be defined in March 2024. At this meeting only summaries of the discussion were shared. No spectrum topics were discussed at this plenary.

 

Rel-19 SA work package (Endorsed summary: SP-231760)

SA approved the following package of Rel-19 studies:

FS_5GSAT_ARCH_Ph3

FS_NG_RTC_Ph2

FS_XRM Ph2

FS_EnergySys

FS_MPS4msg

FS_VMR_Ph2

FS_5G_ProSe_Ph3

FS_eUUI5

FS_eEDGE_5GC_ph3

FS_UAS_Ph3

FS_UPEAS_Ph2

FS_5G_Femto

FS_INSS

FS_MASSS

FS_AmbientIoT

FS_AIML_CN

 

Rel-19 and beyond RAN4 Carrier Aggregation framework overhaul (Disc.: RP-233776)

Many companies acknowledged the problems with the existing handling of band combinations and that something needs to be done about it, before the start of 6G work.

 

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

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN1

-     RP-234039 WI: Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for NR Air Interface
Keywords: Provide specification support for the following aspects: (1) AI/ML general framework for one-sided AI/ML models within the realm of what has been studied in the FS_NR_AIML_Air project; (2) Beam management - DL Tx beam prediction for both UE-sided model and NW-sided model: (3) Positioning accuracy enhancements (Direct AI/ML positioning, AI/ML assisted positioning); (3) Core requirements for the above two use cases for AI/ML LCM procedures and UE features; (4) Study objectives with corresponding checkpoints in RAN#105 (Sept '24): (a) CSI feedback enhancement; (b) Necessity and details of model Identification concept and procedure in the context of LCM ; (c) CN/OAM/OTT collection of UE-sided model training data; (d)       Model transfer/delivery; (e) Testability and interoperability

-     RP-234007 WI: NR MIMO Phase 5
Keywords: Specify (1) Specify enhancement to facilitate UE-initiated/event-driven beam management for reducing overhead and/or latency, assuming the unified TCI while leveraging (as much as possible) legacy CSI measurement and reporting configuration frameworks, targeting FR2 and sTRP with intra- and inter-cell beam management; (2) CSI support for up to 128 CSI-RS ports, targeting FR1; (3) UE reporting enhancement for CJT deployments under non-ideal synchronization and backhaul, targeting FR1, both FDD and TDD; (4) Non-coherent UL codebook to facilitate 3-antenna-port codebook-based transmissions, without enhancement on UL full power transmission and without enhancement on SRS resource. Note: UL full power transmission mode 1 and 2 are not supported; (5) Enhancement for asymmetric DL sTRP/UL mTRP deployment scenarios, assuming intra-band intra-DU non-co-located mTRP scenarios, without changing existing cell definition or defining a new cell (e.g. UL-only cell), assuming the Rel-17/18 unified TCI framework and fully reusing the legacy QCL/UL spatial relation rules, targeting FR1 and FR2; (6) Plus RAN2 and RAN4 work.

-     RP-234035 WI: Evolution of NR duplex operation: Sub-band full duplex (SBFD)
Keywords: Specify (1) For subband non-overlapping full duplex (SBFD) operation at gNB side within a TDD carrier: (a) Semi-static indication of time location of SBFD subbands to UEs in RRC_CONNECTED mode; (b) Semi-static indication of frequency domain location of SBFD subbands to UEs in RRC_CONNECTED mode; (c) SBFD operation to support random access in SBFD symbols by UEs in RRC CONNECTED mode; (d) If justified, SBFD operation to UE in RRC_IDLE/INACTIVE mode for random access; (e) UE transmission, reception and measurement behavior and procedures in SBFD symbols and/or non-SBFD symbols for SBFD aware UE; (2) Enhancements for CLI handling; (3) BS RF requirements for SBFD operation at gNB; (4) Applicable RRM core requirements for co-channel CLI handling mechanisms

-     RP-234058 SI: Study on solutions for Ambient IoT (Internet of Things) in NR
Keywords: Study (1) Harmonized air interface design with minimized differences (where necessary) for Ambient IoT; (2) Deployment scenario 1 with Topology 1 abd Deployment scenario 2 with Topology 2 and UE as intermediate node, under network control; (3) FR1 licensed spectrum in FDD; (4) Spectrum deployment in-band to NR, in guard-band to LTE/NR, in standalone band(s); (5) Traffic types DO-DTT, DT, with focus on rUC1 (indoor inventory) and rUC4 (indoor command).

-     RP-234065 WI: Enhancements of Network energy savings for NR
Keywords: (1) Specify procedures and signaling method(s) to support on-demand SSB SCell operation for UEs in connected mode configured with CA, for both intra-/inter-band CA; (2) Study procedures and signaling method(s) to support on-demand SIB1 for UEs in idle/inactive mode; (3) Specify adaptation of common signal/channel transmissions; (4) Specify the corresponding core requirements, for the above features.

-     RP-234056 WI: Low-power wake-up signal and receiver for NR (LP-WUS/WUR)
Keywords: Specify (1) An LP-WUS design commonly applicable to both IDLE/INACTIVE and CONNECTED modes; (2) For IDLE/INACTIVE modes: (a) procedure and configuration of LP-WUS indicating paging monitoring triggered by LP-WUS, including at least configuration, sub-grouping and entry/exit condition for LP-WUS monitoring; (b) LP-SS with periodicity with Yms for LP-WUR, for synchronization and/or RRM for serving cell; (c) Further RRM relaxation of UE MR for both serving and neighbor cell measurements, and UE serving cell RRM measurement offloaded from MR to LP-WUR, including the necessary conditions; (3) For CONNECTED mode, procedures to allow UE MR PDCCH monitoring triggered by LP-WUS including activation and deactivation procedure of LP-WUS monitoring.

-     RP-234069 SI: Study on channel modelling for Integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) for NR
Keywords: Define channel modelling aspects to support object detection and/or tracking (SA1 meaning in TS 22.137). Aim at a common modelling framework capable of detecting and/or tracking objects and to enable them to be distinguished from unintended objects. All six sensing modes should be considered (i.e. TRP-TRP bistatic, TRP monostatic, TRP-UE bistatic, UE-TRP bistatic, UE-UE bistatic, UE monostatic). Frequencies from 0.5 to 52.6 GHz are the primary focus.

-     RP-234018 SI: Study on Channel Modelling Enhancements for 7-24 GHz for NR
Keywords: (1) Validate using measurements the channel model of TR38.901 at least for 7-24 GHz; (2) Adapt/extend as necessary the channel model of TR38.901 at least for 7-24 GHz, including at near-field propagation and Spatial non-stationarity

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN2

-     RP-234036 WI: NR mobility enhancements Phase 4
Keywords: (1) Specify support for inter-CU Layer 2 Mobility (LTM); (2) Measurements related enhancements for purpose of supporting LTM; (3) (Specify support of conditional LTM; (4) Specify RRM requirements.

-     RP-234080 WI: XR (eXtended Reality) for NR Phase 3
Keywords: (1) Study and if justified, specify aspects related to multi-modality (intra-UE) (with coordination with SA2/SA4 as needed by LS request). Aim to facilitate efficient and effective support for XR application with Multiple QoS flows with multi-modal inter-dependencies, meeting multi-modal QoS requirements, e.g. synchronization and/or coordination. Efficiency enhancements are expected to be visible in terms of capacity or power consumption; (2) Specify enhancements to enable transmission/reception in gaps/restrictions that are caused by RRM measurements (from inter-frequency RRM measurement gaps, or intra-frequency measurements, or other scheduling restrictions etc); (3) If justified, specify Enhancements for Scheduling for the UL, using delay/deadline information, for support of UL scheduling to enable high XR capacity while meeting delay requirements/avoiding too late PDUs; (4) Specify the following user plane enhancements: (a) RLC re-transmission related enhancements for operation of RLC Acknowledged Mode (AM) with small packet delay budget; (b) If justified, mechanism for transmitter to inform the receiver of SN gap (or missing SNs) in PDCP; (5) Specify core requirements related to the above objectives as necessary.

-     RP-234078 WI: Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) for NR Phase 3
Keywords: (1) Study and specify if beneficial downlink coverage enhancements targeting support for additional reference satellite payload parameters covering both GSO and NGSO constellations operating in FR1-NTN or FR2-NTN; (2) Uplink Capacity/Throughput Enhancement for FR1-NTN; (3) Signaling of the intended service area of a broadcast service (e.g. MBS broadcast) via NR; (4) Support of regenerative payload; (5) Support of Rel-17 RedCap and Rel-18 eRedCap UEs with NR NTN operating in FR1-NTN bands.

-     RP-234055 SI: Study on Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for mobility in NR
Keywords: Study mobility enhancement in RRC_CONNECTED mode over air interface by following existing mobility framework, i.e., handover decision is always made in network side. Mobility use cases focus on standalone NR PCell change. UE-side and network-side AI/ML model can be both considered, respectively. Study and evaluate potential benefits and gains of AI/ML aided mobility for network triggered L3-based handover.

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN3

-     RP-234054 SI: Study on enhancements for Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) for NG-RAN
Keywords: (1) Study two new AI/ML based use cases, i.e., Network Slicing and CCO, with existing NG-RAN interfaces and architecture (including non-split architecture and split architecture). (2) Rel-18 leftovers as candidates for normative work, based on the Rel-18 principles: (a) Mobility optimization for NR-DC; (b) Split architecture support for Rel-18 use cases; (c) Energy Saving enhancements, e.g., Energy Cost Prediction; (d) Continuous MDT collection targeting the same UE across RRC states; (e) Multi-hop UE trajectory across gNBs.

-     RP-234038 WI: Data collection for SON (Self-Organising Networks)/MDT (Minimization of Drive Tests) in NR standalone and MR-DC (Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity) Phase 4
Keywords:. Specify data collection enhancement in NR standalone and MR-DC for SON/MDT purpose: (1) MRO enhancement for R18 mobility mechanisms, including, Lower layer triggered mobility (LTM), CHO with candidate SCGs, subsequent CPAC; (2) Support of SON/MDT enhancements for Intra-NTN mobility and Network Slicing; (3) Support of the leftovers in Rel-18 SON/MDT.

-     RP-234041 SI: Study on additional topological enhancements for NR
Keywords: (1) Study the support of Wireless Access Backhaul (WAB) including impact of WAB mobility within an existing RAN; (2) Study the support of 5G Femto including (a) How to define the 5G access control mechanism by (re-)using the existing CAG functionality and identify needed enhancements and (b) Clarify the access to local services from the 5G Femto via collocated local UPF.

NR WIs/SIs led by RAN4

-     <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN1

-     <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN2

-     RP-234077 WI: Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) for Internet of Things (IoT) Phase 3
Keywords: Support of (1) Store&Forward (S&F) satellite operation with full eNB as regenerative payload;(2) Support of Capacity enhancements for uplink.

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN3

-     <None>

LTE WIs/SIs led by RAN4

-     <None>

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.

-     Studies for 6G in 3GPP are expected to start from Release 20

-    Requirements studies: SA1 SID approval expected in September 2024; RAN plenary SID tbd (decision in RAN#103)

-    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

-       IMT-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 tbd (decision in RAN#103)

-    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)

-     Remaining detailed 6G timeline decisions targeted for March 2024 plenaries.