3GPP Excellence Award

A big thank you to Yizhi Yao for his outstanding contribution to 3GPP! His expertise, spirit of cooperation and perseverance are a reference for all 3GPP delegates.

In Rel-18 the ’Study on AI/ML management’ was one of the most complicated topics in SA5. The SID was successfully concluded in 2023 with the great coordination efforts from Yizhi Yao. The corresponding work item ‘AI/ML management’ is expected to be finalized within the Rel-18 time frame. During the preparation of Rel-19 work, Yizhi Yao took the moderator role to facilitate the corresponding Rel-19 “AI/ML management phase2” topic discussion and managed to reach group agreement on the objectives for further study in the area.

Lan Zou, Chair of SA Working Group 5

As a leading RAN2 control plane expert and the NR RRC specification rapporteur (TS38.331), Håkan Palm continues to put an enormous amount of work to ensure that the specification continues to be of high quality, accurate, and most importantly that the ASN.1 compiles and can be used by implementations in the field.   

Håkan, on behalf of RAN2, I would like to thank you for the truly amazing work you do as the RRC rapporteur to create and maintain a world class specification. This award is a true testament of your outstanding contribution to RAN2 over three generations and most importantly the development of NR.  Your professionalism, hard work, deep technical competence, combined with your dedication and commitment to the group, positive character and desire to help others, makes you a key and exceptional contributor to RAN2.

Diana Pani, Chair of RAN Working Group 2

Qi Caixia has a highly developed moral compass – working respectfully across companies and nationalities to maintain the focus on making world class specifications. Her personality and knowledge impress everyone, she is calm and polite and moves the work forward expertly – Caixia you are the perfect representative of the spirit of this community.

One of the major contributors in CT4, Qi Caixia has held a number of work item rapporteurship including EDGE_Ph2 in Release 18. She also holds the pen on several 29 series Studies and Technical Specifications.

Song Yue, Chair of CT Working Group 4

Jinguo has played a very active role in both the completion of Release 18 and the content definition of Release 19 this year. He always behaves in a fair, calm and consensus-building way, even when controversial issues need to be handled in high-pressure situations.

He was Moderator of two Rel-19 SID candidates during Q3 and Q4 – The study on ‘UPF enhancement for Exposure’ and ‘SBA Phase 2, Study on Improvements of network controlled Network Slice Selection’.

Jinguo Zhu was also Rapporteur of a TEI18 item ‘Enhancement of NSAC for maximum number of UEs with at least one PDU session/PDN connection’ and Primary rapporteur for Network Slicing Phase 3, continuing his long-standing and active leadership of this complex topic over a number of releases.

Andrew Bennett, Chair of SA Working Group 2

“Congratulations Richard and thanks for your key contribution to the 5G Media streaming and especially the AF Event Exposure specification work, completed in Rel-17 in 2022."

Achievements in 2022 include:

• Editor of Rel-17 EVEX (5GMS AF Event Exposure) TS 26.531 Data Collection and Reporting; General Description and Architecture. Major contributions. Coordination and joint specification development work with other 3GPP Working Groups (SA2 (Stage 2) and CT3 (Stage 3)) in support of the rapporteur.
• Numerous improvements and corrections applied to 5G Media Streaming Stage 2 TS 26.501 and stage 3 TS 26.512 in Rel-16
• Many contributions to Rel-17 5MBUSA (5G Multicast-Broadcast User Service Architecture and related 5GMS Extensions), FS_5GMS_Multicast (Feasibility Study on Multicast Architecture Enhancements for 5GMSA), FS_EMSA (Feasibility Study on Streaming Architecture extensions For Edge processing), 8K_VR_5G (Operation Points for 8K VR 360 Video over 5G), 5MBP3 (5G Multicast-Broadcast Protocols) and FS_NPN4AVProd (Feasibility Study on Media Production over 5G NPN)
• Initiated and convenes technical coordination with 5G-MAG Reference Tools open-source project activities on 5G Media Streaming.

Frédéric Gabin, Chair of SA Working Group 4

“Gino has defined the electronic meeting rules for 3GPP RAN3, adopted since the start of the e-meeting regime and largely used for running today´s e-meetings. Such a way of working has helped RAN3 go through the tough pandemic period, completing a full release (Rel-17) via remote meetings, in a timely and good quality manner.  Active in the standardization of LTE and NR architecture, interfaces, and protocols, including HeNB, Relay, IAB, positioning, NTN, Gino is always acting as a reference point to RAN3 both for technical discussions and work coordination. 

Gino Masini has distinguished himself for his balanced, impartial and fair way, fermenting solid agreements within the group, which derived into widely supported specifications. Many RAN3 delegates received significant support and guidance from him on many aspects; in the technical area, on 3GPP working procedures, on the coordination with other 3GPP groups and with external bodies, including IETF.

His valuable contribution in the alignment of our technical deliverables with the need for inclusive language has also been a great help to us all.”

Yin Gao, Chair of RAN Working Group 3

“On behalf of RAN1, I thank you for your unfaltering commitment to the group. You have contributed greatly to enable new RAN1 features in a timely manner and to improve the quality of our specifications. Your technical expertise and willingness to collaborate in RAN1 has always made a positive impact and was often a catalyst in making progress.

As a delegate, you have conducted yourself with professionalism, integrity, and with respect to your fellow delegates. You fully deserve this award!”

Younsun Kim, Chair of RAN Working Group 1

"Tricci is recognized for having consistently driven key features , diligently working to find a good solution to the open issue in a bi-partisan manner, towards high quality specifications. Her breadth of technical expertise and skills has made her a successful and outstanding delegate in 3GPP SA2. She is sought out by peers and senior 3GPP leaders on questions related to 5G Network Slicing, ATSSS, AI/ML based Services support in 3GPP."

Puneet Jain, Chair of SA Working Group 2

For your contribution to RAN1 LTE and NR specification design, encompassing multiple releases and work/study items - You have contributed to multiple areas ranging from control channel design, MIMO, carrier aggregation, coverage enhancement, UE features, maintenance and much more.

Why now?: What comes to mind when I think about the question is ‘why not yet?’ I think everyone will agree with me that it is quite overdue.

On behalf of RAN1, I thank you for your technical contributions on LTE and NR in 2021. For over a decade, your technical impact in RAN1 has been wide and meaningful. Your technical expertise, open attitude, and willingness to listen have contributed greatly to the success of our work. I can think of no one more deserving of this award.”

Younsun Kim, Chair of RAN Working Group 1

“Martin – Thank you for your huge efforts in making Railways a reality in 3GPP.

Your commitment as a Rapporteur across multiple releases i.e. Rel-15, Rel-16, Rel-17, and Rel-18 are highly acknowledged, unmatched, and have been very influential in producing high quality 3GPP specifications for Railways.

You should be very proud of your relentless efforts and leadership!”

Suresh Chitturi, Chair 3GPP SA Working Group 6

“A warm thanks for your outstanding contributions and dedication to SA5 and 3GPP in 2021! The improvements in the area of Energy Efficiency, with focus on EE KPIs and how to measure them in the network, have become extremely important for 3GPP and the whole world, and your technical contributions to that have been a key driver to make it successful.

You have also been actively coordinating and sharing the 3GPP EE progress with external groups like ITU-T and ETSI, thereby making 3GPP EE solutions widely recognized in the industry as reference, and your analytical skills have been key to help SA5 progress complex issues such as network slicing and management exposure.

In addition, your kind, open-minded and cooperative mindset building consensus has made you a role model and a key pillar of SA5.

This Award is deserved recognition of your achievements.”

Thomas Tovinger, Chair 3GPP SA Working Group 5

“This award is in appreciation of your outstanding contributions to 3GPP SA2. You have demonstrated superior dedication and a positive attitude while driving multiple big features in SA2 (as Rapporteur) such as UE Power Consumption, 5G System Architecture, and most recently Non-Public Networks (NPN).

You work diligently to find a good solution to the open issue in a bi-partisan manner and strive towards the development of high-quality 3GPP specifications. Many thanks for your excellent work!”

Puneet Jain, Chair of SA Working Group 2

"Thank you for the great work in RAN1 and most recently as an editor. As a delegate, you carry out discussion in a technical-oriented manner, leading offline discussion especially for MIMO topics.

In your role as editor, you provided the necessary specification updates in time with high quality, listening to comments from all delegates, addressing the comments with patience, and delivering successfully the specification updates for 38.214 in both Rel-15 and Rel-16!"

Wanshi Chen, Chair of RAN Working Group 1

"Thank you for your outstanding contributions to RAN5 as Rapporteur and Editor in the areas of 5GS and Mission Critical Services in 2020.

Your dedication, commitment and exemplary support for all aspects of RAN5 activities deserve this recognition, as does your ability to carry your knowledge and technical expertise into GCF where mapping of test development with market requirements has significantly benefitted the wider device related industry.”

Jacob John, Chair of 3GPP RAN Working Group 5

“This 3GPP excellence award is in recognition of your outstanding contributions to SA2. You have efficiently driven big features in SA2 as Rapporteur of multiple study/work items on 5G System Architecture and Industrial IoT in various releases.

You took the initiative to drive consensus and resolve controversial issues. Your breadth of technical expertise and soft skills have made you a trusted and exceptional delegate in SA2. Many thanks for your excellent work!”

Puneet Jain, Chair of 3GPP SA Working Group 2 

“For the development of the 5G security specification (TS 33.501), Alf has been doing an excellent
work both as a rapporteur and a contributor. Alf Zugenmaier' s dedication to security is exemplary, he shows a great deal of commitment not only to his tasks as a rapporteur or as a vice-chair but also to the progress of work in this group. His feedback is always constructive and helpful to overcome challenging situations.”

Noamen Ben Henda, Chair of 3GPP SA Working Group 3

“Your efforts on OpenAPI, to check for correctness and interoperability between the different files provided by CT4, but also for CT3 and SA5 originated files, has been an effort worthy of this award. You are the main driver for the use and the improvement of the ETSI forge tool, to improve the quality of the 3GPP specifications and the OpenAPI files within.

Those delegates starting to use the tool now have an idea of the amount of work you have done. With this award, others can also appreciate the importance of your contribution.”

Peter Schmitt, Chair of 3GPP CT Working Group 4

“Your solid knowledge, technical expertise, fair and efficient meeting chairing are well recognized and appreciated. RAN4 has benefited from your contributions on basket WIs approach as well as simplification of specifications.

Personally, it is also my honour to work with you over the past 4 years as a RAN4 official.”

Xutao Zhou, Chair of 3GPP RAN Working Group 4

“In recognition of your exceptional commitment to the work in CT WG1. You have played an excellent role in CT WG1 in the development of the 5G System phase 1 protocols.

Acting as a work item rapporteur for several Rel-16 work items, you again have taken responsibility to drive the success of those efforts in CT WG1.”

Peter Leis, Chair of 3GPP CT Working Group 1

“In recognition of your technical excellence and your strong sense of integrity and commitment. You have the perfect "security" mindset and your ability to find the flaw and quickly come up with the right solution is truly inspiring. You are a valued member in our group and an important contributor to the work.”

Noamen Ben Henda, Chair of 3GPP SA Working Group 3 

“Nevenka Biondic is one of the persons we all like to have close to us. She is dedicated to her own work, but she always finds time to check others’ proposals with the main goal to increase the quality of the 3GPP work. Cooperation and quality are two words that identify her quite well”

Susana Fernández, Chair 3GPP CT Working Group 3

“Thank you for the great work as Rapporteur on the NR first release, a major milestone successfully completed - including the late drop - by RAN1 in 2018. It is highly appreciated that you chaired the NR Rel-15 UE feature discussion, where you demonstrated solid knowledge, fairness and patience.

A huge thank you also goes to you for your chairing for LTE Rel-15 eMTC and NB-IoT, resulting in their on-time delivery. Last, but not least, you are a great person to work with!”

Wanshi Chen, Chair 3GPP RAN Working Group 1

 “On behalf of the whole group, I wish to thank you Gilles for chairing both the video and audio debates regarding the Virtual Reality Profiles for Streaming Media Work Item (VRstream) and for having built a consensus proposal for the finalization of TS 26.118 - 3GPP Virtual reality profiles for streaming applications.”

Frédéric Gabin, Chair 3GPP SA Working Group 4

 “I would like to personally thank you for your great commitment to the work in SA6 during Release 15. Your high quality contributions and efforts in taking the responsibility of Rapporteur roles for two key 3GPP specifications; i.e. CAPIF and MCData, simultaneously in the same release is unmatched and deserves this recognition. Thank you on behalf of SA6.”

Suresh Chitturi, Chair 3GPP SA Working Group 6

“As a delegate, you are greatly appreciated for being technology focused during debates, being willing to lead discussions patiently, while significantly contributing to various aspects of LTE and NR standardization. As an editor, you are able to produce the specification – handling all comments with high quality and in a timely manner.

A great example of this has been your work on TS38.213 (NR; Physical layer procedures for control (Release 15)) this year, one of the most involved specifications.”

Wanshi Chen, Chair 3GPP RAN Working Group 1

“It is a pleasure that you receive this award for the excellent contribution and leadership you demonstrated in achieving Rel-14 Enhanced Television Services over 3GPP eMBMS.

You have provided technical inputs, given support for the work to progress and – at the same time – made sure the 3GPP status and progress was understood by broadcasters.”

Frédéric Gabin, Chair 3GPP SA Working Group 4

“On behalf of all delegates in SA5, I would like to thank you for your outstanding contribution in 2017. This is a year when your work on management and orchestration of network slicing, 5G management architecture, 5G network management, QoE measurement management and network function virtualization (NFV) management deserves special recognition.”

Thomas Tovinger, Chair 3GPP SA Working Group 5

“This 3GPP Excellence Award is in recognition of your outstanding contribution to CT4 on Cellular Internet of Things (CIoT) and Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) core network solutions in 2016.

This award recognises also your exceptional productivity, positive dedication and accurate expertise serving CT4 and 3GPP.”

Lional Morand, Chair 3GPP CT Working Group 4

“On behalf of all proponents in RAN1, I highly appreciate your excellent work as Rapporteur of Rel-14 V2V and V2X. Thank you very much for your technical activities and the example you give as a delegate colleague.”

Satoshi Nagata, Chair 3GPP RAN Working Group 1

“Leif Mattison is a pillar of the T1/RAN5 community. His professionalism as a lead delegate and rapporteur of many critical features has been an example to all - again in 2016. This work includes the development of conformance test solutions for eMTC, VoWiFi (IR.51), Carrier Aggregation, IMS (MTSI), VoLTE (IR.92) and ViLTE (IR.94), MBMS, eMBMS and Low Cost MTC.

He has carried his knowledge and technical expertise into the GCF and PTCRB where the one-to-one mapping of test development with market requirements has significantly benefitted the wider device related industry.”

Jacob John, Chair 3GPP RAN Working Group 5

“Your contribution to the success of 3GPP goes well beyond 2016, but this year's Award is a recognition of your work on the codec selection for MCPTT and your diplomacy and leadership to complete the enTV work despite the challenges encountered.

On behalf of SA4, I would like to thank Kari Järvinen for his major contribution to the group's success.”

Frédéric Gabin, Chair 3GPP SA Working Group 4

“In recognition of your positive nature and kind help and support to secure stage-3 progress and aim for completion of MCPTT in Rel-13. You took the responsibility, stepped up and helped out without looking for personal credit or recognition.

You have acted as a role model that not only your company and colleagues, but 3GPP as an organisation can be proud of.”

Atle Monrad Chair 3GPP CT Working Group 1

“Yannick Lair has played a very unique and critical role of the Rapporteur for MCPTT, which has helped not only the chairs but the entire SA6 working group to successfully work together and complete a brand new Release-13 specification on time, with a high degree of included functionality.

His dedication and commitment to his responsibilities have raised the standard for being a Rapporteur in 3GPP, and also helped build a new culture in SA6.”

Suresh Chitturi & Dave Chater-Lea – SA6 Vice Chair

Note: In 2015 - The four TSG Chairs agreed that an additional Recognition Award be given to RAN3 expert; Lixiang Xu for her work as rapporteur for two major Work Items, including her skilful and good-humoured management of the strong discussions on Enhanced Signalling for Inter-eNB CoMP. See the 2015 Awards news article for details of this additional award.

 “On behalf of all companies in RAN1, thank you very much for your outstanding and accurate work as Rapporteur and Editor of the complex specification TS36.212 and for your highly productive way of contributing again in 2014”

Satoshi Nagata, Chair 3GPP RAN Working Group 1

“On behalf of all companies in RAN1, I highly appreciate your excellent work as Rapporteur of Rel-13 LAA. Thank you also very much for your extensive and assertive activities.”

Satoshi Nagata, Chair 3GPP RAN Working Group 1

“Your strong technical background and hard work in CT3 during 2014 brings you this 3GPP Excellence Award.

You are a main contributor to the group in multiple areas (e.g. PCC, IMS and CS) and ready to contribute positively to the progress of the work as well as being an outstanding Rapporteur for the CT3 efforts on Group Communication System Enablers, in Release 12”

Qiao Weihua, Chair 3GPP CT Working Group 3

“Rich's expertise, patience, hard work and dedication meant that the Stage 1 ProSe requirements were successfully completed.”

Mona Mustapha, Chair 3GPP SA Working Group 1

“This is an acknowledgement of your outstanding contribution to the development of LTE. You drive your ideas with enthusiasm, with broad and deep technical competence, but remain open to the technical merits of other delegates’ proposals. This makes it a real pleasure working with you.”

Henning Wiemann, Chair 3GPP RAN Working Group 2

"In recognition of exceptional work in RAN1, particularly for invaluable efforts in reaching consensus in aspects of EPDCCH design. With grateful thanks on behalf of all companies in RAN1."

Matthew Baker, Chair 3GPP RAN Working Group 1

“Jacob John has contributed significantly to the technical and managerial requirements of TSG RAN Working Group 5. Furthermore, he has carried his knowledge and technical expertise into the GCF greatly benefiting the wider device related industry.

In all aspects of his work he has been outstanding ambassador for his company and RAN5 and thoroughly deserves the recognition within the 3GPP community.”

Phil Brown, Chair 3GPP RAN Working Group 5