February 3, 2021

3GPP groups have started the process of replacing terminology in our specifications that is non-inclusive. The entire leadership proposed jointly a Change request (CR) to the Specification drafting rules (TR21.801), following an initiative led by several individual members.

In their joint proposal (SP-201042) to the TSG SA#90-e meeting, the leaders wrote: “While there are potentially numerous language issues that could be considered offensive, there are two that are most acknowledged and focused on in the industry and applicable to the 3GPP Specifications. These terminologies are “Master / Slave” and “Whitelist / Blacklist” that are often used in 3GPP and other telecommunications / technical documents.”

 Non-inclusive terms and alternatives:

What next? - Change requests will now follow, for any Release 17 reports and specifications that need their content brought in-line with this policy.

Further reading:

• SP-201042: Tdoc from the leadership - Inclusive Language in 3GPP Specifications
• SP-201142: Change Request to Specification drafting rules.
• SP-201143: Liaison Statement on: Use of Inclusive Language in 3GPP.
• TR21.801:  3GPP Specification drafting rules

Contact for this article: Kevin FLYNN, Marketing and Communications Officer, 3GPP