A Global
Partnership
The Mobile
Broadband
Standard
Sweet 16, a Release by 3GPP
July 12, 2020
In this short video interview, Balazs Bertenyi looks back at the recent TSG RAN Plenary e-meeting. He talks about the challenges – like having to coordinate discussions across 20 time zones – and about the dedication of the delegates, to get Release 16 freeze completed on time.
There is a question also about the IMT-2020 submission process, which is now drawing to a successful conclusion. Finally, Balazs mentions the prospects for Release 17, assuring us that the content is on track, even if continued remote working may lead to a short delay to its completion.
End of an era as RAN6 closes
July 8, 2020
At the recent RAN (#88e) plenary meeting, Working Group 6 – responsible for the GERAN and UTRAN radio and protocol work - was formally closed.
The closure of RAN6 marks the end of a significant era for the mobile industry. The group covered work on 2G and 3G radio capabilities, carrying on from 2G's roots in the original GSM pan-European digital mobile standard.
With 3G, the potential of a global market - for the equipment, handsets and for roaming – began to be achieved, as the standards community of Europe, China, Japan, Korea and North America united in 3GPP, from 1998. This highly successful project helped propel 2G evolution into 3G, and onwards towards fulfilling its promise to become the economic and technology success story of the 21st Century.
3GPP membership rises to 700
May 29, 2020
Since the creation of 3GPP in 1998 the number of participating member companies has steadily grown, from the original 350 companies involved in GSM evolution, to a new high of 700 companies - from around the globe - working on 5G specifications.
The expansion of mobile networks beyond the needs of smartphones, to become the platform for many exciting new use cases for 5G, has led to a doubling of the number of new companies (2016 - 2019) joining 3GPP – Compared to the previous ten year period, as 4G was specified.
3GPP MCC - new Director steps up
June 2, 2020
Issam Toufik has taken up his new post of 3GPP Mobile Competence Centre (MCC) Director; replacing John Meredith, who is set to retire at the end of September - after twenty years in the MCC.
Issam has been on the staff since 2009, as Technical Officer for TSG RAN WG4 and most recently with TSG RAN WG3. On the formal announcement – made to the technical community yesterday - the Chair of the RAN3 group, Gino Masini, said: “Issam has been highly appreciated and esteemed as RAN3 Secretary. Working with him has been a pleasure and a privilege, and in RAN3 we feel proud of the role he is now taking.”
e-meetings provoke update to working procedures
May 17, 2020
On May 15, the 3GPP Project Coordination Group (PCG) approved a new Annex to the 3GPP Working Procedures, to cover “Special procedures for exceptional situations restricting travel” and has agreed its immediate activation, to allow 3GPP to function in the absence of physical meetings.
The PCG has the responsibility of activating and deactivating this Annex.
The Annex documents which e-meetings can hold votes and how the vote will be conducted. More work is now envisaged, so that 3GPP TSG and working group elections can be held during the period where ‘Annex I’ is activated.
The full text of the decision is as follows:
Search and download specs, docs, CRs and more from the 3GPP FTP Server:
RAN Chair's video interview (July 2020)
WHO page on 5G and health (external link)
Changing 3GPP to help the verticals
Recorded 3GPP webinars and interviews (no registration needed)