<<UPDATED 2019-02-26>> Mr. Jukka Vialen was elected as new SA WG6 Vice Chairman during SA6#29.

Terms of reference

The latest terms of reference were approved at SA#76 in document SP-170556.

The responsibility of SA WG6 includes the following:

1) Definition, evolution and maintenance of Stage 2 technical specification(s) for application layer functional elements and interfaces supporting critical communications and other applications (at the application layer), based on Stage 1 service requirements from SA1, including:

• Relevant application architectural aspects (including both network and terminal aspects)
• Definition of reference points for interactions between application functional elements
• Allocation of application functions to particular subsystems and elements
• Generating information flows between reference points within scope
• Identification of application layer protocols
• Necessary support for enabling interworking with non-3GPP applications
• Identify and provide application level functional requirements to other 3GPP WGs, according to their expertise, where additional functionality needs to be specified that impacts existing architecture, reference points, interfaces, protocols or transport bearer capabilities provided by the 3GPP-based system (e.g. IMS, EPS, ProSe).

2) The application layer aspects in 1), with emphasis on the following:

1. Applications related to critical communications (e.g. mission critical applications) and related verticals (e.g. railways)
2. Other applications to support industry verticals
3. Northbound and device Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for the above applications
4. Common API framework to support 3GPP northbound API development efforts

3) Work with relevant groups from other SDOs to make use of expertise available to support the development of specifications under the responsibility of SA6.

Useful links and information

The following table is based on the standard template for WG information. Details will be added as soon as they are known.