Release 18
Release description
The "Release 18 Description; Summary of Rel-18 Work Items" (TR21.918) is now in production, with the Work Plan manager adding summary notes for each of the Features within. Although the detailed data on each piece of work (Studies, Work item descriptions, Features) is available via the work plan, or via the 3GPP Portal, we hope that the "initial state" (pre-Change Request state) of the Features in TR21.918 will be of use to you.
Release 18 specifies further improvements of the 5G-Avanced system. These improvements consist both in enhancements of concepts/Features introduced in the previous Releases and in the introduction of new topics.
Key improvements to:
(source TR 21.918)
- Further integrate Satellite (NTN) access (introduced in Rel-17) in the 5G System (5GS).
- Support of Internet of Things (IoT), Machine-Type Communication (MTC), including by satellite coverage.
- Sidelink, Proximity, Location and Positioning.
- Supporting industrial needs (Verticals, Industries, Factories, Northbound APIs)
- Multicast and Broadcast Services (MBS)
- Network Slicing
- Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAV).
New topics include:
- Energy Efficiency (EE).
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML).
- eXtended, Augmented and Virtual Reality (XR, AR, VR), Immersive communications.
TSG Rel-18 timeline & content
Rel-18 content largely decided at the December 2021 TSGs (#94-e):
The Rel-18 Work Plan
As new studies and the detailed specification work begins, the Work Plan will be the place to monitor the growth of Release 18. Every Plenary set of meetings sees a major update to the 3GPP Work Plan.
The latest Work Plan is always available for download at https://www.3gpp.org/specifications/work-plan
Some Background on Release 18
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Rel-18 Status and Rel-19 Progress in TSG RAN - Wanshi Chen, TSG RAN Chair (Nov. 2023)
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Release 18 Status - Puneet Jain, TSG SA Chair (Nov. 2023)
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TR21.918 the "Release description; Release 18", will be approved and published at the end of the Release. Prior to that, draft versions will be available
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3GPP news article: Advanced plans for 5G (July 6, 2021)
- 3GPP Release 18 Overview - ATIS webinar February 2, 2023 - On replay
About the ‘5G Advanced’ logo
We now have an official 5G-Advanced logo, for use on 3GPP Reports and Specifications, from Release-18 onwards.
The decision to adopt the new marker was taken at the 3GPP Project Coordination Group (PCG#46-e Meeting) in April 2021. The PCG has considered and approved the use of distinct 3GPP markers since the completion of early LTE work in 2008, to help distinguish new release capabilities and the services that they bring.
Whether ‘LTE’ or ‘5G’, these markers have allowed the broader industry to achieve some clarity in their conversations about which 3GPP system they are referring to in a variety of conversations with partners and customers, as well as within the 3GPP community.
Guidelines for the use of the 5G-Advanced logo are found ...here.