Backgrounder:

IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications) has been and will continue to be deployed. IMT-2000 =3G (including LTE) and IMT-Advanced = AKA LTE Advanced or “true 4G“ are benefiting from a global approach.  The capabilities of IMT systems are being continually enhanced in line with market and technology trends.  The next step is 5G which is now known as IMT-2020.

New technology concepts for wireless communications are envisioned. Coincidentally, there is an increasing trend towards convergence of different communication services and systems that come from completely different backgrounds. Such areas of convergence are, for example, mobile communications, Internet, broadcasting, wireless LANs, etc. Each of these represents a variety of applications, services and delivery mechanisms. Users desire these different information flows to be available regardless of the means and manner of delivery. A case in point: mobile communications offer voice, data messages, web browsing (with its varying content, such as information from radio and television broadcast stations), transmit and receive video, listen to MP3 music, etc. Future mobile radiocommunication systems’ users will continue to require higher data rates.

When developing future IMT systems, it is important to consider backward compatibility and interoperability. The ITU-R high-level framework1describes this point clearly as follows:

– That enhanced IMT-2000 systems should support a steady and continuous evolution of new applications, products, and services through improvements in data rates and enhancements to the existing IMT-2000 radio interfaces;

– That the framework for IMT-Advanced should be realized by the functional fusion of existing, enhanced and newly developed elements of new mobile access, nomadic local wireless and so forth, with high commonality and seamless interworking.

Therefore, as much flexibility as possible needs to be retained at the earlier stages of development to ensure that technological advancement can emerge and prosper. Attention is needed so that decisions are not made prematurely that would endanger the flexibility needed to take advantage of the opportunities offered by creating and exploiting convergence.

In conjunction with the future development of IMT, relationships will continue to develop between different radio access and communications systems, for example wireless personal area networks (WPANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), digital broadcast and fixed wireless access (FWA).

IMT systems will continue to evolve. Studies will be required to determine the overall objectives of future IMT systems and their development in the long term, particularly as IMT-Advanced systems are being deployed. WP 5D already developed Report ITU-R M.2243 “Assessment of the global mobile broadband deployments and forecasts for International Mobile Telecommunications,” with the objective to review the framework and market forecasts for IMT that were developed in previous study periods (2000/2007), by making an assessment of the current perspectives of the future needs of wireless / mobile broadband to be supported by the IMT for the next ten years (2012-2022).

Further work will include spectrum requirements in support of the studies as set out in Resolution 233 (WRC-12), studies on potential frequency ranges and their suitability for IMT, studies of sharing, and compatibility & protection criteria for IMT systems.

Workplan, timeline, process and deliverables for the future development of IMT:

Working Party 5D has developed a work plan, timeline, process and required deliverables for the future development of IMT, necessary to provide by 2020 timeframe, the expected ITU-R outcome of evolved IMT in support of the next generation of mobile broadband communications systems beyond IMT-Advanced. Circular Letter(s) are expected to be issued at the appropriate time(s) to announce the invitation to submit formal proposals and other relevant information. It has been agreed that the well-known process and deliverable formats utilized for both IMT- 2000 and IMT-Advanced should be utilized also for IMT-2020 and considered as a “model” for the IMT-2020 deliverables to leverage on the prior work.

Detailed Timeline & Process for IMT-2020 in ITU-R is here.

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General description of WP 5D work program plan:

ITU will continue to play a role as a catalyst to ensure that the correct environment is developed, including appropriate spectrum regulation, to allow new technologies and services to emerge.

The following high-level principles will be taken into account within WP 5D in the work directed towards further enhancement of IMT-2000 and of IMT-Advanced:

– The long range WP 5D work programme takes into account market related issues.

– The focus in WP 5D will include spectrum arrangements, radio interface framework, radio interface technologies and related processes for the development of global core specifications to be derived in an open and global manner.

– Due to the ongoing convergence of services and applications, a flexible and careful approach will be followed for the ITU involvement in definition of future services and technologies for new IMT systems.

– Encourage the development of open and global standards in external entities for referencing in framework Recommendations prepared in ITU.

Update of existing ITU-R M-Series Recommendations and Reports:

Working Party 5D is responsible for updating the relevant existing M-Series documents on IMT#2000 and IMT-Advanced. It should be noted that only those documents that are relevant to the future work of Working Party 5D will be updated; noting however that there is useful content and concepts available in documents developed previously that are still valid for this future work and many aspects will be considered when producing new deliverables. The Recommendations that are no longer applicable will be considered for suppression.

All the ITU-R Recommendations and Reports on IMT, including those that are outside the responsibility of WP 5D, are listed in the following web pages:

– List of ITU-R Recommendations on IMT: www.itu.int/itu-r/go/imt-rec

– List of ITU-R Reports on IMT: www.itu.int/itu-r/go/imt-rep

–>Working Party 5D will develop new Recommendations and Reports as appropriate for the terrestrial component of IMT.

ITU working relationships:

It is essential that all Sectors within the ITU work together to develop a coherent vision for the future development of IMT, which will require close cooperation. It should be noted that:

Resolution ITU-R 50-2 resolves:

“that a roadmap for ITU-R activities on IMT should be developed by the relevant Radiocommunication Study Group to ensure that this work is progressed effectively and efficiently with organizations external to the ITU”;

“That the effective coordination currently established between ITU-T and ITU-R for IMT, Mobile Telecommunication Networks and Next Generation Networks activities should be continued”;

“That work carried out by the Radiocommunication Sector on IMT should be communicated to the Director of BDT”.

This Resolution also invites the ITU-T to develop a complementary roadmap for all ITU-T IMT activities.

ITU-T Resolution 38 resolves:

“That ITU-T maintains a roadmap for all of its standardization activities relating to IMT;”

“that the effective coordination currently established between ITU-T, ITU-R and ITU-D for activities relating to IMT be continued so as to ensure full alignment and harmonization of the work programmes, including the roadmaps, of the three Sectors,”

This Resolution also encourages the Directors of the three Bureaux to investigate new ways to improve the efficiency of ITU work on IMT.

ITU-T Resolution 57 resolves:

– “To invite the Radiocommunication (RAG), Telecommunication Standardization (TSAG) and Telecommunication Development (TDAG) advisory groups to assist in the identification of subjects common to the three Sectors and mechanisms to enhance cooperation and collaboration in all Sectors on matters of mutual interest;

– “To invite the Directors of the Radiocommunication (BR), Telecommunication Standardization (TSB) and Telecommunication Development (BDT) Bureaux to collaborate and report to the respective Sector advisory bodies on options for improving cooperation at the secretariat level to ensure that close coordination is maximized.”

While it may be feasible for the ITU-R and ITU-T roadmaps to be combined into a single document it is considered that there is little merit in doing so and such a combination would lead to a lengthy document that would be difficult to maintain because of the different meeting schedules of the ITU#R WP 5D and the ITU-T responsible group. A more pragmatic and useful course is for each group to independently create their respective roadmaps, update these roadmaps at their own chosen frequency, and to communicate via well-established liaison procedures the latest version of each of the roadmaps so that the ITU-R and ITU-T work activities are complementary.

It is also noted that ITU-R and ITU-D will work cooperatively to develop items of particular interest to developing countries.

Liaison with other groups within ITU-R responsible for systems, other than IMT, shall be done at appropriate points in time.

There is need for close interaction with ITU-R WP 4B in order to properly accommodate the IMT satellite perspective in the development of the service and radio environment. Direct involvement of satellite experts from WP 4B in the on-going sub-working group activities within the WP 5D meetings is important to ensure meeting the schedules outlined in this workplan.

Work with involved organizations, including research entities:

The strategy for ITU-R WP 5D going forward is to gather information from the organizations involved in the global research and development and those that have an interest in the future development of IMT and to inform them of the framework and technical requirements in order to build consensus on a global level.

ITU-R WP 5D can play an essential role to promote and encourage these research activities towards common goals and to ensure that information from the WP 5D development on the vision, spectrum issues, envisioned new services and technical requirements are widespread among the research community. In the same manner, WP 5D encourages inputs from the external communities involved in these research and technology developments.

It is evident that continuing dialogue between the ITU and the entities taking part in research is a key to the continuing success of the industry in advancing and expanding the global wireless marketplace.

Working Party 5D, as is the case with all ITU organizations, works from input contributions submitted by members of the ITU. In order to facilitate receipt of information from external entities who may not be direct members of ITU, the Radiocommunication Bureau Secretariat may be considered as the point of interface, in accordance with Resolution ITU-R 9-4.

The following major activities are foreseen to take place outside of the ITU, including WP 5D, in order to successfully complement the WP 5D work:

– Research on new technologies to address the new elements and new capabilities of IMT#Advanced;

– Ongoing development of specifications for IMT-Advanced and subsequent enhancements.

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TABLE A: WP 5D structure with planned outputs/deliverables for WRC-15 agenda item 1.1

WP 5D Group	SWG assignment	Agenda item 1.1 Output/Deliverable	General topic/Scope
General Aspects	SWG Traffic	Draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.BEYOND 2020 TRAFFIC]	Traffic and related market demand and users needs towards the years 2020 focusing on terrestrial IMT – including “traffic related” inputs and parameters for use with the terrestrial IMT spectrum estimate methodology.
General Aspects	SWG Vision	Draft new Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT VISION]	Longer term new IMT & beyond vision for 2020 and beyond to drive the future developments for the radio access network.
Spectrum Aspects	SWG Estimate	Draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.2020.ESTIMATE]	Future spectrum requirement estimate for terrestrial IMT.
Spectrum Aspects	SWG Method	Draft of Revision 1 of Recommendation ITU-R M.1768	Methodology for calculation of spectrum requirements for the future development of terrestrial IMT.
Spectrum Aspects	SWG Sharing	Draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.ADV PARAM]	Sharing, compatibility, & protection criteria for IMT Advanced terrestrial systems for WRC-15 studies.
Spectrum Aspects	SWG-Suitable Frequency Ranges	Liaison to JTG 4-5-6-7 and possible document M.[IMT.2020.FREQ RANGE]	Identification and assessment of suitable frequency ranges for future terrestrial IMT including perspectives on current and planned use of the mobile service.
Technology Aspects	SWG Radio Aspects	Draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.2020.INPUT]	Future “technology related” inputs and parameters for use with the terrestrial IMT spectrum estimate methodology.
Technology Aspects	SWG Radio Aspects	Draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.FUTURE TECHNOLOGY TRENDS]	Broad view of shorter term future aspects and trends of terrestrial IMT systems.
Ad Hoc Workplan	–	Details in Chapter 2 of Chairman’s Report of WP 5D	Maintenance of schedules and deliverable timings/planning for WRC 15 work in WP 5D including detailed workplans and coordination.

TABLE C: Relationship of WP 5D Reports and Recommendations for WP 5D studies on agenda item 1.1 to information supplied to the JTG 4-5-6-7

JTG 4-5-6-7 responsibility	Liaised topic	WP 5D sub topic	WP 5D deliverables	Description
–	–	Traffic data inputs	Draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.2020 TRAFFIC]	Traffic and related market demand and users needs towards the years 2020 focusing on terrestrial IMT – including “traffic related” inputs and parameters for use with the terrestrial IMT spectrum estimate methodology.
–	–	Technology related inputs	Draft new Report ITU-R M.2289-0	Future “technology related” inputs and parameters for use with the terrestrial IMT spectrum estimate methodology.
–	–	Methodology	Draft Revision of Recommendation ITU-R M.1768 (2006)	“Spectrum calculation methodology for IMT 2000 and IMT-Advanced”
Spectrum requirements (JTG 4-5-6-7)	Spectrum Estimate		Draft new Report ITU-R M.2290-0	Future spectrum requirement estimate for terrestrial IMT.
Candidate bands (JTG 4-5-6-7)	Suitable Frequency Ranges	–	Liaison and possible document ITU-R M.[IMT.2020.FREQ RANGE]	Identification and assessment of suitable frequency ranges for future terrestrial IMT including perspectives on current and planned use of the mobile service.
Sharing studies (JTG 4-5-6-7)	Sharing , compatibility & protection criteria for IMT systems	IMT-Advanced Parameters	Draft new Report ITU-R M.2292-0	Sharing, compatibility, & protection criteria for IMT-Advanced terrestrial systems for WRC-15 studies.
IMT-2000 Parameters	[Draft revision] of Report ITU-R M.2039	“Characteristics of terrestrial IMT-2000 systems for frequency sharing/interference analysis”
Approved Existing IMT Sharing Studies	Approved existing IMT Reports & Recommendations	Listing of relevant existing Reports and Recommendations forwarded to JTG 4-5-6-7 related to previously approved sharing & compatibility studies

 

–	–	Draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.FUTURE TECHNOLOGY TRENDS]	Broad view of future technology aspects and trends of terrestrial IMT systems.
–	–	Draft new Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT VISION]	Longer term new IMT & beyond vision for 2020 and beyond to drive the future developments for the radio access network.

TABLE D: Summary of information forwarded to JTG 4-5-6-7 from WP 5D related to WRC-15 AIs 1.1 and 1.2

“Liaised topic”	Information liaised from WP 5D meeting #13 (16-20 July 2012)	Information liaised from WP 5D meeting #14 (3-11 October 2012)	Information liaised from WP 5D meeting #15 (30 Jan. – 6 Feb. 2013)	Information liaised from WP 5D meeting #16 (10-17 July 2013)
Spectrum Estimate	–	Spectrum requirements as set out in Resolution 232 (WRC-12) (Doc. 4-5-6-7/50) Initial information on spectrum requirements as set out in Resolution 233 (WRC-12) (Doc. 4-5-6-7/47)	–	Spectrum requirements as set out in Resolution 233 (WRC 12) (Doc. 4-5-6-7/237)
Suitable Frequency Ranges	Initial text on suitable frequency ranges (Doc. 4-5-6-7/38)	Further elaboration on suitable frequency ranges and their suitability (Doc. 4-5-6-7/46)	Further elaboration on suitable frequency ranges and their suitability (Doc. 4-5-6-7/118) (Doc. 4-5-6-7/117)	Any final input to JTG 4-5-6-7 on suitable frequency ranges (Doc. 4-5-6-7/220)
Sharing , compatibility & protection criteria for IMT systems	Listing of relevant existing Reports and Recommendations related to sharing and compatibility studies (Doc. 4-5-6-7/38)	Final input on sharing parameters for Resolution 232 (WRC-12) related work (Doc. 4-5-6-7/49)	Adjacent band compatibility between IMT UL and DTT under WRC-15 agenda item 1.2 (Doc. 4-5-6-7/116)	Final input on sharing parameters for Resolution 233 (WRC 12) related work (Doc. 4-5-6-7/236) Status of compatibility study between FSS networks and IMT systems in the band 3 400-3 600 MHz for small cell deployments (Doc. 4-5-6-7/238)
Frequency Arrangements	–	Channelling arrangements as per Resolution 232 (WRC-12) (Doc. 4-5-6-7/48)	–	–

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Draft detailed workplan for development of the draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT-2020.TECH PERF REQ]

Conclusion:

As you can see from the above work plans, it won’t be till late 2016 till the 5G Vision reports are completed.  Until then it is way too early to talk about the functional elements/composition of 5G radio interface technologies and their implementation.

References:

https://www.itu.int/net/ITU-R/study-groups/docs/workshop-wp5abc-wrc15/WP5ABC-WRC15-P4-4.pdf

http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/study-groups/rsg5/rwp5d/imt-2020/Documents/Antipated-Time-Schedule.pdf

https://www.itu.int/osg/spu/imt-2000/technology.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G

http://www.strandreports.com/sw4334.asp

https://techblog.comsoc.org/2015/06/30/separating-5g-fact-from-hype-is-massive-mimo-a-solution-or-dead-end

https://techblog.comsoc.org/2015/03/19/cutting-through-the-hype-will-the-real-4g-lte-a-please-stand-up-and-tell-us-what-5g-is

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Disclaimer:

This article was NOT written by Alan J Weissberger. It’s an edited version of the ITU-R workplan for 5G.