12 thoughts on “3GPP Workshop: IMT 2020 Submission to ITU-R WP5D and Timelines for 5G Standards Completion”

1. As per the IMT-2020 process for “Submission/Reception of the RIT and SRIT proposals and acknowledgement of receipt” and in accordance with Document IMT-2020/2(Rev.1), the evaluation process for Independent Evaluation Groups (IEGs) started from Working Party (WP) 5D 31st meeting in October 2018 and will proceed until ITU-R WP 5D 34th meeting in February 2020.

   Considering the tight schedule of the evaluation process, and the potential intensive evaluation work which addresses a variety of configurations as well as Test Environments for the three Usage Scenarios (eMBB, mMTC and URLLC) as defined in Report ITU-R M.2412, WP 5D expects to receive the final evaluation report(s) at the 34th WP 5D meeting and recommends that the independent evaluation groups to provide interim evaluation reports before or at the 33rd WP 5D meeting, which is tentatively scheduled in December 2019.

2. From an AT&T-Ericsson Jan 15 2019 Contribution to ITU-R WP 5D on IMT 2020:

   Operators, manufacturers, and technology developers along with other ITU-R Members have expressed significant concerns about impacts to global roaming, customer confusion/misperception, and other matters if “look alike yet variant standards” are created, where the variant standard purports to be closely aligned with one particular global set of specifications/standards and yet does not clearly and explicitly identify itself as a separate and unique “technology and standard” in its presentation, naming, marketing and/or adoption.

   Document only available to ITU TIES members

3. Guidance offered by Mr. Francois Rancy, as a Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau (ITU-R) in his opening remarks to the 19 November, 2018 ITU-R Study Group 5 meeting where he expressed the following views on IMT-2020:

   “Beyond WRC-19, I would like to stress the importance of the work of the Study Group for IMT-2020 telecommunications. Of course the work of the world conference is essential to provide harmonized spectrum, but in addition to that, the work of the standards in my mind is essential to ensure all those economies of scale for hopefully one standard and interoperability and roaming throughout the world.

   And if we want to build the global village which is the ambition of the ITU, we need to try to converge on a single standard harmonized worldwide to ensure. Not all parts of the world can be connected especially in the 50% population which currently is yet to be connected and to be able to do that we need to rely on the world’s globally harmonized standard. So thanks for your efforts.

   We have to keep in mind that investments for 5G will probably represent something like 10,000 billion dollars worldwide and when you are in this type of amount of money you can’t afford to have two standards, you can’t afford to divide the world into two incompatible types of devices. So this is really the challenge that Study Group 5 and Working Party 5D have to meet and I’m sure you are aware of the importance of these discussions…”

   Webcast of SG 5 meeting: https://www.itu.int/webcast/archive2/r2015-19sg5#video

4. From ITU NEWSLETTER:

   The first full-scale commercial deployments for 5G are expected shortly after IMT-2020 specifications are finalized in 2020. Regulators around the world are already auctioning licenses to operate 5G networks in the frequency bands allocated by ITU and identified or expected to be identified for IMT.

   ITU’s role, through its Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R), is to ensure the rational, equitable, efficient and economic use of the radio-frequency spectrum by all radiocommunication services, including satellite services, in particular by avoiding and eliminating harmful interference.

   For this purpose, the radio-frequency spectrum is divided into frequency bands which are allocated to radiocommunication services in such a way that each band may be used only by services which can co-exist with each other. These allocations and the procedures ensuring the international recognition and protection from interference of spectrum uses in each country and in Space are contained in the ITU Radio Regulations (RR). The RR is an international treaty ratified and applied by all ITU Member States. It has been in force since 1906 and is updated every four years by the ITU World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) to take into account the evolution of technologies and spectrum uses.

   As part of the four-year process of studies and preparations for the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19), global stakeholders are working towards building consensus to allocate and identify additional spectrum for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT, the generic term used by ITU to designate 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G and future generations of mobile broadband services) during that conference.
   ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
   Setting standards for globally harmonized, stable, secure and reliable 5G

   ITU has a rich history in the development of global standards for mobile communications. The framework of standards for international mobile telecommunications (IMT) spans 3G and 4G industry perspectives and will continue to evolve as 5G with IMT-2020.

   In early 2012, ITU initiated the development of “IMT for 2020 and beyond”, setting the stage for 5G research activities and establishing the requirements and vision for 5G. Under ITU’s IMT-2020 programme, ITU membership is developing the international standards to achieve well-performing 5G networks.

   ITU standards are supporting networking innovations such as software-defined networking, network virtualization, information-centric networking and advanced fronthaul and backhaul. These innovations will play a key role in making 5G networks faster, smarter and more cost-effective. These ITU standards are also enabling telecommunication companies to provide innovative services as they adapt to shifting customer needs in an era of great change. These standards for software-driven networking innovation are expected to achieve their full potential in the 5G environment.

   This standard-setting process unites governments, regulators, mobile operators, manufacturers, industry organizations, academia and other standardization bodies from around the world, to support the development of 5G applications in the areas of network reliability and stability, cybersecurity, data privacy, the analysis of Big Data, energy efficiency and Artificial Intelligence to enhance the efficiency of 5G networks. ITU’s adoption of the IMT-2020 standards will provide investors in 5G networks with the assurance that these standards will be applied universally, bringing economies of scale, and thus demonstrating the benefits of global harmonization.

   [1] Network stability allows everyone to communicate, access data, and share information reliably, as needed.
   [2] Network security is an over-arching term that describes that the approach, policies and procedures implemented by a network administrator to avoid unauthorized access, exploitation, or modification of a network and its resources.
   [3] Reliability is when computer-related networks or components perform consistently according to expectations.

5. 3GPP Release 16, when completed (early 2020?), will have the ultra low latency included. It is NOT available in any so called “5G” networks till then! So don’t expect ultra low latency on any “5G” smartphone for several years. Note also that 1 way latency is the cumulative delay through: the access network, mobile packet core, and edge network at the service provider point of presence. It is NOT just the access network (e.g. 5G NR transmission).

   Title: Study on physical layer enhancements for NR ultra-reliable and low latency case (URLLC)
   Status: Draft
   Type: Technical specification (TS)
   Initial planned Release: Release 16

   The follow key use cases were identified to be considered:
   – Release 15 enabled use case improvements
   – Such as AR/VR (Entertainment industry)
   – New Release 16 use cases with higher requirements
   – Factory automation
   – Transport Industry, including the remote driving use case
   – Electrical Power Distribution

   https://portal.3gpp.org/desktopmodules/Specifications/SpecificationDetails.aspx?specificationId=3498

6. The following table provides the schedule of the planned major deliverables of ITU-R WP 5D:
   Date Meeting Anticipated Milestones

   July 2019 Brazil WP 5D #32
   • Finalize draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.1 452-1 492 MHz]
   • Consider further work regarding new Recommendation ITU-R M.[MT.3300 MHz FSS]
   • Progress draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.EXPERIENCES]
   • Finalize revision of Recommendation ITU-R M.1036
   • Finalize draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT.MS/MSS.2GHz]
   • Update/Finalize draft new Report/Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT.1518 MHz COEXISTENCE]
   • Finalize draft new Report/Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT.3300 MHz RLS]
   • Finalize Doc. IMT-2020/YYY Input Submissions Summary
   • Finalize revision of Recommendation M.2012
   • Finalize Addendum 4 to Circular Letter IMT 2020
   • Finalize draft new Question ITU-R [IMT.Specific industrial applications]/5
   • Finalize draft revisions to existing ITU-R Resolutions, Questions and Opinion

   December 2019 Geneva WP 5D #33 (max 4 day meeting)
   • Focus meeting on evaluation – review of external activities in Independent Evaluation groups through interim evaluation reports
   • Workshop on evaluation of IMT-2020 terrestrial radio interfaces
   February 2020 [TBD] WP 5D #34 • Finalize Doc. IMT-2020/ZZZ Evaluation Reports Summary
   • Finalize Doc. IMT-2020/VVV Process and use of GCS
   • Finalize Addendum 5 to Circular Letter IMT 2020
   • Finalize draft new Report M.[IMT.AAS]
   • Finalize draft new Report ITU-R M.[HAPS-IMT]

   June 2020 [TBD] WP 5D #35
   • Finalize draft new Report ITU-R M.[IMT-2020.OUTCOME]
   • Finalize Addendum 6 to Circular Letter IMT 2020

   October 2020 [TBD] WP 5D #36
   • Finalize draft new Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT 2020.SPECS]
   • Finalize Addendum 7 to Circular Letter IMT 2020

7. From the ITU-R 5D Chairman’s report (18 March 2019) of their 11-15 February 2019, Geneva, Switzerland meeting:

   IMT-2020/VVV
   This meeting reviewed the received a number of input contributions on “Process and use of the Global Core Specification (GCS), references, and related certifications in conjunction with Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT 2020.SPECS]” and there continues to be two diverse philosophies on how to proceed with the document – one desiring to significantly alter the process to support specific national needs in the transposition phase of the process and the other demonstrating how the same objective could be accomplished with the existing process remaining unaltered in its scope, steps, and procedures.

   In the WP 5D Plenary, one Administration requested that for clarity and transparency, and to assist further discussions, that the two alternate views provided on the SharePoint during the course of the 31 bis meeting (based on contributions to meetings Nos. 31 and 31 bis) be referenced in the Chairman’s Report. The two views are Indian Way Forward (provided by TSDSI) and Summary of a Proposed IMT-2020 VVV Way Forward (AT&T v3 2-14-19) (provided by AT&T).
   ………………………………………………………………….
   Doc. IMT-2020/YYY Input Submissions Summary

   Based on the input contributions, the working document towards an acknowledgment template was further developed. This acknowledgement is to be developed for each candidate technology submission that ITU-R WP 5D determines is a “complete” submission in Step 3. This template also contains a checklist which could assist in determination of “completeness. This document will need to be completed at Meeting #32 to capture the final RIT/SRIT submissions submitted from the proponents.
   …………………………………………………………………………………………..
   ITU-R Working Party 5D Workshop on IMT-2020 Terrestrial Radio Interfaces Evaluation

   WP 5D will hold a workshop on IMT-2020 focussing on the evaluation of the candidate terrestrial radio interfaces in conjunction with the 33rd meeting in December 2019 (shifted from the prior plan of holding this at Meeting #32), in which interim evaluation reports are expected. This will facilitate the possibility on the IEGs to understand the details of the proposed candidate technologies, and to interact with WP 5D and other IEGs participating in the ITU-R evaluation process on IMT 2020. This workshop is a continuation of the previous workshop on IMT-2020 held in 2017, Munich, which addressed the process, requirements, and evaluation criteria for IMT-2020 as well as views from proponents on the developments on IMT-2020 radio interface(s) and IEGs activities.

8. July 2019 Update from ATIS (U.S. rep for 3GPP in ITU-R WP 5D) on 3GPP Release 16: LIAISON STATEMENT FROM 3GPP PROPONENT REGARDING IMT-2020 TRANSPOSITION TIMINGS IN STEP 8 OF IMT-2020 PROCESS

   3GPP asks WP 5D in this liaison if WP 5D could review its year-end 2020 schedule for IMT-2020 to provide some additional time for the provision of the transposed standards URL references to ITU-R for finalization of the new Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT-2020.SPECS].

   Adjustment to the 3GPP Release 16 Schedule:
   In RAN Plenary #82, 3GPP amended the development schedule for 5G Release 16 to better reflect the complexities of the technology specifications development work. This was done in order to properly facilitate the sequencing of work between 3GPP RAN working groups for overall specification stability. Annex 1 shows this amended Release 16 schedule.

   Global Core Specification (GCS) for IMT-2020 process Step 8:
   3GPP plans to use the June 2020 specification output from the 3GPP Plenaries. In particular, the output of RAN #88 (15-18 June 2020), when Release 16 ASN.1 freeze milestone is concluded, will be the primary basis of the IMT-2020 separate GCSs that correspond to the 3GPP submissions of the NR RIT (Releases 15 & 16) and the LTE/NR SRIT (Releases 15 & 16)2. These specifications will establish the primary basis of the Global Core Specification (GCS) that the 3GPP GCS Proponent will provide to ITU-R WP 5D in time for the WP 5D Meeting #35 (24 June -1 July 2020). This is in anticipation of the detailed ITU-R schedule for IMT-2020 Step 8.
   The approved June 2020 version of the 3GPP specifications will be used by the 3GPP Transposing Organizations (TOs) for their individual standards transpositions, and for the creation of the relevant URL references to be provided to ITU-R for inclusion in the draft new Recommendation under Step 8 of the IMT-2020 process. It is expected that the published versions of the specifications from the June 2020 Plenary will be available to the Organizational Partners (OPs) by 6 July 2020 to initiate their transposition work.

   Anticipation of Schedules:
   While the normal detailed sequencing schedule used in IMT technology Recommendations for IMT-2020 Step 8 has not yet been communicated officially (via liaison) to the External Organizations by WP 5D, the 3GPP TOs have considered the usual milestones of the IMT process in their work planning analysis, assisted by consultations with the ITU-R WP 5D Chairman and the Chair of the WP 5D Work Plan Ad Hoc group.
   Based on a typical schedule for the URL references for ITU-R IMT technology Recommendations, the URL references for IMT-2020 need to be supplied by the TOs to ITU-R approximately 30 days ahead of the planned WP 5D Meeting #36 (7-14 October 2020). This lead time is needed in order for the Radiocommunication Bureau to compile all the TOs’ references and tables into the final draft version for all technologies included in Step 8 in time for WP 5D Meeting #36. The deadline for these URL references and related information to be sent to the Radiocommunication Bureau by the TOs would thusly be expected to be planned for 7 September 2020 by the ITU-R. WP 5D will conclude the draft Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT-2020.SPECS] in its Meeting #36 and forward it to ITU-R Study Group 5 for initiating final ITU-R approval.
   …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
   3GPP notes that with the complexities of 5G as a new generation of technology and the importance of the new Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT-2020.SPECS] globally for all stakeholders (including support for the results of WRC-19), any additional time afforded to the External Organizations in Step 8 for provision of the URL references would be of great benefit to all the radio interface technology proponents, not just 3GPP.
   3GPP welcomes any accommodation WP 5D might make concerning the scheduling of the work to conclude the first release of Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT-2020.SPECS] and kindly asks for feedback to 3GPP from that discussion.
   ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
   Annex 1. 3GPP has agreed revised completion dates for Release 16 – schedule shifted out by 3 months:
   Release 16 RAN-1 Freeze RAN # 86 December 2019
   Release 16 RAN Stage 3 Freeze RAN # 87 March 2020
   Release 16 ASN.1 Freeze RAN # 88 June 2020
   Release 16 RAN-4 Freeze RAN # 89 September 2020
   ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
   Submitted on behalf of the 3GPP Proponent of the 3GPP submission, which is collectively the 3GPP Organizational Partners (OPs). The 3GPP OPs are ARIB, ATIS, CCSA, ETSI, TSDSI, TTA and TTC (http://www.3gpp.org/partners).

9. Timelines for IMT 2020 (subject to change) and 3GPP Release 16

   https://techblog.comsoc.org/2019/07/12/timelines-for-imt-2020-subject-to-change-and-3gpp-release-16/

10. New Appendices added for IMT 2020 detail schedules:

    https://techblog.comsoc.org/2019/07/17/itu-r-wp5d-brazil-meeting-imt-2020-rit-srits-from-3gpp-china-korea-advance-nufront-submits-new-rit/

11. Performance Requirements for IMT 2020:

    https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/opb/rep/R-REP-M.2410-2017-PDF-E.pdf

12. The last ITU-R SG 5 meeting after WP 5D Meeting No. 36bis is Nov 23-24, 2020 in Geneva. If IMT 2020.SPECS are not been approved at that meeting, they should be renamed IMT 2021 (or perhaps IMT 2022)!

    It is not possible for IMT 2020 to meet ITU-R Performance Requirements (especially ultra high reliability/ultra low latency), have a 5G Core with 5G network management, control plane/signaling, and security until 3GPP Release 16 is completed and submitted to ITU-R WP 5D at their June 2020 meeting- just 1 week after the related 3GPP June 2020 meeting has been completed.

    IMT 2020 Performance Requirements:

    https://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-r/opb/rep/R-REP-M.2410-2017-PDF-E.pdf

    https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/study-groups/rsg5/rwp5d/imt-2020/Documents/S01-1_Requirements%20for%20IMT-2020_Rev.pdf

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