Explanation: This post is an update of an IEEE Techblog published October 20, 2025.  It also includes the 3GPP Release 21 timeline, which was previously published (see References below).  This author expects that the proposed IMT 2030 RIT/SRIT specs submitted will be primarily from 3GPP (contributed to ITU-R WP5D by ATIS).  However, any ITU member is invited to submit proposals.

IMT 2030 (6G) Backgrounder:

• Resolution ITU-R 65-1 on the “Principles for the process of future development of IMT-2020 and IMT-2030” outlines the essential criteria and principles that will be used in the process of developing the Recommendations and Reports for IMT-2020 and IMT-2030, including Recommendation(s) for the radio interface specification.
• Recommendation ITU-R M.2160, “Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and beyond” identifies six usage scenarios for IMT-2030 and envisions a broad variety of capabilities, tightly coupled with intended usage scenarios and applications for IMT-2030, resulting in a great diversity/variety of requirements. Recommendation ITU-R M.2160 also identifies the capabilities of IMT-2030, recognizing that they will have different relevance and applicability for the different use cases and scenarios addressed by IMT-2030, some of which are currently not foreseen. In addition, IMT-2030 can be applied in a variety of scenarios, and therefore different test environments are to be considered for evaluation purposes.
• A test environment is defined as the combination of usage scenario and geographic environment as described in Report ITU-R M.[IMT-2030.EVAL].
• IMT-2030 Minimum Technology Performance Requirements for Radio Interface Technologies is a report which outlines 20 technical performance requirements (TPR). Seven of them are new and specific to describe the 6G performances. Those IMT 2030 technical performance requirements will be used as unified requirements to evaluate the 6G radio interfaces (RITs/SRITs).
• WP 5D completed the draft IMT-2030 minimum technical performance requirements in February 2026 and the draft evaluation guidelines in June 2026. Both have been submitted to ITU-R Study Group 5 for approval in December 2026.

Image Credit: ITU-R WP5D

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ITU-R WP 5D Work Plan for IMT-2030 RIT/SRITs:

Submission of IMT 2030 RIT/SRIT proposals will begin at 54th meeting of Working Party (WP) 5D (currently planned for February 2027). The final deadline for submissions is  12 calendar days prior to the start of the 59th meeting of WP 5D in February 2029. The evaluation of the proposed RITs and SRITs by the independent evaluation groups and the consensus-building process will be performed throughout this time period and thereafter. The detailed schedule and development process are shown in the two figures below.

Follow on Process for IMT-2030 Final Approval (author’s conjecture): 

• The IMT 2030 RIT/SRITs development are scheduled to be completed at WP5D Meeting #63 in June 2030. 
• At the next 5D meeting (#64), likely to be in October 2030 (but not yet scheduled), any draft revisions and specification updates will be reviewed and finalized.
• The draft IMT 2030 RIT/SRITs along with IMT 2030 Frequency Arrangements, will  then be sent to ITU-R SG5 (Terrestrial Services) for final approval, likely to be in November or December of 2030.  Note that these two are companion standards/recommendations that should be finalized and approved as a package (that didn’t happen with IMT 2020).

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3GPP Release 21 (6G)Timeline:

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References:

ITU-R WP 5D Timeline for submission, evaluation process & consensus building for IMT-2030 (6G) RITs/SRITs

Roles of 3GPP and ITU-R WP 5D in the IMT 2030/6G standards process

IMT-2030 (“6G”) Minimum Technology Performance Requirements for Radio Interface Technologies

ITU-R M.[IMT-2030.EVAL] & ITU-R M.[IMT-2030.SUBMISSION] reports: Evaluation & Submission Guidelines for 6G RIT/SRITs (6G)

Sept 2026 3GPP meeting updates for 5G Advanced and 6G planning (with timeline for submisson to ITU-R WP 5D via ATIS)

3GPP approves timelines for Release 21 which will specify 6G RAN, Core and 5G Advanced

Warning: 6G core network must not repeat the 5G SA 3GPP architecture specs vs lack of interoperable standards

FCC plans 6G spectrum auctions before IMT 2030 frequencies have been identified and without a 6G frequency arrangement standard

How NTIA “Call to Action for 6G Leadership and Security” might influence 6G/IMT-2030 standards and 3GPP specifications

Comparing AI Native mode in 6G (IMT 2030) vs AI Overlay/Add-On status in 5G (IMT 2020)

AI-Native 6G RAN in Practice: Research and Validation Insights from 6G-MIRAI-HARMONY