Tag: 5GS

On the 20th of December 2021, 3GPP SA TSG approved a total of 28 WIs/SIs for the SA2 Rel-18 at the SA plenary meeting #94e. 3GPP Rel-18 is the first release of the 5G-Advanced standard. The approved projects include TSN, NW slicing, support for edge computing, NW automation, location services, AI and ML-based services, XR services to name a few. In this post, we elaborate on each of the approved WI/SI entering 5G-Advanced standardization.

Like almost everything in Telecom's, Open RAN is complicated. It's not a single idea. It's not a single product or service. It's not an optimization technique or path towards improved efficiency. It’s hardly even an agreed term. Open RAN is essentially 2 foundational ideas: 1) The disaggregation of network functionality from the underlying hardware. 2) The specification of discrete functional blocks having well-defined interfaces. In other words, modularity.

According to 3GPP the prioritization process on Rel-18 features should be completed by the end of 2021 - with the Rel-18 Package Approval scheduled for December 2021. As of now, the decisions are still focused on the Rel-17 schedule. Meanwhile, some Rel-18 Stage 1 studies are underway.

As the first two releases covering the 5G system are completed (i.e. Release-15 and Rel-16), further features and enhancements are being covered within the ongoing 3GPP Rel-17. This post discusses a subset of the features from that release, including Non-Public Networks, higher frequency ranges, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Network Slicing enhancements and alike.