3GPP
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project is an umbrella term for a number of standards organizations which develop protocols for mobile telecommunications. Its best known work is the development and maintenance of:
- GSM and related 2G and 2.5G standards, including GPRS and EDGE
- UMTS and related 3G standards, including HSPA and HSPA+
- LTE and related 4G standards, including LTE Advanced and LTE Advanced Pro
- 5G NR and related 5G standards
- An evolved IP Multimedia Subsystem developed in an access independent manner
The project was established in December 1998 with the goal of developing a specification for a 3G mobile phone system based on the 2G GSM system, within the scope of the International Telecommunication Union's International Mobile Telecommunications-2000, hence the name 3GPP. It should not be confused with 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2, which developed a competing 3G system, CDMA2000.
The 3GPP headquarters is located at the European Telecommunications Standards Institute headquarters in the Sophia Antipolis technology park in France.
History
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project initiative eventually arose from a strategic initiative between Nortel Networks and AT&T Wireless. In 1998 AT&T Wireless was operating an IS-136 wireless network in the United States. In 1997 Nortel Networks' Wireless R&D center in Richardson, Texas, the wireless division of Bell Northern Research had developed a vision for "an all Internet Protocol " wireless network that went under the internal name "Cell Web". As the concept progressed, Nortel launched the industry vision as "Wireless Internet". AT&T Wireless, poised to evolve its network in the United States, took a strong interest in Wireless Internet and its promise of Internet Protocol. Within 12 months or so, AT&T launched a global initiative that they named "3GIP", a third generation wireless standard that was "natively" Internet Protocol based. Initially, principal participants included British Telecom, France Telecom, Telecom Italia, and Nortel Networks, but were eventually joined by NTT DoCoMo, BellSouth, Telenor, Lucent, Ericsson, Motorola, Nokia, and others. A 3GIP standards forum was instituted and standards began to be developed. The forum progressed into the 2000 time frame, up until AT&T Wireless and British Telecom formed a strategic "partnership project" to facilitate "global roaming" between U.S. and European markets. With this business arrangement, GSM, the prevailing European standard was adopted as the basis of AT&T Wireless' network evolution for North America. Very specifically, this included the deployment of GSM data capabilities, i.e. GPRS, EDGE, and its evolution to UMTS.Organizational partners
The seven 3GPP Organizational Partners are from Asia, Europe and North America. Their aim is to determine the general policy and strategy of 3GPP and perform the following tasks:- The approval and maintenance of the 3GPP scope;
- The maintenance of the Partnership Project Description;
- Take the decision to create or cease a Technical Specification Groups, and approve their scope and terms of reference;
- The approval of Organizational Partner funding requirements;
- The allocation of human and financial resources provided by the Organizational Partners to the Project Co-ordination Group;
- Act as a body of appeal on procedural matters referred to them.
- The maintenance of the Partnership Project Agreement;
- The approval of applications for 3GPP partnership;
- Take the decision against a possible dissolution of 3GPP.
| Organization | Country/region | Website |
| Association of Radio Industries and Businesses | Japan | |
| Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions | USA | |
| China Communications Standards Association | China | |
| European Telecommunications Standards Institute | Europe | |
| Telecommunications Standards Development Society | India | |
| Telecommunications Technology Association | South Korea | |
| Telecommunication Technology Committee | Japan |
Market Representation Partners
The 3GPP Organizational Partners can invite a Market Representation Partner to take part in 3GPP, which:- Has the ability to offer market advice to 3GPP and to bring into 3GPP a consensus view of market requirements falling within the 3GPP scope;
- Does not have the capability and authority to define, publish and set standards within the 3GPP scope, nationally or regionally;
- Has committed itself to all or part of the 3GPP scope;
- Has signed the Partnership Project Agreement.
| Organization | Website |
| 4G Americas | |
| 5G Automotive Association | |
| 5G Infrastructure Association | |
| Mobility Development Group | |
| Cellular Operators Association of India | |
| CTIA | |
| Global Certification Forum | |
| Global Mobile Suppliers Association | |
| GSM Association | |
| IMS Forum | |
| InfoCommunication Union | |
| IPV6 Forum | |
| Next Generation Mobile Networks | |
| Public Safety Communication Europe Forum | |
| Small Cell Forum | |
| TD-Forum | |
| TD SCDMA Industry Alliance | |
| TETRA and Critical Communications Association | |
| UMTS Forum | |
| Wireless Broadband Alliance |
Standards
3GPP standards are structured as Releases. Discussion of 3GPP thus frequently refers to the functionality in one release or another.| Version | Released | Info |
| Phase 1 | 1992 | GSM Features |
| Phase 2 | 1995 | GSM Features, EFR Codec, |
| Release 96 | 1997 Q1 | GSM Features, 14.4 kbit/s User Data Rate, |
| Release 97 | 1998 Q1 | GSM Features, GPRS |
| Release 98 | 1999 Q1 | GSM Features, AMR codec, EDGE, GPRS for PCS1900 |
| Release 99 | 2000 Q1 | Specified the first UMTS 3G networks, incorporating a CDMA air interface |
| Release 4 | 2001 Q2 | Originally called the Release 2000 – added features including an all-IP Core Network |
| Release 5 | 2002 Q1 | Introduced IMS and HSDPA |
| Release 6 | 2004 Q4 | Integrated operation with Wireless LAN networks and adds HSUPA, MBMS, enhancements to IMS such as Push to Talk over Cellular, GAN |
| Release 7 | 2007 Q4 | Focuses on decreasing latency, improvements to QoS and real-time applications such as VoIP. This specification also focus on HSPA+, SIM high-speed protocol and contactless front-end interface, EDGE Evolution. |
| Release 8 | 2008 Q4 | First LTE release. All-IP Network. New OFDMA, FDE and MIMO based radio interface, not backwards compatible with previous CDMA interfaces. Dual-Cell HSDPA. UMTS HNB. |
| Release 9 | 2009 Q4 | SAES Enhancements, WiMAX and LTE/UMTS Interoperability. Dual-Cell HSDPA with MIMO, Dual-Cell HSUPA. LTE HeNB. |
| Release 10 | 2011 Q1 | LTE Advanced fulfilling IMT Advanced 4G requirements. Backwards compatible with release 8. Multi-Cell HSDPA. |
| Release 11 | 2012 Q3 | Advanced IP Interconnection of Services. Service layer interconnection between national operators/carriers as well as third party application providers. Heterogeneous networks improvements, Coordinated Multi-Point operation. In-device Co-existence. |
| Release 12 | 2015 Q1 | Enhanced Small Cells, Carrier aggregation, MIMO, New and Enhanced Services |
| Release 13 | 2016 Q1 | LTE in unlicensed, LTE enhancements for Machine-Type Communication. Elevation Beamforming / Full-Dimension MIMO, Indoor positioning. LTE-Advanced Pro. |
| Release 14 | 2017 Q2 | Energy Efficiency, Location Services, Mission Critical Data over LTE, Mission Critical Video over LTE, Flexible Mobile Service Steering, Multimedia Broadcast Supplement for Public Warning System, enhancement for TV service, massive Internet of Things, Cell Broadcast Service |
| Release 15 | 2018 Q2 | First NR release. Support for 5G Vehicle-to-x service, IP Multimedia Core Network Subsystem, Future Railway Mobile Communication System |
| Release 16 | 2020 Q3 | The 5G System - Phase 2. 5G enhacenements, NR-based access to unlicensed spectrum, Satellite access |
Each release incorporates hundreds of individual Technical Specification and Technical Report documents, each of which may have been through many revisions. Current 3GPP standards incorporate the latest revision of the GSM standards.
The documents are made available without charge on 3GPP's web site. The Technical Specifications cover not only the radio part and Core Network, but also billing information and speech coding down to source code level. Cryptographic aspects are also specified. 3GPP2 offers similar information about its system.
Specification groups
The 3GPP specification work is done in Technical Specification Groups and Working Groups.There are three Technical Specifications Groups, each of which consists of multiple WGs:
| WG | Shorthand | Scope | Specifications |
| RAN WG1 | Radio Layer 1 specification | ||
| RAN WG2 | Radio Layer 2 and Radio Layer 3 RR specification | ||
| RAN WG3 | Iub Iur and Iu specification – UTRAN O&M requirements | ||
| RAN WG4 | Radio performance and protocol aspects – RF parameters and BS conformance | ||
| RAN WG5 | Mobile terminal conformance testing | ||
| RAN WG6 | GERAN radio and protocol |
- SA : SA specifies the service requirements and the overall architecture of the 3GPP system. It is also responsible for the coordination of the project. SA is composed of six working groups.
| WG | Shorthand | Scope | Specifications |
| SA WG1 | Services | ||
| SA WG2 | Architecture | ||
| SA WG3 | Security | ||
| SA WG4 | Codec | ||
| SA WG5 | Telecom Management | ||
| SA WG6 | Mission-critical applications |
- CT : CT specifies the core network and terminal parts of 3GPP. It includes the core network – terminal layer 3 protocols. It is composed of five working groups.
| WG | Shorthand | Scope | Specifications |
| CT WG1 | MM/CC/SM | ||
| CT WG2 | CT2 | closed | |
| CT WG3 | Interworking with external networks | ||
| CT WG4 | MAP/GTP / BCH/SS | ||
| CT WG5 | OSA | ||
| CT WG6 | Smart Card Application Aspects |
- GERAN :
The 3GPP structure also includes a Project Coordination Group, which is the highest decision-making body. Its missions include the management of overall timeframe and work progress.
Standardization process
3GPP standardization work is contribution-driven. Companies participate through their membership to a 3GPP Organizational Partner. As of April 2011, 3GPP is composed of more than 370 individual members.Specification work is done at WG and at TSG level:
- the 3GPP WGs hold several meetings a year. They prepare and discuss change requests against 3GPP specifications. A change request accepted at WG level is called "agreed".
- the 3GPP TSGs hold plenary meetings quarterly. The TSGs can "approve" the change requests that were agreed at WG level. Some specifications are under the direct responsibility of TSGs and therefore, change requests can also be handled at TSG level. The approved change requests are subsequently incorporated in 3GPP specifications.
- stage 1 specifications define the service requirements from the user point of view.
- stage 2 specifications define an architecture to support the service requirements.
- stage 3 specifications define an implementation of the architecture by specifying protocols in details.
Specifications are grouped into releases. A release consists of a set of internally consistent set of features and specifications.
Timeframes are defined for each release by specifying freezing dates. Once a release is frozen, only essential corrections are allowed. Freezing dates are defined for each stage.
The 3GPP specifications are transposed into deliverables by the Organizational Partners.