5G standardization: Collaborative effort between 3GPP and ITU, ensuring global interoperability and compatibility for next-gen mobile networks.
ITU
ITU stands for the International Telecommunication Union. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the development and coordination of international telecommunications standards and regulations. The ITU plays a crucial role in ensuring global interoperability and compatibility of telecommunication networks and services.
One of the key contributions of the ITU is the development of international standards for various aspects of telecommunications, including radio communication, satellite systems, network protocols, and multimedia coding. These standards enable different countries and regions to establish compatible communication systems, ensuring seamless connectivity and effective global communication.
3GPP
3GPP stands for the 3rd Generation Partnership Project. It is a collaboration between several telecommunications standards organizations, including the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS), the China Communications Standards Association (CCSA), the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) in Japan, and the Telecommunications Standards Development Society, India (TSDSI). Through their respective regional standards organizations, over 600 companies have become members of 3GPP.
The primary goal of 3GPP is to develop and maintain standards for mobile communication systems. It has played a crucial role in the development of various generations of mobile networks, including 3G (UMTS – Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service), 4G (LTE – Long Term Evolution), and 5G (NR – New Radio). 3GPP specifications define the technical specifications, protocols, and interfaces that enable interoperability and compatibility among different vendors’ network equipment and devices.
3GPP is not a part of the ITU, but it works closely with the ITU to ensure global interoperability and compatibility of mobile networks.
The evolution of IMT standards
Standardization: 3GPP is responsible for developing technical specifications and standards for mobile communication systems, including 2G (GSM), 3G (UMTS), 4G (LTE), and 5G (NR). These standards address various aspects such as radio access networks, core networks, protocols, interfaces, and services. The ITU recognizes and considers these standards for potential adoption as international standards.
ITU Recognition: Once 3GPP completes the development of a new standard or specification, it submits the documentation to the ITU for consideration as an international standard. The ITU reviews 3GPP’s work and may incorporate it into its global standards portfolio.
IMT standards: The ITU has defined frameworks for the International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT) systems. Different IMT standards and its corresponding 3GPP releases are shown below:
3GPP’s standards, particularly for 3G (UMTS), 4G (LTE), 5G (NR) align with the ITU’s IMT-2000, IMT-Advanced and IMT-2020 frameworks respectively. This ensures that 3GPP-developed technologies conform to the ITU’s global standards for mobile communications.
Collaboration and Cooperation: The ITU and 3GPP collaborate closely to ensure compatibility and harmonization between the ITU’s global standards and the technical specifications developed by 3GPP. They work together to address technical challenges, promote interoperability, and facilitate the deployment of mobile networks worldwide.
We will explore more about IMT-2020 in the coming article.