The need for continued wireless evolution

Mobile data consumption continues to grow

Global mobile data usage predicted to grow 4x by 2030

Key drivers fueling mobile traffic increase:

• 5G Broad 5G use
• Video Icon Enhancements in streaming video quality
• XR Icon The rise of XR
• Cloud Icon Cloud gaming

AI is bringing new data traffic for mobile

AI poised to transform global wide-area network (WAN) traffic with consumer AI traffic dominating

Global WAN traffic projected to grow 5x to 9x from 2023 to 2033, with AI accounting for 33% of all traffic

Sources: GSMA The Mobile Economy 2024, Nokia Bell Labs Global Network Traffic Report 2024

5G Services available globally

• 354+ Operators in 133 countries/territories deployed 5G services
• 169+ Operators in 74 countries/territories deployed 5G FWA
• 163+ Operators investing in 5G Standalone (SA), with 73 operator launches
• 26+ Operators in 15 countries/territories investing in 5G Advanced
• 633+ Operators in 188 countries/territories investing in 5G
• 3.2B 5G smartphones shipped globally

Image: Various 5G devices and infrastructure including smartphones, laptops, modems, and base stations against a backdrop of the Earth.

Sources: GSA 5G Advanced - May 2025, GSA 5G-Market Snapshot - April 2025. Cumulative 5G smartphone shipments: Global 5G Mobile Smartphone Vendor Market Share at end of 2024, February 2025, TecInsights

Driving 5G forward

A diagram illustrating the progression from 5G Non-Standalone to 5G Standalone and 5G Advanced, with key features and advancements listed at each stage.

• Faster 4G 5G transition
• Superior performance
• 5G Non-Standalone
• 5G smartphones
• Fixed wireless access
• Network slicing
• Extreme capacity (NR-DC)
• Ultra-low latency
• 5G coverage
• 5G Standalone
• Lower complexity devices & networks
• New services & business models
• 5G Advanced
• AI/ML for devices & networks
• R18+ performance enhancements
• Satellite communications
• 5G RedCap
• Segment enhancements – XR, drones
• Higher order modulation

Qualcomm X85 5G Modem-RF

AI-powered 5G Advanced across device segments

12.5+ Gbps Download peak speed

Driving the ecosystem for global 5G Advanced commercialization

Diagram: Qualcomm X85 5G Modem-RF architecture showing Qualcomm X85, Qualcomm 5G AI Processor, Transceiver, Qualcomm mmWave Module, RF Front-End, connecting to 5G mmWave, Sub-6 GHz, and Satellite.

Device segments shown: Smartphones, PCs, Fixed Wireless Access, Industrial IoT, Mobile Broadband.

On the path to 6G... from 5G and 5G Advanced

A timeline illustrating the evolution from 5G to 6G, highlighting key 3GPP releases and workshops.

• Foundational research
• Use cases
• Service requirements
• Design proposals
• Specifications development
• Trials & loDTs
• Release 22 and beyond
• Rel-21 (6G Work Item)
• Rel-20 (6G Study Item)
• 3GPP 6G IMT-2030 use cases workshop
• 3GPP 6G workshop
• Next technology leap for new capabilities and efficiencies preparing for 2030+
• 5G: Rel-15, Rel-16, Rel-17, Rel-18, A unified platform for innovations
• 5G Advanced: Rel-19, Rel-20, 2nd wave of 5G innovations, Continued 5G evolution in the 6G era

Timeline markers: WRC-19, WRC-23, WRC-27, WRC-31 from 2018 to 2030+.

Current Status: We are here - We are ~halfway between 5G and 6G

3GPP Release 20 to begin now and expected to complete by June 2027*

A closer look at the Release 20 timeline

Timeline: Shows key milestones for Release 20 and Release 21 from 2025 to 2030, including 6G Workshops, Study Items, and earliest 1st 6G specifications.

Goals for Next-Generation Wireless System (Release 20):

• First release with 6G Study Items
• Focusing on the foundational aspects of the wireless system
• Sufficient time to be allocated to 6G study

Goals for Completing 5G Advanced Evolution:

• Last release with 5G-only projects (6th release of 5G, 3rd release of 5G Advanced)
• Reasonable time to be allocated for 5G Advanced
• No approval of any 5G Advanced Study Items targeting the entire release duration
• Must consider commercial uptake of previous releases and focus on critical needs only

* Now = June 2025, ASN.1 milestone expected in June 2027

"...an overall principle in 3GPP to create lean and streamlined standards for 6G, e.g., by dimensioning an appropriate set of functionalities, minimizing the adoption of multiple options for the same functionality, avoiding excessive configurations, etc. Any exception to the above shall be well justified."

Endorsed by: Apple, AT&T, BT, CMCC, DT, Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, KT, MediaTek, Nokia, NTT Docomo, Qualcomm, Reliance Jio, Samsung, Spark NZ, T-Mobile USA, Telstra, Verizon, Vodafone, ZTE

Source: RP-250766 (Lean and Streamlined 6G Standards)

6G RAN Plenary Study

Initially approved in December 2024, revised in March and June 2025

Study Objectives:

• Investigate a candidate set of minimum technical performance requirements (TPRs) based on Recommendation ITU-R M.2160.
• Identify typical and practical deployment scenarios.
• Develop 3GPP requirements for 6G Radio for improvement of existing and new services.
• Determine the applicability of legacy services to 6G Radio, and define radio requirements.
• Develop 3GPP requirements for 6G Radio for practical deployment scenarios to ensure substantial gains in all relevant bands.

Key Focus Areas for 6G Radio Requirements:

• Ensure appropriate set of functionalities, minimize multiple options, avoid excessive configurations.
• Energy efficiency and energy saving for network and device.
• Enhanced spectral efficiency.
• Enhanced overall coverage, focus on cell-edge performance and uplink coverage.
• Wider channel BW (at least 200MHz) support for 6G deployments at least > 2 GHz, around 7 GHz.
• Re-use of existing 5G mid-band (~3.5GHz) site grid for 6G deployments in at least around 7 GHz and targeting comparable coverage to 5G mid-band.
• Target scalable and forward compatible design for diverse device types.
• Improved spectrum utilization and operations.
• Aim at using common 6G Radio design for mobile broadband and vertical needs.
• Aim at a harmonized 6G Radio design for TN and NTN.
• System simplification, including reducing configuration complexity.

Time Plan & Steering for RAN WGs:

• Fundamental 6G radio design aspects (waveform, numerology, channel coding, etc.).
• Overall high-level aspects of 5G to 6G migration.
• RAN architecture and interfaces, including RAN-Core interface.
• Coordination of 6G AI/ML framework.

Sources: RP-251873 & RP-251395 (Study on 6G Scenarios and requirements)

Diagram: Network architecture showing Cloud, Core Network, Radio Access Network, and Devices.

3GPP RELEASE 20

5G Advanced Projects

Evolving 5G to its fullest potential – new and enhanced system capabilities building on the strong 5G foundation

Image: A 5G cell tower against a city skyline.

Our advanced innovations lead the path to 6G

FOUNDATIONAL QUALCOMM INNOVATIONS LEAD ALL 3GPP RELEASES

Diagram: A layered model showing the evolution from 4G Foundations through 5G, 5G Advanced, and towards 6G, highlighting key innovations and their impact areas.

• Enhancing mobile broadband: Boundless extended reality, Smartphones and laptops, Fixed Wireless and enterprise
• IoT Advancement and Expansion: IoT expansion
• Enabling new verticals: Automotive, Industrial IoT
• 4G Foundations: Release 15 (Flexible slot-based framework, Scalable numerology, Advanced channel coding, Massive MIMO, Mobile mmWave), Release 16 (Advanced power saving & mobility, Mission-critical design, Precise positioning, Sidelink, Unlicensed spectrum, New deployment models)
• 5G: Broadband Evolution, Enhanced Uplink
• 5G Advanced Release 18:
• 5G Advanced Release 19/20:
• 6G:
• Wireless AI Foundation:
• Efficient System Design: Release 17 (Reduced capability devices (RedCap), Non-terrestrial networks (NTN), Device enhancements, Topology expansion, mmWave expansion)

3GPP RELEASE 20

Continued 5G Advanced technology evolution

Further evolving 5G system foundation

• MIMO evolution
• Device mobility improvement
• Satellite communication enhancement
• Coverage extension
• AI-enhanced air interface
• SON / MDT and other enhancement

Exploring new devices and use cases

• Ambient IoT
• Integrating sensing and communication
• Extended reality (XR) optimization

Advancing 5G MIMO design for extended coverage and capacity

Release 20 scope

UPLINK CAPACITY AND COVERAGE ENHANCEMENTS

• Multiple frequency-domain starting positions for SRS¹ repetition symbols within each SRS frequency hop for RB²-level partial frequency sounding.
• Cross-slot SRS between one “U” slot and one adjacent “S” slot within a single SRS resource set.

DOWNLINK CSI³ ACQUISITION (FR1) ENHANCEMENTS

• Early SRS / CSI / CSI-RS⁴ triggering for devices transitioning from IDLE / INACTIVE to CONNECTED mode, and SCell⁵ activation in CONNECTED mode.
• For 48, 64, and 128 CSI-RS ports aggregated over multiple CSI-RS resources per legacy specification, support CSI-RS density of 1/3, 1/4, 1/6, and 1/8 RE⁶ / RB / port while fully reusing legacy mapping.

Source: RP-25156 (NR MIMO Phase 6)

1 Sounding Reference Signal; 2 Resource Block; 3 Channel State Information; 4 Reference Signal; 5 Secondary Cell; 6 Resource Element

Image: A 5G cell tower with multiple antennas.

Driving towards seamless device mobility

Release 20 Scope

Continued mobility enhancement

• Specify improvements for lower-layer triggered mobility (LTM) Scell¹ activation to further reduce cell switching delays.
• Specify configuration and procedure changes to improve dynamic L1 measurement and reporting.

Wireless AI-enabled mobility

• Specify support for RRM² measurement prediction, in time & frequency domain, for device and network-side models.
• Specify support for measurement event prediction for device-side models.
• Specify signaling & protocol to enable LCM³ functionality management for device-side (RRM management prediction & measurement event prediction) and network-side models (RRM measurement prediction), based on the Release 19 AI/ML framework.

Source: RP-251864 (AI/ML for mobility in NR); RP-251865 (NR mobility enhancements Phase 5)

1 Secondary Cell; 2 Radio Resource Management; 3 Lifecycle Management

Diagram: Two stylized representations of devices with wireless signals, one indicating continued mobility enhancement and the other wireless AI-enabled mobility.

Expanding network coverage enhancements

Release 20 Scope

• Support multiple PRACH¹ transmissions with different Tx beams for 4-step RACH² procedure, with device receiving uplink beam information to assist with beam selection.
• Specify enhancements to support PUSCH³ repetition scheduled by DCI⁴ 0_0 with C-RNTI⁵.
• Enhance to improve PUSCH coverage for higher uplink data rate by extending pi/2-BPSK⁶ to more MCS⁷ entries in MCS tables.

Source: RP-251862 (Coverage enhancements for NR Phase 3)

1 Physical Random Access Channel; 2 Random Access Channel; 3 Physical Uplink Shared Channel; 4 Downlink Control Information; 5 Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier; 6 Binary Phase-Shift Keying; 7 Modulation and Coding Scheme

Diagram: A network of connected devices and infrastructure, illustrating expanded coverage.

Continued wireless AI evolution preparing for an AI-native air interface

Release 20 projects on AI for air interface and next-gen RAN

Wireless AI for air interface design

• Define framework for two-sided AI/ML models for CSI¹ feedback enhancements.
• Include signaling and protocol aspects of LCM² enabling functionality and model selection, activation, deactivation, switching, fallback, including ID related signaling.
• Support model training, inference, and performance monitoring.
• Enhance CSI feedback, encompassing two-sided models.
• Include spatial/frequency compression without temporal aspects.
• Support signaling and mechanism for model pairing procedure including ID and applicability reporting, as well as inference aspects including target CSI type, measurement and report configuration, CQI³ RI⁴ determination, payload determination, quantization configuration codebook, UCI⁵ mapping, CSI processing criteria and timeline, priority rules for CSI reports.

Support inter-vendor training collaboration for two-sided AI/ML models

• Include fully defined/specified reference model considering scalability study outcome.
• Specify standardized encoder model structure plus parameter exchange, leveraging defined/reference model and considering scalability study outcome.
• Specify standardized dataset format/content plus dataset exchange.

Support standards-based device data collection for device-side model training.

Define interoperability and RRM⁶ requirement for the encoder.

Wireless AI for next-generation RAN

• Study AI/ML-based mobility use case based on the principles of AI/ML for next-generation RAN with existing interfaces and architecture, including the following scenarios: Multi-hop device trajectory across gNodeBs, Intra-CU⁷ LTM⁸, Handover enhancements, e.g., inter-CU LTM.

Source: RP-251870 (AI/ML for NR air interface enhancements), RP-251868 (Study on AI/(ML for NG-RAN Phase 3)

1 Channel State Information; 2 Lifecycle Management; 3 Channel Quality Indicator; 4 Rank Indicator; 5 Uplink Control Information; 6 Radio Resource Management; 7 Central Unit; 8 Low-layer Triggered Mobility

Further enhancing 5G system design for non-terrestrial networking (NTN)

3GPP Release 20 scope

5G NTN for broadband connectivity (NR-NTN)

• Study enhancements to enable GNSS¹ resilient operation, assessing impact on initial access and connected mode procedures for NR-NTN, where GNSS information may be temporarily unavailable, available with accuracy degradation, or require increased measurement period for power saving.
• Aiming to minimize physical layer procedure impact, avoid physical layer channel/signal changes, and prevent backward compatibility issues with legacy NTN devices.
• Specify enhancements and necessary RRM requirements to support 3G (E-UTRA²) to 5G NR NTN handover in RRC³ connected mode.

5G NTN for IoT connectivity (IoT-NTN)

• Study to support voice over narrowband (NB) IoT-NTN via GEO⁴ satellites.
• Down-selecting between control and user plane-based approach.
• Supporting semi-persistent scheduling for UL/DL voice.
• Supporting necessary modifications to RRC connection setup procedure and for emergency call.
• Study and if feasible, specify device transmit power higher than PC1 (e.g., up to 37dBm).

Source: RP-251863 (Study on GNSS resilient NR-NTN operation), RP-251867 (NTN for IoT Phase 4); RP-251878 (E-UTRA TN to NR NTN handover enhancements)

1 Global Navigation Satellite System; 2 Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access; 3 Radio Resource Control; 4 Geostationary

Diagram: Satellite communication network illustrating NTN for broadband and IoT connectivity.

Evolving ambient IoT to support broader use cases

Release 20 projects specify support for:

• Device 1 (~1μW peak power with energy storage, backscattered uplink on a carrier wave provided externally)
• Device 2b¹ (≤100s µW peak power with energy storage, uplink generated internally by the device)
• Device C¹ (≤1mW to ≤10mW peak power with energy storage, uplink generated internally by the device)

Work Item to enhance active devices for indoor deployments

1. Specify support for D1² deployment scenario with T1³ topology, with DO-DTT⁴, DT⁵, DO-A⁶ traffic, addressing indoor inventory (rUC1), indoor sensor (rUC2), and indoor command (rUC4) use cases, assuming readers are deployed on the same site as existing 5G NR base stations in FR1 FDD spectrum.
2. Specify support for D2⁷ deployment scenario with T2⁸ topology, for both passive (Device 1) and active (Device 2b/C) devices, addressing rUC1 and rUC4 use cases, in FR1 FDD spectrum.
3. Specify active device (un)availability via Direction 2, where the reader can provide information to a device based on which the device may become available/unavailable.

Study Item to support active devices for outdoor deployments

1. Specify necessary and feasible changes to support D4⁹ deployment scenarios with T1 topology, with DO-DTT, DT, DO-A traffic, addressing outdoor inventory (rUC5) outdoor sensor (rUC6) and outdoor command (rUC8) use cases, assuming readers are deployed on the same site as existing outdoor 5G NR base stations in FR1 FDD spectrum, with study assuming: Maximum distance between reader & device: 50-500m, Maximum Tx power: -20dBm to -10 dBm (Device 2b), -3dBm to 5dBm (Device C).
2. Decide whether to support additional features, such as positioning and proximity detection.

Source: RP-251884 (Enhancements for solutions for Ambient IoT in NR outdoor for active devices), RP-251885 (Solutions for Ambient IoT in NR Phase 2)

1: New Release 20 device classes with better Sampling Frequency Offset (SFO) than any Release 19 Device 1; 2 Deployment scenario 1 with indoor IoT device and base station; 3 Topology 1 with base station and IoT device communication; 4 Device-originated device-terminated-triggered traffic, where the Ambient IoT device initiates communication in response to a previous inbound message or trigger from the network; 5 Device-terminated traffic; 6 Device-originated-autonomous traffic; 7 Deployment scenario 2 with indoor IoT device and outdoor base station; 8 Topology 2 with base station IoT device communicating via an intermediate node; 9 Deployment scenario 4 with outdoor IoT device and base station

Enhancing 5G system for better extended reality (XR) user experience

Release 20 scope

Study the transmission characteristics of mobile AI traffic and specify potential enhancements (e.g., mobile AI awareness, PDU¹ set for mobile AI data) for uplink traffic, considering transmission characteristics of uplink mobile AI traffic.

Specify coordination between gNodeB and core network to enable / disable N3 interface delay measurement from core network to gNodeB, for better latency guarantee.

Source: RP-251866 (XR for NR Phase 4)

1 Packet Data Unit

Image: A pair of glasses displaying complex data, with stylized wireless signals emanating from a central point.

Studying integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) for drone use cases

Release 20 scope

• Evaluate the performance of monostatic gNodeB sensing for drones, utilizing 5G NR waveform and reference signal, and to identify metrics, measurements, and relevant measurement quantization, as well as deployment scenario and assumptions for channel model calibration.
• Study procedures and signaling between radio access network (RAN) and core network (CN).
• Study network architecture of monostatic gNodeB sensing, including applicability for bistatic mode using this network architecture without additional impact.

Monostatic

NETWORK-ONLY

Sensing transmitter and receiver are co-located in the same entity

Bistatic

NETWORK-ONLY

Sensing transmitter and receiver are located in different entities

Source: RP-251861 (Study on Integrated Sensing And Communication (ISAC) for NR)

Diagram: Two diagrams illustrating monostatic and bistatic sensing for drones.

Other system enhancements to 5G Advanced

Data collection for SON¹ / MDT²

• Enhance MRO³ for Release 19 mobility mechanisms, including inter-CU⁴ LTM⁵, and intra-CU conditional LTM, specifying inter-node information exchange, including possible enhancements on the existing interfaces and necessary device reporting to enhance the mobility parameter tuning.

5G drone communications

• Specify drone-specific IDLE / INACTIVE mode mobility, including mechanism prioritizing frequencies/cells for cell reselection and altitude-based SSB⁶ for device measurements.
• Specify height-based conditional handover trigger events for drone services.

Source: RP-251869 (Data collection for SON/MDT in NR Phase 5), RP-251828 (Moderator's summary for RAN2 led Other REL-20 topics)

1 Self-organizing Network; 2 Minimization of Drive Testing; 3 Mobility Robustness Optimization; 4 Central Unit; 5 Low-layer Triggered Mobility; 6 Synchronization Signal Block

3GPP RELEASE 20

6G Projects

First set of Study Items for 6G, establishing the wireless platform foundation and potential "Day-1" features

Image: A stylized representation of "6G" formed by glowing lights.

Next-generation wireless and intelligent computing are the backbone of society

Fueling economic growth, enabling new opportunities, and bridging the digital divide

Diagram: A cityscape with various icons representing different applications of next-generation wireless and intelligent computing.

• Next-gen mobile communications
• Smart manufacturing
• Intelligent retail
• Connected healthcare
• Connected enterprises
• Advanced air mobility
• Safer and more efficient transportation
• Public safety
• Remote IoT
• Precision agriculture
• Digitized education
• Central Cloud
• Edge cloud
• Immersive entertainment
• Wireless fiber to homes
• Smart grid and utilities

6G Radio (6GR) Study Objectives

1. Develop a non-backward compatible radio access technology to meet a broad range of use cases.
2. Strive at dimensioning an appropriate set of functionalities, minimizing the adoption of multiple options for the same functionality, focusing on practical user experience.
3. Identify principles to ensure extensibility and deliver superior performance.
4. Address frequency ranges up to 52.6GHz, including FR1 (up to 7.125GHz), FR2-1 (24.25–52.6GHz), and FR3 (7.125–25.25 GHz).

Source: RP-251881 (Study on 6G Radio)

3GPP RELEASE 20

Study Item scope for 6G Radio

Diagram: Icons representing various study areas for 6G Radio.

• Technology Framework
• Physical Layer Structure
• Radio Interface Protocol Architecture and Procedures
• Mobility
• Core and Performance Requirements
• Base Station and Device RF
• RAN Architecture, Interface Protocols and Procedures
• 5G/6G Migration, Interworking, Mobility
• Wireless AI
• RF Sensing

Source: RP-251881 (Study on 6G Radio)

Establishing a unified technology framework leveraging past generation learnings

• 6GR standalone (SA) architecture supporting existing & new services, meeting diverse usage scenarios, requirements, deployments and design principles.
• Simplified system design with reduced configurations, device capabilities and more efficiency management.
• Energy-efficient design for both network and device.
• Comparable coverage with co-sited deployments for mid-band and upper mid-band (e.g., 6-8 GHz with 3.5 GHz).
• Wider channel bandwidth (e.g., at least 200 MHz).
• Enhanced overall coverage, especially for cell-edge performance and uplink coverage.
• Satellite Coverage Harmonized 6G radio design that integrates terrestrial and non-terrestrial (NTN) networks.
• Common 6G radio design that meets next-gen mobile broadband requirements and vertical needs.
• Local Capacity (Higher-band TDD)
• Wide-area Capacity (Mid and upper mid-band FDD/TDD)
• Extended Coverage (Low-band FDD)
• Significant spectral efficiency gain, taking into account of diverse spectrum allocations.
• Scalable and forward compatible design for diverse device types.

Source: RP-251881 (Study on 6G Radio)

A new 6GR foundational physical layer structure

• Enhanced 6GR OFDM¹-based waveforms and modulations, building on 5G NR design.
• Unified frame structure with 5G NR compatibility to allow for efficient 5G-6G multi-RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS).
• Evolved channel coding design based on LDPC² and Polar code to satisfy new requirements with acceptable trade-offs.
• Numerology to support wider channel bandwidth.
• Physical layer control, data scheduling and HARQ³ operation.
• MIMO operation including support for Giga-MIMO.
• Duplexing improvements e.g., SBFD⁴.
• Efficiency initial access design (e.g., synchronization signal and raster, broadcast signals / channel, physical random-access channel, system information and paging).
• 6GR spectrum utilization and aggregation.
• Other physical layer signals, channels and procedures.
• Also evaluating performance of at least energy efficiency, spectrum efficiency, and coverage vs. 5G NR.

Source: RP-251881 (Study on 6G Radio)

1 Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing; 2 Low-Density Parity-Check; 3 Hybrid ARQ; 4 Subband Full Duplex

Diagram: Depiction of a physical layer structure with various components and signals.

Label: Release 20 6G Study

Studying to define a new 6G air interface design

Radio interface protocol architecture and procedures

• User plane architecture and protocol design.
• Control Plane architecture, e.g., RRC¹ states, and protocol design.
• Access stratum security aspects.
• Signaling framework for device capabilities, aiming at improvements and simplification vs. 5G NR.
• Data transfer design to support various type of data.

RAN² architecture, interface protocols and procedures

• Overall RAN architecture aspects.
• RAN-CN³ functional split, interface, protocol stack and procedures.
• RAN internal functional split, interfaces, protocol stacks and procedures.

Mobility management

• Mobility for all RRC⁴ states, including related RRM⁵.

Source: RP-251881 (New SID: Study on 6G Radio)

1 Radio Resource Control; 2 Radio Access Network; 3 Core Network; 4 Radio Resource Control; 5 Radio Resource Management

Preparing for a new end-to-end 6G RF design

General scope

• Study intra-3GPP co-existence.
• Study RF-related system parameters and requirements, including, channel raster, synchronization raster, etc.

Base station RF requirements

• Improve and/or simplify vs. 5G NR base station RF requirements and testing framework, including multi-standard radio (MSR) and active antenna system (AAS) operation.
• Improve base station core, conformance specifications, including structure and drafting principles.

Device RF requirements

• Improve and/or simplify vs. 5G NR device RF requirement framework.
• Improve 6G device RF specifications, including structure, drafting principles, and database for band combinations.
• Study device RF capabilities considering different device types and implementations.

Source: RP-251881 (Study on 6G Radio)

Diagram: Illustration of base station and device RF interactions.

6G core and performance requirements

• Radio resource management (RRM): RRM requirement and procedure aspects aiming at improvements and/or simplifications vs. 5G NR. Study how to improve 6G requirement specification, including structure and drafting principles.
• Demodulations and performance: Demodulation and performance requirement framework and key assumptions, aiming at improvements and/or simplification vs. 5G NR for device and base station. Study how to improve 6G demodulation and performance specifications, including structure and drafting principles for device and base station.
• Testability: Study methodology framework and key assumptions, aiming to ensure that requirements can be properly tested considering the applicability and feasibility of conductive and/or over-the-air testing with reasonable complexity.
• Other aspects: Handling irregular channel bandwidths including the definition. Definition of frequency ranges.

Source: RP-251881 (Study on 6G Radio)

5G NR to 6GR migration, interworking, and mobility

Scope of study

• 5G to 6G multi-RAT spectrum sharing (MRSS) for migration.
• Study if any additional aggregation mechanism is necessary.
• Mobility between 5G NR and 6GR.

Diagram: Illustrates 5G/6G Multi-RAT spectrum sharing (MRSS) and Dual-Connectivity/Dual-Stack scenarios.

• 5G/6G Multi-RAT spectrum sharing (MRSS): 6G carriers can be deployed in 5G frequencies using CP-OFDMA-compatible waveforms.
• Dual-Connectivity: Device operates concurrently on 5G and 6G with aggregation supported in the RAN.
• Dual-Stack: Device operates concurrently on 5G and 6G with aggregation supported in the Core.

Source: RP-251881 (Study on 6G Radio)

Building on the 5G Advanced wireless AI foundation for 6G

Study focus 1

Identify existing and new interesting use cases with compelling trade-offs (e.g., performance & complexity), and ensure coordinated discussions across working groups for related design areas (e.g., MIMO, mobility).

Study focus 2

Design an extensible AI/ML framework for identified use cases, including lifecycle management (LCM) procedures, as well as data collection and data management.

6GR and RAN design shall ensure that the 6G system can also operate without AI/ML.

Source: RP-251881 (Study on 6G Radio)

Diagram: Icons representing AI/ML framework, data collection, and lifecycle management.

Enabling integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) in 6GR

• Study physical layer (PHY) functions and procedures for sensing technology (e.g., waveforms, reference signals, measurement feedback).
• Evaluate sensing performance and if necessary, extend channel modelling, for the selected use cases.
• Study aspects of integration with communication services.
• Evaluate higher layer procedures, and protocols.
• Study RF, coexistence, and testability.

SENSING-ASSISTED COMMUNICATIONS

Sensing can tangibly improve wireless communications performance (e.g., latency, power consumption).

Diagram: Illustrates blockage from foliage detected by sensing, leading to reduced candidate beams.

COMMUNICATIONS-ASSISTED SENSING

Wireless communications can efficiently scale sensor footprint and enable new use cases.

Diagram: Depicts wirelessly connected sensors using the same communications network, with an example of pedestrian detection.

Source: RP251881 (Study on 6G Radio)

Study on 6G system architecture

Working towards a lean and streamlined standards for 6G

• Overall 6G access architecture: Study support for control signaling, identifying new and minimal NAS functionalities, developing generic mechanisms for device to core network interaction. Study support and enhancement of different non-3GPP access (e.g., Wi-Fi, wireline) in 6G, and multi-access data connections between 3GPP and non-3GPP access. Study support and enhancement of essential/regulatory services (i.e., voice, messaging, location services, emergency services, MPS², mission-critical services, PWS³) in 6G. Identify other 5G features that will be supported in 6G.
• Integrated sensing: Study the integration of sensing and communication over 3GPP access, considering the sensing modes to be supported and other sources of sensing data.
• Data framework: Study all aspects related to efficient and scalable data handling (e.g., data collection, distribution, processing, storage, data access and data exposure), with consideration of access control/user consent and privacy where relevant.
• Migration and interworking: Study support for 6G migration, 5G interworking, interworking between 6G and 4G/5G NTN/satellite access that use EPS⁴/5GS, and whether to support interworking with 4G EPS.
• Distributed compute: Study aspects on support of computing for device, core network and application server in 6G (e.g., coordination between device, core network and application server, exposure of computing service in the core network, etc.).
• Wireless AI: Study how to support and enable use of AI in 6G (e.g., AI agent, framework).
• Non-terrestrial networking (NTN): Study how to support 6G RAT for NTN, based on RAN decision, and support service continuity aspects.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Study whether and how to support cellular IoT enablers in 6G, based on RAN decision for 6G IoT.

Source: S2-2506090 - New Study on Architecture for 6G System

1 Non-access stratum; 2 Multimedia Priority Service; 3 Public Warning System; 4 Evolved Packet Core

Leading wireless technology innovation

Qualcomm Wireless Research Directions & Priorities

FOUNDATIONAL EVOLUTION

• Ubiquitous Coverage: Lower-band spectrum design, 5G NTN evolution
• Massive Capacity: New wide-area capacity with 6G Giga-MIMO, Super-QAM in upper midband, Flexible wireless augmented data center

OPERATIONAL OPTIMIZATION

• Real-time Efficiency: Network slicing with digital twins and gen AI, Wireless Al model lifecycle management, Al-enhanced wireless efficiency
• Adaptive Intelligence: Al-native wireless system design, Wireless Al model lifecycle management, Wireless Al performance verification

EMERGING SERVICES

• Augmented perception: Sensing-enhanced communications, Wireless sensing for aerial drone detection
• Immersive communication: Immersive experiences with distributed spatial computing

Thank you

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Qualcomm and Snapdragon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.

Other products and brand names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

References in this presentation to "Qualcomm" may mean Qualcomm Incorporated, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and/or other subsidiaries or business units within the Qualcomm corporate structure, as applicable. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business.

Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patents are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.

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