ITU: 3GPP standards are the only recognized 5G standards

The 35th meeting of the International Mobile Communications Working Group (WP 5D) of the Radio Communications Sector (ITU-R) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) was concluded. The meeting determined that the 3GPP standard became the only 5G standard recognized by the ITU. This meeting is a key meeting in the IMT-2020 (i.e. 5G) technology evaluation process. During the three-week meeting, representatives from various competent departments and the industry conducted in-depth research and analysis on seven candidate technical standards, including the 3GPP 5G standard, and finally concluded that the 3GPP 5G standard became the only IMT-2020 international mobile communication system standard recognized by the ITU.

Subsequently, ITU-R WP 5D will complete the procedural work at the 36bis meeting in November this year, namely, preparing the IMT-2020 standard recommendations and submitting them to the plenary meeting of Study Group 5 held in the same month for formal approval and release.

Just a few days ago, 3GPP just confirmed that the 3GPP 5G Rel-16 standard has been frozen (completed) and will be officially released after the meeting. The completion and release of the Rel-16 standard means that equipment manufacturers, including ZTE, can conduct research and development, testing and commercialization of corresponding products based on this version, accelerate the deployment of 5G networks, and further promote the expansion of the 5G market from traditional operator services to more vertical industry application services.

At the same time, 3GPP has officially launched the research work on the Rel-17 technical standards, planned the main technical features and schedule of Rel-17, and continued to enhance and evolve the existing version of the standard.

As a global communications equipment manufacturer, ZTE has actively participated in the formulation of 5G international standards, including 3GPP and ITU-R. ZTE has followed international standardization rules to promote 3GPP 5G to become the IMT-2020 international mobile communications standard, and has received extensive support and recognition from the international communications industry. In the future, ZTE will continue to actively participate in 5G standardization work in all aspects, further strengthen R&D and industrialization work, and make new contributions to the development of the global 5G industry.

Founded in 1998, 3GPP has now grown into the world's largest and most important international standards organization in the mobile communications industry. It has successfully led and dominated the development of the global communications industry in the past two decades. In the 5G era, 3GPP still leads the continuous development of global 5G mobile communications industry standards.

ITU is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for handling ICT affairs. Its ITU-R WP 5D is responsible for the development of international mobile communication technology standards and the formulation of corresponding spectrum usage rules.