Early 3GPP and ITU-R 6G media standardisation studies, AI/ML groundwork and the 5G-MAG 6G Testbed.
Overview
5G-MAG tracks the early standardisation of media aspects for 6G systems. 6G work in 3GPP is currently at the study stage (technical reports on use cases and service requirements), so the focus here is on the relevant 3GPP studies rather than finished specifications. For the technical analysis of the IMT-2030 usage scenarios and the 5G-MAG 6G Testbed, see the Tech page linked below. For acronyms used here, see the Glossary.
Technology & Analysis
5G-MAG's inputs to 3GPP and ITU-R 6G workshops, and the technical view of this work.
Specifications by release
6G is being defined in two parallel processes: ITU-R (IMT-2030) sets the global framework, and 3GPP writes the specifications.
- ITU-R framework: Recommendation ITU-R M.2160-0, "Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and beyond" (published November 2023). See the Tech page for the usage-scenario detail.
- Release 20 (current): study stage. SA1 has produced the Stage 1 requirements study (TR 22.870); the architecture and media groups (SA2, SA4) are running exploratory studies (TR 26.870) rather than normative specifications. No normative 6G specifications exist yet.
- Release 21: normative Stage 1 phase for 6G starts.
- Initial 6G specifications are expected around 2028.
Readers should treat all study-stage content as provisional.
Key Specifications
The documents in scope of 6G media, grouped by where each one comes from: the ITU-R framework that sets the vision and capability targets, the 3GPP SA1 and SA4 studies, and the 5G Advanced AI/ML studies that feed the media work. Architecture and network intelligence for 6G follows the SA2 track covered on the AI & ML page.
| Specification | Title | Layer |
|---|---|---|
| ITU-R M.2160-0 | Framework and overall objectives of the future development of IMT for 2030 and beyondthe vision and capability targets, published November 2023 | ITU-R framework |
| TR 22.870 | Study on 6G Use Cases and Service Requirementsclusters use cases around the IMT-2030 usage scenarios and derives candidate system requirements | Use cases and requirements (SA1) |
| TR 26.870 | Study on Media Aspects for 6G Systemthe track most relevant to 5G-MAG: media services, formats, traffic characteristics and delivery for a 6G system, building on the SA4 5G media work (5G Media Streaming and the Data Collection and Reporting framework) | Media aspects (SA4) |
| TR 26.847 | Evaluation of AI and ML in 5G media servicesSA4, completed | AI/ML studies feeding 6G |
| TR 22.874 | Study on traffic characteristics and performance requirements for AI/ML model transfer in 5GSSA1 | AI/ML studies feeding 6G |
5G-MAG tracking and contribution focus
5G-MAG follows the studies above and provides media-specific input to the 6G process. Publicly available inputs to 3GPP 6G workshops are listed on the technical view of this topic. The emphasis is on media delivery at extreme data rates, AI-assisted and AI-native management of media traffic, immersive and haptic experiences, and the evolution of broadcast and multicast towards 6G.
Related Standards Work
- Standards: AI/ML in 5G Media
- Feedback and Requirements: how 5G-MAG submits feedback and requirements to SDOs
Refer to the Standards repository to contribute to this documentation.