Skip to main content
Standards

Real-Time Communications

WebRTC-based interactive media, uplink contribution and 5GMSu standardisation over 5G.

Overview​

5G-MAG tracks 3GPP standardisation of real-time media communication over 5G: the WebRTC-based RTC architecture, and 5G Uplink Media Streaming (5GMSu). For the technical analysis of how these fit together, see the Tech page linked below. For acronyms used here, see the Glossary.

5GMSu is the uplink (device-to-network) part of the wider 5G Media Streaming (5GMS) framework. It shares its architecture and much of its specification base with the downlink part (5GMSd); the specifications below cover the 5GMS framework as a whole and call out the uplink-specific aspects. For the full downlink view, see Standards: 5G Media Streaming.

Technology & Analysis

The RTC architecture, its WebRTC transport, and how it relates to IMS and to 5GMS uplink.

Specifications by Release​

  • Release 16 to 17: 5G Media Streaming foundations (TS 26.501, TS 26.512) including the uplink 5GMSu path; IMS Multimedia Telephony media handling (TS 26.114).
  • Release 18: RTC architecture (TS 26.506) and protocols (TS 26.113); harmonised media delivery (TS 26.510); IMS Data Channel / NG-RTC.
  • Release 19 and later: Enhancements to RTC, including immersive real-time communication over WebRTC (studied in TR 26.930). Confirm the specific work items against the 3GPP work plan.

WebRTC Transport​

  • Media over RTP with RTCP feedback, secured as DTLS-SRTP.
  • Connectivity via ICE, using STUN and TURN for NAT traversal.
  • Data over WebRTC data channels (SCTP over DTLS).

The IETF and W3C entries in the specification list below are the underlying protocol specifications.

Key Specifications​

The specifications in scope of Real-Time Communications, filterable by the role each one plays: the SA4 RTC architecture, the 5GMS uplink path, IMS multimedia telephony, and the IETF and W3C work the WebRTC transport builds on.

12 of 12 specifications

SpecificationTitleLayer
TS 26.5065G Real-time Media Communication Architecturestage 2RTC architecture
TS 26.113Real-Time Media Communication; Protocols and APIsstage 3RTC architecture
TS 26.510Media delivery; interactions and APIs for provisioning and media session handlingharmonised across 5GMS and RTC, so it applies to the 5GMS uplink path as wellRTC architecture
TS 26.5125G Media Streaming (5GMS); Protocolsincludes uplink reference points M6, M75GMS uplink
TS 26.5015G Media Streaming (5GMS); General description and architecturecovers both 5GMSd and 5GMSu5GMS uplink
TS 26.114IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS); Multimedia telephony; Media handling and interactionIMS multimedia telephony
RFC 3550RTP: A Transport Protocol for Real-Time ApplicationsIETF
RFC 3551RTP Profile for Audio and Video Conferences with Minimal ControlIETF
RFC 7742WebRTC Video Processing and Codec RequirementsIETF
WebRTC 1.0Real-Time Communication Between BrowsersW3C
Media Capture and StreamsAPI for accessing user mediaW3C
TR 26.930Study on the enhancement for Immersive Real-Time Communication for WebRTCRelease 18, with an updated Release-19 versionStudies
note

M6 and M7 are two of the 5GMS reference points (the named interfaces between the functional entities of the architecture). For the full set of reference points (M1 to M8) and what each one connects, see Standards: 5G Media Streaming.

5G-MAG tracking and contribution focus​

5G-MAG follows the SA4 RTC architecture (TS 26.506 / TS 26.113), its harmonisation with 5G Media Streaming (TS 26.510), and the WebRTC transport it builds on.

note

Refer to the Standards repository to contribute to this documentation.