MPEG's V3C framework for coding volumetric video, covering V-PCC and MIV profiles, bitstream structure and delivery over 5G.
Overview
Visual Volumetric Video-based Coding (V3C, ISO/IEC 23090-5) is the MPEG framework for compressing volumetric video; it underpins Video-based Point Cloud Compression (V-PCC) and MPEG Immersive Video (MIV). This page lists the relevant MPEG-I parts and their release status. For the technical analysis of how V3C works, see the Tech page linked below. For acronyms used here, see the Glossary.
Technology & Analysis
The deeper technical treatment of V3C, V-PCC and MIV delivery over 5G.
Software Tools
End-to-end encoding, streaming and rendering pipelines for volumetric content.
Specifications by profile
MPEG factored the shared V3C machinery into a single base specification and defined two application profiles on top of it:
- V-PCC (Video-based Point Cloud Compression), specified within ISO/IEC 23090-5.
- MIV (MPEG Immersive Video), specified in ISO/IEC 23090-12 as an extension of the V3C base.
A separate but related MPEG approach, Geometry-based Point Cloud Compression (G-PCC, ISO/IEC 23090-9), does not use the V3C bitstream structure and is outside the V3C scope tracked on this page.
Editions and status
ISO/IEC 23090-5 has progressed through successive editions (2021, 2023, and 2025); the entry in the table below links to the edition currently referenced by 5G-MAG. ISO/IEC 23090-10 (carriage) was first published in 2022 with a subsequent amendment (support of packed video data) and a technical corrigendum. MIV (ISO/IEC 23090-12) was published in 2023, with a second edition under development in MPEG. Implementers should confirm the exact edition and any amendments against the ISO catalogue for the feature set they rely on.
Specifications in scope
The specifications in the scope of Volumetric Video (V3C), grouped by the role each one plays. Part 5 (V3C and V-PCC) is the core coding framework; Part 10 specifies carriage and storage of the coded data; Part 12 (MIV) applies the framework to multi-view immersive video; the 5G Media Streaming specifications carry the result.
| Specification | Title | Layer |
|---|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 23090-5 | Information technology: Coded representation of immersive media - Part 5: Visual volumetric video-based coding (V3C) and video-based point cloud compression (V-PCC)the V3C base bitstream and the V-PCC profile | Coding |
| ISO/IEC 23090-12 | Information technology - Coded representation of immersive media - Part 12: MPEG immersive videothe MIV profile, an extension of the V3C base | Coding |
| ISO/IEC 23090-10 | Information technology - Coded representation of immersive media - Part 10: Carriage of visual volumetric video-based coding dataISOBMFF storage and DASH-based streaming | Storage and carriage |
| ISO/IEC 14496-12 | ISO base media file format (ISOBMFF)the container ISO/IEC 23090-10 builds on | Storage and carriage |
| ISO/IEC 23090-20 | Conformance testing for V3C with V-PCC | Conformance and reference software |
| ISO/IEC 23090-25 | Conformance and reference software for carriage | Conformance and reference software |
| TS 26.501 | 5G Media Streaming (5GMS); General description and architectureused to transport V3C DASH presentations | Delivery over 5G |
| TS 26.512 | 5G Media Streaming (5GMS); Protocols and APIsused to transport V3C DASH presentations | Delivery over 5G |
5G-MAG tracking and contribution focus
5G-MAG follows this MPEG family so that volumetric and immersive assets can be delivered on the same 5G media pipelines as conventional video, and tracks the related Beyond 2D Video evaluation work (see the Beyond 2D Video page). The deeper technical treatment is on the Volumetric Video Tech page.
Related Standards Work
- Standards: XR and MPEG-I Scene Description
- Standards: Beyond 2D Video
- Feedback and Requirements: how 5G-MAG submits feedback and requirements to SDOs
Refer to the Standards repository to contribute to this documentation.