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Media Streaming and Advanced Media Delivery

Advanced Media Delivery

Advanced Media Delivery (AMD) is the line of 3GPP SA4 work that extends 5G Media Streaming from Release 19 (SP-241011 clause 3; SP-250265 clause 2.2; SP-251265 clause 2.3).

At a glance
  • Focus: delivery of segmented media objects in the media plane, at reference points M2, M4 and M7.
  • Release 19: CMCD, multi-access delivery, multiple service locations, encrypted content, improved QoS support and network slicing.
  • Release 20: a second study led to a stage 2 work item, with target completion in Dec-26.

Why AMD​

The Release 19 study (FS_AMD) starts from the view that mobile media delivery is as important as ever, with growing traffic and new functionality from third-party service providers. Its primary focus is the delivery of segmented media objects in the media plane: reference points M2, M4 and M7. The study was documented in TR 26.804 for 5GMS and TR 26.802 for MBS.

The study's 13 key topics
  • Common Client Metadata (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item a))
  • Common server- and network-assisted streaming (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item b))
  • Multi-CDN and multi-access media delivery (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item c))
  • Modem usage optimised media streaming (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item d))
  • DRM and conditional access (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item e))
  • In-session unicast repair for MBS object distribution (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item f))
  • MBS User Service and delivery protocols for eMBMS (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item g))
  • Selected MBMS functionalities not supported in MBS (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item h))
  • DASH/HLS interoperability (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item i))
  • Further harmonisation of RTC and streaming (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item j))
  • Issues identified by Market Representation Partners, including 5G-MAG (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item k))
  • Improved QoS support (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item l))
  • Impacts and opportunities of QUIC for segmented content delivery (SP-241011 clause 4 (objective 1, item m))

Release 19 features​

Two work items took up the recommendations of this study and of the network slicing study (TR 26.941): stage 2 (AMD-ARCH-MED) primarily in TS 26.501 and TS 26.502, stage 3 (AMD_PRO-MED) primarily in TS 26.510, TS 26.512 and TS 26.517. For each feature: what the two work items set out to specify for 5GMS, then what the Release 19 specifications contain. "New in Release 19" means the text is not in TS 26.501 V18.9.0, TS 26.510 V18.5.0 or TS 26.512 V18.7.0.

The MBS topics (unicast repair, MBS User Services for eMBMS, and selected MBMS functions) are covered under 5G Multicast Broadcast Services (SP-241963 clause 3 (TR 26.802 key issues 8, 9 and 10)).

Common Media Client Data (CMCD)​

Downlink · CTA-5004, referenced by TS 26.512

  • Set out to specify, stage 2: changes to the AF, AS, Media Player and Media Session Handler (SP-241963 clause 4 (objective 2a, items i to iv)).
  • Set out to specify, stage 3: CMCD in TS 26.247, TS 26.512 and TS 26.532, and in TS 26.510 if needed.

In the Release 19 specifications:

  • Provisioning (M1). The Application Provider configures CMCD through the Metrics Reporting provisioning API (TS 26.510, clause 8.11). The CMCD metrics schemes that can be provisioned for downlink DASH are listed in TS 26.512, table 7.8.1-1.
  • In-band reporting (M4d). When a CMCD scheme is configured, the Media Player collects the CMCD information and reports it to the AS with its media requests (TS 26.512, clause 10.5, new in Release 19; for DASH, Annex G.5, new in Release 19).
  • Reporting to the AF (M3d). The AS reports QoE metrics reports containing CMCD information to the AF at M3d (TS 26.512, clause 11.4.1).
  • Service URL. A client-data-reporting-mode parameter selects the in-band reporting mode (TS 26.512, clause 12.4).
  • Player configuration (M7d, M11d). The application or the Media Session Handler can configure the DASH Media Player (TS 26.512, clause 13.2.4).
  • Exposure (R5, R6). CMCD information is packed into QoE metrics event records for event exposure (TS 26.512, clause 18.3.3, new in Release 19).

Multi-access media delivery​

  • Set out to specify, stage 2: an informative annex mapping the ATSSS architecture into 5GMS (SP-241963 clause 4 (objective 2b, item i)).
  • Set out to specify, stage 3: Media Session Handling Client API changes in TS 26.510.

In the Release 19 specifications:

  • Architecture. TS 26.501 Annex H (informative), "Multi-access media delivery", with clause H.2, "ATSSS mapping into 5GMS architecture". New in Release 19.
  • APIs. TS 26.510 V19.2.0 does not mention multi-access delivery or ATSSS.

Delivery from multiple service locations​

  • Set out to specify, stage 2: M10 brought into scope; hierarchical or peer-to-peer content distributions; multi-source information in the Media Entry Point (SP-241963 clause 4 (objective 2c, items ii, iii and iv)).
  • Set out to specify, stage 3: CMMF in TS 26.511 as a format for multiple service locations; Content Steering as an M4 API in TS 26.512.

In the Release 19 specifications:

  • Procedure. TS 26.501 clause 5.4.4, "Media ingest and distribution procedure with multiple service locations". New in Release 19.
  • Reference point M10d. Content is redistributed between instances of the AS at M10d, so it need not be ingested repeatedly at M2d (TS 26.501, clause 4.2.1). Its procedures are in TS 26.512 clause 4.10A, "Procedures of the M10d interface". New in Release 19.
  • CMMF. Coded Multisource Media Format (ETSI TS 103 973), which the study describes as using application layer FEC to stripe different subsets of content across multiple CDNs, is specified in TS 26.512 normative Annex H, "Media streaming in the 5GMS System using CMMF". TS 26.511 V19.0.0 does not mention it.
  • Content Steering. ETSI TS 103 998, in TS 26.512 clauses 10.3A.4 and G.4.4.

Encrypted and high-value content​

  • Set out to specify, stage 2: the AS ingests, delivers and contributes encrypted content, and can decrypt and re-encrypt it (SP-241963 clause 4 (objective 2d, item i)).
  • Set out to specify, stage 3: CPIX (ETSI TS 103 799) at M2d; DASH-IF IOP Part 6 at M4d for DASH and HLS.

In the Release 19 specifications:

  • Key exchange at M2d. The 5GMSd AS supports CPIX to exchange public keys between its Encryptor/Packager and the external License Server and Authorisation Server (TS 26.512, clause 8.8, "Key exchange for encrypted content"). New in Release 19.
  • Encrypted DASH at M4d. A DASH Media Presentation with encrypted content follows DASH-IF Interoperability Points Part 6 (TS 26.512, Annex G.3, "Content Protection and DRM"). New in Release 19.
  • Content preparation of DRM-protected content is described in TS 26.501 (clause 5.14). New in Release 19.

Improved QoS support​

  • Set out to specify, stage 2: ECN marking for L4S, and QoS monitoring, for downlink and uplink (SP-241963 clause 4 (objective 2e, items i and ii)).
  • Set out to specify, stage 3: ECN marking for L4S and QoS monitoring in the TS 26.510 procedures, for downlink and uplink.

In the Release 19 specifications (and absent from TS 26.501 V18.9.0, TS 26.510 V18.5.0 and TS 26.512 V18.7.0):

  • ECN marking for L4S. Procedures in TS 26.501 clauses 5.7.9 (downlink) and 6.9.8 (uplink), TS 26.510 clause 5.3.3.3A.1, and TS 26.512 clauses 4.6.0.1 and 5.6.2. A Policy Template may carry an L4S enablement preference (TS 26.501, clause 4.0.6).
  • QoS monitoring. Procedures in TS 26.501 clauses 5.7.10 (downlink) and 6.9.9 (uplink), and TS 26.510 clause 5.3.3.3A.2. A Policy Template may carry a QoS monitoring configuration (TS 26.501, clause 4.0.6).

Network slicing​

  • Set out to specify, stage 2: policy provisioning for several network slices or data networks (SP-241963 clause 4 (objective 2f, item i)).
  • Set out to specify, stage 3: Policy Template changes in TS 26.510.

In the Release 19 specifications:

  • Policy Templates. Multiple Network Slice and/or Data Network tuples may be provisioned if the Policy Template allows media to be delivered in multiple Data Networks and/or network slices at M4 (TS 26.510, clause 5.2.7.1). New text in Release 19.

Release 20: AMD Phase 2​

The Release 20 study (FS_AMD_Ph2) continues where the Release 19 normative work stopped (SP-251265 clause 3). Its work topics are:

  • Common Client Metadata phase 2 (CMCD version 2) (SP-251265 clauses 3 and 4 (WT#1))
  • Server- and network-assisted media streaming (SP-251265 clauses 3 and 4 (WT#2))
  • Multiple service locations phase 2 (SP-251265 clauses 3 and 4 (WT#3))
  • Combined unicast, multicast and broadcast (SP-251265 clauses 3 and 4 (WT#4))
  • 5G System-independent media streaming (SP-251265 clauses 3 and 4 (WT#5))
  • Latency measurement and control (SP-251265 clauses 3 and 4 (WT#6))
  • Network slicing phase 3 (SP-251265 clauses 3 and 4 (WT#7))
  • Multi-access media delivery phase 2 (SP-251265 clauses 3 and 4 (WT#8))

The study has led to a Release 20 stage 2 work item (SP-260973), with target completion at SA#114 (Dec-26). Its topics include CMCD version 2, in-band signalling of rate limits, combined unicast, multicast and broadcast delivery, 5G System-independent media streaming, latency measurement and control, and application-driven multi-access delivery with priority for uplink (SP-260973 clauses 3, 4 and 5). Its topics include CMCD version 2, in-band signalling of rate limits, combined unicast, multicast and broadcast delivery, 5G System-independent media streaming, latency measurement and control, and application-driven multi-access delivery with priority for uplink.

Sources for this page
  • Why AMD: SID SP-241011 (FS_AMD), clauses 3 and 4.
  • Release 19 features, set out to specify: WIDs SP-241963 (AMD-ARCH-MED) and SP-250265 (AMD_PRO-MED), clause 4.
  • CMCD: TS 26.510 V19.2.0, clause 8.11; TS 26.512 V19.3.0, clauses 7.8.1, 10.5, 11.4.1, 12.4, 13.2.4, 18.3.3 and Annex G.5.
  • Multiple service locations: SP-241011, clause 3; SP-250265, clause 4; TS 26.512 V19.3.0, clauses 2, 10.3A.4, G.4.4 and Annex H; TS 26.511 V19.0.0.
  • Multiple service locations, procedures: TS 26.501 V20.0.0, clauses 4.2.1 and 5.4.4; TS 26.512 V19.3.0, clause 4.10A.
  • Multi-access media delivery: TS 26.501 V20.0.0, Annex H and clause H.2; TS 26.510 V19.2.0.
  • Encrypted and high-value content: TS 26.512 V19.3.0, clause 8.8, Annex G.3 and reference [74]; TS 26.501 V20.0.0, clause 5.14.
  • Improved QoS support: TS 26.501 V20.0.0, clauses 4.0.6, 5.7.9, 5.7.10, 6.9.8 and 6.9.9; TS 26.510 V19.2.0, clauses 5.3.3.3A.1 and 5.3.3.3A.2; TS 26.512 V19.3.0, clauses 4.6.0.1 and 5.6.2.
  • Network slicing: TS 26.510 V19.2.0, clause 5.2.7.1.
  • New in Release 19: the text of each clause compared with TS 26.501 V18.9.0, TS 26.510 V18.5.0 and TS 26.512 V18.7.0.
  • Release 20: SID SP-251265 (FS_AMD_Ph2), clauses 3 and 4; WID SP-260973 (AMD_ARCH_Ph2-MED), clause 3; 3GPP work plan of 28 September 2026.