What we do
Our work is member- and contribution-driven. Work Items describe the motivation of the work to be conducted and a concrete list of tasks, actions, expected outcomes and a timeline.
Workgroups are responsible for completing tasks and producing results. Deliverables may include:
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Requirements development
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Contributions to Specification Development Organizations (SDOs)
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Coordination and consensus building among members
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Analysis of specifications, architectures, and systems
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Development of profiles and guidelines
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Creation of reference tools
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Specification validation and verification
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Participation in demonstrations and trials
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Liaison and collaboration with relevant organizations
We are developing an ecosystem of interoperable, standards-based solutions to create and optimize media experiences across the Internet & mobile networks (5G/6G)
We transform specifications into products from market-driven requirements, collaborating with SDOs, and developing open-source software to catalyse adoption
Many of our resources, discussions, documentation and software projects are hosted in GitHub
Work Items
This is a list of all 5G-MAG Work Items.
WI: Network Exposure and APIs Supporting Media Services and Applications
Media applications are everywhere today and are playing an important role in the digital landscape. They connect people together through real-time communications and contribute to information distribution and culture around the world. From traditional TV, on-demand streaming to XR tomorrow, the media landscape is continuously evolving, bringing new formats, usages, and connectivity needs.
The usage of 5G for enabling and optimizing multimedia applications has been in the heart of 5G-MAG from its beginning. Whether it is for distribution or contribution, 5G can significantly enhance the performance and user experience through higher data rates, lower latency, better coverage and increased security. Furthermore, 5G enables media applications to be optimized closely to the network, leveraging a powerful set of tools and services defined in 3GPP.
Beyond the baseline technical capabilities and tools offered by 5G, additional network capabilities and services can be used to further enhance the performance, responsiveness and efficiency of media applications and services. Whether it is from the perspective of vertical applications and service providers or from that of Mobile Network Operators, additional functionalities are needed to be exposed from the network to further optimize workflows. Therefore, a set of rich and powerful network exposure interfaces should be available to accelerate the proliferation of services in the market and the scaling of multimedia applications over mobile networks.
Multiple organizations are currently developing network exposure functionalities and APIs for different purposes and targeting interactions between network operators and third parties at different levels.. For media applications, 5G-MAG is currently implementing and using APIs defined by 3GPP for interactions with the 5G Service-based Architecture. Other recent examples from initiatives such as CAMARA or GSMA Open Gateway are reflected in the following news items: https://globalcarrier.telekom.com/newsroom/news/news-pages/deutsche-telekom-quality-on-demand-network-apis-used-to-improve-targeted-video-streaming
The multimedia connectivity ecosystem gathered in 5G-MAG has interest in working together to bring common understanding on the applicability of the APIs developed by relevant organizations to harmonize network exposure interfaces and ensure its applicability to relevant applications.
WI: Feasibility Analysis of Media Distribution over Non-Terrestrial Networks
Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) are part of the 5G system architecture defined by 3GPP and applicable to different types of orbits: Geo Synchronous Orbit (GSO) and Non-Geo Synchronous Orbit (NGSO). NTN access networks to directly reach end-user devices and/or can be used as purely transport network components (e.g. backhaul). NTN can provide connectivity in areas without sufficient coverage from terrestrial networks (e.g., in rural areas) and complement terrestrial connectivity or offload traffic from terrestrial networks when needed. Satellite networks (in particular GSO) have been traditionally used to deliver media services. Broadband connectivity over satellite also plays a role in delivering internet services, including media. This work item first identifies relevant use cases & service requirements for media distribution over 5G NTN, and then studies whether these can be supported by 3GPP technical specifications.
WI: XR and 3D Assets in 5G-based communication
5G-MAG has adopted several open source libraries to support 3D and XR services in 3GPP based on the MPEG-I Scene Description (SD) as defined on the specification in ISO/IEC 23090-14. The initially available libraries are closely aligned with the work in Rel-18 3GPP SA4 namely:
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MeCAR: TS 26.119 is aimed at defining the media capabilities for AR devices (addressing various types of form factors) when connected to the 3GPP networks. Working assumptions connect the AR media processing to an XR runtime for which OpenXR is used as a reference API, i.e. ensuring at least compatibility with OpenXR and supporting MPEG-I Scene Description, with optionally using V3C (ISO/IEC 23090-5), as an end point.
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Split Rendering MSE: TS 26.565 is aimed to support split rendering workflows and is based on TS 26.119
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PROMISE: 5G-Advanced media profiles for messaging services creates a new specification in TS 26.143 in order to address, among others, 3D Message Formats.
In addition, other Rel-18 work items related to XR are covered in RAN and SA2.
The tasks in this work item will concentrate on providing an overview and introduction to XR and 3D Experiences via 5G based on Rel-18 specifications in 3GPP; Implementation Guidelines for XR and 3D Experiences via 5G based on Rel-18 specifications in 3GPP for selected use cases; and creating a new cluster for XR and 3D asset distribution ready to include features beyond 3GPP SA4 release 18 such as additional MAF pipelines, immersive codecs developed in MPEG-I, or new media types.
WI: Coordination of inputs from 5G-MAG as MRP to 3GPP Rel-19 workshops
This work item provides the framework within 5G-MAG to coordinate the inputs on requirements (e.g., services, features and functionality) from 5G-MAG to relevant 3GPP Workshops.
The 3GPP Radio Access Network (RAN) and Service & System Aspects (SA) plenary groups have endorsed (RP-222730) a workshop on 15-16 June 2023 to collect inputs from the industry to shape the next release in the 5G-Advanced cycle, i.e., Rel-19. After the workshop, it is expected that the September plenaries will focus on the consolidation of proposals, while the December plenaries will approve most of the contents for Rel-19. The schedule for Rel-19 workshop for the relevant 3GPP SA4 Working Groups has not been scheduled yet.
5G-MAG is a 3GPP Market Representative Partner (MRP) with the ability to offer market advice to 3GPP and to bring into 3GPP a consensus view of market requirements (e.g., services, features and functionality) falling within the 3GPP scope. (https://www.3gpp.org/about-us/partners)
3GPP had similar framework to decide the contents for Rel-18. 5G-MAG contributed to the 3GPP Rel-18 workshops as MRP with inputs to TSG RAN (RWS-210205), and TSG SA & SA4 (S4WS-210007). These 5G-MAG inputs were selected for presentation as representative from the Media Industry among multiple inputs on related topics.
WI: "Advanced Media Services" over 5G
4G is well-known for being able to distribute traditional video services primarily to smartphones, and to some extent to Set-Top boxes (STBs) via Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) access. This predominantly includes streaming live and and on-demand 2D services to apps and browsers, including the ability to provide a certain amount of interactivity provided by apps and browsers.
However, broadcasters and content providers are experimenting with and trialing an increasing number of advanced media services. These include audio and video components and offer more advanced interactivity, quality, functionality and immersiveness. Such services and experiences may include, but are not limited to: Interactive video services, In-stadium multiview services, Virtual Reality Experiences, 3D Scene-based media, Volumetric videos, or Free viewpoint video.
This WI covers the following objectives:
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Collection of “Advanced Media Services” use cases including reference to existing trials, prototypes and experimental services.
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Mapping of these use cases to one or several contribution architectures (if appropriate) and distribution architectures, addressing different service scenarios
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Definition of Quality-of-Experience metrics associated to each of the “Advanced Media Services”
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Collection of relevant network and service requirements on the “Advanced Media Services”
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Mapping of existing 5G specifications against these requirements and identification of potential gaps, possibly supported by early prototyping
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Potential input to 3GPP standardization processes
WI: Feasibility analysis for audiovisual production over 5G
5G-MAG members have identified a series of technical features in the 5G specifications applicable to audiovisual production scenarios (see "Towards a comprehensive 5G-based toolbox for live media production"). This WI focuses on how such features defined in 3GPP specifications (Release 17 with an outlook on Release 18) can be implemented and configured in a real deployment, the description of the architecture and deployment models and gap analyses with regards to the identified KPIs, requirements and expectations. Any identified gaps may be fed back to 3GPP in the form of member contributions.
The principal topics covered by this WI are the following:
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Device (UE) on-boarding and provisioning for 5G NPNs
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Support of Time Sensitive Communications in 5G Systems
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Interworking between 3GPP (NR) and non-3GPP access
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Media Streaming architecture for Uplink Streaming applications
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Architecture enablers for Edge computing applications
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Support of low-latency applications in 5G networks
WI: Emergency alerts based on LTE-based 5G Terrestrial Broadcast
Emergency alert systems are crucial elements to reach out to the population before, during and after an emergency, crisis, or catastrophe. In principle, both broadcast and mobile networks can be used to convey messages and relevant information. This work item aims to enable the delivery of emergency alerts over LTE-based 5G Broadcast networks.
WI: Non-Public Networks in Media Production
Non-Public Networks (NPNs) are a feature of 5G technology designed for localized non-public use. For media organizations, NPNs may offer the possibility of deploying fixed and nomadic networks, where fixed networks would cover small areas like studios or extend to the entire premises as a so-called campus network. NPNs offer a variety of deployment configurations and options. Depending on the requirements of media organizations and the type of production or contribution scenario, stand-alone NPNs or NPNs with varying degrees of integration with public networks may be considered.
WI: Audio/Video Codecs and Protocols
This work item describes and identifies the support of audio-visual codecs in different 3GPP systems.
WI: 5G Multicast and Broadcast Services
This work item deals with the distribution of linear content over 5G networks focusing in particular on 5G Multicast Broadcast Service and related 3GPP work items. This WI investigates the technical features and deployment options applicable to MBS and their application to current and future distribution requirements from service providers.
WI: Linear and on-demand media streaming
This work item deals with the distribution of linear and on-demand content over 5G networks focusing in particular on the 5G Media Streaming Architecture and related 3GPP work items. This WI investigates the different commercial arrangements and deployment options applicable to managed and un-managed (OTT) content distribution and their application to current and future distribution requirements from service providers.
WI: Media distribution over 5G mobile networks
Media content is increasingly being delivered via fixed line and mobile IP networks. This WI is based on the hypothesis that in the future all media content (e.g. linear/live and on-demand) will be delivered via IP-based networks. Audiences on the move will consume media on a range of mobile devices (e.g., smartphones and tablets), as well as in connected cars. This work item focuses on the distribution of content over all-IP 5G mobile networks.
WI: LTE-based 5G Terrestrial Broadcast
LTE-based 5G Terrestrial Broadcast allows to deliver linear content to mobile and portable devices (i.e. smartphones, tablets and vehicles) in a cost efficient way to wide areas, in compliance with the requirements of media companies, i.e. high QoS, free-to-air delivery, …, by means of High Power High Tower (HPHT) networks as well as Low Power Low Tower (LPLT) ones. This possibility opens the way to new synergies and different collaborative scenarios between the broadcast and mobile ecosystem technologies.