What’s next in 3GPP 5G-Advanced toward 6G?

The 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) is a standards community that has been at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge standards for mobile broadband over the past two and a half decades. This contribution has led to the establishment of the fastest-scaling global mobile technology ecosystem from 3G to 5G. Embarking on the second wave of 5G innovations, 3GPP 5G-Advanced is shaping the trajectory for 6G technology.

3GPP initiated 5G-Advanced in Release 18, laying a solid foundation for the further evolution of 5G-Advanced. Release 19, scheduled to start in 2024, will primarily focus on commercial deployment needs while serving as a bridge toward 6G. This lecture will provide an in-depth overview of the 5G-Advanced evolution in 3GPP Release 19. We will explore how Release 19 will augment the existing 5G system, expand into new use cases, introduce novel capabilities, and elucidate the role of 5G-Advanced studies in bridging towards the future of 6G technologies.