Summary of 3GPP Stage-1 Workshop on IMT2030 Use Cases

3GPP Stage 1 workshop on IMT 2030 use cases took place on May 8-10 2024 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Its objective was to bring 3GPP closer to the ongoing initiatives of various global/regional research organizations and MRPs related to the 6G use cases. This collaborative effort is of utmost importance as 3GPP SA1 undertakes the task of defining the requirements and use cases for 6G starting from Rel-20.

Now in case if you don't know what Stage 1, 2 & 3 are, 3GPP FAQ's explain it simply as follows:

A three-stage methodology as defined in ITU T Recommendation I.130 is applied in 3GPP according TR 21.900 clause 4.1:

  • Stage 1 is an overall service description from the user’s standpoint.
  • Stage 2 is an overall description of the organization of the network functions to map service requirements into network capabilities.
  • Stage 3 is the definition of switching and signalling capabilities needed to support services defined in stage 1.

You can learn about these and the other working groups, including SA1, on our 3GPP tutorial here.

The workshop page provides all the details on the presentations and panel discussions. For anyone looking to download the files, they can be downloaded from here.

Quoting from the workshop summary, SWS-240025:

Some Potential Drivers for 6G, As commonly heard at the workshop but does not, in any way, imply priority or ranking of the 6G use cases discussed during the 3GPP Stage-1 workshop on IMT2030 use cases:

  • Security. Used in different contexts, both about network security and user data confidentiality:
    • Maintaining continuity of service and robust security, especially crucial in times of crisis
    • Identify all relevant new threat-factors for 6G, and develop mitigation solution (e.g. detection and protection against electromagnetic threats)
    • quantum-safe security mechanisms
  • Support of Artificial Intelligence. Both for:
    • Network-design/performance:
      • network optimization and automation (Intelligent Network management, Network Performance)
      • Energy efficiency/saving/ sustainability
      • AI-assisted air interface/ Radio Performance;
      • AI for improving positioning
    • Enabling AI at the application level:
      • AI data management, model distribution for all AI-assisted “smart” areas (cities, industries, surgeries, robot control, manufacturing plant, rescue missions etc.
      • AI as a Service (AIaaS)
      • To implement a range of media’s personalization and customization (sport TV program, etc)
  • Immersive Communications
    • Extended reality
    • Holographic, telepresence
    • Multi-sensorial communication
    • Digital twin; (Hyper-realistic) metaverse; virtual worlds
    • for leisure (gaming, entertainment), professionals (industrial training), education (remote lecture)
  • Sustainability
    • It mainly refers to energy efficiency/reduction of energy consumption
      • Exact metrics vary between presenters
    • In specific contexts, It might also refer to:
      • Reducing environmental impacts
      • More efficient processes and more utilization of resources in different industrial domains to support a circular economy
      • Reuse of 5G hardware/no forced hardware refresh; Software-based upgrades
  • Ubiquitous and resilient coverage
    • Non-Terrestrial Network (Satellite) coverage
    • Remote and underserved areas; Seamless rural coverage for smart agriculture, education, etc
    • Needed for Automotive (also for autonomous driving), Aerial & Maritime communications
    • Network resiliency: minimise network outage, resiliency to the unexpected (natural disaster, etc.)
  • Sensing
    • Human Activity Recognition; Localization and Tracking; Environmental Object Reconstruction; Monitoring Tasks
    • Use the communication infrastructure as a sensor
    • Intelligent sensing and communication coexistence
    • For different use cases, e.g. autonomous driving
  • “Smart” everything:
    • “Smart” refers to a remotely operable/controllable/configurable system, generally AI-assisted
    • Smart Cities/home/factory
      • For Factory: Smart Industry/logistic/manufacturing/productivity; this includes the Control of Robot/Cobots/Sobots
    • Smart Infrastructure; Smart Grid
    • Smart Agriculture/education
    • Smart Health & Wellness
  • Voice over 6G (Vo6G), including roaming, lawful interception and emergency call
  • Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
  • Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWA) and massive IoT/sensors
  • Open network Northbound APIs
  • Healthcare: monitoring; telesurgery
  • Autonomous driving; Connected Vehicles (see also “ubiquitous coverage”)
  • Enhanced positioning
  • Backward compatibility

Next steps in 3GPP:

  • SA1#106 (27-31 May 2024 - Korea, Jeju) will invite the presentations from 3GPP Members on:
    • their views on 6G Use Cases
    • the SI organisational aspects: one or several study(ies) on 6G?
    • Further details to be provided as part of SA1#106 meeting agenda.
  • Approval of SA1 6G SIDs is targeted for September 2024 (TSG SA#105)
  • TSG wide 6G Workshop is planned for Mar 10 – 11, 2025. Further details TBD.

For further details see the 3GPP page here.

Related Posts: 

Posted by on

Comments

Post a Comment