ATIS Webinar on 3GPP Release 20 and the Growing Shape of 6G

ATIS delivered another interesting and useful update webinar looking at “3GPP Release 20 – An Update on 3GPP 6G Technology Studies”. They have been doing this consistently for every 5G release which provides a useful insight into what is coming next. This webinar was moderated by Richard Burbidge, ATIS Principal Technologist, with speakers Puneet Jain from Intel, who is also the SA Plenary Chair, and Wanshi Chen from Apple, who previously served as the RAN Plenary Chair.

The session provided a comprehensive view of how Release 20 is evolving and, more importantly, how it is laying the groundwork for 6G. What stands out immediately is the structured and disciplined way in which 3GPP is managing the transition. Release 20 is not purely about 6G. Instead, it adopts a dual track approach where 5G Advanced continues to evolve while 6G studies are initiated in parallel . This ensures continuity for the industry while allowing early exploration of future technologies.

The 5G Advanced component of Release 20 is progressing steadily with a well-defined timeline. Stage 1 has already been completed and subsequent stages are moving towards completion through 2027. This predictable cadence is important for vendors and operators as it provides clarity on when features will mature and become deployable. At the same time, this work acts as a bridge towards 6G, both technically and operationally.

On the 6G side, Release 20 is entirely focused on studies. The journey towards 6G formally began with workshops in 2024 and 2025, bringing together stakeholders across the ecosystem to define use cases and priorities. These discussions have now translated into a set of coordinated study items across service requirements, architecture, security and radio. These studies are expected to conclude around 2027 and will form the basis of normative work in Release 21.

One of the most important milestones highlighted in the webinar is the completion of the 6G service requirements study in SA1. The technical report TR 22.870 has now been approved, marking the first comprehensive view of what 6G is expected to deliver. A clear trend emerges from this work. Artificial intelligence is not just an add-on but a fundamental part of the system. Both AI capabilities and system level operations dominate the discussion, each accounting for a significant share of the requirements .

The vision of 6G as an AI native network comes through strongly. The concept of network AI agents that can interpret user intent and dynamically orchestrate services represents a shift from traditional network design. Alongside this, support for AI workloads such as training and inference is expected to drive new performance requirements, particularly in terms of uplink throughput and latency.

Another key theme is integrated sensing and communication. The idea that the network can act as a distributed sensor opens up new possibilities, from environmental awareness to advanced mobility use cases. This is reflected in ambitious performance targets for sensing resolution and positioning accuracy, indicating how tightly communication and sensing will be coupled in future systems.

Ubiquitous connectivity is also a central pillar of the 6G vision. The integration of non-terrestrial networks, including satellites and high altitude platforms, is expected to eliminate coverage gaps and provide truly global connectivity. This goes beyond simple coverage extension and includes features such as resilience during disasters and direct device to device communication via non-terrestrial platforms.

Immersive communication continues to evolve as well, building on concepts already introduced in 5G. However, the requirements are significantly more demanding. High data rates, ultra-low latency and precise synchronisation are needed to support applications such as holographic telepresence and advanced XR experiences. These requirements highlight the increasing convergence between communication, computing and media delivery.

The study also looks at massive communication and industrial use cases, where reliability and latency requirements become extremely stringent. Support for localised operation, even in the absence of backhaul connectivity, reflects the growing importance of private and mission critical networks. At the same time, energy efficiency and sustainability are emerging as fundamental design principles rather than optional enhancements.

From an architectural perspective, the work in SA2 is building on the service-based architecture introduced in 5G. The assumption is that 6G will support both terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks natively, with tighter integration of AI, sensing and computing capabilities. A number of key issues are being investigated, ranging from core network enhancements to new service frameworks. This work is still ongoing and is expected to mature over the next couple of years.

Security is another area receiving significant attention. The 6G security study is structured around multiple domains, covering everything from access network security to core network and data exposure. Of particular interest is the focus on post-quantum cryptography and the development of new trust models. This reflects a recognition that future threats will require fundamentally different approaches compared to those used in earlier generations.

On the radio side, the update from the RAN perspective provides additional insight into how 6G may evolve. There is a clear intention to keep the system lean and avoid unnecessary complexity. This includes limiting the number of options and configurations, which has been a challenge in previous generations. At the same time, there is a focus on improving user experience, particularly for users at the cell edge.

Performance targets for 6G show a more balanced approach compared to earlier generations. Rather than simply pushing peak data rates, there is an emphasis on improving spectral efficiency and ensuring more consistent performance across the network. New spectrum bands, particularly around 7 GHz, are also being considered as part of this evolution.

The RAN discussions also highlight the importance of supporting diverse device types from the outset. Unlike 5G, where many device categories were introduced later, 6G aims to accommodate a wide range of devices from the first release. This includes everything from high performance XR devices to low complexity IoT nodes.

Another interesting aspect is the focus on migration from 5G to 6G. Different options are being considered, including standalone operation and various forms of dual connectivity. These decisions will have a significant impact on how smoothly operators can transition to 6G when the time comes.

All of this work in Release 20 is leading towards Release 21, which will mark the start of normative 6G specifications. The current expectation is that Release 21 will deliver the first complete set of 6G standards, with finalisation targeted towards the end of the decade . This aligns with the broader IMT-2030 timeline and ensures that 3GPP remains on track to deliver a globally harmonised 6G system.

Overall, the webinar provides a clear indication that 6G is no longer just a research topic. The work is now structured, coordinated and progressing within 3GPP. While many details are still being debated and refined, the direction is becoming increasingly clear. Release 20 is not about delivering 6G, but it is where the foundations are being firmly established.

3GPP has a detailed writeup of this webinar here. The slides from the webinar is available here and the video is embedded below.

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