The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) develops technical specifications that are transposed by seven standardization bodies (ARIB, ATIS, CCSA, ETSI, TSDSI, TTA, and TTC, referred to as Organizational Partners) into appropriate deliverables. They provide their members with a stable environment in which to produce reports and specifications defining 3GPP technologies.
Membership in an Organizational Partner is a prerequisite for individual membership in 3GPP. All entities that are registered as members of an Organizational Partner and eligible to participate in its technical work can become Individual Members of 3GPP if they are committed to supporting 3GPP and contributing, technically or otherwise, to one or more of 3GPP’s Technical Specification Groups (TSGs).
3GPP specifications address cellular telecommunications technologies, including radio access, core networks, and service capabilities, to provide complete system descriptions for mobile telecommunications.
When the 3GPP project was launched in 1998, the goal was to develop technical specifications and technical reports for a 3G mobile phone system based on evolved GSM core networks and the radio access technologies supported by them. Its scope was subsequently extended to include the maintenance and development of technical specifications and technical reports for evolved 3GPP technologies beyond 3G.
The specifications and studies (technical reports) produced and conducted by 3GPP are driven by contributions by member companies and working groups belonging to three technical specification groups (TSGs):
- Radio Access Networks (RAN)
- Services & Systems Aspects (SA)
- Core Network & Terminals (CT)
The working groups within the TSGs meet regularly and also all come together for week-long quarterly plenary meetings at which they present their work for information, discussion, and approval. The final session is held by the SA TSG, which is also responsible for overall coordination and for monitoring the progress of technical work.
