3GPP 1

3GPP
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications
associations, to make a globally applicable third-generation (3G) mobile phone system specification within the scope
of the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 project of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
3GPP specifications are based on evolved Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) specifications. 3GPP
standardization encompasses Radio, Core Network and Service architecture.[1]
The groups are the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, Association of Radio Industries and
Businesses/Telecommunication Technology Committee (ARIB/TTC) (Japan), China Communications Standards
Association [2] , Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (North America) and Telecommunications
Technology Association [3] (South Korea).[1] The project was established in December 1998.
3GPP should not be confused with 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2), which specifies standards for
another 3G technology based on IS-95 (CDMA), commonly known as CDMA2000.

Standards
3GPP standards are structured as Releases. Discussion of 3GPP thus frequently refers to the functionality in one
release or another.

[4] [5] Info

Version Released

Phase 1 1992 GSM Features

Phase 2 1995 GSM Features, EFR Codec,

Release 96 1997 Q1 GSM Features, 14.4 kbit/s User Data Rate,

Release 97 1998 Q1 GSM Features, GPRS

Release 98 1998 GSM Features, AMR, EDGE, GPRS for PCS1900

Release 99 2000 Q1 [6]

Specified the first UMTS 3G networks, incorporating a CDMA air interface

Release 4 2001 Q2 [7]

Originally called the Release 2000 - added features including an all-IP Core Network

Release 5 2002 Q1 [8]

Introduced IMS and HSDPA

Release 6 2004 Q4 Integrated operation with Wireless LAN networks and adds HSUPA, MBMS, enhancements to IMS such as Push to
[9]
Talk over Cellular (PoC), GAN

Release 7 2007 Q4 [10]

Focuses on decreasing latency, improvements to QoS and real-time applications such as VoIP. This specification
also focus on HSPA+ (High Speed Packet Access Evolution), SIM high-speed protocol and contactless front-end
interface (Near Field Communication enabling operators to deliver contactless services like Mobile Payments), EDGE
Evolution.

Release 8 2008 Q4 First LTE release. All-IP Network (SAE). New OFDMA, FDE and MIMO based radio interface, not backwards
compatible with previous CDMA interfaces.

Release 9 2009 Q4 SAES Enhancements, WiMAX and LTE/UMTS Interoperability

Release 10 In progress LTE Advanced fulfilling IMT Advanced 4G requirements. Backwards compatible with release 8 (LTE).

Release 11 In progress Advanced IP Interconnection of Services. Service layer interconnection between national operators/carriers as well as
third party application providers.

Release 12 In progress. Content still open (as of May 2010).

Each release incorporates hundreds of individual standards documents, each of which may have been through many
revisions. Current 3GPP standards incorporate the latest revision of the GSM standards. 3GPP's plans for the future
3GPP 2

beyond Release 7 are in the development under the title Long Term Evolution ("LTE").
The documents are available freely on 3GPP's Web site. While 3GPP standards can be bewildering to the newcomer,
they are remarkably complete and detailed, and provide insight into how the cellular industry works. They cover not
only the radio part ("Air Interface") and Core Network, but also billing information and speech coding down to
source code level. Cryptographic aspects (authentication, confidentiality) are also specified in detail. 3GPP2 offers
similar information about its system.

Deployment
3GPP systems are deployed across much of the established GSM market[11] [12] . They are primarily Release 99
systems, but as of 2006, growing interest in High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) is driving adoption of
Release 5 and its successors. Since 2005, 3GPP systems were seeing deployment in the same markets as 3GPP2
systems (for example, North America[13] ). Industry commentators speculate constantly about the competing
systems, and the outcome is unclear.

See also
• Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS)
• 3GPP Long Term Evolution
• Evolution to 3G
• IP Multimedia Subsystem
• 3GP
• 3GPP2 - The 3GPP's counterpart in the CDMA2000 sphere.
• GSM services
• Telecoms & Internet converged Services & Protocols for Advanced Networks (TISPAN)
• Open Mobile Alliance
• Service layer
• European Telecommunications Standards Institute

References
[1] About The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) (http:/ / www. 3gpp. org/ About/ about. htm)
[2] CCSA Homepage (http:/ / www. ccsa. org. cn/ english/ )
[3] http:/ / www. tta. or. kr/ English
[4] (http:/ / www. 3gpp. org/ releases)
[5] 3GPP Specifications - Releases (and phases and stages) (http:/ / www. 3gpp. org/ specs/ releases. htm)
[6] Overview of 3GPP Release 99, Summary of all Release 99 Features. ETSI Mobile Competence Centre, Version xx/07/04
[7] Overview of 3GPP Release 4, Summary of all Release 4 Features, v.1.1.0 (draft) ETSI Mobile Competence Centre 2004
[8] Summary of all Release 5 Features, ETSI Mobile Competence Centre, Version 9 September 2003
[9] Overview of 3GPP Release 6, Summary of all Release 6 Features, Version TSG #33, ETSI Mobile Competence Centre 2006
[10] Review of the Work Plan at Plenaries #31, 3GPP, SP-060232 3GPP TSG SA#31 Sanya, March 13–16, 2006
[11] GSM/3G Fast Facts. GSM Suppliers' Association, 10 December 2006
[12] Resources: 3G/UMTS Commercial Deployments, Table listing commercially launched 3G/UMTS networks based on WCDMA technology,
UMTS Forum
[13] Cingular to Deliver 3G Wireless Broadband Services, Press Release, Cingular Wireless, MediaRoom 30 November 2004
3GPP 3

External links
• 3GPP website (http://www.3gpp.org/)
• 3GPP specifications (http://www.3gpp.org/specs/specs.htm)
• ETSI GSM UMTS 3GPP Numbering Cross Reference (http://webapp.etsi.org/key/queryform.asp)
• TS/TR (http://www.3gpp.org/ftp/specs/html-info/status-report.htm)
• specification numbering (http://www.3gpp.org/Specification-Numbering)
• Tool for visualizing multiple inter-related 3gpp standards (http://plex.questinygroup.com/3gpp/)
Article Sources and Contributors 4

Article Sources and Contributors

3GPP  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=385151894  Contributors: 3gppman, Ahoerstemeier, Alejo2083, Arkrishna, Armando82, Bluezy, Carre, Chancheelam, Charmi99,
ChrisUK, Closedmouth, DJ Rubbie, Dafocus, Darin-0, Davidmathiraj, Fontles, Gogo Dodo, Iandiver, Idyls, Isnow, Jale86, Jhendry24, Jmoz2989, Josep1c, Jpatokal, Karghazini, KyraVixen,
Lear's Fool, Mange01, Matt Crypto, McSly, Melchoir, Mindmatrix, Mlewis000, Mojodaddy, Ohconfucius, Pgan002, Phoenix-forgotten, Pigsonthewing, Rjwilmsi, Salix alba, Siddhant, Splash,
Squiggleslash, Stephan Leeds, The Anome, Tyagi, Vegaswikian, Wo.luren, XMog, Xaliqen, ZZ9, Zzuuzz, 79 anonymous edits

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