6G Timeline

First step:            6G Research and vision

Interim steps:   6G Standardisation requirements

Next steps:         6G Trials & testing

ITU-R WP-5D shared the draft new recommendation Framework and overall objectives of future development of IMT for 2030 and beyond (IMT-2030) finalised in June 2023 ITU-R WP5D meeting  (which has since been adopted in September-23 meeting) with 3GPP (in LS RP-231518). As per the timeline in the draft recommendations, ITU-R is seeking technical proposals for IMT-2030 with self-evaluations in 2029 to be adopted into IMT-2030 standard in 2030.  This resulted in proposals from many members about starting 6G planning. Although there are small differences between proposals from different members, common points in most of the proposals regarding 6G planning are
  • 6G workshop (Mid-2024) towards end of Release-19 RAN1 functional freeze (June 2025)
  • Release-20 to include Study Items for 6G
  • Release-21 to include Work Items for 6G (i.e. first 6G release)
  • Release-21 (First 6G release) to be ready in 2029 for submission for IMT-2030 with self-evaluation.
Although there are small differences regarding exact timing of 6G workshop and timeline (beginning of 2029 or end of 2029), Release-21 is most likely to be the first release of 6G with release date sometime in 2029. 
Currently, ITU-R is conducting initial discussions to establish next-generation mobile communication standards. WP 5D, a mobile communication standardization working group under ITU-R, established a roadmap with a schedule for approving 6G standards in 2030. In line with this, following the publication of the 2022 Future Technology Trend Report [19], the 6G Framework Recommendation was completed at the 44th meeting in June 2023. Afterwards, 6G technology performance requirements and evaluation methods will be defined and 6G candidate technologies will be proposed and evaluated, followed by final approval for 6G standard in June 2030.
While ITU-R has the authority to evaluate and approve mobile communication standards, actual standards for mobile communication are prepared by 3GPP. Currently, 5G-Advanced standardization work is in progress in 3GPP, aiming to complete the Rel-18 standard in March 2024.3GPP plans to develop 6G standards that meet the IMT-2030 technical performance requirements presented by ITU-R. Discussion on the 6G standardization schedule will begin at the TSG 101 meeting to be held in September 2023, and an agreement on the 6G standardization schedule will be reached at the TSG 102 meeting in December 2023. Then, the process of submitting Rel-21 standard to ITU-R is expected around the end of 2028.Considering the development period for commercial products by equipment and device manufacturers after the standards that can be implemented are completed in 3GPP, 6G commercialization is expected to be achieved around 2030.
6G discussion in 3GPP3GPP is expected to develop an input to the IMT-2030 process.Initial 6G discussion in 3GPP RAN
  • First (very brief) 6G timeline discussion in RAN#101 [September 2023]
Triggered by the liaison from ITU-R WP5D in RP-231518: On completion of draft new Recommendation ITU-R M.[IMT.FRAMEWORK FOR 2030 AND BEYOND]
  • High-level considerations for 6G timeline discussed in RAN#102 [December 2023], including a TSG-wide joint session, resulting in the endorsed way forward in RP-233985
  • Additional considerations for 6G timeline discussed in RAN#103 [March 2024], including another TSG-wide joint session, resulting in the endorsed way forward in RP-240823
6G Timeline high-level considerations from RP-233985 Dec. 2023:
  • First TSG-wide 6G workshop is expected to be in March 2025 right before the planned Rel-19 RAN1 functional freeze [June 2025]. Detailed information for the workshop is TBD.
  • Organization of a 3GPP Stage 1 workshop on IMT-2030 use cases is being discussed separately (Refer to SP-231619)
  • Studies for 6G in 3GPP are expected to start from Release 20.

RAN plenary work is split into an ITU focused SI (study item) and General RAN SI
  • IMT-2030 discussion is expected in RAN from 09/24 to 12/24
  • RP SI Rel-20 focusing on ITU– IMT-2030:  approval 12/24 until 06/25
  • RP SI Rel-20 focusing on 6G General (e.g., radio requirements and KPIs) : approval 03/25 (after WS), until 06/26

RAN WGs in Rel-20For 5G-Advanced: 18-month. Assuming no delay of Rel-19
  • Stage-1 freeze : Jun 2025
  • Stage-2 freeze : Jun 2026 (>=80%); Sep 2026 (100%)
  • Stage-3 freeze : Mar 2027
  • ASN.1/OpenAPI freeze: June 2027
For 6G SI: 21 months
  • RAN1 starts in 3Q/25 until 1Q/27
  • RAN2/3/4 start in 4Q/25 until 2Q/27

IMT-2030 submission and normative work for 6G in 3GPP are expected to start from Release 21
  • Release 21 is expected to produce the 1st set of 3GPP 6G technical specifications, and will be the release for    IMT-2030 submission before 2030
  • Release 21 is expected to be delivered with a single drop (i.e., a single code freeze)
  • Rel-21 timeline is to be decided no later than June 2026 (However, ASN.1/OpenAPI freeze date is no earlier than March 2029)
  • Target TSG#103 (March’2024) for the remaining detailed 6G timeline decisions.
3GPP Stage 1 Workshop on IMT 2030 Use cases   [May 8 - 10   SP-240456]The objective of the workshop is to bring 3GPP closer to the ongoing initiatives of various global/regional research organizations and MRPs regarding 6G use cases.