3GPP Finalized 6G Architectural Specifications
The standards body has set the foundation for 6G deployment, moving into the study phase for Release 21.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Telecommunications
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The 3GPP has completed its architectural specifications for 6G and reached 100% completion on system architecture for 5G Advanced Release 20. This progress marks a transition toward the development of foundational 6G standards.
Why it matters
Defining these architectural paths now ensures that global telecommunications infrastructure can align on 6G integration strategies. This milestone accelerates the transition from 5G Advanced toward a functional freeze of 6G standards by late 2028.
The 3GPP achieved 100% completion of Stage 2 architectural requirements for Release 20 and established the baseline for technical report TR 38.914. These specs finalize the framework for dual connectivity deployment paths using Option 1 and Option 3.
The players
3GPP
A global partnership of telecommunications standards organizations that develops technical specifications for mobile networks.
ATIS
The Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions, a North American trade association that drives standard-setting for communication technologies.
ITU-R WP 5D
The International Telecommunication Union's working party responsible for the development of international mobile telecommunications standards.
The details
The 3GPP utilized a series of technical working groups—including RAN1, which focuses on radio physical layer specifications, and SA2, which manages system architecture—to define the integration of Integrated Sensing and Communications. Delegates finalized dual connectivity deployment paths to ensure backward compatibility and future scalability. These technical reports provide the foundation for Multi-RAT Spectrum Sharing, a method allowing disparate radio access technologies to utilize the same frequency bands efficiently.
Timeline
September 15-17, 2026: 3GPP Plenary meeting held in Madrid.
Mid-2027: ATIS submits initial framework to ITU-R WP 5D.
December 2028: Release 21 functional stage 3 freeze.
February 2029: Final deadline for IMT-2030 candidate evaluations.
The Tech Race
This work establishes the technical baseline necessary to meet the requirements of the ITU-R IMT-2030 framework. It represents the essential industry preparation for submitting formal 6G candidate technologies for global evaluation.
These standards do not currently affect consumer devices but set the functional requirements for the equipment carriers will eventually deploy. Infrastructure upgrades utilizing these protocols are not expected to reach commercial networks until after the 2028 functional freeze.
The takeaway
The industry has moved from speculative research into the formal architectural definition phase for 6G. Stakeholders should track the December 2028 functional freeze of Release 21 as the primary indicator for subsequent hardware development cycles.
What happens next
ATIS will submit the early Release 21 architectural framework to the ITU-R WP 5D in mid-2027, followed by the formal candidate technology proposal deadline in February 2029.
Further reading
For more on the evolution of mobile standards, visit the Telecommunications section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Everythingrf.
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