The document outlines the 3GPP standards timeline from 2017 to 2022, showing the development schedule for 5G standards releases 15-18. It details the content definition, specification development, freeze dates and drop dates for each release. The timeline is revised regularly by 3GPP to coordinate the multi-year development of 5G network specifications.

1. 3GPP Standards Timeline – Revised Mar. 2020
©3G4G
2018 2019 2020 20212017
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2Q4
Rel-15 NSA
(option-3)
freeze
Rel-15 NSA
(option-3)
ASN.1
Earlydrop
Rel-15 SA
(option-2)
freeze
Rel-15 SA
(option-2)
ASN.1
Main drop
Rel-15
Rel-15 late
drop
freeze
Rel-15 late
drop ASN.1
Latedrop
Rel-16
content
definition
Rel-16 specification development
Rel-16
freeze
Rel-16
ASN.1
freeze
Rel-16
Designed by 3G4G, based on roadmap from 3GPP, Mar 2020
Rel-16 RAN4
Performance
Completion
Continued

2. 3GPP Standards Timeline – Revised Mar. 2020
©3G4G
2018 2019 2020 2021
Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3
Rel-16
content
definition
Rel-16 specification development
Rel-16
freeze
Rel-16
ASN.1
freeze
Rel-16
Approval
of Rel-17
content
Rel-17 specification work
Rel-17
stage-3
freezeRel-17
Designed by 3G4G, based on roadmap from 3GPP, Mar 2020
Rel-16 RAN4
Performance
Completion
Rel-17
RAN1
freeze
Q4
Rel-18
Approval
of Rel-18
content
2022
Q1 Q2
Rel-17
ASN.1
freeze
Rel-17 RAN4
Performance
Completion

3. 3GPP Standards Timeline – Revised Dec. 2019
©3G4G
2018 2019 2020 20212017
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3Q4
Rel-15 NSA
(option-3)
freeze
Rel-15 NSA
(option-3)
ASN.1
Earlydrop
Rel-15 SA
(option-2)
freeze
Rel-15 SA
(option-2)
ASN.1
Main dropRel-15
Rel-15 late
drop
freeze
Rel-15 late
drop ASN.1
Latedrop
Rel-16
content
definition
Rel-16 specification development
Rel-16
freeze
Rel-16
ASN.1
freeze
Rel-16
Approval
of Rel-17
content
Rel-17 specification work
Rel-17
stage-3
freeze
Rel-17
ASN.1
freezeRel-17
Designed by 3G4G, based on roadmap from 3GPP, Dec 2019
Rel-16 RAN4
Performance
Completion
Rel-17
RAN1
freeze
Q4
Rel-17 RAN4
Performance
Completion
Rel-18
Approval
of Rel-18
content

4. Thank You
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