3GPP Release Reference
3GPP Releases
Track how 3GPP evolves from release to release, including new features, protocol changes, architecture impacts, and implementation priorities across 5G and beyond.
Use this page to compare releases, understand what changed, and jump into the protocol, message, and troubleshooting pages affected by each release.
Quick release view
| What this page answers | Which release matters, what changed, whether it is stable, and what to read next. |
|---|---|
| Best first stable page | Release 19 |
| Current active release on this page | Release 20 |
| Best 5G-Advanced baseline | Release 18 |
Release timeline and status
A release page should show whether you are looking at an active work stream or a stable baseline. The cards below combine the official portal status with the practical reason each release matters.
Rel-20
Release 20
Current active release · Beyond today’s stable baseline
Tracks active work items, 5G-Advanced continuation, and early 6G study direction.
- Active work plan
- 5G-Advanced continuation
- Early 6G studies
Useful when you need to follow direction of travel, not just stable implementation guidance.
Track Release 20Rel-19
Release 19
Latest frozen release on this site · Latest stable wave
Second major 5G-Advanced step, expanding radio, core, automation, and deployment work.
- 5G-Advanced expansion
- RAN and core evolution
- Operational optimization
Best starting point when you want the newest frozen release with practical engineering relevance.
Explore Release 19Rel-18
Release 18
First 5G-Advanced baseline · Published baseline in practice
Introduced the first broad 5G-Advanced feature set across radio, core, NTN, RedCap, and AI/ML studies.
- 5G-Advanced baseline
- NTN and RedCap growth
- Broader feature breadth
Best page to open when you want the baseline vocabulary behind 5G-Advanced.
See Release 18Rel-17
Release 17
Expansion release · Broader deployment scope
Extended 5G into RedCap, NTN, sidelink growth, and a wider set of deployment scenarios.
- RedCap
- NTN
- Sidelink expansion
Good bridge release if you already understand the Release 15 and 16 core baseline.
See Release 17Rel-16
Release 16
Phase 2 baseline · Industrial and URLLC buildout
Expanded 5G for industrial use, positioning, URLLC support, and broader system maturity.
- URLLC
- Industrial 5G
- Positioning
Important when you need the “Phase 2” context behind practical 5G buildout discussions.
See Release 16Rel-15
Release 15
Foundational baseline · First 5G release
Established the initial NSA and SA foundations, core procedures, and first-wave 5G architecture.
- NSA and SA foundations
- Baseline procedures
- Initial 5G architecture
The right entry point for newer learners or when you need the original baseline behavior.
Start with Release 15Featured latest frozen release
Release 19
Release 19 is the best first detailed page on this site because it is the latest frozen release in the current page model. It gives engineers a stable anchor for the newest completed 5G-Advanced wave without forcing them to chase still-evolving work-plan detail.
Start here if you want to understand what changed, which domains were affected, and which protocol pages are the right next stop for engineering study.
What it is: the second major 5G-Advanced step after Release 18.
Why it matters: it is the newest frozen release currently featured on this page.
Study first: core network, NGAP, NAS, mobility, and message-level analysis.
Explore Release 19Compare releases
This comparison gives you a quick release-level view. Start here to choose the right release, then continue to the detailed release or protocol page that fits your goal.
| Release | Portal status | Era | Main focus | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rel-20 | Open | Current active development | New work items, 5G-Advanced continuation, early 6G studies | Tracking latest direction |
| Rel-19 | Frozen | Latest stable wave on this page | Feature evolution, optimization, and 5G-Advanced expansion | Engineers following the newest frozen release |
| Rel-18 | Frozen | First 5G-Advanced baseline | Broad 5G-Advanced enhancements across radio and core | Understanding the first 5G-Advanced baseline |
| Rel-17 | Frozen | Expansion release | RedCap, NTN, sidelink growth, and broader deployment cases | Intermediate 5G learners |
| Rel-16 | Frozen | Phase 2 | URLLC, industrial features, and positioning maturity | 5G buildout context |
| Rel-15 | Frozen | First 5G baseline | NSA and SA foundations | Beginners and baseline behavior |
How to read a 3GPP release
A good release page should do more than list work items. Use this four-part framework to understand what a release changes and why it matters in practice.
Features and capabilities
What new service ideas, radio features, device support, or network capabilities were introduced or expanded?
Protocol and signaling updates
Which procedures, message families, or IE patterns are most likely to show up in traces and interoperability work?
Architecture and procedure impacts
How do the changes affect core functions, RAN coordination, mobility paths, or service-based interactions?
Deployment and operations relevance
Why should an engineer, tester, or operator care in implementation, troubleshooting, or roadmap planning?
Study by release
New to 5G?
Start with Release 15 to understand the original 5G baseline and the first architecture and procedure model.
Learning 5G evolution?
Move through Release 16 and Release 17 to see how 5G broadened into industrial, NTN, and RedCap use cases.
Want 5G-Advanced?
Open Release 18 first to get the first broad 5G-Advanced baseline before reading later expansion work.
Need the newest frozen release?
Start with Release 19 for the latest frozen release and the strongest current stable study path.