# Work Plan for Evaluation of QUIC-based Protocols for On-Demand and Live Video Services

## Introduction

This contribution proposes a work plan for the Rel-20 study item **FS_QStream_MED** (Evaluation of QUIC-based protocols for on-demand and live video services), hosted by the MBS SWG.

## Study Objectives

The study encompasses six main objectives:

### Objective 1: Application Scenarios
Identify application scenarios and their uplink/downlink delivery characteristics for segmented media delivery services, including:
- Low latency video streaming
- Live streaming
- On-demand video platforms
- Short-form video platforms

### Objective 2: Streaming Technologies
Identify existing and emerging segmented media streaming technologies, specifically QUIC-based technologies from TR 26.804:
- DASH over HTTP/3
- MoQ
- MPEG-DASH over WebTransport
- MPEG-DASH Part 6 over QUIC

### Objective 3: Evaluation Framework
Define an evaluation framework for media delivery protocols in the context of 5G Media Streaming (TS 26.501 and TS 26.512):

#### Objective 3A: Metrics Definition
Determine existing metrics reflecting QoE from relevant specifications (TS 26.247, TR 26.944, ITU-T P.1203, CTA-2066):
- Playback time from live edge
- Start-up time
- Rebuffering events and duration
- Streaming quality
- Associated QoS metrics

#### Objective 3B: Impact Assessment
Document potential impacts on:
- Media delivery architecture (TS 26.501)
- Delivery protocols (TS 26.512)
- Codecs and formats (TS 26.511)

Considering factors such as:
- Current CDN architectures
- 3GPP core network architecture (TS 23.501)
- UE implementation
- Encrypted content
- Caching efficiency
- Scalability
- Distributed deployment capability
- General-purpose implementation readiness

#### Objective 3C: Test Framework Design
Design a test framework for collecting selected metrics to evaluate baseline (DASH over HTTP 1.1) against identified technologies.

### Objective 4: Technology Evaluation
Evaluate selected technologies by collecting QoE metrics under 3GPP network conditions using mobile network traces. This includes:
- Developing network simulation setup
- Selecting network traces for relevant application scenarios

**Note:** Objective 4 is split into three phases:
- Phase 1: Develop network simulation setup
- Phase 2: Select network scenarios
- Phase 3: Run experiments and evaluations

### Objective 5: Integration Study (Conditional)
If sufficient evidence of benefits is identified:

#### Objective 5A: Gap Analysis
Study integration of beneficial emerging technologies into 5G Media streaming and identify gaps in:
- Architecture (TS 26.501)
- Protocols (TS 26.512)
- Codecs and formats (TS 26.511)
- Relevant video coding tools (e.g., layered video coding, temporal subsequences)

#### Objective 5B: Normative Work Identification
Identify potential normative work requirements for architecture, protocols, and codecs/formats.

### Objective 6: External Coordination
Communicate progress to relevant SDOs (IETF MoQ Working Groups) and solicit collaboration with organizations conducting similar work (e.g., SVTA).

## Detailed Work Plan Timeline

### SA4#134 (November 2025, Dallas)
- Agree study item description

### SA#110 (December 2025, Baltimore)
- Approve new study item

### Post SA4#134 MBS SWG Calls (January 2026)
- Discuss work plan

### SA4#135 (February 2026, Goa)
- Finalize work plan
- Agree specification skeleton for TR 26.934 (Test platform for media delivery technologies) ‡
- Agree specification skeleton for TR 26.835 (Evaluation of QUIC-based streaming protocols)
- Initiate Objective 1 (services and application use cases)
- Initiate Objective 3c (test framework design) ‡
- Initiate Objective 3b (study impact on architectures) ‡

### Post SA4#135 MBS SWG Calls (TBD)
- Progress Objectives 1, 3b, 3c
- Initiate Objective 3a (determine relevant metrics)
- Initiate Objective 2 (identify media streaming technologies)

### SA4#135-bis-e (April 2026)
- Complete Objectives 1 and 2
- Complete Objective 3b ‡
- Progress Objective 3c ‡
- Progress Objective 3a
- Initiate Objective 4, Phase 1 (develop network simulation setup)
- Communicate with other 3GPP WGs and external organizations (Objective 6)

### Post SA4#135-bis-e MBS SWG Calls (TBD)
- Progress Objective 3c ‡
- Progress Objective 4
- Complete Objective 3a

### SA4#136 (May 2026, Montreal)
- Complete Objective 3 (finalize TR 26.934) ‡
- Complete Objective 4, Phase 1
- Initiate Objective 4, Phase 2 (select network scenarios)
- Continue external coordination (Objective 6)

### SA#112 (June 2026, Singapore)
- Approval of TR 26.934

### Post SA4#136 MBS SWG Calls (TBD)
- Progress Objective 4, Phase 2

### SA4#137-e (August 2026, online)
- Complete Objective 4, Phase 2
- Initiate Objective 4, Phase 3 (run experiments and evaluations)

### Post SA4#137-e MBS SWG Calls (TBD)
- Progress Objective 4, Phase 3

### SA4#138 (November 2026, Calgary)
- Complete Objective 4
- Initiate Objective 5 (result analysis)
- Continue external coordination (Objective 6)
- Send TR 26.835 for information to SA

### SA#114 (December 2026, US)
- Presentation of TR 26.835 to SA

### Post SA4#138 MBS SWG Calls (TBD)
- Progress Objective 5
- Start working on conclusions and recommendations

### SA4#139 (February 2027, South Korea)
- Complete all objectives
- Finalize conclusions and recommendations
- Send TR 26.835 for approval to SA

### SA#115 (March 2027, TBD)
- Approval of TR 26.835

## Key Deliverables

- **TR 26.934**: Test platform for media delivery technologies (approved SA#112, June 2026)
- **TR 26.835**: Evaluation of QUIC-based streaming protocols for on-demand and live video services (approved SA#115, March 2027)

**Note:** ‡ indicates work related to the test platform (TR 26.934)

## Proposal

Agreement is requested on the work plan detailed above.