Study on Media Aspects for 6G System - Work Plan

1. Introduction and Background

This document presents the work plan for the Feasibility Study on "Media Aspects for 6G System" (FS_6G_MED), approved at SA4#134 (S4-252142) and SA plenary #110 (SP-251652).

Study Objectives

The study aims to:

1. Document work topics in detail, covering:
2. WT#1: Media Delivery Architecture
3. WT#2: 6G Media
4. WT#3: Media Aspects related to SA2 topics
5. WT#4: Media for ubiquitous access

6. WT#5: Trusted and private media communication

7. Identify dependencies with other WGs and collect information on relevant developments within 3GPP and externally

8. Map work topics to basic functions and develop high-level call flows based on existing media delivery architectures and 6G design concepts

9. Identify gaps and opportunities, recommending either:

10. Further study or normative work (stage-2/stage-3)

11. Candidate solutions to address issues

12. Coordinate with SA1, SA2, SA3, SA5, SA6 and external organizations (SVTA, CTA WAVE, ISO/IEC JTC1 SC 29, 5G-MAG, MSF, Khronos, IETF)

Timeline

• For information: TSG SA#114 (Dec-26)
• For approval: TSG SA#115 (Mar-27)
• Rapporteur: Elmira Ramazanirend, Vodafone

2. Context and Justification

2.1 Motivation

The study addresses the need for:
- CAPEX/OPEX reduction and monetization opportunities
- New services and experiences in the 6G era
- System simplification and integration of new technologies
- Support for new use cases: ISAC, XR/immersive communication, AI-based services
- Improved end-user QoE across diverse devices and network conditions

2.2 Work Topics Details

WT#1: Media Delivery Architecture

Study media delivery architecture aspects for 6G based on TS 26.501, TS 26.506 and new 6G architecture developments. Key aspects:
- Accommodation of new 6G use cases by current 5G media delivery architecture
- Identification of reusable components from 5G and earlier generations
- Architecture simplification for improved deployability/implementability
- Further harmonization between streaming and conversational services
- Collection of existing/emerging content delivery protocols
- Alignment with SA2 6G design concepts
- Accommodation of commercially relevant media services

WT#2: 6G Media

Identify trends and expected services related to media, including immersive and AI-related media. Sub-topics:

a) End-to-end service quality: Study aspects for defining end-to-end service quality for media services, including capturing, rendering, and QoE metrics definition

b) Traffic characteristics: Study and identify traffic characteristics of media services and use cases from TR 22.870 to support 6G radio and service architecture design

c) Immersive media formats: Collect, categorize and characterize (3C) emerging media formats (including different media types) for 6G XR/immersive media services, building on TR 26.956

d) Media communication for emerging AI services: Study AI representation formats and traffic characteristics for AI-related media services (agents, multi-modal LLMs, diffusion models), identifying gaps in QoS requirements, dynamic traffic characteristics, or AI-representation format definitions

WT#3: Media Aspects related to SA2 topics

Study media-related impacts from SA2 study topics:

a) AI for 6G: Media-related impacts from "AI for 6G (e.g. AI agent, framework)" aligned with SA2 WT#3

b) Integration of Sensing and Communication: Media-related impacts aligned with SA2 WT#4

c) Data handling: Media-related impacts on data collection, distribution, processing, storage, access and exposure, considering access control/user consent and privacy, aligned with SA2 WT#5

d) Computing: Media-related impacts on computing support for UE and application servers, aligned with SA2 WT#6

Note: Analysis may confirm no impact on SA4 specifications. Topics may be updated based on SA2 decisions.

WT#4: Media for ubiquitous access

Study aspects and opportunities for media services on ubiquitous networks including NTN and other low bit-rate/low power scenarios beyond speech. Focus on supported bitrates, functionalities, delays, power consumption and other design vectors, considering FS_ULBC study information.

WT#5: Trusted and private communication for media

Study aspects and opportunities for trusted and private media communication in applications including generative AI or agent-to-agent communication, covering end-to-end workflows, authentication, trust and exploring 6G's role.

Note: Coordination with SA3 expected on authentication and trust-related topics.

2.3 Supporting Companies

The study has broad industry support from 50+ companies including operators (Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom, AT&T, Orange, China Mobile, NTT), vendors (Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, Samsung, Qualcomm, MediaTek, Apple), content providers (Dolby, Sony, Tencent, Bytedance), and research organizations.

2.4 Dependencies on Other WGs

SA1

• SP-241152: New SID on 6G Use Cases and Service Requirements
• TR 22.870 v1.0.1: Study on 6G Use Cases and Service Requirements

SA2

• TR 23.801-01 v0.3.0: Study on Architecture for 6G System; Stage 2
• SP-251633: Revised SID for FS_6G_ARC
• S2-2511308: Detailed FS_6G_ARC Work Task scopes
• Note: SA2 6G study completion planned for March 2027 (same as this study); may need postponement to SA#116 to address dependencies

3. Work Organization

3.1 Work Topic Leads and Contributors

A work plan tracking sheet is maintained online at:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1AHXc41lTVAJ84ENKfi2GgmpGx26hqHSoNQ7JKxnBNBo/edit?usp=sharing

Snapshot to be provided in published document showing:
- Topic title
- Lead
- TR 26.870 clause
- Completion percentage
- Rel-21 normative work decisions
- Stage-2 impact
- Contributors

Current overall progress: 0%

3.2 Working Methods

To be determined.

4. Detailed Work and Time Plan

SA4#134 (Nov 2025, Dallas) - Target: 0%

• Agree Study Item
• Initial discussion of time plan
• Initial discussion of draft TR

SA#110 (Dec 2025, Baltimore)

• Approve Study Item
• Assign rapporteurs

3GPP SA4 AHG Telco (Jan 15, 2026) - Target: 3%

Host: Qualcomm, 16:00-17:30 CET
- Agree initial work and time plan
- Agree skeleton TR 26.870 for SA4#135 submissions
- Agree initial working procedures
- Prepare initial thoughts for work topics
- Identify initial contributors
- Submission deadline: Jan 13, 16:00 CET

SA4#135 (Feb 9-13, 2026, Goa) - Target: 10%

• Agree work and time plan
• Agree skeleton TR 26.870
• Agree initial working procedures
• Identify leads and contributors for work topics
• Address baseline assumptions (SA1 use cases/requirements, new media trends, principal ideas)
• Document scope and objectives of work topics in detail
• Progress TR 26.870
• Communicate with other 3GPP WGs and external organizations

3GPP SA4 AHG Telco (Feb 25, 2026)

Host: Qualcomm, 16:00-17:30 CET
- Preparation for extended AHG meeting on FS_6G_MED
- Identify common themes for workshop inputs
- Submission deadline: Feb 23, 16:00 CET

SA#111 (Mar 10-13, 2026, Fukuoka)

• No actions

3GPP SA4 AHG Telco (March 16 & 23, 2026) - Extended AHG Meeting

Host: Qualcomm, 15:00-17:00 CET
- Address baseline assumptions clustered in common themes
- Identify moderators/leads to summarize common topics
- Submission deadline: March 19, 15:00 CET
- Note: 5G-MAG workshop on media energy consumption scheduled March 19

SA4#135e-bis (Apr 13-17, 2026, online) - Target: 20%

• Summary of workshop on 6G Media Topics
• Progress work topics in detail
• Start identifying dependencies with other WGs
• Collect information on developments within 3GPP and externally
• Progress TR 26.870
• Communicate with other WGs and external organizations

SA4#136 (May 11-15, 2026, Montreal) - Target: 35%

• Progress work topics in detail
• Progress identifying dependencies and collecting information
• Progress TR 26.870
• Communicate with other WGs and external organizations

SA#112 (Jun 9-12, 2026, Singapore)

• No actions

SA4#137-e (Aug 24-28, 2026, online) - Target: 50%

• Progress work topics in detail
• Progress identifying dependencies
• Start mapping work topics to basic functions and develop high-level call flows
• Start identifying potential gaps and opportunities
• Progress TR 26.870
• Communicate with other WGs and external organizations

SA#113 (Sep 15-18, 2026, Madrid)

• No actions

SA4#138 (Nov 16-20, 2026, Calgary) - Target: 65%

• Complete work topics documentation
• Progress identifying dependencies
• Progress mapping to basic functions and call flows
• Start identifying gaps and opportunities
• Start drafting Conclusions
• Agree TR 26.870 v1.0.0
• Communicate with other WGs and external organizations

SA#114 (Dec 8-11, 2026, Boston)

• Present TR 26.870 v1.0.0 for information

SA4#139 (Feb 22-26, 2027, Korea) - Target: 90%

• Complete work topics documentation
• Complete identifying dependencies
• Complete mapping to basic functions and call flows
• Complete identifying gaps and opportunities
• Agree on Conclusions
• Agree TR 26.870 v2.0.0
• Communicate with other WGs and external organizations

SA#115 (Mar 16-19, 2027, Europe)

• Present TR 26.870 v2.0.0 for approval
• Note: As SA2 FS_6G_ARC completes at this time, may require extension until SA#116