Work Groups ‹ 5G-PPP

Work Groups originate either from the 6G-IA (called ‘6G-IA WGs’) or from 5G PPP Projects (called ‘5G PPP WGs’). ‘5G PPP WGs’ are cross-projects work groups where the activities of multiple 5G PPP projects can converge to create positive synergies.

Access to WGs and their functioning is defined in the Terms of Reference of each WG. In general:

‘6G-IA WGs’ were open to 6G IA Members and representatives of ongoing 5G PPP projects.
‘5G PPP WGs’ were open to representatives of ongoing 5G PPP projects.

The 5G-PPP working groups are all completing their mandates by end 2023/early 2024 and, if appropriate, activities will be migrated to SNS JU WGs.

WGs (click to see Terms of References and WG contact details )	Origin	Short description
Open Smart Networks and Services WG Aitor Garcia Viñas, Vodafone	6G-IA	The Open SNS WG promotes and supports the evaluation, adoption, deployment, and evolution of open solutions for 5G and beyond 5G/6G networks. One of the first tasks of the WG is to promote and support the evaluation, adoption, deployment, and evolution of open, disaggregated, intelligent and fully interoperable Radio Access Networks (RAN) as a key technology for future mobile networks (5G and beyond). For this, the Working Group is aiming to bridge the open initiatives in the industrial domain with the ongoing or planned R&D and standardization work (3GPP, O-RAN Alliance…), bringing together subject matter experts from the academy (university, research institutes, etc.) and industry (operators, vendors, SMEs, verticals, etc.), aiming to accelerate the development of a EU wide open ecosystem of technologies that will include hardware equipment and software-defined, virtualized, and automated solutions. The group has the following objectives: Influence the definition of the technical work programme to evolve the maturity of open solutions. Support the continued development and dissemination of Open R&D projects with the aim of creating a dynamic and vibrant ecosystem of technologies, hence strengthening the European industry. Support the evaluation and the adoption of disaggregated solutions in legacy and future networks to enable a true multi-vendor environment. Engage with industry to understand and develop solutions for innovative use cases. Create bridges between the standardization (e.g. 3GPP, O-RAN Alliance), product test & validation activities (e.g. TIP) and the research projects Promote a common understanding of standards and architectures and maturity status. Promote actions for the formation of a dynamic European Open ecosystem. Engage with European Security Framework to assure the Open based networks comply with the security standards defined by EU.
Pre-Standardization WG Riccardo Trivisonno, Huawei Francesco Osimanti, Trust-It	6G-IA	Identify standardization and regulatory bodies to align with e.g. ETSI, 3GPP, IEEE and other relevant standards bodies, & ITU-R (incl. WPs) and WRC (including e.g. ECC PT1). Develop a roadmap of relevant standardization and regulatory topics for 5G: Evaluate existing roadmaps at international level; Propose own roadmap for 5G being aligned at international level. Influencing pre-standardization on 5G and related R&D: Potentially propose where topics should be standardized; Influence timing on R&D work programs (e.g. EC WPs)
Spectrum WG Giovanna d’Aria, TIM	6G-IA	Promote research results in the spectrum area obtained by 5G PPP/H2020 projects as well as relevant FP7 projects, Setting up of a dialogue between 5G PPP projects concerning potential synergies and common interests across projects in spectrum related issues, Pursue the convergence of results on spectrum topics from the different projects to maximize the achievable outcome towards relevant technical bodies, Establish a knowledge base from European and other Global project results concerning advances in spectrum research, Liaise with spectrum groups or entities in regulatory bodies and industry associations, Work for improved understanding of collaborative spectrum research importance
5G/Beyond 5G Architecture WG Oemer Bulakci, Nokia Xi Li, NEC Lab	5G-PPP Projects	The goal of this Working Group is to serve as a common platform to facilitate the discussion between 5GPPP projects developing architectural concepts and components and foster the discussions on the basis of the KPI’s described in the 5GPPP contract. The group could also facilitate consensus building on the 5G architecture.
Software Networks WG Bessem Sayadi, Nokia Marius Iordache, Orange	5G-PPP Projects	The purpose of this WG is to analyse and address unification and applicability of key research topics related to Software Networking including software defined concepts, infrastructures, systems and components for Wire and- Wireless Networks, including Networked Clouds, IoT and Services, i.e. Software Defined Networks (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) as developed and promoted by the 5G PPP projects.
Network Management & QoS WG Mandate deemed completed and Working Group suspended October 2019.	5G-PPP Projects	Network Management, Quality of Service and Network Security are three themes closely correlated: Network Management aims to maintain the operations of the network in a manner that ensures that the required services are properly delivered to the users, that an expected quality of service is enforced for delivering such services to the end user and that security is maintained. To do so, network management is mainly focused on the control plane of the network to make sure all the services and operations running in the data plane are working properly. Network Security covers areas the overall resilience of the network to fraud and intrusion or efforts to undermine the operations or integrity of the network. The focus will be on security at the level of the control planes of the network. Quality of Service covers areas such as networking, packet scheduling, traffic adaption and any other technique implemented in both data and control plane to make sure an expected quality of service is implemented for the delivery of services to the end user (bandwidth, low latency, mobility and availability)
Vision and Societal Challenges WG Artur Hecker, Huawei Håkon Lønsethagen, Telenor	6G-IA	Develop a consensus in Europe on 5G systems / infrastructures / services, Identify vertical application domains which would benefit from 5G (views of other sectors on 5G requirements) and associated challenges, Identify the societal, economic, environmental, business and technological benefits obtainable from the realization of 5G main concepts, Collect publicly available visions and major technical trends from industry, research community and available information from other regions, Identify commonalities, bottlenecks and differences in visions and technical trends, Prepare input documents for Pre-Standardization and Spectrum Working Groups and International Cooperation Activity, Develop H2020 call proposals for 5G PPP in partnership with the EC
Security WG Pascal Bisson, Thales Antonio Skarmeta, Univ of Murcia	6G-IA	This WG was officially launched on 5/4/2016 and results from an initiative created by a Phase 1 Security Project (5G-ENSURE). Since its creation this Working Group has been the place where the 5G Security topics and vision were discussed and also progressed. By the end of Year 2017 and per decision of the 5G Industry Association Board this WG was moved to 6G-IA (at the time 5G IA). As such this WG is not only open to Projects from any of the phases of 5G-PPP but also to 6G-IA members interested in joining. The purpose of the group is to foster development of the 5G Security Community made of 5G security experts and practitioners who pro-actively discuss and share information to collectively progress and align on the field. This while organizing specific communications/events (e.g. Whitepaper, Workshop …), interacting with other WGs whenever Security input is needed and developing liaisons with other interested/interesting Security communities.
SME WG Jessica Carneiro, AUSTRALO	NetworldEurope	The main objectives of the SME Working Group are: Help and support SMEs participation in the SNS Partnership and more generally in EU R&D projects. Improve visibility of SMEs in the SNS ecosystem and in general in EU R&D programmes, and ease/promote participation in NetworldEurope. Activate channels that may enable, facilitate and promote SME contribution into the NetworldEurope SRIA and research topics, and SME involvement through other strategic documents related to NetworldEurope and to SNS (e.g., SNS work programmes). Ensure that the interests of SMEs, a key player in the EU economy, are adequately taken into account, more particularly in NetworldEurope and in SNS. Act as representative/interlocutor of SMEs in the telecom domain, more particularly in NetworldEurope and in SNS. Help SMEs access European funds, in SNS and beyond. The WG could e.g., “pre-digest” material and help SMEs find their way into SNS-related funding and beyond. Analyse the participation of SMEs in projects, potentially prepare questionnaire and transmit the conclusions and results to European Commission, for SNS in particular.
Trials WG Carles Antón-Haro, CTTC – Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya	6G-IA	The Trials Working Group was launched by 5G IA in September 2016 after the publication of the 5G Manifesto of industry in Europe and in the context of the 5G Action Plan of the EU Commission. According to the 5G Manifesto industry in Europe will develop by beginning of 2017 a European trial roadmap on technology trials and Pan-European trials with vertical sector use cases. 6G-IA is hosting this Working Group in order to provide a neutral place for such discussions. The Working Group is open for members of 5G Infrastructure Association members, organisations from the European ICT domain and vertical sector organisations. Membership in 6G-IA is not required to participate in the activities. The objectives of the Working Group are as follows: To develop the European Trial Roadmap based on the 5G Manifesto. To facilitate the involvement of verticals in the trials roadmap. To discuss and define business principles underpinning the economic viability of trials. To consider and coordinate the activity on trials with other relevant initiatives at international level (e.g. proposal from China Mobile). To investigate and propose how to link trials to Horizon 2020 5G PPP Phase 3 in order to get funding for parts of the overall trial roadmap. Cooperation in the Working Group is by e-Mail, conference calls and where needed by physical meetings. Expected deliverables are: The European trial roadmap. An intermediate deliverable on business viability of trials and how to leverage public funds. A plan, how to use Horizon 2020 public funding for trial activities. Feedback to trial proposals from international counterparts (e.g. from China). The 5G Action Plan of the EU Commission is expecting the European Trial Roadmap by March 2017.
5G for CAM WG Chairman: Jesus Alonso-Zarate, i2CAT Vice-Chairman: Markus Dillinger, Huawei Technologies Vice-Chairman: Edwin Fischer, Deutsche Telekom (DTAG)	6G-IA	The 5G CAM WG is established as a means of supporting 5G for Connected and Automated Mobility (CAM) activities funded under EU Programmes covering both R&I and deployment activities in two work streams: R&I: the WG aims at becoming a knowledge base to facilitate the exchange of information on ongoing R&I activities in the field and to disseminate it, e.g., in the form of white papers. The WG also aims at developing suggestions for Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas for Smart Networks and Services (SNS) Joint Undertaking and the new European PPP on Cooperative Connected and Automated Mobility (CCAM). Deployment: the WG aims at developing elements of strategic guidance in view of European deployment programmes on the field, in particular 5G Corridors for CAM under the CEF2 Digital Programme. The group also aims at facilitating broader stakeholder cooperation and building of project pipelines through workshops and networking activities.
IMT-2020 Evaluation Group Werner Mohr, Nokia Mandate completed and Working Group suspended in June 2020.	6G-IA	ITU-R WP5D launched an evaluation process for Radio Interface Technologies (RITs), which will be submitted by SDOs (Standards Developing Organisations) to ITU-R to be recognised as member of the IMT family of systems for mobile and wireless communications. In addition to the self-evaluation by SDOs ITU-R is looking for independent second opinions by independent Evaluation Groups. The final evaluation report is due in February 2020. The 5G PPP Evaluation Group is one of the 11 globally registered groups. The group has the following objectives: To perform an independent evaluation of IMT-2020 proposals to support ITU-R WP5D for the finalisation of the IMT-2020 recommendation in 2020. To prepare a complete evaluation report from the European perspective in the global context of other evaluation groups from other regions and to demonstrate the importance and global presence of communication technology industry and the research community in Europe. To focus evaluation activities on the 3GPP Releases 15 and 16 to check, whether this proposal meets the minimum 5G requirements of ITU-R and whether this proposal can be regarded as an IMT-2020 system. The Working Group is organised under the umbrella of 5G Infrastructure Association with participants from active 5G PPP projects.
Test, Measurement and KPIs Validation Chair: Vangelis Kosmatos, WINGS ICT Vicechair: Michael Dieudonné, Keysight Technologies	5G-PPP Projects	The 5G network is bringing new services and technologies into the picture, including a heavy softwarization that is bridging the telco world with the IT one. One of the biggest challenges is how to make the softwarized network carrier-grade, resilient, reliable, and stable. While the bridging of telco and IT changes how we test, and the type of tests, there is still a gap in doing End-to-End (E2E) and NFV/VNF characterizations and performance evaluation in the new 5G heterogeneous infrastructure (cloud-RAN, MEC/fog, distributed clouds). Test and Measurements (T&M) procedures, tools, and methodologies (testing, monitoring, and analytics) need to be agreed upon, and they should serve for the verification of the performance KPIs that 5G is promising to deliver, providing confidence to Mobile Operators and Verticals on the deployed 5G capabilities and services. The purpose of the Group is to bring together the projects that have common interest in topics related to the development of T&M and validation methods, test cases, procedures: Demonstration of 5G KPIs (including 5G network E2E KPIs, 5G vertical service E2E KPIs) Enabler for trials / pilots (ICT-19) Impact on standardisation addressing gaps with respect to the 5G PPP vision Leverage results from phase I and II in the scope of the WG Reproducibility properties of the experimentation Common and agreed methodology for integration and deployment The Group will identify specific areas in the relevant standards bodies (IETF, 3GPP, ETSI etc.) where the projects should contribute towards.