Evolution of 5G NR: Understanding the 3GPP Release 15 and 16 Timeline

The 5G NR Timeline: The Journey through 3GPP Release 15 and Release 16

The development of 5G New Radio (NR) stands out as a major milestone in the history of telecommunications. The shift from 4G LTE to 5G was significantly shaped by the contributions of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), which was instrumental in establishing global standards for 5G.

The accompanying image, titled '5G NR Timeline,' effectively summarizes the timeline from 2016 to 2018, pinpointing crucial phases like the initial studies for 5G, the rollout of Release 15 (both Non-Standalone and Standalone), and the evolution studies for Release 16.

In this article, we'll dive into the journey of 5G NR development, highlighting what each release brought to the table, its importance, and how it laid the groundwork for the super-fast, low-latency networks we enjoy today.

Grasping 3GPP and the Growth of 5G NR

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is the global standards organization tasked with developing technical specifications for mobile communication systems. This includes everything from 2G (GSM) to 3G (UMTS), 4G (LTE), and now 5G (NR).

For the 5G rollout, 3GPP organized its work into several releases, each building on the last. The timeline kicks off with the initial study phase back in late 2016 and advances through Releases 15 and 16, which together laid the foundation for contemporary 5G systems.

Timeline Snapshot (Based on the Image)

PhaseTimelineDescription5G Initial StudyQ4 2016 – Q1 2017Study phase that defined 5G requirements and use cases.5G Release 15 Non-Standalone (NSA)Q1 2017 – Q4 2017The first phase of 5G, utilizing LTE core for control signaling and 5G NR for data.5G Release 15 Full (Including Standalone)Q4 2017 – Q2 2018Introduced the 5G Standalone mode featuring a new 5G Core (5GC).5G Evolution Studies for Release 16Q1 2018 – Q4 2018R&D aimed at enhancing 5G features and performance.5G Release 16Late 2018Brought forward ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), industrial IoT, and V2X advancements.

Phase 1: 5G Initial Study (Q4 2016 – Q1 2017)

The adventure kicked off with the 3GPP’s 5G Initial Study in late 2016. This phase was all about defining:

Performance requirements for the next-gen systems.

Use cases like enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and massive machine-type communications (mMTC).

Spectrum considerations for both sub-6 GHz and millimeter-wave (mmWave) frequencies.

Some key goals of this study included:

Setting latency targets to drop below 1 ms.

Hitting data rates over 10 Gbps.

Outlining concepts for network slicing tailored to specific service architectures.

This phase laid out the technical vision and key performance indicators (KPIs) that directed all future 5G NR development.

Phase 2: 5G Release 15 Non-Standalone (NSA) (Q1–Q4 2017)

The introduction of Release 15 Non-Standalone (NSA) marked the first official specification of 5G NR, wrapped up by 3GPP in December 2017.

In this setup:

5G NR worked alongside the existing LTE networks.

The Evolved Packet Core (EPC) from LTE was utilized for control signaling.

Dual connectivity was launched, where LTE anchored the connection while 5G NR handled data transmission.

Noteworthy Features of 5G NSA:

Dual Connectivity (EN-DC): Combines LTE and 5G carriers for better throughput.

Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB): Facilitates really high data rates.

Massive MIMO and Beamforming: Boosts spectral efficiency.

Low-Latency Transmission: A solid base for real-time applications.

The aim was to speed up 5G deployment by using existing LTE setups, allowing operators to start offering early 5G services without needing the full 5G core network (5GC) ready.

Phase 3: 5G Release 15 Full (Including Standalone) (Q4 2017 – Q2 2018)

After the NSA rollout, 3GPP continued refining the Standalone (SA) version of Release 15, finishing it by mid-2018.

Unlike NSA, Standalone (SA) launched a whole new 5G Core (5GC), featuring a cloud-native, service-based structure designed just for 5G.

Key Features Added in Release 15 SA:

5G Core (5GC): Replaces EPC, with support for service-based interfaces (SBI).

Network Slicing: Logical partitions for varied services (like IoT, AR/VR, industrial automation).

Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS): Allows flexible placement of network functions.

Enhanced Security: New frameworks for authentication and encryption.

Service-Based Architecture (SBA): Brings in modular, API-driven network functions that enhance scalability.

The Standalone (SA) version marked the real 5G structure, delivering end-to-end 5G performance without relying on LTE.

Phase 4: 5G Evolution Studies for Release 16 (Q1–Q4 2018)

By early 2018, 3GPP embarked on studies for Release 16, shifting focus to evolving 5G NR beyond just mobile broadband. This phase tackled industrial automation, vehicle communication, and URLLC use cases.

Focus Areas:

Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC): Catering to mission-critical applications like self-driving cars and remote surgery.

Industrial IoT (IIoT): Streamlining communication for automation, robotics, and smart manufacturing.

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X): Improving communication among vehicles, infrastructure, and pedestrians.

Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB): Facilitating wireless backhaul for dense 5G setups.

NR Positioning: Introducing centimeter-level accuracy for 5G location services.

This study phase laid the groundwork for the commercial realization of Industry 4.0 applications under the 5G framework.

Phase 5: 5G Release 16 (Late 2018 and Beyond)

Finalized in late 2018, Release 16 is often referred to as the '5G Phase 2' specification. It expanded on the solid groundwork set by Release 15, broadening 5G’s scope to include industrial connectivity, automation, and critical services.

Key Improvements in Release 16:

URLLC Enhancements

Achieved latencies below 1 ms.

Boosted reliability for autonomous vehicles and manufacturing.

5G for Industrial IoT (IIoT)

Enabled deterministic networking for factory automation.

Supported Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN).

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Communication

Improved V2X support for safety and traffic efficiency.

Extended capabilities to NR-based sidelink communication.

Network Efficiency

Introduced energy-saving features for devices and base stations.

Advanced interference management and mobility enhancements.

NR Positioning and Localization

Brought in 5G-based positioning with centimeter-level accuracy.

Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB)

Offered cost-effective 5G coverage expansion without heavy fiber deployment.

These advancements made Release 16 a key player in building smart cities, connected factories, and autonomous transportation systems.

3GPP ASN.1 Milestones

The timeline images also outline the significant ASN.1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One) points during 2018. ASN.1 defines the encoding rules for communication between network elements.

Each ASN.1 update corresponds to:

The finalization of protocol specifications for that release.

Ensuring interoperability across various 5G components from different vendors.

These ASN.1 updates are crucial for implementing new features consistently across global networks.

From 5G NSA to 5G SA: The Turning Point

Feature5G NSA (Rel-15)5G SA (Rel-15)Core Network LTE EPC5G Core (5GC)Deployment Speed Faster (uses LTE infrastructure)Slower (new core is needed)Latency Moderate Ultra-low (<1 ms)Network Slicing Not Supported Supported Use Cases eMBB eMBB, URLLC, mMTC Future Readiness Transitional Long-term 5G vision

This evolution demonstrates how operators transitioned from initial 5G rollouts to fully independent 5G networks that can support a variety of applications and extensive connectivity.