3GPP Monthly News No3

At RAN#113, RAN3 confirmed the 5G Higher-Layer Split as the baseline for 6G, retaining CU–DU and CU-CP–CU-UP separation while allowing optimisations that preserve the agreed protocol distribution. TR 38.760-3 also advanced across service awareness, AI/ML, paging, context retrieval and RAN–CN service-based interactions. In parallel, 5G-Advanced Release 20 progressed through AI/ML, SON/MDT and ISAC normative work, while NTN developments addressed GNSS resilience, downlink compensation and enhanced NR/IoT-NTN capabilities. Several architectural questions—including the broader 6G data framework, ISAC reporting and additional 5G-to-6G migration options—remain open for forthcoming RAN3 meetings and RAN#114.