WWC continues Multi-tenant FWA efforts and Phase 18.1 work, IMS for 5G-RG and WWC CUPS specifications published

WWC continues Multi-tenant FWA efforts and Phase 18.1 work, IMS for 5G-RG and WWC CUPS specifications published

Target: Deliver more value with deployment options for integrated, wireline, and mobile operators and suppliers. Optimization of the Total Cost of Ownership by consolidating network, common control plane, and streamlined backend by a comprehensive, well-specified, deployed Wireless-Wireline-Convergence architecture and functions to deliver broadband services with the 5G Core.

Progress: Work is progressing in three active Project Streams: 5G, Multi-tenant FWA, and IMS for 5G-RG.

Outcomes: New set of capabilities and enhancements, subsuming more of the capabilities of the 5G system, with specifications and marketing documents in progress. Ongoing work in the WWC Work Area focuses on bringing more value to 5G for wireline and provide operators with increased flexibility, revenue potential, and deployment options. The goal is to increase the service capabilities of the network to allow operators to fully leverage convergence while at the same time giving them more paths to transition to a single 5G Core.

The Work Area continues to incorporate capabilities from the 5G Toolkit into specifications to realize a variety of use cases. These range across a broad spectrum and include topics such as hybrid access, enhanced work from home, and convergence of voice with the mobile system. This work will allow operators to provide a uniform experience to their customers irrespective of the access or appliance they are using, supported by a common and streamlined back office and control plane.

The Phase 18.1 work (in conjunction with 3GPP Release 18) includes reliability of AGF CUPS, hybrid access, network data analytics, and support for devices behind a 5G-RG. The Work Area has progressed two key documents with WT-456 Issue 3 (AGF Functional Requirements) and WT-470 Issue 3 (5G Wireless Wireline Convergence Architecture). The documents expand the deployment options for 5G WWC. TR-458 Issue 1 Corrigendum 1 (CUPS for 5G Wireless Wireline Convergence), has been published and this addresses a key missing information element, while WT-458 Issue 2 is starting with subjects such as SGRP.

The IMS for 5G-RG Project Stream addresses 5G-RG IMS-based voice support, with work on the architecture and a profile for residential voice. The work area made progress identifying related CPE device management requirements to be specified in TR-124 and the data model extensions for TR-181. This is based on TR-493 (IMS for 5G-RG Architecture) and TR-494 (IMS for 5G-RG Residential Voice Requirements) that have recently been published, marking a major milestone. These releases are key piece of work enables converging legacy voice services onto the 5G system and complements the WWC Phase 16.3.

Work progresses extending 5G Fixed Wireless Access to serve multi-tenant units (MTUs) with gigabit connectivity. During this meeting, the group analyzed three key architectural options for millimeter wave FWA for delivery inside a MTU for WT-507 ‘FWA delivery inside an MDU/MTU’. The document addresses scenarios and gaps identified during the study phase, leading to new guidelines and a standardized solution for the industry – an exciting opportunity for BBF members to join and contribute to this new work. We encourage service providers to provide use cases and deployment scenarios in order to prioritize the project roadmap.

The Work Area has progressed accompanying marketing work, including on the development of two marketing documents – (MD-470 The Value of WWC) and (MD-506 5G Hybrid Access). The group plans a marketing campaign for Multi-tenant FWA. WWC is also reviewing use cases for this year’s CloudCO 2024 demo and has called for interested parties to join with their 5G Core Network, AGF, and 5G-RG components.

Along with the BUS Work Area, considerable updates were made to the cellular interface data model to support 5G fixed-wireless gateways.

Broadband Forum has made the convergence of broadband access with the 5G core a reality, is enriching the industry with value-added features of the 5G system, and continuing its productive cooperation with 3GPP.

For more on the WWC Work Area, please see: https://wiki.broadband-forum.org/display/BBF/Wireless-Wireline+Convergence.