ITU, a UN agency for telecommunications, created a new focus group to look at standardisation requirements of wireline networks to support 5G RANs.

The network study group is within the purview of ITU’s Standardisation Sector (ITU-T), an ITU bureau, which is expected to parallel the 5G standardisation work of ITU-R (ITU’s Radiocommunication Sector).

While ITU-R is briefed with coordinating international standardisation of “IMT-2020” RAN systems, ITU-T has a similar role on the wireline side.

“Air interfaces and radio access networks are progressing rapidly, but there is a need to devote more attention to the networking aspects of IMT-2020,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. “Wireline communications will transform significantly in support of IMT-2020, and the coordination of ITU’s standardisation and radiocommunication arms will ensure that the wireline and wireless elements of future networks develop in unison.”

ITU flagged various 5G applications – including virtual reality, automated driving, and robotic systems – that will require one millisecond end-to-end latency (and co-ordination between fixed and wireless networks).

“Following on from the successful development of IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced, the standards for all of today’s 3G and 4G mobile systems, the work to be carried out by ITU-T on the network aspects will be an important complement to the activities undertaken by ITU-R in developing the radio interface standards for IMT-2020,” asserted Francois Rancy, director of the ITU-R bureau.

The new focus Group, which is open to participation by any “interested party”, is to follow an “intensive work plan” to complete its study before a December meeting of ITU-T’s expert group responsible for future networks, cloud computing and network aspects of mobile communications.