Page 18 - 3GPP Highlights

A LOOK INSIDE

DE-MYSTIFYING 3GPP

By Georg Mayer, TSG SA Chair

To new delegates, 3GPP at times looks Very soon it became clear that 3GPP time for questions and answers from the
like an esoteric society, in which every would need to offer some help to the delegates on all aspects of 3GPP work.
ritual has a hidden and hard to de-cypher newcomers, in order to make the work
meaning. Experienced delegates trigger more accessible. Also, a 3GPP mentoring program has been
long discussions whether the “UE-box” on initiated - currently still in its early stages
the “CR-coversheet” needs to be ticked, if – to have experts on hand to answer the
for a new proposal more requirements on MAKING A START seemingly “simple” or “obvious” questions,
“stage 1 level” are needed and every now without delegates having to be afraid of
and then the always hungry demon “next being seen as uninformed. Mentoring
release” is summoned to which certain Since June 2019 several activities were mostly builds on direct contact between
more challenging ideas are sacrificed. started which try to make things easier for newcomers and mentors and once 3GPP
goes back to face-to-face meetings the
new delegates.
Lately, since the beginning of Rel-15, a concept will be further extended.
large number of new companies from At every plenary and also during bigger
so-called vertical industries have joined meetings a “Newcomer Orientation
3GPP. Many of these companies have little Session” is held, in which the basic
or no background in telecommunication concepts and hurdles of 3GPP are
standardization and therefore cannot explained, often in a simplified way to
prepare their delegates for the work in the allow the participants to get an idea of the
new environment. main concepts. These sessions also include

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18 3GPP Highlights newsletter