Page 22 - 3GPP_Highlights_Issue_5_WEB

A LOOK INSIDE

AN INTERVIEW WITH

ADRIAN SCRASE

ETSI CTO & Head of the 3GPP MCC

Highlights: Tell us about your role in the But it is not today’s membership number that is important,
start-up phase of 3GPP and the creation it is the diversity of that membership, which now includes
of the MCC? many smaller companies, research bodies, universities and
government agencies.
Adrian Scrase: The discussions that led to the creation With the advent of 5G we also see membership being drawn
of 3GPP took place during 1998 at which time I was Secretary from industry sectors that aspire to use our standards for the
of the ETSI Board. In that capacity, I took part in all of the basis of their mission critical operations, including agriculture,
discussions with the Partners which led to the eventual automotive, aviation, healthcare, factory automation, mining
creation of the project in December of that year. During those and exploration, public safety and rail to name but a few.
discussions it was evident that, for 3GPP to operate efficiently,
a dedicated support team would be required and so the Mobile More recently we have seen interest growing in the use
Competence Centre (MCC) was formed. of 5G for military operations which has even led to NATO
joining 3GPP.
Highlights: 3GPP is an International project,
with a growing level of participation. How In summary then, 3GPP’s membership has grown in every
dimension and I expect this growth to continue for the years
has that changed the way 3GPP operates? to come.
Highlights: As the user communities evolve,
how do you gather and meet their diverse
At the outset, there were around 400 requirements? Do the newcomers arrive with
members in 3GPP, mainly drawn from their solutions, ready to go?
large equipment manufacturers and The new industry sectors coming to 3GPP have a very
thorough understanding of their business operations. They
network operators most of whom were know precisely what they need to achieve, but they very often
household names. Today, there are more express those needs in a different language to the one that we
are familiar with.
than 800 members in the project.
The translation of their business needs into 3GPP-speak can
be a complex task but it is essential if we are to meet their
expectations. Product life cycles can also vary widely and these
At the outset, there were around 400 members in 3GPP, too need to be understood.
mainly drawn from large equipment manufacturers and I think the public safety experience makes a very good case
network operators most of whom were household names. study. 4G standards had only just been completed when
Today, there are more than 800 members in the project.

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