The "IMT-2020" systems will enable wireless communications to match the speed and reliability achieved through fiber optic infrastructure. Beyond voice and video services, the potential applications of IMT-2020 systems range from healthcare and industrial automation to virtual reality, autonomous driving, and robotics systems controlled by an imperceptible time-delay relay. These technical systems require only one millisecond of end-to-end latency to replicate natural human interaction with our environment—a goal that experts say should be achievable for future networks.

In 2012, the ITU established an IMT-2020 and Beyond Programme, which provides the framework for IMT-2020 research and development worldwide. The ITU-R is coordinating the international standardization of IMT-2020 systems. The ITU-T is expected to play a similar convening role with respect to wired network technologies and architectures.

According to ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao, “Air interfaces and radio access networks are progressing rapidly, but greater attention needs to be paid to the interconnection aspects of IMT-2020 systems. Wired communications will undergo a major transformation in support of IMT-2020, and coordination between the ITU Standardization and Radiocommunication Sectors will contribute to the simultaneous development of wired and wireless elements of future networks.”

According to François Rancy, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau, “following the successful development of IMT-2000 and IMT-Advanced, namely the standards governing all current 3G and 4G mobile systems, the work to be carried out by the ITU-T in the field of interconnection will be an important complement to the activities carried out by the ITU-R in the development of standards on radio interfaces for IMT-2020.”

According to Chaesub Lee, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, “current network architectures cannot support the intended capabilities of IMT-2020 systems. Innovation in standardization is critical in core networks, access networks, virtualized data clusters, and masses of intelligent interconnected units. Beyond convergence, the underlying concepts of interconnection must evolve to create integrated hybrid fixed-mobile networks.”

According to Wen Tong, Head of 5G Research and Development at Huawei, “While 5G technology will lead to a wide variety of experiences for new users, network speed remains the biggest obstacle. Everyone in the ICT ecosystem needs to work together. This is the most important condition that must be met for us to realize 5G technology, and that is why Huawei is contributing to the ITU's efforts to examine what is needed from all parts of the ecosystem to advance 5G technology.”

The new Thematic Group, which is open to participation from all interested parties, will be the starting point for the ITU-T's contribution to the IMT-2020 standardization. The Group will follow an intensive work plan to complete its work before the December meeting of the ITU's expert group on standards for future networks, cloud computing, mobile networks, and network aspects of mobile communications, Study Group 13.

Research and development of IMT-2020 are present in a wide variety of organizations in both the public and private sectors. The Thematic Group's scope of activity will focus on identifying the standardization needs for wired elements in 5G networks, based on an analysis of studies carried out by other entities on IMT-2020.

In the ITU-T standardization activity, which will be based on the conclusions of the Thematic Group, priority will be given to the conformity of the final IMT-2020 products with those of the ITU-R, and care will be taken to ensure that the standardization work relating to the network aspects of IMT-2020 supports the constant evolution of IMT.

 The ITU-T establishes Thematic Groups to address immediate ICT standardization needs, and these groups are responsible for defining the basis for subsequent standardization work in ITU-T Study Groups composed of members. Thematic Groups are not open to non-ITU member organizations and have greater flexibility in determining their desired outcomes and working methods.