3GPP Releases (Rel-15 to Rel-19)

In telecommunications, 3GPP organizes its specifications into Releases delivered roughly every 18 months. Rel-15 introduced 5G Phase 1 (NSA and SA), Rel-16 added 5G Phase 2 (URLLC enhancements, NPN, IAB), Rel-17 brought RedCap and NTN, Rel-18 began the 5G-Advanced cycle, and Rel-19 continues 5G-Advanced toward 6G research.

Categories: SignalingProtocols and Standards

3GPP Releases (Rel-15 to Rel-19) in context

Signaling protocols carry the control-plane messages that set up calls, register subscribers and route SMS. SS7, Diameter, GTP-C and SIP are the four dominant families, and interconnect exposure of any of them is treated by GSMA as top-tier telecom risk.

Telecom security is written into standards from 3GPP, GSMA, ETSI, IETF and ITU-T. Understanding which body owns which specification, and how they interlock, is essential for both design and audit work.

To place 3GPP Releases (Rel-15 to Rel-19) in the wider telecom-security picture, review mMTC, SM, Attack Surface Mapping, CAMARA Project, Charging System and Conformance Testing: each entry cross-references back to this page so you can walk the topic in either direction.

Related terms

Related topic hubs

  • SS7 Security SS7/MAP/CAP/SCCP attacks and defenses across 2G/3G interconnect.
  • Signaling Firewall Unified SS7/Diameter/GTP/SMS signaling firewall framework.
  • 5G Security 5G SBA, SEPP, SUCI, 5G-AKA, N32 and service-based interface security.
  • 5G NEF Security Network Exposure Function security in the 5G core.

More from the TelcoSec Glossary

Browse the full TelcoSec Glossary, the Ultimate Guide to Mobile Network Security, or the P1 Arsenal of telecom-security tools.