What is NGMN?

NGMN (Next Generation Mobile Networks) is an initiative by a world-wide group of leading mobile operators to provide a coherent vision for the mobile network technology evolution beyond 3G for the competitive delivery of mobile broadband wireless services. The NGMN Alliance has been founded in 2006 and is constituted through a legal company named “NGMN Limited” registered in UK. Further details on the structure of NGMN can be found at ABOUT US / ORGANISATION.

What is NGMN's mission and vision statement?

The mission of the NGMN Alliance is "to provide a set of recommendations to enhance the ability of mobile operators, who are buyers of infrastructure, in offering cost-effective wireless broadband services for the benefit of their customers." The vision of the NGMN Alliance is "to provide a platform for innovation by moving towards one integrated network for the seamless introduction of mobile broadband services." Further details can be found at
MISSION & VISION and within the White Paper on "Next Generation Mobile Networks Beyond HSPA & EVDO".

What are the objectives of the NGMN Alliance?

A major goal of the NGMN Alliance is to create a successful ecosystem for next generation mobile broadband networks and services and to establish an open platform for innovation in the field of mobile broadband. The NGMN Alliance will establish clear performance targets, fundamental recommendations and deployment scenarios for next generation mobile broadband networks. The Alliance tries to ensure that the relevant technical standards, network infrastructure and end-user devices are provided timely and will meet the NGMN requirements. Further details on the objectives of the NGMN Work Programme can be found at WORK PROGRAMME / SCOPE & OBJECTIVES.

Who are the members of NGMN?

NGMN seeks to incorporate the views of all interested stakeholders in the telecommunications industry. NGMN Partners are: Mobile network operators (Members), vendors/manufacturers (Sponsors), and universities or non-industrial research institutes (Advisors). The Members of NGMN Alliance represent well over one half of the total mobile subscriber base world-wide and the Sponsors account for more than 90% of the global footprint of mobile network deployments. A detailed list of all NGMN Partners can be found at ABOUT US / OUR PARTNERS.
In addition, the NGMN Alliance is liaisoning with relevant industry bodies such as GSM Association, WiMAX Forum, UMTS Forum, Femto Forum, OMTP, and WWRF.

What does the NGMN Alliance do w.r.t. Technology Evaluation & Guidance?

The NGMN Alliance consolidates the requirements of mobile operators thus providing a valuable basis for the targeted and timely development of devices, applications, and infrastructure for next generation mobile networks. The Alliance analyses the relevant technical standards and development roadmaps for next generation mobile broadband, identifies critical gaps against the requirements and recommendations put forward in the White Paper on "Next Generation Mobile Networks Beyond HSPA & EVDO", and strives to fill these gaps by taking proactive actions. The NGMN Alliance provides guidance to all stakeholders of the mobile ecosystem on candidate technologies for next generation mobile broadband by performing a comprehensive technology evaluation considering the following criteria: Performance, Functionalities, Interworking, and Time-to-Market. Please visit WORK PROGRAMME / TECHNICAL WG for further information.

How does the NGMN Alliance evaluate the candidate technologies?

The NGMN Technical Working Group (TWG) is performing a detailed technology evaluation against the NGMN White Paper requirements. This technology evaluation covers a plenitude of criteria in the areas of performance, functionality, interworking, and time-to-market, and is based on inputs from standardisation bodies and the NGMN Partners. In addition, the NGMN Trial Group ensures close co-operation with the existing LTE/SAE Trial Initiative (LSTI) and with WiMAX trial efforts as well as monitoring of the UMB developments. Results from the first trial phase of candidate technologies will be integral part of the overall technology evaluation to be performed in 2008. Thus, a thorough technology evaluation supported by trial results will provide evidence of how and to what extent candidate technologies do meet the NGMN requirements.

What role does the NGMN Alliance play in standardisation?

The NGMN Alliance shapes the development of the relevant standards by active participation of its Partners in the respective standardisation bodies. The NGMN Alliance expects the finalisation of all relevant standards by the end of 2008 in order to ensure readiness for deployment of next generation mobile networks by 2010. Futher information on these activities can be found at WORK PROGRAMME / TECHNICAL WG.

What does NGMN do w.r.t. certification to ensure timely availability of terminals?

The NGMN Alliance reviews the current terminal certification processes and will provide input and recommendations to certification bodies to improve these processes and ensure timely availability of test cases and specifications.

What role does NGMN play in shaping a viable mobile ecosystem?

A major goal of the NGMN Alliance is to create a successful and sustainable mobile broadband ecosystem. NGMN will provide an open platform for innovation to enable creation and delivery of compelling mobile broadband services and applications. The role of the NGMN Alliance is to ensure that the appropriate platforms, interfaces and protocols are provided that enable creation of innovative services by as large a community as possible. Also, NGMN focuses on the creation of additional business models that allow effective partnerships and enable others (3rd parties) to innovate on top of the next generation mobile networks. Further details can be found at WORK PROGRAMME / ECOSYSTEM.

What results has the NGMN Alliance achieved w.r.t. Spectrum?

The White Paper on "Spectrum Requirements for the Next Generation of Mobile Networks" supported the joint industry effort to obtain additional spectrum at the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07). Spectrum requests of the GSMA, UMTS-Forum and NGMN Alliance have been adopted at WRC-07 to a considerable extent, in particular w.r.t. the identification of new/additional spectrum in the upper UHF band and above 2.3 GHz. The NGMN Alliance is now assessing the implications of the WRC-07 results and will provide recommendations on actions to be taken to assure the world-wide implementation and interoperability of next generation mobile networks. Further information on the objectives and achievements of the NGMN Spectrum Working Group can be found at WORK PROGRAMME / SPECTRUM.

What are the objectives of NGMN w.r.t. IPR?

The NGMN Alliance strives to ensure that the creation of a viable mobile broadband ecosystem is not hampered by unfavourable IPR scenarios and royalty terms. The NGMN IPR principles as defined in the NGMN IPR Guidelines are:

• Fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND);
• Mandatory ex-ante notification;
• Aggregated terms.

A landmark IPR regime has been established by the NGMN Alliance which aims to deliver more transparency and predictability towards IPR costs associated with next generation mobile technologies. All Partners of the NGMN Alliance agreed upon IPR Guidelines for next generation mobile technologies and a Trusted Third Party Process for anonymous ex-ante notification of the relevant IPR and aggregation of the associated royalty terms. Further information on the IPR activities of NGMN can be found at WORK PROGRAMME / IPR.