WORK PROGRAMME

Overview

To implement the NGMN vision and accomplish the overall objectives of NGMN, a comprehensive Work Programme has been set up within the NGMN Alliance. The NGMN Work Programme covers key aspects that need to be addressed in order to develop a fertile next-generation mobile broadband ecosystem:

• technologies & standards;
• trials & testing;
• spectrum & deployment scenarios;
• infrastructure & end user devices;
• initial services & applications;
• market aspects, and IPR.

Further details on the scope and objectives of the NGMN Work Programme and on the strategic roadmap of NGMN can be found at SCOPE & OBJECTIVES.

Working Groups

To execute the NGMN Work Programme, a number of Working Groups have been established within the NGMN Alliance. Each Working Group has a defined scope and dedicated objectives and is staffed with participants from the NGMN Partners (Members, Sponsors, and Advisors) as appropriate. Currently, the following five Working Groups are active within NGMN:

Working Principles

The NGMN Work Programme is a collaborative work programme in which all NGMN Partners (Members, Sponsors and Advisors) contribute to agreed Working Group objectives and deliverables on a voluntary basis at their own costs.

The NGMN Work Programme is governed by a tollgate process to initiate, approve and finalise Working Groups and Projects and a deliverable process to produce, approve and disseminate/publish NGMN deliverables which are required to achieve the NGMN objectives. NGMN Working Groups are created at the direction of the NGMN Board and supervised by the NGMN Operating Committee (plus an optional Working Group Steering Committee). Working Groups are led by a Working Group Leader (Chairman) who is a representative from an NGMN Member (operator).

Working Groups usually comprise a number of Projects (or likewise sub-groups or work packages) to carry through the agreed work plan and produce the expected deliverables. Participants of Working Groups or Projects may adopt different roles such as Lead, Contributor, or Reviewer. In addition, the NGMN Programme Office is supporting the Working Groups and Projects in the areas of programme and process management, tools, electronic communication and workplace facilities, as well as administrative matters. Working Groups and Projects are organised as virtual distributed teams which make extensive use of electronic communications and teleconferencing, but also conduct regular physical meetings and workshops.

In general, work within the NGMN Work Programme is contribution driven, i.e. depends largely on the active involvement and contributions from the individual NGMN Partners. Decision making and the creation, review and agreement of deliverables are generally based on a consensus principle. All deliverables require final approval by the Operating Committee and/or Board.