Work Programme

Introduction

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.

Working Principles

The NGMN work programme is a collaborative work programme in which all NGMN Partners (Mobile Network Operators, Vendors/Manufacturers and Research/Academia) contribute to agreed project 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 projects and a deliverable process to produce, approve and disseminate/publish NGMN deliverables which are required to achieve the NGMN objectives. NGMN projects are created at the direction of the NGMN Board and supervised by the NGMN 5G Board Committee. Projects are led by a representative of one of the NGMN partner companies.

Participants of projects may adopt different roles such as lead, contributor, or reviewer. In addition, the NGMN Programme Office is supporting the projects in the areas of programme and process management, tools, electronic communication and workplace facilities, as well as administrative matters. 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 work programme is contribution-driven, i.e. depends largely on the active involvement and contributions from the individual 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 Board.

Objectives

In its projects, task-forces and workshops, the NGMN Alliance:

• establishes clear functional and non functional requirements for mobile networks of the next generation
• lays out scenarios for effective spectrum utilisation
• shares operational experience in up and running networks
• gives input to standards developing organisations
• identifies and removes barriers to successful implementation of attractive mobile services
• provides a networking platform to assess and to address technology challenges
• evaluates and drives technology evolution towards 5G