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Annual Report 2016 (published April 2017)

Simon Hicks Dirk Weiler Luis Jorge Romero
Chairman of the Chairman of the Director-General
General Assembly Board

5G was one of the hot topics of 2016, In 2016 we invested heavily in support The way that telecommunications
not least for the part it will play in of the European Union, publishing systems are designed and operated is
supporting the Internet of Things (IoT). over 100 new and revised Harmonised changing. ‘Softwarisation’, including
We contribute to the development of Standards required for the new Radio the use of Software Defined Networks,
5G, both as a founding partner of the Equipment Directive. NFV and Cloud computing, is expected
Third Generation Partnership Project to deliver services and applications
(3GPP™) and through the work of our But we also looked to our future, in an agile and cost effective way. 5G
own committees. anticipating the technologies which will networks, in particular, are forecast to
dominate our work in coming years. In make significant use of virtualisation.
We are producing specifications for November 2016, we approved our new
Network Functions Virtualisation Long-Term Strategy for 2016-2021. It ETSI is playing its part in this
(NFV), Millimetre Wave Transmission includes two key technical themes, the technological revolution through the
and Multi-access Edge Computing IoT and supporting 5G communications work of our Industry Specification
– technologies which will form the systems, as well as involvement in Group (ISG) on NFV and, in September,
potential building blocks for a 5G Horizon 2020, attracting innovative the virtualisation of telecommunication
system. We are looking into our future new work and exploring the potential networks came a step closer with the
requirements for Internet Protocols to of Open Source. In 2016 we made publication of our second release of
support developments in local access excellent progress towards our targets NFV specifications.
networks. in all these areas.
One of the key lessons to come from
Since spectrum is a major issue for 5G, For example, as a partner in the this ‘software’ world is the potential
we are working to ensure compatibility oneM2M initiative, we are developing of engaging in Open Source-like
between the different uses which may technical specifications for IoT projects, and we have begun not only
occupy adjacent spectrum and looking technologies. oneM2M Release 2 was to involve new communities but also
at advanced techniques for sharing published in September, enabling one to consider new processes for our
spectrum. And we are investigating common core interworking platform standards development. With our
possible new metrics for energy technology for the IoT. In our own Open Source MANO (OSM) initiative,
efficiency within 5G systems. committees, we are addressing the we have made a significant foray into
needs of smart cities, eHealth and these new processes; our standards
In 2016 we also focussed on the Intelligent Transport Systems. To can be implemented quickly so that
security of the technologies we encourage energy efficiency in the IoT, we can identify inconsistencies,
are standardising, as well as cyber we are also producing standards for and the results are fed back into
security and the protection of critical Low Throughput Networks, the new our standards-making in ISG NFV in
infrastructures, and we are developing ultra narrowband radio technology a process we call ‘implementation
trusted platforms on which to run the which is ideal for connecting objects driven standardisation’. Our members
new virtualisation technologies and in the IoT which need only low continue a very active discussion about
networked digital systems such as the throughput connectivity. the various ways Open Source software
IoT, Industry 4.0 and eHealth. and ETSI standards can and should
As technologies increasingly interact.
5G and security are but two topics in interconnect and all sectors become
our diverse work programme. Together more ICT-intensive, the need for There is also a new component
the various achievements described in improved communication between emerging in this technological
this report will help to create a more them becomes crucial, both revolution – Artificial Intelligence,
connected world. They will also ensure technologically and economically. systems that learn from their
that it is a safer place to live. Perhaps this is one reason why in environment and take action to
2016 we saw rising membership and maximise their success. This is
participation from a wider industrial something we expect to develop in
base. 2017.

The following pages describe our work in 2016. For what we plan to do next, please see our Work Programme 2017-18.

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