Glossary

Access occasion

A time-frequency resource allocated for Ambient IoT (A-IoT) devices to transmit the Random ID message (MSG1) during a contention-based random access procedure. It is a key enabler for massive IoT connectivity in 5G-Advanced.

Aerial User Equipment

A UE supporting Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) with an aerial subscription, enabling cellular connectivity for drones. It requires authentication and authorization for aerial services, and supports specific capabilities for aerial communication.

Automated Guided Vehicles

Automated Guided Vehicles are driverless, mobile robots used in industrial automation for material handling and logistics. In 3GPP, they represent a critical use case for 5G and beyond, requiring ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), precise positioning, and coordinated motion control to enable safe and efficient operations in smart factories and warehouses.

Ambient IoT Device

An IoT device powered by energy harvesting with limited energy storage, enabling battery-less or extended-lifetime operation. It is central to 3GPP's Ambient IoT vision for massive, low-cost, and sustainable connectivity.

Ambient IoT Function

The Ambient IoT Function (AIoTF) is a network function introduced in 3GPP Release 19 to manage and support Ambient IoT devices. These are ultra-low-cost, battery-free devices powered by ambient energy sources like RF harvesting. The AIoTF provides essential services for their registration, authentication, and communication, enabling massive-scale IoT deployments.

Ambient IoT Network Operator

An operator of an Ambient IoT Network (AIPN), assumed to also be a network/PLMN operator. This term defines the entity responsible for deploying and managing ambient IoT services, enabling zero-energy or low-energy devices to communicate via cellular networks.

Anchor carrier (NB-IoT)

In NB-IoT, a carrier on which the UE assumes NPSS, NSSS, NPBCH, and SIB-NB (FDD) or NPSS, NSSS, and NPBCH (TDD) are transmitted. It provides the initial synchronization and system information for NB-IoT devices.

Bandwidth reduced Low complexity

BL (Bandwidth reduced Low complexity) is a 3GPP feature enabling LTE networks to support low-cost, low-power IoT devices. It reduces device complexity by limiting bandwidth to 1.4 MHz and simplifying RF requirements, making cellular IoT economically viable. This technology was foundational for LTE-M and paved the way for massive IoT deployments.

Bluetooth Low Energy

BLE is a low-power wireless communication technology standardized by 3GPP for IoT device connectivity. It enables energy-efficient data exchange between devices over short ranges, supporting applications like wearables, sensors, and asset tracking. In 3GPP standards, BLE integration enables cellular-IoT convergence and enhanced proximity services.

CIoT Serving Gateway Node

The C-SGN is a combined network node for Cellular IoT (CIoT) that integrates the MME and S-GW functions. It simplifies the core network architecture for IoT deployments, reducing signaling overhead and optimizing for low-power, low-data-rate devices. It is central to 3GPP's CIoT EPS Optimizations.

Connected Limited Device Configuration

A standardized device configuration framework for resource-constrained IoT devices in 3GPP networks. It defines minimum capabilities and requirements for devices with limited memory, processing power, and battery life, enabling efficient cellular IoT deployment. It ensures interoperability while optimizing for cost and energy efficiency.

Control Plane Early Data Transmission

CP-EDT is a 3GPP mechanism enabling small data packet transmission directly during the initial random access procedure, without establishing a full data radio bearer. It significantly reduces signaling overhead and device power consumption for IoT applications like sensors and meters that send infrequent, small data payloads.

Device to Reader

D2R (Device to Reader) is a communication mode introduced in 3GPP Release 19 for IoT and sensor networks. It enables a device (e.g., a sensor tag) to transmit data directly to a specialized reader node, bypassing traditional cellular base stations. This is crucial for efficient, low-power, and localized data collection in massive IoT deployments.

Device-originated - autonomous

DO-A refers to autonomous device-originated communication, where IoT devices initiate data transmission without network triggering. It is studied in Rel-19 for NR and is specified in 23.700 and 38.769.

Extended Coverage Enhanced General Packet Radio Service

EC-EGPRS was a 3GPP feature extending GSM/EDGE coverage for machine-type communications, later superseded by EC-GSM-IoT. It enabled low-cost IoT devices to operate in deep coverage conditions using GPRS infrastructure.

Extended Coverage GSM for Internet of Things

A 3GPP standard for IoT communications over GSM/EDGE networks, providing extended coverage, long battery life, and low device complexity. It enables massive IoT deployment using existing cellular infrastructure.

Factories of the Future

Factories of the Future (FF) is a 3GPP study and work item focusing on defining the communication requirements and enabling technologies for advanced, connected industrial automation. It aims to tailor 5G and beyond systems to support ultra-reliable, low-latency, and precise wireless control in manufacturing environments.

Gateway User Equipment

A UE that acts as a gateway, providing 3GPP network access to one or more non-3GPP devices connected to it. It enables IoT devices and other non-3GPP equipment to communicate via cellular networks, extending coverage and connectivity.

Inertial Measurement Unit

An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) is a sensor device that measures and reports a body's specific force, angular rate, and sometimes orientation. In 3GPP contexts, it's integrated into devices like drones or vehicles to provide motion data for enhanced location and mobility services, crucial for applications requiring precise positioning beyond GNSS.

Isolated Operation for Public Safety enabled User Equipment

A UE configured to operate in IOPS mode, allowing public safety communication when network coverage is unavailable. It enables direct device-to-device communication and isolated E-UTRAN operation for mission-critical services.

Internet of Things device

A type of UE dedicated to specific IoT use cases or services, allowed to use features restricted to such devices. It enables optimized connectivity for massive machine-type communications and diverse IoT applications.

Internet of Things Non-Terrestrial Network Time Division Duplex

A mode of operation allowing NB-IoT FDD channels to be used in TDD fashion for non-terrestrial networks. It enables IoT connectivity via satellites using existing NB-IoT technology with TDD adaptation.

In-Vehicle System

The In-Vehicle System is the terminal and associated sub-systems installed in a vehicle to support the eCall emergency service. It enables automatic or manual initiation of an emergency call, transmitting critical data like vehicle location to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). This system is fundamental for road safety and mandated in many regions.

InterWorking - Service Capability Exposure Function

A network function defined for Cellular IoT (CIoT) that provides interworking between the SCEF and other network entities, particularly the MME/SGSN, for non-IP data delivery (NIDD). It acts as a relay/proxy, enabling the exposure of IoT device services and capabilities to external application servers via the SCEF, even for devices using optimized CIoT EPS architectures.

Laptop Embedded Equipment

LEE refers to Laptop Embedded Equipment, such as embedded module cards integrated into notebooks. It defines a category of user equipment with specific RF and performance requirements for laptops, enabling cellular connectivity in portable computers.

Low-Power Wide-Area

LPWA refers to a class of wireless technologies designed for IoT devices that require long-range communication, years of battery life, and low device cost. 3GPP standardized LPWA solutions include NB-IoT and LTE-M (eMTC), which are optimized for massive-scale sensor and meter deployments.

Low Power Wake-Up Receiver

A Low Power Wake-Up Receiver (LR) is an ultra-low-power radio component used in IoT devices. It continuously listens for a specific wake-up signal from the network while the device's main radio is powered off, enabling massive energy savings and extended battery life for machine-type communication.

Long Term Evolution – Machine Type Communication

LTE-MTC refers to LTE enhancements for Machine Type Communication, enabling low-cost, low-power IoT devices. In Rel-19, it focuses on further optimizing LTE for massive IoT, including coverage, power saving, and coexistence with 5G.

LTE Vehicle-to-Everything

LTE-V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) is a 3GPP standard that adapts LTE technology for direct and network-based communication between vehicles (V2V), infrastructure (V2I), pedestrians (V2P), and networks (V2N). It enables critical safety, traffic efficiency, and autonomous driving applications by providing low-latency, high-reliability links in vehicular environments.

Offset of NB-IoT Downlink channel number to Downlink EARFCN

MDL is a technical offset parameter used to map the narrowband physical resource block (PRB) index of an NB-IoT carrier to its corresponding downlink E-UTRA Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (EARFCN). It ensures correct frequency alignment and coexistence for NB-IoT deployments within LTE spectrum, which is critical for network planning and UE synchronization.

Mobile Initiated Connection Only

A UE power-saving mode for IoT devices where the network does not page the device. The device only becomes reachable for mobile-terminated services when it initiates communication, significantly extending battery life for infrequent data transmitters.

Mobile Originated Small Data Transmission

MO-SDT is a 3GPP mechanism enabling IoT devices to transmit small data packets with minimal signaling overhead, even in inactive or idle states. It optimizes network efficiency and device battery life by avoiding full connection establishment, crucial for massive IoT deployments.

Mobile Terminated Early Data Transmission

Mobile Terminated Early Data Transmission (MT-EDT) is a Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and LTE-M feature enabling efficient, network-initiated downlink data transmission during the random access procedure. It reduces signaling overhead and power consumption for infrequent, small downlink packets, which is critical for IoT device battery life.

Mobile Terminated Small Data Transmission

A 5G NR feature enabling efficient network-initiated delivery of small data packets to IoT devices in RRC Inactive state. It reduces signaling overhead and device power consumption by avoiding a full RRC connection setup for infrequent downlink data.

Machine Type Communications

MTC is the 3GPP framework for enabling machine-to-machine (M2M) communication over cellular networks. It provides optimized features for connecting a massive number of low-cost, low-power devices, such as sensors and meters, to support the Internet of Things (IoT).

Machine Type Communication Device

A UE equipped for Machine Type Communication that communicates through a PLMN with MTC Servers and/or other MTC Devices. It enables automated machine-to-machine data exchange without direct human intervention.

Machine Type Communication Feature

Network functions that optimize the 3GPP network for use by Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications. They address specific MTC requirements like low mobility, small data, and time-controlled communication.

Machine Type Communication Server

A server that communicates with the PLMN and with MTC Devices through the PLMN, providing services for the MTC User. It acts as the application endpoint for machine-type communication.

Machine-Type Communication Subscriber

A legal entity that holds a contractual relationship with a network operator to provide service to one or more MTC Devices. It is the business-level subscriber behind machine-type communication, distinct from the physical device itself.

Machine-Type Communication User

An entity that uses the service provided by the MTC Server. The MTC User is the consumer of machine-type data and services, distinct from the MTC Subscriber who holds the contract and the MTC Device that generates data.

Mass Transit Train Control

MTTC is a 3GPP service category for railway communication systems, enabling safe and efficient train control and operations. It supports critical functions like automatic train control, signaling, and passenger information over cellular networks. Its importance lies in enhancing railway safety, capacity, and operational efficiency through reliable wireless connectivity.

MTC Wake Up Signal

A low-power physical layer signal in NB-IoT and LTE-M designed to wake up dormant Machine-Type Communication (MTC) devices. It extends battery life by allowing devices to enter deep sleep and only activate their main receivers when the MWUS indicates pending downlink data.

Narrowband Internet of Things

NB-IoT is a 3GPP radio access technology for low-power wide-area IoT, using a 200 kHz channel (one PRB) in E-UTRA. It enables deep coverage, long battery life, and massive device density.

Narrowband Internet of Things Standalone Operation

A deployment mode of NB-IoT where the narrowband carrier operates in its own dedicated spectrum, typically refarming GSM carriers. It is one of three NB-IoT operation modes alongside in-band and guard-band.

Non-IP Data Delivery

A 3GPP feature enabling the transport of small, non-IP data packets (e.g., from IoT sensors) directly over the control plane of the mobile network. It optimizes network resource usage by avoiding the overhead of establishing full IP data sessions for infrequent, small data transmissions.

Network Improvements for Machine Type Communications

A 3GPP work item and set of features focused on enhancing cellular networks to efficiently support a massive number of low-cost, low-power Machine Type Communication devices. It addresses core network overload, signaling congestion, and device energy consumption challenges unique to MTC.

Narrow Band Wake Up Signal

A low-power signal in NB-IoT that wakes up a UE from an idle or inactive state to receive paging or system information. It significantly extends battery life for IoT devices by minimizing the time the main receiver is active. This is crucial for massive machine-type communication deployments.

Onboarding Standalone Non-Public Network

ON-SNPN is a 3GPP mechanism enabling IoT devices to securely discover, authenticate, and connect to a Standalone Non-Public Network (SNPN) without prior subscription data. It is crucial for deploying massive IoT devices in private industrial networks, allowing automated network onboarding.

Onboarding Network

An Onboarding Network (ONN) is a trusted network, which may be a PLMN or SNPN, that provides initial network access to a device so it can securely acquire credentials for its target service network (e.g., an SNPN). It acts as a secure bootstrap platform for device provisioning.

Power Efficient Operation

A set of features in GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN) designed to extend battery life for IoT devices. It reduces power consumption by optimizing paging and signaling procedures, enabling devices to sleep longer. This is crucial for low-cost, long-lived Machine-Type Communication (MTC) deployments.

Personal IoT Network Application

PINAPP refers to application layer support for Personal IoT Networks, introduced in 3GPP Release 18. It enables users to create and manage their own localized IoT networks of personal devices, with application-level control and service enablement. It matters for consumer IoT scenarios like smart homes and personal wearables.

Programmable Logic Controller

An industrial digital computer adapted for the control of manufacturing processes or machinery. In 3GPP context, it refers to devices in industrial automation that utilize cellular networks (e.g., 5G) for communication, enabling features like ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) for critical control loops.

Power Saving Mode (PSM)

A UE mode of operation similar to power-off that greatly reduces power consumption while the device remains registered with the network. It avoids the need to re-attach or re-establish PDN connections, making it essential for battery-powered IoT devices with multi-year battery life requirements.

Power Saving Mode

A UE power saving mechanism where the device enters a deep sleep state, becoming unreachable for mobile-terminated services while remaining registered with the network. It dramatically extends battery life for IoT and MTC devices that send data infrequently.

Preconfigured Uplink Resource

PUR (Preconfigured Uplink Resource) is a 3GPP feature enabling IoT devices to transmit uplink data without performing a random access procedure, reducing latency and power consumption. It allows the network to allocate dedicated periodic resources for small data transmissions, crucial for massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC) and energy-efficient IoT applications.

Reader to Device

R2D is a communication mode defined in 3GPP for cellular IoT where a network-connected device (the Reader) initiates communication with a simpler, often battery-constrained Device. It is a key enabler for massive IoT applications like sensor networks and asset tracking, optimizing for power efficiency and network capacity.

Random Access-based Small Data Transmission

RA-SDT is a 3GPP NR feature introduced in Release 17 that enables IoT and other devices to transmit small data packets directly during the Random Access procedure, without transitioning to a full RRC Connected state. This significantly reduces signaling overhead, latency, and device power consumption for infrequent, small data bursts.

Remote User Equipment

A ProSe-enabled Public Safety UE that communicates with a PDN via a ProSe UE-to-Network Relay, enabling connectivity for devices outside network coverage.

Radio-Frequency Identification

A wireless technology that uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects. In 3GPP Rel-18, it is integrated into the 5G system to enable enhanced asset tracking, logistics, and IoT applications by leveraging the cellular network for tag data collection and management.

Road Side Unit

A Road Side Unit (RSU) is a communication infrastructure component deployed along roads to enable Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) services. It facilitates direct and network-based communication between vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic systems for enhanced road safety and traffic efficiency.

Service Capability Exposure Function

A core network function introduced for Cellular IoT (CIoT) that securely exposes network services and capabilities (like device triggering, monitoring, and small data transmission) to authorized third-party Application Servers. It acts as a controlled gateway, enabling IoT service providers to interact with devices without direct access to the network core.

Service Capability Exposure Function Packet Data Network Connection

A PDN connection established between the UE and the Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF) for transmitting the UE's non-IP data related to a specific application. Defined in 3GPP specifications 23.007, 24.301, and 29.274 for cellular IoT support.

Transfer Interval

The time difference between two consecutive transfers of application data from an application via the service interface to the 3GPP system. This parameter is critical for time-sensitive industrial IoT applications requiring deterministic communication.

Transmission using Preconfigured Uplink Resource

Transmission using PUR allows a single uplink data transmission from RRC_IDLE using preconfigured resources, reducing signaling overhead and latency for IoT devices. It supports both control plane and user plane transmission.

Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle Controller

UAV-C is the 3GPP-defined functional entity for commanding and controlling uncrewed aerial vehicles over cellular networks. Introduced in Rel-19, it enables standardized aerial vehicle control, identification, and authorization for emerging drone applications.

Vehicular User Equipment

A user equipment (UE) embedded in a vehicle, permanently connected to an embedded antenna system that radiates externally for NR operating bands. It enables cellular connectivity for vehicles, supporting V2X and infotainment services.

Wayside Automatic Train Protection

A 3GPP system feature for railway communications that enables automatic train protection (ATP) functionality using wayside equipment connected via a 3GPP network, rather than traditional track-based systems. It leverages mobile network connectivity to transmit vital safety commands (like movement authorities) from a central control to trains.

Wrist-Worn Mode Usage

Wrist-worn mode usage refers to a wearable device operating in a wrist-worn configuration, where RF exposure compliance is assessed using forearm phantoms. It is a specific usage scenario for wearables in 3GPP testing.