3GPP begins Release 19 work for public safety as Release 18 progress continues.

The 3GPP Plenary meetings in December 2023 focused on the progress of Release 18 (R18) features for public safety and planning for Release 19 (R19) features. The FirstNet Authority played an active role in advocating for the inclusion of a New Radio (NR) Sidelink multi-hop relaying feature in R19 to extend off-network wireless coverage for public safety. The meetings also discussed high-level considerations for 6G and endorsed several new features for R19, including satellite evolution, topological enhancements, and improved security. The R19 work is scheduled for completion in December 2025. [Extracted from the article]