Top 3 things that happened on AI in the 6G and 5G core at SA2 #176
The verdict
No KI#18 interim conclusion was recorded. The multi-company interim-conclusion baseline, led by Huawei with nine co-submitters, was noted, and separate interim-conclusion inputs from Samsung (S2-2607288), China Telecom and NTT DOCOMO (all three also co-submitters of the baseline) were not treated. Noted means the meeting did not approve the text, not that its content was rejected. (S2-2608878 (Huawei (with China Mobile, OPPO, ETRI, LG Uplus, SK Telecom, Ewha Womans University, Samsung, NTT DOCOMO, China Telecom); register: noted). S2-2608878. https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS2_176_Prague_2026-08/Docs/S2-2608878.zip; S2-2607681 (China Telecom; register: not treated). S2-2607681. https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS2_176_Prague_2026-08/Docs/S2-2607681.zip; S2-2607437 (NTT DOCOMO; register: not treated). S2-2607437. https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS2_176_Prague_2026-08/Docs/S2-2607437.zip)
Intent handling and a separate AI domain (study text updates). Updates were approved to variant #18.2 (intent handling embedded in other 6G core NFs) and to the variant for a new domain separated from the PS domain (listed as #3, numbered #18.3 in the TR). Approving updates does not choose between variants.
Intent transport and fulfilment (study text updates). Updates were approved to variants #18.4 and #18.5 (transport of intent from UE and AF) and #18.6 (intent fulfilment).
Agents, tools and operator control (study text updates). Updates were approved to variant #18.16 (tool invocation and multi-agent communication), #18.17 and #18.18 (AI capability access) and #18.22 (control of the network's use of AI capabilities).
5G core: SCP alignment in TS 23.501 (CRs agreed at working-group level). Rel-19 and Rel-20 CRs with the same title from vivo, the register does not show whether one mirrors the other. Both still need plenary approval.
5G core: analytics clarifications in TS 23.288 (CRs agreed at working-group level). Rel-19 and Rel-20 clarifications on Signalling Storm Analytics (Huawei with HiSilicon and CATT) and on model information in analytics context transfer (Huawei with HiSilicon), plus a Rel-20 clarification on the time interval supporting vertical federated learning, VFL (ZTE).
None of these texts was approved: the multi-company baseline was noted and the others were not treated. China Telecom and NTT DOCOMO differ on where training and inference sit: China Telecom wants both dedicated and embedded NFs, NTT DOCOMO a dedicated training entity with local inference optional.
Huawei (with China Mobile, OPPO, ETRI, LG Uplus, SK Telecom, Ewha Womans University, Samsung, NTT DOCOMO, China Telecom)The noted baseline includes closed-loop operation for intent assurance.
6G CN shall support closed-loop operation to assure satisfaction of the Target of 3GPP Intent or performance of ML models.
China TelecomChina Telecom's bullet 8 input; its introduction weighs dedicated against embedded inference NFs; not treated.
For ML inferencing, considering both legacy 5G scenarios and new 6G use cases, this contribution concludes that both a dedicated 6GC NF with inference capability [...]
Where should 6G AI and intent handling sit in the core?
Two approved variants coexist in the study: intent handling embedded in existing NFs, and a separate, optional AI domain. Approved texts are merged or revised documents shown under their register submitters. Orange's proposal, not treated, is a distinct architecture based on 5G core evolution.
InterDigital (with Oracle)Approved merged text for variant #18.2 routes intents to an NF with embedded intent handling, such as the PCF.
The NEF discovers and selects a 6G CN NF with embedded intent handling capabilities (e.g., a PCF), and it authenticates and authorizes the intent via [...]
Nokia (with NVIDIA, Federated Telecoms Hub, T-Mobile USA, AT&T, Qualcomm, Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, Turkcell, Ericsson, BT, Google)Approved update to variant #18.3, which describes an AI domain separate from the PS domain.
A new 6G CN AI domain is introduced which is separated from 6G CN PS domain.
OrangeOrange proposed a new variant with an AI gateway function that triggers AI-domain agents; not treated.
AI-GWF (AI Gateway Function) processes and interprets the intent, choose and trigger the appropriate AI agent functions in the AI domain via the AIa reference [...]
How should tool use and operator control of network AI be governed?
The approved variant #18.16 text includes an accept or reject response to tool invocation requests, and the approved #18.22 update lets operator control include explainability checks for certain actions. China Telecom's #18.22 input and the Ericsson-led OAM input were not treated; their content may have fed the merged approved texts.
ZTE (with China Mobile, Huawei, HiSilicon, vivo, Samsung, OPPO, CATT, ETRI)Approved #18.16 text includes an accept or reject response to tool invocation requests.
The tool invocation request is a structured message without intent, in response to which the tool invocation entity may receive a tool invocation acceptance or [...]
Samsung (with SK Telecom)Approved #18.22 update: explainability evaluation for state-changing AI/ML-derived actions, as an option.
For selected AI/ML-derived candidate network actions whose enforcement changes network state or affects externally observable service behaviour, operator control may include evaluation of explainability-related information [...]
KI#18 has no recorded interim conclusion; the noted baseline is a revision of S2-2608468 and may return at the next meeting. (S2-2608878 (Huawei (with China Mobile, OPPO, ETRI, LG Uplus, SK Telecom, Ewha Womans University, Samsung, NTT DOCOMO, China Telecom); register: noted). S2-2608878. https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS2_176_Prague_2026-08/Docs/S2-2608878.zip)
Where ML training and inference sit (dedicated NFs, embedded in NFs, or both) is proposed differently by China Telecom and NTT DOCOMO and is not settled. (S2-2607681 (China Telecom; register: not treated). S2-2607681. https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS2_176_Prague_2026-08/Docs/S2-2607681.zip; S2-2607437 (NTT DOCOMO; register: not treated). S2-2607437. https://www.3gpp.org/ftp/tsg_sa/WG2_Arch/TSGS2_176_Prague_2026-08/Docs/S2-2607437.zip)
S2-2608878 [KI#18, Conclusion] Baseline for Interim conclusion for KI#18. Huawei (with China Mobile, OPPO, ETRI, LG Uplus, SK Telecom, Ewha Womans University, Samsung, NTT DOCOMO, China Telecom). pCR. Register status: noted at S2-176.
S2-2607681 [KI#18, Bullet 8, Conclusion] Interim conclusions for bullet 8. China Telecom. pCR. Register status: not treated at S2-176. No decision recorded in the register.
S2-2607437 [KI#18, Bullet #8, Conclusion] Interim conclusions for bullet #8. NTT DOCOMO. pCR. Register status: not treated at S2-176. No decision recorded in the register.
S2-2609048 [KI#18, Solution Variant #18.8 New]: Support of roaming for AI domain. Google (with ZTE, Ericsson, AT&T, T-Mobile USA, vivo, Huawei, HiSilicon, NTT DOCOMO, Nokia, IIT Bombay). pCR. Register status: approved at S2-176.
S2-2609203 [KI#18, Solution Variants#18.16, update] Tool invocation and multi-agents communication. ZTE (with China Mobile, Huawei, HiSilicon, vivo, Samsung, OPPO, CATT, ETRI). pCR. Register status: approved at S2-176.
S2-2609043 [KI#18, Solution Variant #18.2, Update] Intent handling capability embedded in other 6G CN NFs, to handle requests including intent. InterDigital (with Oracle). pCR. Register status: approved at S2-176.
S2-2608275 AIML_CN SCP related alignment. vivo. CR. Register status: agreed at S2-176.
S2-2609066 Clarification on Signalling Storm Analytics. Huawei (with HiSilicon, CATT). CR. Register status: agreed at S2-176.
S2-2609068 Clarification on Model information in Analytics Context Transfer. Huawei (with HiSilicon). CR. Register status: agreed at S2-176.
S2-2609044 [KI#18, Solution Variant #3 update] New separated domain from PS domain, within 6G CN. Nokia (with NVIDIA, Federated Telecoms Hub, T-Mobile USA, AT&T, Qualcomm, Verizon, Deutsche Telekom, Turkcell, Ericsson, BT, Google). pCR. Register status: approved at S2-176.
S2-2609199 [KI#18, Solution Variant #18.4, #18.5, update] Solution updates for transport of intent from UE and AF. ETRI (with LG Uplus, Ewha Womans University, OPPO, vivo, China Mobile, CATT, Rakuten Mobile, China Telecom, IIT Bombay, Ofinno, LG Electronics, ZTE). pCR. Register status: approved at S2-176.
S2-2609200 [KI#18, Solution variant #18.6, update] Updates to solution on Intent fulfilment. Huawei (with HiSilicon, ZTE, Rakuten Mobile, NEC). pCR. Register status: approved at S2-176.
S2-2609053 [KI#18, Solution variant #18.17, #18.18 update] Solution update for AI capability access. vivo (with ZTE, Oracle, China Mobile, Tejas Networks, Huawei, HiSilicon, Google, Samsung, ETRI, Ewha Womans University). pCR. Register status: approved at S2-176.
S2-2609135 [KI#18, sol var #18.22, update] Control of the network's use of AI capabilities. Samsung (with SK Telecom). pCR. Register status: approved at S2-176.
S2-2608276 AIML_CN SCP related alignment. vivo. CR. Register status: agreed at S2-176.
S2-2608886 Clarifications on the time interval supporting VFL. ZTE. CR. Register status: agreed at S2-176.
S2-2607288 [KI#18, Conclusion] Interim conclusions for KI#18 AI for 6G architecture. Samsung. pCR. Register status: not treated at S2-176. No decision recorded in the register.
S2-2607568 [KI#18, Solution Variant #18.X] AI Enabled 6G Core Network based on 5GC Evolution. Orange. pCR. Register status: not treated at S2-176. No decision recorded in the register.
S2-2607685 [KI#18, Solution variant #18.22 Update] Solution update on NF-level control. China Telecom. pCR. Register status: not treated at S2-176. No decision recorded in the register.
S2-2606935 [KI#18, Solution Variant #22 update] operator governance control through OAM and NF-level enforcement. Ericsson (with AT&T, T-Mobile USA, Deutsche Telekom). pCR. Register status: not treated at S2-176. No decision recorded in the register.
Coverage: SA2 #176 (Prague, 2026-08-24 to 2026-08-28), agenda items 20.6.18, 19.15.2. Scout read 22 recorded decisions and 122 company positions or contribution passages on these agenda items (catalog synced 2026-09-23) and cites 13 decisions and 11 positions from 20 TDocs. Every quoted passage was matched verbatim against the TDoc text; the summaries around the quotes are Scout's reading. Register statuses are copied from the 3GPP TDoc register: not treated means a document was not handled on its own, though its content may have fed feature-lead summaries or merged revisions. Not covered: other agenda items and meetings, plenary TDocs and plenary decisions after the meeting, email discussions after the meeting, and anything not yet in the chair notes or register.
SA2 #176 decisions in the catalog come from the TDoc register (approved pCRs and agreed CRs); there are no chair notes, so the brief reports outcomes and titles, not session discussion.
Company views come from pCR text and contribution passages; SA2 pCRs rarely carry numbered proposals, and approved revisions merge several companies' inputs.
CR categories are not shown. Plenary decisions after SA2 #176 were not checked. Agenda items 20.6.19 (6G network for AI) and 20.6.21 (6G data framework) are not covered.