The 3rd Generation Partnership Project is developing technical specifications for IMT-2000, the International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) framework for third-generation standards. 3GPP is a global co-operation between six Organisational Partners (ARIB, CCSA, ETSI, ATIS, TTA, and TTC) who are recognised as the world's major standardisation bodies from Japan, China, Europe, USA and Korea.

GSA is a Market Representation Partner in 3GPP. A Market Representation Partner is an organisation that has been invited by the Organisational Partners to take part in 3GPP who is able to bring pertinent competencies including the ability to offer advice to 3GPP and to bring a consensus view of market requirements falling within the 3GPP scope.

GSA contributes directly at meetings of 3GPP Organization Partners (OP) and 3GPP Project Co-ordination Group (PCG) which are held twice yearly.

All PCG #14 documents

All OP#13 documents

The next meetings are scheduled as follows:
PCG #15 - October 6, 2005, Sophia Antipolis, France
OP #14 - October 7, 2005, Sophia Antipolis, France

The MRPs role is to provide market and customer requirements to drive standards decision-making and solutions.

The MRPs support collaborative standards-making at the global level in order to bring the benefits of new services, economies of scale and new non-proprietary technologies - coupled with widespread access, interoperability, roaming, a wide choice of terminals and user equipment compatibility - to the mass-market.

With their respective market knowledge, the MRPs are working together where appropriate to maximise the value of their inputs to 3GPP in order to provide the best possible market solutions.

MRPs remain free to present their individual positions consistent with the working practices and consensus-building protocols of 3GPP and its Operational Partners.

In addition, the MRPs are working together on matters of common interest which relate to the successful launch and development of networks, applications and services based on 3GPP specifications, for example on timing, spectrum, licensing, regulation, and interoperability.
The full list of 3GPP Market Representation Partners is:

• GSA - Global mobile Suppliers Association
• GSM Association
• IPv6 Forum
• TD SCDMA Forum
• UMTS Forum
• 3G Americas

More about 3GPP at http://www.3gpp.org.