• Journal of Communications and Networks
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.314-320
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• 2002

The various sectors of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have been addressing the evolution of thirdgeneration and future wireless systems in the context of a comprehensive International Mobile Telecommunications 2000 (IMT-2000) project, and within the ITU’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) a Special Study Group on “IMT-2000 and Beyond” has been established to address the network aspects of these emerging wireless systems. The Special Study Group (SSG) is playing a global role in this general area, in which a number of regional standards development organizations and a variety of industry forums are also active. This paper provides background information on the SSG and describes the SSG’s ongoing work addressing medium-term issues relating to convergence of fixed and mobile systems and the harmonization of evolving IMT-2000 systems. The paper also addresses related mobility management aspects.