Rel-17 feature overview and deployment status (2025-2026)

Release 17 Feature Landscape

3GPP Release 17 was functionally frozen in March 2022 and represents a major expansion of the NR ecosystem beyond traditional mobile broadband. The release introduced five landmark features: NR Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) for satellite-based 5G access, Reduced Capability (RedCap) NR devices for mid-tier IoT, Multicast Broadcast Services (MBS) for efficient group communication, enhanced NR sidelink for advanced V2X and public safety, and NR positioning enhancements targeting sub-meter indoor accuracy. Each feature addresses a distinct market gap that Rel-15/16 left open, collectively…