3GPP RAN Working Groups Return to MECC Maastricht in August 2026

In August 2026, the global mobile communications community will once again gather at the MECC Maastricht in the Netherlands, where ETSI will host the 3GPP RAN Working Groups meetings. This marks the second time that the prestigious venue has welcomed the 3GPP community, reaffirming Maastricht’s position as an important hub for international telecommunications standardisation activities.

The 3GPP Radio Access Network (RAN) Working Groups play a central role in shaping the future of mobile communications. Engineers, researchers, operators, vendors, and industry experts from around the world will come together for intensive technical discussions focused on the evolution of next-generation wireless technologies. With 6G research and standardisation activities accelerating across the industry, the August 2026 meetings are expected to be particularly significant.

Hosted by ETSI, one of the founding organizational partners of 3GPP, the meetings will bring together hundreds of delegates for a full week of collaboration, negotiations, and technical contributions. Participants can expect long and demanding working days as they address the complex challenges involved in defining the foundations of future 6G systems, while continuing enhancements to 5G Advanced technologies.

As the telecom industry continues its rapid pace of innovation, the August 2026 3GPP RAN meetings at MECC Maastricht promise to be another milestone moment for the global standardisation community — and another successful chapter in the collaboration between ETSI, 3GPP, and the city of Maastricht.