Description
Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) is a point-to-multipoint service architecture standardized by 3GPP to deliver data from a single source entity to multiple recipients in a defined service area. It operates over both the Core Network (CN) and the Radio Access Network (RAN). The service is built upon two primary bearer service modes: Broadcast Mode and Multicast Mode. In Broadcast Mode, any user within the broadcast service area can receive the data without subscription, whereas Multicast Mode requires users to subscribe and be authorized to join a specific multicast group, allowing for more controlled service delivery and potential charging.
Architecturally, MBMS introduces new functional entities and interfaces. Key network elements include the Broadcast Multicast-Service Center (BM-SC), which acts as the entry point for content providers, handling service announcement, scheduling, and security (key management). In the core network, the MBMS Gateway (MBMS-GW) is responsible for packet forwarding, IP multicast distribution, and session control signaling towards the RAN. The RAN, comprising Node Bs (for UMTS) or eNBs (for LTE/NR), manages the radio resource allocation for MBMS transmissions. A critical concept is the MBMS Service Area, defined as a list of MBMS Service Area IDs, where each ID represents a group of cells. This allows flexible geographical targeting of content sessions.
The service works by establishing an MBMS bearer context for a session. The BM-SC initiates a session start procedure, signaling through the MBMS-GW to the RAN and ultimately to the User Equipment (UE). The RAN decides on the transmission method: either using a dedicated point-to-point (PTP) bearer for a small number of users or a shared point-to-multipoint (PTM) bearer (like a Single Frequency Network - MBSFN in LTE) when many users are present, optimizing resource usage. On the radio interface, MBMS data is transmitted on common physical channels (e.g., MTCH logical channel mapped to PMCH in LTE). UEs interested in a service monitor control channels (MCCH) for scheduling information and then receive the data on the corresponding traffic channel.
MBMS plays a vital role in enabling efficient mass communication services. It is foundational for evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (eMBMS) in LTE and NR, supporting features like MBSFN transmission for improved spectral efficiency and reception quality. The architecture supports both streaming services (like mobile TV) and download delivery services for file distribution. Its integration with IP multicast in the core network allows scalable content distribution from a single source to multiple nodes in the transport network, reducing overall network load compared to replicated unicast streams.
Purpose & Motivation
MBMS was created to address the fundamental inefficiency of using unicast connections for delivering identical content to a large number of mobile users simultaneously. Prior to MBMS, services like mobile TV would require a separate dedicated bearer for each viewer, rapidly consuming available radio and transport network capacity, making such services economically and technically unviable at scale. The technology was motivated by the growing demand for rich multimedia services and the need for operators to utilize their spectrum and network infrastructure more efficiently for one-to-many communication scenarios.
Historically introduced in 3GPP Release 6 (with foundations in Release 99 for CBS), MBMS provided the first standardized framework for broadcast/multicast in cellular networks. It solved the problem of scalable content delivery by introducing shared radio and core network bearers. This allowed operators to offer new revenue-generating services like broadcast video, radio, and large software updates to fleet devices. The creation of MBMS also established the necessary security and service management framework (via the BM-SC) to support commercial broadcast and multicast services, including subscription management for multicast and content protection.
Classification
Release Timeline
Detected Changes Across Releases
from 3GPP Change RequestsSpecific changes extracted from the „Change history“ tables of 3GPP specifications (65 CRs across 5 releases). Complements the general historical overview above with the evidence-based evolution of this function.
In Release 15, MBMS enhancements introduced support for Mission Critical services, including specific signaling and media plane usage for MCVideo and header compression for MC services over MBMS. The release added new procedures such as MBMS bearer event notification, MBMS bearer announcement over an MBMS bearer, and multi-server MBMS bearer coordination. It also defined capabilities for MBMS reception in Receive Only Mode and support for SAND (Service and Network Assisted Dynamic) for MBMS.
- MBMS bearer event notification TS 23.280CR0025
- Header compression for MC services over MBMS TS 23.280CR0058
- Usage of MBMS for MCVideo - signaling control TS 24.281CR0037
- Header compression over MBMS - signalling control TS 24.379CR0417
- Floor Release Multi Talker message over MBMS subchannel TS 24.380CR0185
- MBMS bearer announcement over an MBMS bearer TS 24.380CR0197
+ 26 more changes
In Release 16, the MBMS function was enhanced with new features including group status notification and listening status reporting for UEs. It introduced signalling plane support for Mission Critical Data (MCData) services to enable transmission, reception, and user plane SDS over MBMS. The release also included corrections and clarifications for MBMS User Service Description (USD), service area definitions, and specific UE capabilities for unique subcarrier spacings.
- Group status notification over MBMS TS 23.280CR0178
- MBMS listening status report TS 23.280CR0181
- Add signalling plane capability to support transmission / reception via MBMS in MCData TS 24.282CR0092
- Signalling plane support in MCData for user plane SDS using MBMS TS 24.282CR0170
- Missing XML Data Type for Attributes in MBMS USD TS 26.346CR0658
- Incorrect reference to table for MBMS Subchannel Control TS 24.581CR0038
+ 4 more changes
In Release 17, key enhancements for MBMS included the introduction of support for local MBMS delivery and the addition of an MBMS suspension report information flow. The release also provided clarifications and corrections to MBMS procedures, such as setting broadcast areas during bearer activation, and defined previously undeclared XML elements for location and MBMS usage in the schema. Furthermore, it enabled interworking with MBMS over E-UTRAN for broadcast services and expanded MCData signalling plane support for Functional Distribution (FD) using MBMS delivery via the MB2 interface.
- Clarification on setting the MBMS broadcast areas when activating MBMS bearer TS 23.280CR0255
- Support local MBMS TS 23.286CR0027
- Support for local MBMS delivery TS 23.286CR0031
- MCData signalling plane support for FD using MBMS delivery via MB2 TS 24.282CR0227
- Interworking with MBMS over E-UTRAN for broadcast service TS 23.247CR0008
- Addition of MBMS suspension report information flow TS 23.280CR0289
+ 4 more changes
In Release 18, MBMS enhancements included support for multicast clients on non-3GPP devices and refined the signaling procedures for MBMS-service-associated logical connections. Specific updates involved corrections to the MBMS Interest Indication and the MIB-MBMS system frame number, alongside the removal of unicast bearer status from MBMS bearer information. The release also introduced specifications for using port numbers for separate MBMS subchannels dedicated to transmission and floor control.
- MCGWUE_MBMS support for MC clients residing on non-3GPP devices TS 23.280CR0301
- MBMS listening status coding TS 24.379CR0848
- Removing unicast bearer status from MBMS bearer information TS 23.280CR0342
- Use of port number in case of separate MBMS subchannel for transmission control TS 24.281CR0230
- Use of port number in case of separate MBMS subchannel for floor control TS 24.379CR0917
- Correction on MBMS Interest Indication TS 36.331CR5125
+ 1 more changes
In Release 19, key MBMS enhancements included improved time synchronization for broadcast services and the introduction of an in-session unicast repair mechanism for MBMS Object Distribution to improve reliability. The release also defined procedures for adding an MBMS delivery function to the MC gateway UE and updated aspects of MBMS transmissions and associated event notification.
- Update MBMS transmissions aspect TS 23.180CR0013
- [AMD_PRO-MED] In-session Unicast Repair for MBMS Object Distribution TS 26.346CR0677
- Improved Time Synchronization for MBMS TS 26.346CR0672
- Adding MBMS delivery function to MC gateway UE in clause 11.1 TS 23.280CR0665
- Change MC GW MBMS bearer quality report message name TS 23.280CR0666
- Void MBMS bearer event notification procedure TS 23.280CR0626
Explore further
Broader topics and technologies where MBMS plays a role.
Defining Specifications
3GPP specifications that define or reference MBMS, with the latest known release. Sourced from the 3GPP document catalog — see methodology.
| Specification | Title | Release |
|---|---|---|
| TR 21.905 vj00 | 3GPP Technical Terms and Definitions | Rel-19 |
| TS 22.146 vj00 | MBMS Stage 1 Description | Rel-19 |
| TS 22.246 vj00 | MBMS User Services Specification | Rel-19 |
| TR 22.947 vj00 | Personal Broadcast Service (PBS) Use Cases | Rel-19 |
| TS 23.179 vd50 | MCPTT Functional Architecture | Rel-13 |
| TS 23.180 vj10 | MC services support in IOPS mode | Rel-19 |
| TS 23.222 vj80 | Common API Framework for 3GPP Northbound APIs | Rel-19 |
| TS 23.247 vj30 | 5G Multicast/Broadcast Service Architecture | Rel-19 |
| TS 23.280 vk10 | Common Architecture for Mission Critical Services | Rel-20 |
| TS 23.286 vj00 | V2X Application Enabler Architecture | Rel-19 |
| TS 23.379 vk00 | MCPTT Functional Architecture | Rel-20 |
| TS 23.468 vj00 | Group Communication System Enablers for LTE | Rel-19 |
| TS 23.479 vj00 | MBMS API for Mission Critical Services | Rel-19 |
| TS 23.722 vf10 | Common API Framework (CAPIF) for 3GPP Northbound APIs | Rel-15 |
| TS 23.741 vd00 | MBMS/GCSE_LTE Architecture Enhancements Study | Rel-13 |
| TS 23.768 vc10 | Group Communication System Enablers for LTE | Rel-12 |
| TR 23.780 ve00 | MBMS for Mission Critical Communication Services | Rel-14 |
| TS 23.790 vf00 | FRMCS Gap Analysis and Architecture Enhancements | Rel-15 |
| TS 23.792 vg00 | MBMS API for Mission Critical Services | Rel-16 |
| TS 23.795 vg10 | V2X Application Architecture Study | Rel-16 |
| TS 23.846 v1600 | MBMS Architecture and Functionality | Rel-6 |
| TS 24.281 vj40 | MCVideo Signalling Control Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 24.282 vj50 | MCData Signalling Control Protocols | Rel-19 |
| TS 24.305 vj00 | Selective Disabling of 3GPP UE Capabilities | Rel-19 |
| TS 24.334 vj00 | ProSe Protocols and Procedures | Rel-19 |
| TS 24.379 vj50 | Mission Critical Push To Talk (MCPTT) call control | Rel-19 |
| TS 24.380 vj10 | MCPTT Media Plane Control Protocol | Rel-19 |
| TS 24.581 vj00 | MCVideo Media Plane Control Protocol Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.102 vj00 | UTRA TDD RF Characteristics | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.105 vj00 | UTRA TDD Base Station RF Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.142 vj00 | UTRA TDD Base Station RF Test Methods | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.224 vj00 | UTRA TDD Physical Layer Procedures | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.301 vj00 | UE-UTRAN Radio Interface Protocol Architecture | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.302 vj00 | UTRA Physical Layer Services | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.304 vj00 | UTRA Idle Mode Procedures Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.321 vj00 | MAC Protocol Specification for UTRAN | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.322 vj00 | RLC Protocol Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.323 vj00 | Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.331 vj00 | UTRAN RRC Protocol Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.346 vj00 | MBMS in UTRA Technical Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.401 vj00 | UTRAN Overall Architecture | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.402 vj00 | UTRAN Synchronisation Mechanisms | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.410 vj00 | Iu Interface Introduction for UTRAN | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.413 vj00 | Radio Access Network Application Part (RANAP) | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.420 vj00 | Iur Interface Introduction for UTRAN | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.423 vj00 | UTRAN RNSAP Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 25.433 vj00 | Node B Application Part (NBAP) Protocol | Rel-19 |
| TR 25.912 vj00 | Evolved UTRA and UTRAN Technical Report | Rel-19 |
| TR 25.931 vj00 | UTRAN Signalling Procedures Examples | Rel-19 |
| TR 25.992 vj00 | MBMS in RAN Requirements & Functions | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.116 vj00 | TV Video Formats for 3GPP Services | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.150 vj00 | Syndicated Feed Reception (SFR) Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.179 vj00 | Codecs and Media Handling for MCPTT | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.237 vj00 | IMS for PSS and MBMS Control | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.281 vj00 | MCVideo Codecs and Media Handling | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.307 vj00 | 3GPP HTML5 Profile Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.346 vj20 | MBMS User Services Media Codecs & Protocols | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.501 vj30 | 5G Media Streaming (5GMS) Architecture | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.512 vj10 | 5G Media Streaming Protocols & APIs | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.517 vj10 | 5G MBS User Service Protocols and Formats | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.802 vj20 | Multicast Enhancements for 5G Media Streaming | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.804 vj10 | 5G Media Streaming Extensions Study | Rel-19 |
| TS 26.827 vc00 | IMS-based Streaming & Download Delivery Enhancements | Rel-12 |
| TS 26.851 vb20 | Enhancements to Multimedia (EMM) for PSS, MMS, MBMS | Rel-11 |
| TR 26.857 vi00 | Technical Report on Media Service Enablers | Rel-18 |
| TS 26.880 ve00 | MBMS Enhancements for Mission Critical Video | Rel-14 |
| TS 26.881 vf00 | MBMS FEC for Mission Critical Services Study | Rel-15 |
| TR 26.902 vj00 | Video Codec Performance for 3GPP Packet Services | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.903 vj00 | Video Capability Requirements for PSS and MBMS | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.905 vj00 | Study on Mobile 3D Video Services | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.906 vj00 | HEVC Evaluation for 3GPP Services | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.907 vj00 | HTML5 for 3GPP Services Study | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.918 vj00 | Virtual Reality Relevance Study for 3GPP | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.936 vj00 | Audio Codec Characterization Technical Report | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.944 vj00 | QoE, ESQoS and SQoS metrics for 3G multimedia services | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.946 vj00 | MBMS User Services Overview | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.947 vj00 | FEC Evaluation for MBMS Enhancement | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.948 vj00 | Video enhancements for 3GPP Multimedia Services | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.949 vj00 | TV Service Profiles for 3GPP Networks | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.981 vj00 | MBMS Provisioning & Content Ingestion Interface Study | Rel-19 |
| TR 26.989 vj00 | MCPTT Enhancement Analysis | Rel-19 |
| TS 29.060 vj00 | GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (GTP) version 1 | Rel-19 |
| TS 29.061 vj00 | Packet Domain Interworking for PLMN | Rel-19 |
| TS 29.165 vj10 | Inter-IMS Network to Network Interface (NNI) | Rel-19 |
| TS 29.199 v1900 | Multimedia Messaging Web Services | Rel-9 |
| TS 29.274 vj50 | GTPv2-C Control Plane Protocol Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 29.380 vj00 | MCPTT-LMR Interworking Media Plane Control | Rel-19 |
| TS 31.102 vj40 | USIM Application Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.102 vj00 | Telecom Management Physical Architecture Framework | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.240 vj40 | Charging Management Architecture & Principles | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.272 vj00 | Charging for Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.273 vj00 | MBMS Charging Management | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.296 vj00 | Online Charging System (OCS) Architecture | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.297 vj00 | Charging Data Record File Transfer | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.421 vj30 | Subscriber & Equipment Trace Concepts & Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.422 vk00 | Telecom Management: Trace Control & Configuration | Rel-20 |
| TS 32.441 vj00 | Trace Management IRP Requirements | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.442 vj00 | Trace Management IRP: Information Service | Rel-19 |
| TS 32.808 v1800 | Common User Profile Storage Framework | Rel-8 |
| TS 33.107 vj00 | Lawful Interception Architecture & Functions | Rel-19 |
| TS 33.246 vj00 | MBMS Security Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 33.823 vc20 | GBA Web Browser Integration Study | Rel-12 |
| TS 33.880 vf10 | Security Study for Enhanced Mission Critical Services | Rel-15 |
| TS 36.201 vj00 | LTE Physical Layer General Description | Rel-19 |
| TS 36.300 vj00 | E-UTRAN Radio Interface Protocol Architecture Overview | Rel-19 |
| TS 36.302 vj00 | E-UTRA Physical Layer Services | Rel-19 |
| TS 36.304 vj00 | UE Idle Mode Procedures in E-UTRA | Rel-19 |
| TS 36.331 vj00 | LTE RRC Protocol Specification | Rel-19 |
| TS 36.401 vj00 | E-UTRAN Overall Architecture Description | Rel-19 |
| TS 36.441 vj00 | MBMS Layer 1 Specifications for E-UTRAN | Rel-19 |
| TS 36.444 vj00 | M3AP Protocol Specification for M3 Interface | Rel-19 |
| TS 36.445 vj00 | M1 interface user plane protocol for MBMS | Rel-19 |
| TS 36.509 vh40 | EPC Special UE Conformance Testing Functions | Rel-17 |
| TS 36.579 | 3GPP TR 36.579 | R99 |
| TS 36.868 vc00 | Study on Group Communication for E-UTRA | Rel-12 |
| TR 36.912 vj00 | TR on LTE-Advanced (Further E-UTRA) | Rel-19 |
| TR 36.976 vj00 | LTE-based 5G Terrestrial Broadcast Overview | Rel-19 |
| TS 37.320 vj00 | Minimization of Drive Tests (MDT) Overview | Rel-19 |
| TS 37.579 vi40 | Mission Critical services conformance testing | Rel-18 |
| TR 38.890 vh00 | NR QoE Management and Optimization | Rel-17 |
| TS 43.064 vj00 | GPRS Radio Interface Lower-Layer Functions | Rel-19 |
| TS 43.246 vj00 | MBMS in GERAN Stage 2 Specification | Rel-19 |
| TR 43.901 vj00 | Generic Access to A/Gb Interface Feasibility Study | Rel-19 |
| TS 48.018 vj00 | BSS-SGSN Interface for GPRS Control | Rel-19 |
