Overview
IEC PAS 63595:2025 - Industrial networks - 5G communication technology - General considerations provides a pre-standard framework for applying 5G (IMT-2020 / 3GPP Release 15 and beyond) cellular wireless technologies to industrial process measurement and control. The PAS gives common terminology, generic system descriptions, and representative use cases, and it sets out requirements and guidance for users, system designers, device manufacturers and integrators. This publicly available specification focuses on cellular 5G terrestrial radio interfaces; non‑cellular NR+ (stand‑alone professional systems) are explicitly excluded. Note: as a PAS, it is a pre-standard subject to potential conversion into a standards series and will be withdrawn automatically after four years.
Key topics and technical requirements
The document covers broad technical topics critical to industrial 5G deployment, including:
- 5G system capabilities and architecture - network functions, device structure, and reference interfaces for industrial use.
- Use cases and requirements - industrial automation traffic models, performance indicators and functional requirements for measurement and control.
- Network deployment scenarios - isolated Non‑Public Networks (NPN), shared RAN approaches and NPNs deployed in public networks.
- Quality of Service (QoS) and network slicing - mechanisms for mapping industrial service needs onto 5G QoS and slice models.
- Integration with industrial technologies - Time‑Sensitive Networking (TSN), industrial Ethernet and distributed automation systems.
- Security and functional safety - security aspects for industrial 5G, device configuration protection and measures for functionally safe applications.
- Performance agreement, validation and testing - performance parameter concepts, monitoring, and selected testing/validation considerations.
- Environmental and device considerations - device types, interfaces, environmental conditions and deployment process guidance.
Practical applications
IEC PAS 63595 is intended to support practical 5G adoption in industrial settings, such as:
- Process plants and factory automation where wireless connectivity is needed for sensors, actuators, controllers and HMIs.
- Deployment of Non‑Public Networks (NPNs) to provide local control, privacy and deterministic behavior.
- Integration projects combining 5G with TSN to meet time‑sensitive control loop requirements.
- Performance assurance: defining service‑level specifications, testing regimes and monitoring plans for 5G-enabled industrial systems.
Who should use this standard
- Industrial network architects and automation engineers
- 5G system designers and network operators deploying industrial NPNs
- Device and module manufacturers for industrial 5G endpoints
- System integrators, test laboratories and procurement teams specifying performance and safety requirements
Related standards
Relevant references include 3GPP specifications (5G Release 15 and later) and ITU‑R IMT‑2020 for radio interface definitions. The PAS also cross‑references Time‑Sensitive Networking (TSN) and industrial Ethernet best practices where integration is required.