The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) evolution of mobile communication technologies from 5G to 6G has been a transformative journey spanning a decade, shaped by six releases from Release 15 to Release 20. This article provides a retrospective of this evolution, highlighting the technical advancements, challenges, and milestones that have defined the transition from the foundational 5G era to the emergence of 6G. Starting with Release 15, which marked the birth of 5G and its New Radio (NR) air interface, the journey progressed through Release 16, where 5G was qualified as an International Mobile Telecommunications-2020 (IMT-2020) technology, and Release 17, which expanded 5G into new domains such as non-terrestrial networks. Release 18 ushered in the 5G-Advanced era, incorporating novel technologies like artificial intelligence. Releases 19 and 20 continue this momentum, focusing on commercially driven enhancements while laying the groundwork for the 6G era. This article explores how 3GPP technology evolution has shaped the telecommunications landscape over the past decade, bridging two mobile generations. It concludes with insights into learned lessons, future challenges, and opportunities, offering guidelines on 6G evolution for 2030 and beyond.

翻译：第三代合作伙伴计划（3GPP）移动通信技术从5G到6G的演进是一段跨越十年的变革历程，其间历经从Release 15到Release 20共六个版本的演进。本文回顾了这一演进过程，重点阐述了从5G基础时代过渡到6G兴起阶段所定义的技术进步、挑战与里程碑。以标志5G及其新空口（NR）诞生的Release 15为起点，演进历程历经Release 16（5G在此版本被确立为国际移动通信-2020标准技术）与Release 17（将5G扩展至非地面网络等新领域）。Release 18开启了5G-Advanced时代，引入了人工智能等创新技术。Release 19与Release 20延续这一发展势头，在聚焦商业驱动增强的同时，为6G时代奠定基础。本文探讨了过去十年间3GPP技术演进如何塑造通信领域格局，从而连接两代移动通信技术。最后，文章总结了经验教训、未来挑战与机遇，并为2030年及以后的6G演进提供了方向指引。