As the ITU web page on this study group explains: "During its January 2002 meeting, SG13 decided to undertake the preparation of a new ITU-T Project entitled 'NGN 2004 Project'. At the November 2002 SG13 meeting, a preliminary description of the Project was achieved and endorsed by SG13 with the goal to launch the Project."

The ITU website indicates: "The major task of the NGN 2004 Project will be to describe all elements required for interoperability and network capabilities to support applications globally across Next Generation Networks."