For SharePoint Server 2016 the a different product servicing policy has been released which is different from older SharePoint versions.
In the past the requirement was on a specific service pack level. For SharePoint 2016 a different servicing policy is required as Microsoft has no plan to release service packs for SharePoint Server 2016.
During mainstream support, Microsoft will release new cumulative / public update builds for SharePoint Server 2016 each month that contain the latest functionality, performance, and stability improvements for the product.
To ensure that customers have a high-quality experience, Microsoft is adopting the following product servicing policy for SharePoint Server 2016:
All SharePoint Server 2016 builds will be supported for at least one year from its release date. Microsoft will update the minimum supported build of SharePoint Server 2016 on each anniversary of General Availability (GA). Customers must be running that build or higher to remain supported. If a customer contacts Microsoft support and their farm is not running the minimum supported build or higher, they will be asked to upgrade to that build before support can be offered.
The product servicing policy timeline for SharePoint Server 2016 is described in the table below:
| SharePoint Server 2016 | Support End Date |
|---|---|
| RTM (16.0.4351.1000) – April 2017 Public Update | 4/30/2018 |
| May 2017 Public Update – April 2018 Public Update | 4/30/2019 |
| May 2018 Public Update – April 2019 Public Update | 4/30/2020 |
| May 2019 Public Update – April 2020 Public Update | 4/30/2021 |
| May 2020 Public Update – April 2021 Public Update | 4/30/2022 |
| May 2021 Public Update – all future Public Updates | 7/14/2026 |
For all the details about the new servicing policy please have a look at the following article: