Название: 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks: Technologies, Standards, and System Design
Автор: Alessandro Vanelli-Coralli, Nicolas Chuberre, Gino Masini
Издательство: Wiley-IEEE Press
Год: 2024
Страниц: 335
Язык: английский
Формат: pdf (true), epub
Размер: 21.4 MB

Provides a complete and detailed description of the non-terrestrial component in the 5G ecosystem.

5G Non-Terrestrial Networksis the first multi-authored reference dedicated to the integration of non-terrestrial networks (NTN) into the 5G ecosystem. Written by leaders in the development of the 3GPP 5G NTN specification, this authoritative resource addresses all key aspects of non-terrestrial components of 5G systems, including standardization, architecture, protocols, and regulatory considerations.

Drawing from their expertise in academic and industrial research and development, the authors introduce fundamental principles of non-terrestrial communications, define the NTN architecture and radio protocol stacks, describe applications to support mobility and radio resource management, and more. The book covers 5G New Radio-based technology for NTN as well as LTE NB-IoT/eMTC, providing a well-rounded understanding of the unique characteristics of 5G-NTN systems. Throughout the text, the authors offer insights on various design approaches, technical choices, and trade-off options.

This book aims at providing an overview of this 3GPP-defined “NTN” standard. Aimed at easing the inclusion of NTN elements in the 5G ecosystem, the work was conducted within the 3GPP starting with the identification of the technical challenges and potential solutions to support New Radio (NR) protocols and features over satellite links. This marked a radical paradigm shift in how mobile communication standards are defined, as now we are moving to satellite-terrestrial integration. The first global standard for an NTN component in the 5G system was published mid-2022 in the context of 3GPP Release-17. This standard provides the specifications for 5G systems to support a satellite component. However, it should be mentioned that it does not just represent a set of technical specifications, but it rather opens the door for the satellite industry to enter the 3GPP ecosystem, which involved more than 800 organizations at global level working to ensure a global market for telecommunications.

The 3GPP-defined NTN standard is the result of a massive joint effort between stakeholders from both the terrestrial and satellite industries, which leads to a two-fold benefit. On the one hand, 3GPP can now truly achieve global service continuity and network resiliency; on the other hand, satellite stakeholders can now access the unified and global 3GPP ecosystem and, as such, the possibility to reduce the costs through economy of scale. Moreover, the inclusion of a non-terrestrial component in 3GPP can also yield huge benefits for the satellite industry as ground systems exploiting equipment coming from different providers are now available. Notably, this standard is also supported by vertical stakeholders (including public safety, transportation, and automotive) calling for the seamless integration of satellite and terrestrial components and the support of 5G features across these different radio access technologies.

The addition of the NTN component in 5G systems is already creating a global market for satellite communication industry stakeholders and a unique technology framework for satellite networks based on whatever orbit, frequency band, and service provision considering a variety of terminal types (including smartphones and very small aperture terminals), as well as an open architecture approach.

While the current Release-17 NTN standard provides a solid ground for future satellite networks integrated into the 5G system, a significant innovation breakthrough in technologies, techniques, and architectures is needed to prepare for next-generation satellite networks based on Release-19 and beyond, which will pave the way for 6G communications. At the time of writing this book, 3GPP Release-18 is being defined and it includes enhancing features to further improve the performance or to introduce new capabilities for the support of NTN. Moreover, the discussions on the potential topics to be addressed in the 3GPP Release-19 package are already ongoing.

In addition, the book:
Addresses the integration of non-terrestrial networks into 5G systems at all levels
Describes the principles of non-terrestrial systems, including orbital parameters, link budget, propagation, and space/ground segments
Includes a detailed overview of 5G-NTN system architectures, deployment scenarios, and spectrum aspects
Covers NB-IoT and eMTC in NTN, NTN use cases, 5G QoS, and New Radio
Discusses the potential of non-terrestrial components of 5G in the future 6G ecosystem

5G Non-Terrestrial Networksis a must-have for communication engineers, satellite network operators, aerospace and electrical engineers, network engineers, academic researchers and industry professionals involved in 5G infrastructure development, as well as advanced students taking courses on 5G and satellite communication.