General Introduction of Non-Terrestrial Networks for New Radio

doi:10.12142/ZTECOM.2022S1010

Abstract

Abstract:

In the new radio (NR) access technology, non-terrestrial networks (NTN) are introduced to meet the requirement of anywhere and anytime connections from the world market. With the introduction of NTN, the NR system is able to offer the wide-area coverage and ensure the service availability for users. In this paper, the general aspects of NTN are introduced, including the NTN architecture overview, the impact of NTN on next-generation radio access network (NG-RAN) interface functions, mobility scenarios and other NTN related issues. The current progress in 3GPP Release 17 is also provided.

Key words: NR, NTN, satellite, payload

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HAN Jiren, GAO Yin. General Introduction of Non-Terrestrial Networks for New Radio[J]. ZTE Communications, 2022, 20(S1): 72-78.

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URL: http://zte.magtechjournal.com/EN/10.12142/ZTECOM.2022S1010

http://zte.magtechjournal.com/EN/Y2022/V20/IS1/72

Figures/Tables 12

Figure 1 Typical scenario of non-terrestrial networks based on transparent payload

Figure 2 Typical scenario of non-terrestrial networks based on regenerative payload

Table 1 Types of NTN platforms

Platform	Altitude Range/km	Orbit	Typical Beam Footprint Size/km
LEO satellite	300–1 500	Circular around the earth	100–1 000
MEO satellite	7 000–25 000	Circular around the earth	100–1 000
GEO satellite	35 786	Notional station keeping position fixed in terms of elevation/azimuth with respect to a given earth point	200–3 500
UAS platform (including HAPS)	8–50 (20 for HAPS)		5–200
HEO satellite	400–50 000	Elliptical around the earth	200–3 500

Table 1 Types of NTN platforms

Platform	Altitude Range/km	Orbit	Typical Beam Footprint Size/km
LEO satellite	300–1 500	Circular around the earth	100–1 000
MEO satellite	7 000–25 000	Circular around the earth	100–1 000
GEO satellite	35 786	Notional station keeping position fixed in terms of elevation/azimuth with respect to a given earth point	200–3 500
UAS platform (including HAPS)	8–50 (20 for HAPS)		5–200
HEO satellite	400–50 000	Elliptical around the earth	200–3 500

Table 2 Reference scenarios

Non-Terrestrial Access Network

Transparent Satellite

Regenerative Satellite

GEO based non-terrestrial access network

Scenario A

Scenario B

LEO based non-terrestrial access network:

steerable beams

Scenario C1

Scenario D1

LEO based non-terrestrial access network:

beams moving with the satellite

Scenario C2

Scenario D2

Table 2 Reference scenarios

Non-Terrestrial Access Network

Transparent Satellite

Regenerative Satellite

GEO based non-terrestrial access network

Scenario A

Scenario B

LEO based non-terrestrial access network:

steerable beams

Scenario C1

Scenario D1

LEO based non-terrestrial access network:

beams moving with the satellite

Scenario C2

Scenario D2

Figure 3 Transparent satellite, without gNB on board

Figure 4 Regenerative satellite with gNB on board: (a) without ISL; (b) with ISL

Figure 5 Regenerative satellite with gNB-DU on board

Figure 6 Dual connectivity involving (a) transparent NTN-based NG-RAN and cellular NG-RAN and (b) regenerative NTN-based NG-RAN (gNB-DU) and cellular NG-RAN

Figure 7 Multi-connectivity between (a) two transparent NTN-based NG-RANs and (b) two regenerative NTN-based NG-RANs (gNB on board)

Table 3 NG-RAN procedures versus NTN handover scenarios

NTN Handover Scenario

Transparent Satellite

Regenerative Satellite (gNB on Board)

Regenerative Satellite (gNB-DU on Board)

Intra-satellite handover

Intra-gNB handover procedure

or inter-gNB handover procedure

Intra-gNB handover procedure

Intra-gNB-CU mobility/intra-gNB-DU handover or inter-gNB-CU handover

Inter-satellite handover

Inter-gNB handover procedure or intra-gNB handover procedure

Inter-gNB handover procedure

Intra-gNB-CU mobility/inter-gNB-DU mobility or inter-gNB-CU handover

Inter-access handover

Inter AMF/UPF handover procedure or intra AMF/UPF handover procedure (out of RAN scope)

Intra-gNB handover procedure or inter-gNB hanover procedure

Table 3 NG-RAN procedures versus NTN handover scenarios

NTN Handover Scenario

Transparent Satellite

Regenerative Satellite (gNB on Board)

Regenerative Satellite (gNB-DU on Board)

Intra-satellite handover

Intra-gNB handover procedure

or inter-gNB handover procedure

Intra-gNB handover procedure

Intra-gNB-CU mobility/intra-gNB-DU handover or inter-gNB-CU handover

Inter-satellite handover

Inter-gNB handover procedure or intra-gNB handover procedure

Inter-gNB handover procedure

Intra-gNB-CU mobility/inter-gNB-DU mobility or inter-gNB-CU handover

Inter-access handover

Inter AMF/UPF handover procedure or intra AMF/UPF handover procedure (out of RAN scope)

Intra-gNB handover procedure or inter-gNB hanover procedure

Figure 8 Soft feeder link switch-over

Figure 9 Hard feeder link switch-over

References 9

1	RINALDI F, H-LMAATTANEN, TORSNER J, et al. Non-terrestrial networks in 5G & beyond: a survey [J]. IEEE access, 2020, 8: 165178–1652008. DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3022981 DOI URL
2	TIAN K B, YANG Z, ZHANG N.Prospects for the air-space-ground integrated network technology [J]. ZTE technology journal, 2021, 27(5):2-6. DOI：10.12142/ZTETJ.202105002 DOI
3	3GPP. Solutions for NR to support non-terrestrial networks (release 16): 3GPP TR38.821 [S]. 2020
4	3GPP. NG-RAN, architecture description (release 16): 3GPP TS 38.401 [S]. 2020
5	3GPP. Study on new radio (NR) to support non-terrestrial networks (release 15): 3GPP TR38.811 [S]. 2020
6	Thales. On NTN feeder link switch over: 3GPP R3-205173 [R]. 2020
7	ZTE. Initial thoughts on NTN LEO feeder link switch-over: 3GPP R3-204666 [R]. 2020.
8	3GPP. RAN3 chairman notes [C]//3GPP RAN3#111-eMeeting. 3GPP, 2021
9	3GPP. Support non-terrestrial networks: R2-2100229, Stg 2 Running CR_38.300_NR-NTN-solutions [R]. 2021

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