5G NTN LEO based demonstrator using OpenAirInterface5G

January 1, 2023·
Sumit Kumar
,
Chandan Kumar Sheemar
,
Jorge Querol
,
Turker Yilmaz
,
Symeon Chatzinotas
,
Marwan Hammouda
,
Thomas Heyn
,
Thomas Schlichter
,
Paulo Marques
,
Luis Pereira
· 2 min read
Abstract
3GPP Release-17 formally recognizes Non- Terrestrial Network (NTN) components as an integral part of future telecommunication networks. The integration of 5G with NTN has gained significant traction due to the joint effort from academia, industry, and government space agencies. The first phase of 5G-NTN prototype development has been successful using GEO satellites. Moving ahead, LEO satellites can provide higher data rates and lower latency compared to GEO. In this paper, we discuss the 3GPP Release-17 compliant cross-layered adaptations done in OpenAirInterface5G during the project 5G-LEO (OpenAirInterface5G Extension for 5G Satellite Links). 5G-LEO aims to provide direct access to 5G services to a ground UE via a transparent payload LEO satellite. To the best of our knowledge, 5G-LEO is the first work involving the adaptation of 5G protocol addressing the challenges presented by the LEO satellite channel for example high and time-varying Doppler, Round-Trip-Time; and frequent handover. A Software Defined Radio-based end-to-end demonstrator has been developed during the project. Results from the experiments conducted during functional validation over the demonstrator are presented in this work. Our initial experiments show promising results and the feasibility of direct access to 5G services through transparent payload LEO satellites.
Type
Publication
ICSSC
publication

Abstract & Overview

3GPP Release-17 formally recognizes Non- Terrestrial Network (NTN) components as an integral part of future telecommunication networks. The integration of 5G with NTN has gained significant traction due to the joint effort from academia, industry, and government space agencies. The first phase of 5G-NTN prototype development has been successful using GEO satellites. Moving ahead, LEO satellites can provide higher data rates and lower latency compared to GEO. In this paper, we discuss the 3GPP Release-17 compliant cross-layered adaptations done in OpenAirInterface5G during the project 5G-LEO (OpenAirInterface5G Extension for 5G Satellite Links). 5G-LEO aims to provide direct access to 5G services to a ground UE via a transparent payload LEO satellite. To the best of our knowledge, 5G-LEO is the first work involving the adaptation of 5G protocol addressing the challenges presented by the LEO satellite channel for example high and time-varying Doppler, Round-Trip-Time; and frequent handover. A Software Defined Radio-based end-to-end demonstrator has been developed during the project. Results from the experiments conducted during functional validation over the demonstrator are presented in this work. Our initial experiments show promising results and the feasibility of direct access to 5G services through transparent payload LEO satellites.

Publication Metadata

  • Authors: Sumit Kumar, Chandan Kumar Sheemar, Jorge Querol, Turker Yilmaz, Symeon Chatzinotas, Marwan Hammouda, Thomas Heyn, Thomas Schlichter, Paulo Marques, Luis Pereira
  • Venue: ICSSC (2023)
  • Research Areas: 6G-NTN, Satellite Communications, AI & Neuromorphic SatCom, SDR & Experimental Testbeds
  • DOI: 10.1049/icp.2024.0822
  • Open Access Repository: ORBiLu – University of Luxembourg
6G-NTN Satellite Communications AI & Neuromorphic SatCom SDR & Experimental Testbeds