On the Satellite Role in the Era of 5G Massive Machine Type Communications

The fifth generation of mobile radio communication systems, dubbed 5G, has the challenge of coping with tremendous increases in data traffic volume and peak data rates, reduced latencies, along with improved energy-efficient transmissions and new use cases. In fact, besides the traditional MBB services, future 5G networks will face the opportunity to embody connections to billions of objects, the so-called IoT or mMTC. The article addresses the question of what is the possible role of satellite systems in mMTC services. Key satellite mMTC system design trade-offs are outlined jointly with some examples of network sizing.