Performance Study for Handoff Strategies in Low-Earth-Orbit Satellite Network

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is standardizing the Low Earth Orbit satellite network (LEO-SN), positioning it as a next-generation network (NGN) technology. Unlike conventional terrestrial networks, such as 4G and 5G, LEO satellites’ high mobility prompts recurrent handoffs with user terminals (UTs). This leads to challenges like elevated signaling traffic, diminished bandwidth efficiency, and prolonged handoff times, potentially compromising Quality of Service (QoS). This research introduces and assesses the User Terminal-Controlled Handoff (UCHO) and User Terminal-Assisted Handoff (UAHO) strategies through a 3GPP-based simulation model to evaluate their performances, offering valuable perspectives for LEO-SN standardization.