Integration of a non-3GPP satellite interface in a 5G multiple access configuration

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) release 15 extended the 5G access to the WiFi enabling a higher number of communication scenarios and then fostering the penetration of 5G services in a short-term scale. Together with the opportunity to connect 5G Core Network (CN) with a legacy wireless technology, the non-3GPP access paved the way for the implementation of multiple access interfaces to improve on performance of user data transfers through techniques of Access Traffic Steering, Switching and Splitting (ATSSS). Thus, it is worth to analyze the resulting access configurations lying on either “untrusted” and “trusted” scenario to catch potentiality in the definition of brand-new services. While the current specifications address terrestrial-only technologies as non-3GPP interfaces, this paper presents the baseline for a study, funded by a European Space Agency and called INN3SCO, intended to enable a non-3GPP satellite interface and to realize a hybrid terrestrial satellite 5G access.