Integrated satellite access to 5G/6G systems - an overview of the 5G space infrastructure study

With Release 17 3GPP has provided the first specification for the integration of satellite networks in the 5G Mobile Telecommunications System. This represents a huge opportunity for the space industry to address new markets and serve many additional use cases through seamless integration into the global mainstream telecommunications ecosystem. To fully realize this potential the satellite community has to deliver suitable concepts and visions and above all a credible roadmap for their timely implementation. For this purpose a study was initiated by the European Space Agency focused on the development of a globally competitive space-based infrastructure - consisting of a space, ground, user and network segment and operational concept - as complement to terrestrial networks providing 5G, beyond 5G and 6G connectivity. To achieve this, user requirements and needs of relevant vertical markets were translated into mission and system requirements as basis for end-to-end architecture options. In order to enable the timely implementation of the proposed concepts, the study provided a comprehensive roadmap for the maturation of critical technology elements and suggested suitable deployment and procurement models for the necessary space and ground segments elements of future 5G NTN system components with a time horizon of 5 and 10 years.