Toward Multi-Connectivity in Beyond 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks: Challenges and Possible Solutions

Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) will complement terrestrial networks (TNs) in 5G and beyond due to to recent deployment and standardization activities. Maximizing the efficiency of NTN communications is critical to unlock its full potential and reap its numerous benefits. One method to make communications more efficient is by the use of multi-connectivity (MC), which allows a user to connect to multiple base stations simultaneously. It is standardized and widely used for TNs, but for MC to be used in the NTN environment, several challenges must be overcome. In this article, challenges related to MC in NTNs are discussed, and solutions to the identified challenges are proposed.