TALENT: Towards Integration of Satellite and Terrestrial Networks

Innovation of technologies for communication systems, specifically in satellite domain, cloud technologies and 5G terrestrial systems is reaching a point of convergence, which promises a new communication paradigm. It enables a new range of features such as agile service provisioning, multi-tenancy, software controlled and dynamic management, on-demand service-oriented resource allocation, universal multi-access, and ubiquitous connectivity. Standardization bodies as 3GPP and ETSI recognize and promote terrestrial and satellite interworking. The complete integration can be achieved with the combination of radio networks, including core and access, and the satellite systems, with computational resources expanded from the core to the network’s edge. In this novel ecosystem, a coordination framework is an essential enabler to realize 5G vision. Combined management of different resources will be performed through a MANO-like framework, which is the focus of this paper. The proposed solution provides a user-friendly single point of interaction for all stakeholders in the ecosystem, i.e. terrestrial and satellite operators as well as 5G vertical providers, where they can launch and manage end-to-end 5G services. The system allows easy integration of multiple applications as well as solutions provided by radio and satellite vendors.