5G New Radio Over Satellite Links: Synchronization Block Processing

Harmonization of terrestrial standards such that they would support satellite elements would offer several benefits. This work has started at 3GPP relating to 5G new radio (NR). Downlink initial access is one of the topics that has to be evaluated in this respect among many others. This paper studies detection of the synchronization signals included in the synchronization (SS) block of the 5G NR signal in satellite channels that have large, up to 720 kHz, Doppler frequency shift at 30 GHz carrier frequency. Furthermore, the reception of system information data in the SS block is considered. It is shown that using dedicated large frequency shift aware detectors it is possible to meet the 5G NR requirements in the detection part. However, the data part cannot be reliably received using one-shot reception at low signal-to-noise values. Some alternative solutions are considered and evaluated though some of them require changes to the standard in order to be efficient.