Non-Terrestrial Network

(NTN) in 3GPP
Nicolas Chuberre, Thales Alenia Space
3GPP “Solutions for NR to support non-terrestrial networks
(NTN)” work item rapporteur

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 Some definitions
3GPP: The 3rd Generation Partnership Project unites 7
telecommunications standard development organizations (ARIB, ATIS,
CCSA, ETSI, TSDSI, TTA, TTC) and specifies 3GPP technologies: UMTS
(3G), LTE (4G) and now NR (5G)
NR: New Radio (5G radio interface)
Non-terrestrial networks: Networks, or segments of networks, using
an airborne or space-borne vehicle to embark a
transmission/reception equipment node.
• LEO, GEO, and HAPS

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 Reference NTN architectures

1) Satellite access with transparent satellite

NR-Uu NG N6 Data
UE NG RAN 5G CN
Network

2) Satellite access with regenerative satellite (example)

NR-Uu NG N6 Data
UE NG RAN 5G CN
Network

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 Capabilities of Non-Terrestrial network
platforms
HAPS LEO MEO GEO HEO (Note 1)
(8 to 50 km) (300 to 2000 km) (8000 to 25000 km) (35 786 km) (higher than MEO/GEO)
Regional between +/-70)
Area of several hundred Typically to address polar or
Coverage Up to Worldwide. Up to Worldwide. latitude and up to 100°
kilometers diameter high latitude regions
longitude span
5G services support with
3GPP class 3 devices (FR1), eMBB, mMTC, uRLLC eMBB, mMTC mMTC, [eMBB] mMTC, [eMBB] link budget challenge
(Note 3)
5G services support with
Directional antenna devices eMBB, mMTC, uRLLC eMBB, mMTC eMBB, mMTC eMBB, mMTC eMBB, mMTC
(FR1 or FR2), (Note 4)
Latency comparable to
Latency comparable to NG- Latency comparable to LTE Latency comparable to UTRAN
Latency (Note 2) GSM/GPRS based cellular Similar or greater than GEO
RAN based Cellular network based Cellular network based Cellular network
network
Service coverage extension through direct access, network resiliency
Added value for 5G system Backhaul(IAB)
+ Backhaul(IAB)
Note 1: The added value of HEO being very specific, it is proposed to consider this scenario in a future release.
Note 2: The QoS over a high latency access may be degraded for delay sensitive applications. This can be mitigated by combining the high latency access with a relatively low latency access
technologies (e.g. cellular, HAPS or LEO based access) and the use of appropriate traffic steering techniques across these access technologies.
Note 3: Targeted services with possible service rate limitation (e.g. edge coverage performances)
Note 4: Directional antenna devices may refer to building or vehicle mounted devices with directional antenna such as parabolic or phased array antenna but also handset with high gain
antenna (e.g. protuberating)

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 Impacts of NTN on 5G
Effects HAPS LEO MEO GEO HEO

Yes if beams are moving Yes if beams are moving on

Yes if beams are moving on Earth ( hence high speed)
on earth Earth ( hence high speed)
Moving cell pattern No
No if beams are fixed on Earth No if beams are fixed on earth
Motion of the
space/aerial vehicles
No High Medium Low
Delay variation No
(Note 3) (Note 3) (Note 3)
Low High Medium Low
Doppler Negligible
(Note 3) (Note 3) (Note 3)
Altitude Latency Negligible Low Medium High High
Typically relatively Typically relatively Possibly relatively
Cell size Differential delay Small Possibly relatively high
medium medium high

Frequency selectiveness
Note 4 Note 4 Note 4 No No
impairments
Propagation channel

Delay spread impairments Note 4 Note 4 Note 4 No No

Duplex scheme Regulatory constraints FDD and Possibly TDD FDD and Possibly TDD Only FDD Only FDD Only FDD
Note 3: Doppler and Delay variation can be pre compensated at beam centre. In such case residual Doppler and Delay variation is commensurate to the ones in cellular and can be
accommodated by the UE
Note 4: Some delay spread and frequency selective effect can be experienced in case of omni-directional antenna device especially at low elevation angle
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 NTN in the 3GPP roadmap

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

5G phase 1 5G phase 2 5G phase 3

Release
Release 16 Release 17
15
SID: 5G sat WID: 5G
SA1 use cases sat Reqs

WID: 5G Sat
SA2 SID: 5G Sat Architecture study Architecture spec.

SID: 1st NR-

RAN NTN study
SID: 2nd NR-NTN study WID: NR-NTN specification

SID: IoT-NTN
study

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 Satellite and 3GPP organisational structure

Project Coordination Group (PCG)

TSG RAN Radio Access Network TSG SA Service & Systems Aspects TSG CT Core Network & Terminals

RAN1 Physical Layer SA1 Services CT1 Non-access Stratum

CT3 Interworking with external
RAN2 Radio Protocols SA2 Architecture
networks
RAN3 Radio Access Network SA3 Security CT4 MAP/GTP/BCH/SS

RAN4 Performance Requirements SA4 Codecs CT6 Smart Card Application Aspects

RAN5 Conformance Testing SA5 Telecom Management

SA6 Mission-critical applications

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 Satellite/NTN: Standard status
Release WG Title Documents Completion
RAN Study on New Radio (NR) to support Non-Terrestrial Networks TR 38.811 June 2018
15
SA1 Study on using Satellite Access in 5G; Stage 1 TR 22.822 June 2018
RAN3 Solutions for NR to support non-terrestrial networks (NTN) TR 38.821 Dec 2019
CR to TS
SA1 Service requirements for the 5G system; Stage 1 Dec 2018
22.261
16
SA2 Study on architecture aspects for using satellite access in 5G TR 23.737 June 2020
Study on management and orchestration aspects of integrated satellite
SA5 TR 28.808 Dec 2020
components in a 5G network
CR to TS
RAN2 Solutions for NR to support non-terrestrial networks (NTN) [2021]
38.XXX
CR to TS
SA2 Integration of satellite systems in the 5G architecture March 2021
17 23.XXX
CT1 Study on PLMN selection for satellite access TR 24.821 [2021]
Study on Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) / enhanced Machine Type
RAN1 TR 36.763 [2021]
Communication (eMTC) support for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)
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 Solutions for NR to support NTN
Radio interface Architecture
• FDD, Еarth fixed Tracking Аrea, UEs • System
with GNSS, transparent payload • Mobility in large and moving coverage
• PHY areas
• Timing relationship • QoS (in satellite access and backhaul)
• UL time and frequency synchronization • Delay
• Enabling/disabling of HARQ feedback • Regulatory services with super-national
satellite ground station
• Protocols • RAN mobility
• User plane: RACH, UL scheduling, DRX,
timer and sequence numbers range
• Radio Access Network
• Control plane: cell selection/reselection, • Feeder link switch, network identities,
hand-over and measurements registration, paging handling, cell
relation
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 Study on NB-IoT/eMTC support for NTN
Sub 6GHz, LEO and GEO, transaprent payload, PC3 or PC5 devices
Random access
Time/frequency adjustment including Timing Advance
Timing offset for scheduling and HARQ-ACK feedback
Mobility (RLF-based for NB-IoT, Handover-based for eMTC)
System information enhancements
Tracking area enhancements

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 Further questions ?

[email protected]

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