Re: [Sat-int] Toward Integration of 6G-NTN to Terrestrial Mobile Networks: Research and Standardization Aspects

[Alexandre Petrescu <[e-mail]>]

Le 19/01/2024 à 11:13, Hesham ElBakoury a écrit :
> What work items you think this group should propose to 3GPP in the 
> area of NTN for next 3GPP releases like 19?

Hesham,

I take your 'you'  to be a collective 'you'.  It is a good question 
addressed to people in the group.  I echo it.

The topics suggested by the paper you refer, for 3GPP, as expressed by 
authors are:

>
>     Release 19: Possible Topics
>
> 3GPP currently prepares the work plan for release 19. Companies view 
> was presented at the first 3GPP plenary workshop in Taiwan in June 
> 2023. The final release 19 work-plan for all extensions of 
> 5G-Advanced, including NTN will be approved in December 2023.
>
> However, following are the possible release 19 topics based on the 
> 3GPP plenary discussions and technical documents published by companies:
>
>  *
>
>     After specifying uplink coverage enhancements, further downlink
>     coverage enhancements are proposed, for example, for control and
>     data channels of 5G NR
>
>  *
>
>     Addressing NTN/TN mobility enhancements in connected mode
>     especially for the different latencies over NTN and TN links
>
>  *
>
>     A notification channel for UE terminating calls to alert UEs under
>     very low signal to noise ratio (SNR) conditions
>
>  *
>
>     Supporting of discontinuous coverage in non geostationary
>     satellite orbit (NGSO) scenarios when coverage is not continuous
>
>  *
>
>     Support of regenerative payloads to support more flexibility in
>     NTN deployments, where parts of the network might be implemented
>     in the space segment
>
>  *
>
>     Support of multicast broadcast services (MBS) will be continued
>     based on the MBS specification already defined for terrestrial
>     applications and will enable it for NTN
>
>  *
>
>     Network based positioning enhancements to verify the UE position
>     by the network
>
>  *
>
>     Release 17 and 18 assumes that a UE has GNSS capability for fast
>     initial synchronization. Release 19 will consider UEs without
>     GNSS, requiring enhanced methods for time and frequency
>     synchronization • Asynchronous multi-connectivity to support 3D
>     networks (GEO, LEO, HAPS) with a combination of multi orbit and
>     multiple frequency bands
>
>  *
>
>     Radio frequency (RF) related topics such as higher transmit power
>     of UEs to increase the uplink throughput, introduction of
>     additional frequency bands like Ku band and operation of NR below
>     5 MHz bandwidth, which is favorable for the limited available
>     spectrum for NTN applications.
>
> After the plenary meeting in Taiwan, the intermediate summary of RAN 
> chair for “NTN Evolution” topics are:
>
>  *
>
>     There is a strong desire to further evolve NTN in both NR and loT
>     domains.
>
>  *
>
>     The proposed possible areas for enhancements are quite broad and
>     heavy at the moment and needs to be limited by the plenary meeting
>     in December 2023.
>
>  *
>
>     There is a need to focus on the critical requirements of
>     commercial deployments and maintain a reasonable workload
>     considering a continuation from previous releases.
>
The topics prepared in SSIG are of a fluid nature, if I can say so.

Yours,

Alex

>
> Thanks
> Hesham
>
> On Fri, Jan 19, 2024, 1:24 AM Alexandre Petrescu 
> <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
>     Additionally to reading the guest editorial one might be
>     interested in
>     joining the SSIG group led by Thales at the edges of 3GPP about
>     pondering over new work items that might be proposed to 3GPP in
>     the area
>     of NTN for next 3GPP releases like 19.
>
>     Le 18/01/2024 à 21:23, Hesham ElBakoury a écrit :
>     > The Dec 2023 issue of the IEEE Wireless Communications magazine
>     has a
>     > guest editorial on NTN and 6G. This paper is published in this
>     > editorial. It explores issued related to the integration of NTN and
>     > mobile terrestrial networks which is a possible topic in 3gpp
>     release 19
>     > [https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10355086]
>     >
>     > *_Abstract_*
>     > "Immersive connectivity is one of the most
>     > important requirements of emerging use cases in the upcoming 6G
>     > technology. Providing network connection anywhere, anytime,
>     employing
>     > only terrestrial mobile network infrastructure is a challenging
>     task.
>     > Non-terrestrial platforms, such as
>     > different spaceborne and airborne entities, are suitable
>     candidates to
>     > be integrated into the conventional terrestrial networks,
>     fulfilling
>     > the immersive connectivity requirement. However, this
>     integration will
>     > create several challenges which should be addressed. This
>     article aims
>     > to introduce 3D networks in 6G comprising terrestrial and
>     > non-terrestrial network components, and provide an insight into
>     > related research topics as well as standardization activities
>     such as
>     > 3GPP, ITU-R and NGMN."
>     >
>     > The 3 dimensional (3D) networks consists of components on the
>     ground,
>     > in the sky and space.
>     >
>     > "This paper covers some new aspects of NTN integration into  the 6G
>     > terrestrial network such as:
>     > • New UAS use cases in 6G
>     > • Role of AI/ML to overcome challenges in the integrated NTN-TN
>     networks
>     > • Standardization activities in 3GPP release 18  and upcoming
>     release 19
>     > • ITU-R and NGMN views on NTN in 6G
>     > • Development of satellite industry to enable 6G communication."
>     >
>     >
>
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