Ultra-Dense LEO: Integration of Satellite Access Networks into 5G and Beyond

TLDR

The rapid expansion of wireless devices demands new access techniques, and recent advances in ultra‑dense low‑Earth‑orbit satellite constellations suggest that satellite access networks can be integrated with 5G and beyond to deliver ubiquitous global connectivity. This article proposes an enabling network architecture that fuses terrestrial and satellite communications to provide more reliable and flexible access for dense LEO‑SANs. The architecture employs physical‑layer techniques—interference management, diversity, and cognitive radio—to deliver seamless, high‑rate wireless links for devices with diverse quality‑of‑service requirements, and outlines three key applications and future research directions.

Abstract

To support the explosive growth of wireless devices and applications, various access techniques need to be developed for future wireless systems to provide reliable data services in vast areas. With recent significant advances in ultra-dense low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, satellite access networks (SANs) have shown their significant potential to integrate with 5G and beyond to support ubiquitous global wireless access. In this article, we propose an enabling network architecture for dense LEO-SANs in which the terrestrial and satellite communications are integrated to offer more reliable and flexible access. Through various physical-layer techniques such as effective interference management, diversity techniques, and cognitive radio schemes, the proposed SAN architecture can provide seamless and high-rate wireless links for wireless devices with different quality of service requirements. Three extensive applications and some future research directions in both the physical layer and network layer are then discussed.