Non-Terrestrial Networks in 5G & Beyond: A Survey

TLDR

5G systems aim to deliver ubiquitous, anytime services, and Non‑Terrestrial Networks provide wide‑area coverage, continuity, and scalability to meet these demands. This survey reviews 3GPP NTN features, their potential in 5G and beyond, and outlines future research directions. We summarize current 3GPP research activities, open issues, and the evolving role of NTNs in the wireless landscape.

Abstract

Fifth-generation (5G) telecommunication systems are expected to meet the world market demands of accessing and delivering services anywhere and anytime. The Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) systems are able to satisfy the requests of anywhere and anytime connections by offering wide-area coverage and ensuring service availability, continuity, and scalability. In this work, we review the 3GPP NTN features and their potential for satisfying the user expectations in 5G & beyond networks. The state of the art, current 3GPP research activities, and open issues are summarized to highlight the importance of NTN over the wireless communication landscape. Future research directions are also identified to assess the role of NTN in 5G and beyond systems.