IEEE Network · 2021 · 177 citations · 14 references
6G NetworksEngineering5G SystemEdge ComputingNon-terrestrial Network6GNon-terrestrial NetworksInternet Of ThingsWireless EcosystemTypical 6GWireless SystemsNr Technology
Sixth‑Generation (6G) wireless systems aim to deliver futuristic services through both terrestrial and non‑terrestrial transmissions, with Non‑Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) becoming increasingly vital for ubiquitous coverage and integration with conventional terrestrial networks via shared radio technology. The article investigates how Non‑Terrestrial Network characteristics constrain 3GPP New Radio procedures, assessing strengths, weaknesses, and open issues to guide future 6G NTN research. The study analyzes 3GPP specifications to evaluate how NTN features affect NR procedures, identifying strengths and weaknesses of NR for typical 6G services on NR‑enabled NTNs and outlining open issues and guidance for future research.
Sixth-Generation (6G) technologies will revolutionize the wireless ecosystem by enabling the delivery of futuristic services through terrestrial and non-terrestrial transmissions. In this context, the Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) is growing in importance owing to its capability to deliver services anywhere and anytime and also provide coverage in areas that are unreachable by any conventional Terrestrial Network (TN). The exploitation of the same radio technology could greatly facilitate the integration of NTNs and TNs into a unified wireless system. Since New Radio (NR) is the de facto standard to deliver manifold heterogeneous services in terrestrial wireless systems, 3GPP is investigating new solutions to extend NR to NTNs. In this article, the constraints that NTN features place on NR procedures are investigated by going thoroughly into 3GPP specifications; strengths and weaknesses of the NR technology in enabling typical 6G services on NR-enabled NTNs are identified; and open issues and insights are provided as guidelines to steer future research toward 6G NTNs.
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