5G New Radio Evolution Meets Satellite Communications: Opportunities,\n Challenges, and Solutions

Abstract

The 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) completed the first global 5th\ngeneration (5G) new radio (NR) standard in its Release 15, paving the way for\nmaking 5G a commercial reality. So, what is next in NR evolution to further\nexpand the 5G ecosystem? Enabling 5G NR to support satellite communications is\none direction under exploration in 3GPP. There has been a resurgence of\ninterest in providing connectivity from space, stimulated by technology\nadvancement and demand for ubiquitous connectivity services. The on-going\nevolution of 5G standards provides a unique opportunity to revisit satellite\ncommunications. In this article, we provide an overview of use cases and a\nprimer on satellite communications. We identify key technical challenges faced\nby 5G NR evolution for satellite communications and give some preliminary ideas\nfor how to overcome them.\n