Transforming 5G Mega-Constellation Communications: A Self-Organized Network Architecture Perspective
With the widespread adoption of 5G as a communication standard, satellite mega-constellations have emerged as viable alternatives and complement terrestrial networks, offering extensive and reliable communication services across a broad spectrum of users and applications. These constellations are al...
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IEEE
2025-01-01
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| Series: | IEEE Access |
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| Online Access: | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10844267/ |
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| author | Marius Corici Marius Caus Xavier Artiga Alessandro Guidotti Benjamin Barth Tomaso de Cola Justin Tallon Hemant Zope Daniele Tarchi Fanny Parzysz David Naseh Swapnil Sadashiv Shinde |
| author_facet | Marius Corici Marius Caus Xavier Artiga Alessandro Guidotti Benjamin Barth Tomaso de Cola Justin Tallon Hemant Zope Daniele Tarchi Fanny Parzysz David Naseh Swapnil Sadashiv Shinde |
| author_sort | Marius Corici |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the widespread adoption of 5G as a communication standard, satellite mega-constellations have emerged as viable alternatives and complement terrestrial networks, offering extensive and reliable communication services across a broad spectrum of users and applications. These constellations are already equipped with inter-satellite links and adaptable payloads capable of supporting Radio Access Network (RAN) and core network functionalities, forming complex space-based networks characterized by overlapping layers of multi-orbit, grid-like topologies that undergo continuous, yet predictable, changes—peculiarities not currently addressed within the 5G standards framework. To cope with this technology gap, this paper introduces a novel architecture for 5G services relying on satellite mega-constellations, which adhere to the principles of self-organized networks. This architecture is designed to align seamlessly with 5G service requirements, while also accommodating the unique topological and infrastructural constraints of mega-constellations. In more detail, the paper first outlines the fundamental principles of self-organizing networks that facilitate real-time system adaptation to internal topological shifts and external fluctuations in service demand. Then, we detail a 5G network architecture incorporating these principles, which includes 1) dynamic placement and migration of radio and core network control plane functions, 2) the strategic positioning of the data path, service, and AI decision functionalities to improve end-to-end service quality and reliability, and 3) the integration of dynamically established multi-connectivity options to increase the overall service dependability. These innovations aim for a seamless integration of space-based networks with terrestrial counterparts, creating a robust, cost-effective convergent telecommunication system. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6fa8e9b90d134aba908cd1daac98b3b4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2169-3536 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IEEE |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IEEE Access |
| spelling | doaj-art-6fa8e9b90d134aba908cd1daac98b3b42025-01-28T00:01:35ZengIEEEIEEE Access2169-35362025-01-0113147701478810.1109/ACCESS.2025.353093010844267Transforming 5G Mega-Constellation Communications: A Self-Organized Network Architecture PerspectiveMarius Corici0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7221-3791Marius Caus1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1722-6319Xavier Artiga2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9222-165XAlessandro Guidotti3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4480-0010Benjamin Barth4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0233-4667Tomaso de Cola5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0509-8521Justin Tallon6Hemant Zope7Daniele Tarchi8https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7338-1957Fanny Parzysz9David Naseh10https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0767-7622Swapnil Sadashiv Shinde11https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2716-6441Fraunhofer FOKUS Institute, Berlin, GermanyCentre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC), Barcelona, SpainCentre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya (CTTC), Barcelona, SpainCNIT, University of Bologna Research Unit, Bologna, ItalyGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Communications and Navigation, Weßling, GermanyGerman Aerospace Center (DLR), Institute of Communications and Navigation, Weßling, GermanySoftware Radio Systems (SRS), Barcelona, SpainFraunhofer FOKUS Institute, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Information Engineering, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyOrange Innovation, Lannion, FranceCNIT, University of Bologna Research Unit, Bologna, ItalyCNIT—University of Florence Research Unit, Florence, ItalyWith the widespread adoption of 5G as a communication standard, satellite mega-constellations have emerged as viable alternatives and complement terrestrial networks, offering extensive and reliable communication services across a broad spectrum of users and applications. These constellations are already equipped with inter-satellite links and adaptable payloads capable of supporting Radio Access Network (RAN) and core network functionalities, forming complex space-based networks characterized by overlapping layers of multi-orbit, grid-like topologies that undergo continuous, yet predictable, changes—peculiarities not currently addressed within the 5G standards framework. To cope with this technology gap, this paper introduces a novel architecture for 5G services relying on satellite mega-constellations, which adhere to the principles of self-organized networks. This architecture is designed to align seamlessly with 5G service requirements, while also accommodating the unique topological and infrastructural constraints of mega-constellations. In more detail, the paper first outlines the fundamental principles of self-organizing networks that facilitate real-time system adaptation to internal topological shifts and external fluctuations in service demand. Then, we detail a 5G network architecture incorporating these principles, which includes 1) dynamic placement and migration of radio and core network control plane functions, 2) the strategic positioning of the data path, service, and AI decision functionalities to improve end-to-end service quality and reliability, and 3) the integration of dynamically established multi-connectivity options to increase the overall service dependability. These innovations aim for a seamless integration of space-based networks with terrestrial counterparts, creating a robust, cost-effective convergent telecommunication system.https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10844267/5GNTNself-organizing networkssatellitemega-constellations |
| spellingShingle | Marius Corici Marius Caus Xavier Artiga Alessandro Guidotti Benjamin Barth Tomaso de Cola Justin Tallon Hemant Zope Daniele Tarchi Fanny Parzysz David Naseh Swapnil Sadashiv Shinde Transforming 5G Mega-Constellation Communications: A Self-Organized Network Architecture Perspective IEEE Access 5G NTN self-organizing networks satellite mega-constellations |
| title | Transforming 5G Mega-Constellation Communications: A Self-Organized Network Architecture Perspective |
| title_full | Transforming 5G Mega-Constellation Communications: A Self-Organized Network Architecture Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Transforming 5G Mega-Constellation Communications: A Self-Organized Network Architecture Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transforming 5G Mega-Constellation Communications: A Self-Organized Network Architecture Perspective |
| title_short | Transforming 5G Mega-Constellation Communications: A Self-Organized Network Architecture Perspective |
| title_sort | transforming 5g mega constellation communications a self organized network architecture perspective |
| topic | 5G NTN self-organizing networks satellite mega-constellations |
| url | https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10844267/ |
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