The technical challenges that we are addressing for the realisation of cost effective “plug and play” satcom solutions for 5G are:

  • Virtualisation of satcom network functions to ensure compatibility with the 5G Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Functions Virtualisation (NFV) architecture;
  • Allowing cellular network management system to control satcoms’ radio resources and service;
  • Developing link aggregation scheme for small cell connectivity mitigating Quality of Service (QoS) and latency imbalance between satellite and cellular access;
  • Leveraging 5G features/technologies in satcom;
  • Optimising/harmonising key management and authentication methods between cellular and satellite access technologies;
  • Optimal integration of the multicast benefits in 5G services for both content delivery and Virtualised Network Function (VNF) distribution.

To rise to these challenges, the SaT5G project addresses six Research Pillars (RPs) and three horizontals as shown in the figure opposite.

  • Research Pillar I

    “Implementing 5G SDN and NFV in Satellite Networks” will provide the virtualisation of the satellite functional components that will allow the integration of satellite and mobile network elements and support satellite system fit in the 5G environment.

    Target Output: Virtualised satellite terminal functions developed for integration into the demo.

  • Research Pillar III

    “Multilink and Heterogeneous Transport” will improve the user Quality of Experience (QoE) by intelligently delivering traffic across the satellite and terrestrial components of the network.

    Target Output: Multilink functionality for integration into the demo.

  • Research Pillar V

    “Extending 5G Security to Satellites” will validate that the 5G network security features will operate seamlessly over the satellite elements.

    Target Output: Lab emulation and validation of the extended security features.

  • Research Pillar II

    “Integrated Network Management and Orchestration” will allow the orchestration and manage end-to-end the integrated network slices involving satellite and mobile.

    Target Output: Management and orchestration functionality for integration into the demo.

  • Research Pillar IV

    “Harmonisation of Satcom with 5G Control and User Plane” is needed to include in satellite communications the 3GPP layer 2 and higher protocol layer and possibly also the physical layer.

    Target Output: A software implementation of adaptation layers to run 3GPP layer 2 and higher layer protocols on top of Satellite Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) physical layer with lab test validation of a pre-standard 5G stack in emulated satellite channel conditions.

  • Research Pillar VI

    “Caching and Multicast for Optimised Content and NFV Distribution” will exploit the additional satcom over mobile cells to more efficiently deliver content to the user.

    Target Output: An integrated Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) function with caching and multicast for integration into the demo.

We will show in SaT5G that by integration of satcom into 5G, new business opportunities are created to engage major stakeholders. We will develop key interfaces that allow the integration of the virtualised satellite components into terrestrial 5G testbeds as well as satellite gateways and terminals with virtualised functions and components for integration into testbeds. In the standardisation fora, we will establish pathway to 5G standardisation in 3GPP and ETSI.

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