Non-Terrestrial Networks

Overview

Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) based on constellations of satellites with low or medium orbits are developing very fast all over the world. NTNs already constitute one of the most creative domains of communication networks research and engineering worldwide, in a broad set of domains including data communications through universal Internet access, IoT data harvesting, and Earth observation and sensing.

More generally, 6G will feature the integration of 2D cellular networks and several types of 3D NTN networks. The laIer comprise, beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) or a Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) networks, UAV networks, or mixes of LEO, MEO and geosta1onary (GEO) constellations. The former will comprise several types of cellular organizations (e.g. multi-tier).