5G NR Non-Terrestrial Networks: Open Challenges for Full-Stack Protocol Design

2026-01-21

AI Summary

This study addresses the cross-layer protocol adaptation challenges in 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Networks (NR-NTN) for satellite communications, spanning the physical layer, MAC layer, and higher-layer protocols. It systematically examines the full protocol stack design issues specified in 3GPP 5G NR-NTN standards, leveraging the ns-3 simulation platform to quantitatively evaluate the impact of critical impairments—such as large propagation delays and Doppler shifts—on overall network performance. By incorporating realistic channel characteristics, this work presents the first end-to-end simulation analysis of NR-NTN protocol stack adaptability, offering empirical evidence and actionable design insights to inform future protocol optimization and standardization efforts.

Technology Category

• Application Domains: Mobility, Driving & Flight
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Plan Execution and Monitoring
• Multiagent Systems: Agent Communication

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics

Abstract

As 5th generation (5G) networks continue to evolve, there is a growing interest toward the integration of Terrestrial Networks (TNs) and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). Specifically, NTNs leverage space/air base stations such as satellites, High Altitude Platforms (HAPs), and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for expanding wireless coverage to underserved rural/remote areas, supporting emergency communications, and offloading traffic in highly congested urban environments. In this paper we focus on the 3GPP 5G NR-NTN standard in the context of satellite communication networks, and highlight critical challenges that must be addressed for proper full-stack protocol design, with considerations related to the PHY, MAC, and higher layers. We also present simulation results in ns-3 to demonstrate the impact of some of these challenges on the network, as an initial step toward more advanced standardization activities on 3GPP 5G NR-NTN.

Problem

• 5G NR
• Non-Terrestrial Networks
• full-stack protocol design
• satellite communications
• 3GPP

Innovation

• 5G NR-NTN
• full-stack protocol design
• satellite communications
• ns-3 simulation
• non-terrestrial networks