TY - JOUR
T1 - LEO Satellite Constellations for 5G and Beyond
T2 - How Will They Reshape Vertical Domains?
AU - Liu, Shicong
AU - Gao, Zhen
AU - Wu, Yongpeng
AU - Kwan Ng, Derrick Wing
AU - Gao, Xiqi
AU - Wong, Kai Kit
AU - Chatzinotas, Symeon
AU - Ottersten, Bjorn
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 1979-2012 IEEE.
PY - 2021/7
Y1 - 2021/7
N2 - The rapid development of communication technologies in the past decades has provided immense vertical opportunities for individuals and enterprises. However, conventional terrestrial cellular networks have unfortunately neglected the huge geographical digital divide, since high-bandwidth wireless coverage is concentrated in urban areas. To meet the goal of 'connecting the unconnected,' integrating low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites with the terrestrial cellular networks has been widely considered as a promising solution. In this article, we first introduce the development roadmap of LEO satellite constellations (SatCons), including early attempts in LEO satellites with the emerging LEO constellations. Further, we discuss the unique opportunities of employing LEO SatCons for the delivery of integrating 5G networks. Specifically, we present their key performance indicators, which offer important guidelines for the design of associated enabling techniques, and then discuss the potential impact of integrating LEO SatCons with typical 5G use cases, where we engrave our vision of various vertical domains reshaped by LEO SatCons. Technical challenges are finally provided to specify future research directions.
AB - The rapid development of communication technologies in the past decades has provided immense vertical opportunities for individuals and enterprises. However, conventional terrestrial cellular networks have unfortunately neglected the huge geographical digital divide, since high-bandwidth wireless coverage is concentrated in urban areas. To meet the goal of 'connecting the unconnected,' integrating low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites with the terrestrial cellular networks has been widely considered as a promising solution. In this article, we first introduce the development roadmap of LEO satellite constellations (SatCons), including early attempts in LEO satellites with the emerging LEO constellations. Further, we discuss the unique opportunities of employing LEO SatCons for the delivery of integrating 5G networks. Specifically, we present their key performance indicators, which offer important guidelines for the design of associated enabling techniques, and then discuss the potential impact of integrating LEO SatCons with typical 5G use cases, where we engrave our vision of various vertical domains reshaped by LEO SatCons. Technical challenges are finally provided to specify future research directions.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85111718004&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/MCOM.001.2001081
DO - 10.1109/MCOM.001.2001081
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85111718004
SN - 0163-6804
VL - 59
SP - 30
EP - 36
JO - IEEE Communications Magazine
JF - IEEE Communications Magazine
IS - 7
M1 - 9502642
ER -