Description
The objective of this activity is to develop and test handover, data routing and radio resource management techniques for a broadband satellite constellation in Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO). The techniques will be implemented, and their performance assessed in a software system testbed. Targeted Improvements:Enabling system techniques for VLEO broadband systems not existing today in ESA member states.Description: The VLEO orbit is now the centre of attention for several applications. While initially thought for Earth Observation missions, recent interest has also been raising for telecommunication services given the numerous potential advantages including the reduction of latency, the less critical radiation environment, the reduced distance that allows relaxing EIRP and G/T requirements on the payload for a target link quality. On the other hand, a VLEO satcom system also brings several challenges, both a tsystem and technological level.This activity will focus on the systems aspects and aims at developing solutions for a number of challenges, namely: management of frequent handovers, both of user and feeder links, considering both signalling as well as traffic routing every time a handover occurs data routing through the ISLs and to the ground segment considering typical traffic patternRadio Resource Management (RRM) for such intrinsically large constellations, including RRM algorithms as well as control plane. Conventional systems have similar challenges, but their solutions are not suitable for VLEO systems due to the very fast link dynamics as well as the large number of satellites of a VLEO constellation. The developed techniques will be implemented in a software system testbed and the resulting quality of service assessed.