Field Trial of a 5G Non-Terrestrial Network Using OpenAirInterface
Florian Völk, Thomas Schlichter, Florian Kaltenberger, Thomas Heyn, Guido Casati, Robert T. Schwarz, Andreas Knopp
Abstract
Satellites enable the provision of global 5G coverage utilizing an customized protocol stack for direct access of 5G devices. This paper reports the results of a field trial based on an Open Source Software 5G protocol stack modified for Satellite Communications. 5G New Radio functions have been adapted to support 3GPP Non-Terrestrial Networks standardization for Release 17. Some of the currently discussed enhancements for 5G New Radio direct access for Non-Terrestrial Networks were evaluated in this study over a geosynchronous spacecraft. Non-Terrestrial Networks devices and base station were software-defined solutions communicating via satellite through a standardized 5G New Radio waveform. The results show that Open Source Software implementations running on general purpose platforms greatly support the research and standardization process for Non-Terrestrial Networks in 5G-Beyond. Non-Terrestrial Networks functions can be evaluated at an early stage over channel emulators or real world satellites to highlight the capabilities of space based 5G-Beyond networks. Therefore, Open Source Software can be a starting point to turn the vision of 6G protocols on-board the satellite into reality.