Feng Wang, Shengyu Zhang, Huiting Yang, Tony Q.S. Quek
{"title":"6G非地面网络:演进、机遇和未来方向","authors":"Feng Wang, Shengyu Zhang, Huiting Yang, Tony Q.S. Quek","doi":"10.1016/j.eng.2025.05.013","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"From fifth-generation (5G) communication technology onward, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) have emerged as a key component of future network architectures. Especially through the rise of low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations, NTNs enable a space Internet and present a paradigm shift in delivering reliable services to even the most remote regions on Earth. However, the extensive coverage and rapid movement of satellites pose unique challenges in user equipment access and inter-satellite transmission, impacting the quality of service and service continuity. This paper offers an in-depth review of NTN networking technologies in the context of six-generation (6G) mobile networks evolution, focusing on access management, satellite mobility, and hetero-network slicing. Building on this foundation and considering the latest trends in NTN development, we then present innovative perspectives on emerging challenges, including satellite beamforming, handover mechanisms, and service delivery. Lastly, we identify key open research areas and propose future directions to improve NTN performance and accelerate satellite Internet deployment.","PeriodicalId":11783,"journal":{"name":"Engineering","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":"{\"title\":\"Non-Terrestrial Networking for 6G: Evolution, Opportunities, and Future Directions\",\"authors\":\"Feng Wang, Shengyu Zhang, Huiting Yang, Tony Q.S. Quek\",\"doi\":\"10.1016/j.eng.2025.05.013\",\"DOIUrl\":null,\"url\":null,\"abstract\":\"From fifth-generation (5G) communication technology onward, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) have emerged as a key component of future network architectures. Especially through the rise of low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations, NTNs enable a space Internet and present a paradigm shift in delivering reliable services to even the most remote regions on Earth. However, the extensive coverage and rapid movement of satellites pose unique challenges in user equipment access and inter-satellite transmission, impacting the quality of service and service continuity. This paper offers an in-depth review of NTN networking technologies in the context of six-generation (6G) mobile networks evolution, focusing on access management, satellite mobility, and hetero-network slicing. Building on this foundation and considering the latest trends in NTN development, we then present innovative perspectives on emerging challenges, including satellite beamforming, handover mechanisms, and service delivery. Lastly, we identify key open research areas and propose future directions to improve NTN performance and accelerate satellite Internet deployment.\",\"PeriodicalId\":11783,\"journal\":{\"name\":\"Engineering\",\"volume\":\"30 1\",\"pages\":\"\"},\"PeriodicalIF\":10.1000,\"publicationDate\":\"2025-06-02\",\"publicationTypes\":\"Journal Article\",\"fieldsOfStudy\":null,\"isOpenAccess\":false,\"openAccessPdf\":\"\",\"citationCount\":\"0\",\"resultStr\":null,\"platform\":\"Semanticscholar\",\"paperid\":null,\"PeriodicalName\":\"Engineering\",\"FirstCategoryId\":\"5\",\"ListUrlMain\":\"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.05.013\",\"RegionNum\":1,\"RegionCategory\":\"工程技术\",\"ArticlePicture\":[],\"TitleCN\":null,\"AbstractTextCN\":null,\"PMCID\":null,\"EPubDate\":\"\",\"PubModel\":\"\",\"JCR\":\"Q1\",\"JCRName\":\"ENGINEERING, MULTIDISCIPLINARY\",\"Score\":null,\"Total\":0}","platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Engineering","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2025.05.013","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ENGINEERING, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
Non-Terrestrial Networking for 6G: Evolution, Opportunities, and Future Directions
From fifth-generation (5G) communication technology onward, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) have emerged as a key component of future network architectures. Especially through the rise of low-Earth-orbit satellite constellations, NTNs enable a space Internet and present a paradigm shift in delivering reliable services to even the most remote regions on Earth. However, the extensive coverage and rapid movement of satellites pose unique challenges in user equipment access and inter-satellite transmission, impacting the quality of service and service continuity. This paper offers an in-depth review of NTN networking technologies in the context of six-generation (6G) mobile networks evolution, focusing on access management, satellite mobility, and hetero-network slicing. Building on this foundation and considering the latest trends in NTN development, we then present innovative perspectives on emerging challenges, including satellite beamforming, handover mechanisms, and service delivery. Lastly, we identify key open research areas and propose future directions to improve NTN performance and accelerate satellite Internet deployment.
期刊介绍:
Engineering, an international open-access journal initiated by the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) in 2015, serves as a distinguished platform for disseminating cutting-edge advancements in engineering R&D, sharing major research outputs, and highlighting key achievements worldwide. The journal's objectives encompass reporting progress in engineering science, fostering discussions on hot topics, addressing areas of interest, challenges, and prospects in engineering development, while considering human and environmental well-being and ethics in engineering. It aims to inspire breakthroughs and innovations with profound economic and social significance, propelling them to advanced international standards and transforming them into a new productive force. Ultimately, this endeavor seeks to bring about positive changes globally, benefit humanity, and shape a new future.