FLEX-SPACE 5G Flexible Satellite Platform for Advanced Communications and End-to-End Services for 5G NTN (FLEX-SPACE 5G)

  • Status
    Ongoing
  • Status date
    2024-04-30
  • Activity Code
    3F.027
Objectives

Starting from the Open Air Interface (OAI) framework, the FLEX-SPACE 5G project focuses on following objectives:

  1. Constructing a modular and flexible end-to-end 5G-NR NTN test platform, which allows deployment of UE(s), gNB(s) and  Core Network while seamlessly integrating the system with Lasting’s multi-orbit channel emulator CELEOS. By harnessing SDR technology, this setup enables end users to simulate their 5G-NR use cases over LEO satellites, as NTN support is embedded within the UE, gNB and channel emulator SW. 

  2. Enhancing the support for adaptive modulation and coding scheme, enabling the system to react to changing radio conditions over the radio link

  3. Providing support for handovers (NTN – NTN ; TN – NTN)

  4. Integrating with the O-RAN SMO framework, by utilizing both Non-Real Time RIC and Near-RT RIC  to control and optimize RAN functions, with  a specific emphasis on handover optimization.

Challenges

Key challenges:

  1. Adapt to OAI LEO roadmap and implementation plans

  2. Adjusting the sample rate between SDR and gNB SW as well as multiplexing access to the SDR driver

  3. Virtualization of all applications (applications are running in containers)

Benefits

Benefits:

  • E2E 5G-NR NTN test system in a compact form factor, offering following key features:

    • Support for LEO satellites in UE and gNB SW

    • Enhancement of adaptive MCS

    • Support for NTN-NTN and TN-NTN handover

    • GUI for simplified configuration

  • Integration with CELEOS multi-orbit channel emulator

Features

Product features:

  1. Support for LEO satellites in UE and gNB SW

  2. Integration with CELEOS multi-orbit channel emulator 

  3. Enhancement of adaptive MCS

  4. Support for NTN-NTN and TN-NTN handover

  5. GUI for simplified configuration 

System Architecture

The product consists of a 5G-NR NTN communication system capable of dealing with all channel impairments specific to a LEO satellite channel.  It is designed for laboratory use in a cabled RF environment to emulate a real 5G NTN-capable network. The following diagram illustrates the high-level architecture:

diagram

Plan

The project milestones are the following:

  • PCR: Product definition phase completion.

  • PDR: Approval of the high-level architecture for the system.

  • TRR: Completion of technical level design and preliminary test reports.

  • FR: Presentation and completion of the final report.

Current status

The project has successfully kicked off, with significant progress already made in the definition phase.

Documentation

Documentation may be requested

Prime Contractor

Last update
2024-05-17 08:11