MARINA

Support to Standardisation and Special Interest Group

Status

Ongoing
Status date

2025-01-29
Activity Code

1D.024

Objectives

The project aims to fulfil the following objectives:

Compare the performance of DVB-S2x/RCS2 and 5G-NR NTN protocols when deploying broadband satellite services from geostationary orbits in the higher frequency bands (i.e., FR2).
Follow/monitor the ETSI work item “Comparison of DVB-S2x/RCS2 and 3GPP 5G-NR NTN based systems for broadband satellite communication systems” led by the SES-SCN working group and contribute the project findings, when applicable.
Identify potential improvements in 5G-NR when operating in such GEO High Throughput Satellite (HTS) scenarios, i.e., generate inputs for consideration under 3GPP Release 18 and beyond.
Investigate specific techniques to reduce the Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) (and hence reduce linearity constraints) when operating either multiple 5G-NR or DVB-S2x carriers in a single satellite transmission path.
Propose a list of recommended follow-up activities to overcome the identified performance issues (esp. related to 5G NR/NTN).

Objectives for CCN1 are the following:

Evaluate technical IMT-2020 requirements defined by ITU-R by analysis, inspection and system/link-level simulations.
Collaborate with other IEGs to discover discrepancies in the evaluations.
Report progress to and present the achievements in ETSI SES-SCN and to ITU-R WP4B meetings.

Challenges

Some potential challenges related to the technology comparison are:

So called “apples-to-apples” comparison between the DVB-S2X/RCS2 and 5G NR/NTN technologies, both at link and system level, i.e., scenarios, assumptions, parameters, and models need to be the same or at least comparable.
Project dependency on progress of ETSI SES-SCN work item, which may affect the project schedule in terms of scenario, parameter, and model assumption agreements. On the other hand, the MARINA project aims to actively contribute and drive the standardization such that the standardization schedule and project schedule can be met.
There is a possibility for LLS and SLS simulation results inconsistencies for a given technology. The objective is to use the LLS simulation results as an input to the SLS to avoid any inconsistencies.

Potential challenges in CCN1:

Capability to run link-level simulations which is a requirement in a specific set of IMT-2020 evaluation items.

Benefits

The project provides multiple benefits:

Serve as an impartial reference to help system architects, service integrators, and technology developers optimise their future offering.
An understanding of the relative performance of the two protocols across the range of system scenarios and operational conditions used to support the full range of satellite communications services is therefore needed to determine which protocol is likely optimum in each operational system.
Ensure active participating in ETSI SES-SCN “Comparison of DVB-S2x/RCS2 and 3GPP 5G-NR NTN based systems for broadband satellite communication systems” work item.
Influence 3GPP standardization in terms of new NTN related features/optimizations/improvements for Release-18 and beyond.

Benefits provided by CCN1:

Participation in ETSI and ITU-R activities and meetings provides valuable insight on standardization process.
Improved understanding of the 5G NTN technology by completing a broad range of evaluations.

Features

The technical comparison of DVB-S2X/RCS2 and 5G NR/NTN is done on three levels:

Theoretical studies and comparisons
Link Level Simulations (LLS)
System Level Simulations (SLS)

IMT-2020 Evaluations in CCN1 are conducted by three methods:

Inspection
Analysis
Link- and system-level simulations

System Architecture

The system level simulations used within the project are:

ALIX 5G TN/NTN SLS developed earlier in ESA ALIX AO 8985 “Support to Standardisation of Satellite 5G Component” project.
Satellite Network Simulator 3 (SNS3) simulator, modelling DVB-S2X/RCS2 GEO system, developed earlier in ESA AO6947 “Development of an Open-Source, Modular and Flexible Satellite Network Simulator” project.

Both simulators are designed and developed by Magister Solutions. The link level simulators used within the activity are proprietary.

The evaluated system scenarios within the project are heavily inspired by 3GPP NTN simulation scenarios, assumptions, and parameters.

Like DVB-S2X/RCS2 and 5G NR/NTN comparison, system-level simulations in CCN1 are performed with the ALIX simulator.

Plan

The project started in June 2023 and with 10 months duration is scheduled to end in April 2024. The work has been divided into following work packages:

WP1: Reference Scenario Descriptions and Definition of the Simulation Tools
WP2: SES-SCN Support
WP3: Protocols Performance Comparison
WP4: Conclusions, Roadmap and Recommendations
WP5: Project Management

CCN1 project started in June 2024 and scheduled to end in November 2024. The follow work packages are defined for CCN1:

WP6.1: Overall independent evaluation approach review
WP6.2: Evaluation of requirements through analysis
WP6.3: Evaluation of requirements through SLS/LLS
WP6.4: Interactions with ETSI & ITU-R WP4B

Current status

Project started officially on 12.6.2023 and an internal KO meeting was held on 19.6.2023. Final review was held on 30.5.2024 with approved decision, but work continued in CCN1 scope with completely different scope. The CCN1 work was reviewed and deliverables approved at CCN1 MS2 review 17.12.2024. The project activities are completed.