The Not-So-Visible (but more permanent) change of Satellite Networks

1.??5G NTN and LEO mega-constellations are the current focus in satellite communications. 5G NTN garners attention due to its thorough standardization, over-the-air tests, trials, and soon products, with a great potential to integrate satellite and terrestrial systems into truly ubiquitous coverage. On the other hand, LEO mega-constellations provide connectivity where needed, especially in underserved areas, enhancing global communication capabilities with or without 5G NTN with or without Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs). However, as significant and revenue-generating as these steps are, evolution and development do not stop with them.

2. Repurposable payloads?represent a revolutionary satellite design approach. They transform highly specialized single-mission space assets into more generic instruments by enabling the dynamic adaptation of a satellite's functions and services. This flexibility allows a single satellite to serve multiple purposes, such as Earth Observation and 5G NTN communication deployments. The emergence of such a concept is inspired by and supported by software-defined approaches and advancements in in-space computing.

3. Repurposing means?adapting and thus significantly improving the utility of space assets by providing the required and most needed services as they pass over different regions of the Earth in their orbit. Making the payloads’ service software-centric enables keeping the satellites up to date with the latest software upgrades to support the latest services and demands. It helps alleviate one of the biggest problems of space: being 5-7 years behind terrestrial networks.

4. Repurposing is not new: We all have PCs (or laptops) and know how to add and upgrade programs. Would you buy today a PC with a predefined fixed set of programs? Similarly, servers are also re-purposable, with software updates, and cloud computing dynamic reusing, becoming the largest exponent of dynamic repurposing through web services and telco Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) alike.

The same principles can be applied to space deployments even though the hardware has considerably more limitations.

5. ESA 5GEOSiS: The 5G Earth Observation Server in Space (5GEOSiS) project developed a versatile hardware testbed that supports evaluating the potential of payloads serving communication and sensing functions in space. Integrating 5G technologies with Earth Observation capabilities seeks to enable novel use cases such as joint communication and sensing (JCAS) and multi-access edge computing (MEC) in space. (https://connectivity.esa.int/projects/5geosis-%E2%80%93-5g-earth-observation-server-space)

6. 5GEOSiS is just the first step: Many laboratories in space are working on advancements, including:

• ESA 5G gNB in Space: demonstrating an experimental 5G gNodeB (gNB) in orbit. This initiative involves developing and deploying a regenerative payload incorporating 5G New Radio Non-Terrestrial Network (NR-NTN) standards, enabling enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services directly from space. (https://connectivity.esa.int/news/opportunity-demonstration-experimental-5g-gnodeb-space)
• ESA 6G LINO: cube satellite mission, an important step for the 3GPP standardization of NTN as it will gain significant experience on the inclusion of space assets to the terrestrial mobile networks. (https://connectivity.esa.int/projects/6g-lino)
• ESA HydRON: The High Throughput Optical Network (HydRON) is an ESA initiative aimed at developing high-capacity optical communication networks in space to extend internet capabilities. Kepler Communications has partnered with TESAT-Spacecom and Airbus Defence and Space to develop a high-bandwidth optical communications network in low Earth orbit (LEO), addressing emerging opportunities such as ESA's HydRON program. (https://kepler.space/kepler-partners-to-develop-in-space-optical-communications-network-for-hydron/)

7. What is important is to think ahead (not just to focus on hardware): Which satellite payload hardware components can be shared, can be transformed into software-defined? The more, the better. Hopefully the complete satellite, to enable the ultimate flexibility.? How would the newly gained flexibility be managed? How could the software be pre-validated on the ground, dimensioned, and shaped? How much time is needed for the reconfiguration and reassignment of onboard resources and what are the associated complexities of such repurposing?

This is where 5GEOSiS brings its innovation, ensuring satellites are not just built for today's single service requirements but adaptable for tomorrow's challenges. However, more work is still to be done especially toward repurposing more dedicated hardware components and FPGAs to provide a truly complete flexible system.

8. OpenLANES: An advanced toolkit developed by Fraunhofer FOKUS for emulating dynamic, large-scale network environments and embedding in realistic end-to-end environments of the newly designed payloads, testing and pre-validating them on the ground. OpenLANES can also be used as a digital twin for already deployed constellations to check new software and upgrades before deployment. (www.openlanes.net)

European Space Agency - ESA , #5GNTN,