A1 Journal article (refereed)
Multi-Connectivity in 5G and Beyond Non-Terrestrial Networks (2022)

Majamaa, M., Martikainen, H., Sormunen, L., & Puttonen, J. (2022). Multi-Connectivity in 5G and Beyond Non-Terrestrial Networks. Journal of Communications Software and Systems, 18(4), 350-358. https://doi.org/10.24138/jcomss-2022-0155

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Majamaa, Mikko; Martikainen, Henrik; Sormunen, Lauri; Puttonen, Jani

Journal or series: Journal of Communications Software and Systems

ISSN: 1845-6421

eISSN: 1846-6079

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 30/12/2022

Volume: 18

Issue number: 4

Pages range: 350-358

Publisher: Croatian Communications and Information Society

Publication country: Croatia

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24138/jcomss-2022-0155

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/85150

Additional information: This paper was presented in part at the International conference on Software, Telecommunications and Computer Networks (SoftCOM) 2022.

Abstract

The Fifth Generation (5G) communications systems aim to serve such service classes as Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC), enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), and massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC). To meet the growing requirements posed to mobile networks, satellites can be used to complement the Terrestrial Networks (TNs). To increase the efficiency of the satellite communications involved, bandwidth-efficient techniques should be used. Multi- Connectivity (MC) is one such technique. In MC, a User Equipment (UE), for example, a smartphone, can be connected to multiple Next Generation Node Bs (gNBs) simultaneously. In this paper, an adaptive MC activation scheme for throughput enhancement in 5G and beyond Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) is presented. The algorithm is evaluated by system simulations using different traffic split algorithms, namely, even split, data request per connection and per gNB algorithms. In the considered simulation scenario, the maximum throughput enhancement of 9.1%, compared to when MC is turned off, is experienced when using the adaptive Secondary Node (SN) addition algorithm with the combination of the data request algorithms.

Keywords: 5G technology; data communications; data communication systems; telecommunications technology; data communications networks; wireless communication; mobile communication networks; satellite communications; algorithms

Free keywords: 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standardization; 6G; Beyond 5G (B5G); Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite; satellite network simulator; throughput enhancement

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1