Emerging Advancements in 6G NTN Radio Access Technologies: An Overview

TL;DR

This paper reviews the challenges and emerging advancements in 6G non-terrestrial network radio access technologies, focusing on resource management, spectral coexistence, and waveform design to shape future standards.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and potential solutions for integrating non-terrestrial components into 6G RATs, highlighting areas for future research and standardization.

Findings

Identifies key challenges in 6G NTN RATs

Proposes potential advancements in resource management and waveform design

Highlights importance for future 6G standardization

Abstract

The efforts on the development, standardization and improvements to communication systems towards 5G Advanced and 6G are on track to provide benefits such as an unprecedented level of connectivity and performance, enabling a diverse range of vertical services. The full integration of non-terrestrial components into 6G plays a pivotal role in realizing this paradigm shift towards ubiquitous communication and global coverage. However, this integration into 6G brings forth a set of its own challenges, particularly in Radio Access Technologies (RATs). To this end, this paper comprehensively discusses those challenges at different levels of RATs and proposes the corresponding potential emerging advancements in the realm of 6G NTN. In particular, the focus is on advancing the prospective aspects of Radio Resource Management (RRM), spectral coexistence in terrestrial and non-terrestrial components and flexible waveform design solutions to combat the impediments. This discussion with a specific focus on emerging advancements in 6G NTN RATs is critical for shaping the next generation networks and potentially relevant in contributing the part in standardization in forthcoming releases