From Design to Validation: Preparing a LEO-Capable UE for End-to-End System Evaluation

TL;DR

This paper presents the design of a 5G user equipment tailored for Low-Earth Orbit satellite connectivity, addressing challenges like delay and Doppler shifts, and introduces a drone-based platform for system validation.

Contribution

It introduces a novel 5G UE design for LEO satellites and a drone-based experimental platform for emulating satellite payloads, advancing end-to-end system evaluation.

Findings

Feasibility of the proposed architecture confirmed in laboratory tests

Development of a drone-mounted platform for satellite payload emulation

Foundation laid for future experimental validation campaigns

Abstract

The extension of 5G connectivity through Low-Earth Orbit satellite systems introduces significant technical challenges, particularly due to time-varying propagation delays and high Doppler shifts resulting from satellite motion. While the Third Generation Partnership Project Release 17 established the initial framework for non-terrestrial networks, the ongoing developments in Release 19 further enhance this effort by introducing support for regenerative payload architectures, where part of the communication protocol stack is processed directly on board the satellite. In this work, we present the design of a 5G user equipment adapted for Low-Earth Orbit satellite connectivity, with specific focus on strategies for managing variable delay and Doppler compensation. Additionally, we describe a custom experimental platform based on a drone-mounted software-defined radio platform capable of emulating both transparent and regenerative satellite payloads. Although full end-to-end system validation is not yet complete, initial laboratory tests confirm the feasibility of the architecture and lay the groundwork for future experimental campaigns.