NTN (Non-Terrestrial Network)

Se prevee que las redes inalámbricas de próxima generación NGWN (Next-generation wireless networks) rompan los límites de los actuales sistemas terrestres y adopten plenamente las redes no terrestres: Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN).
Las NTN consisten en variantes de redes de comunicaciones espaciales y aéreas que incluyen constelaciones de satélites GEO, MEO y LEO, sistemas de plataformas a gran altitud (HAPS), sistemas de plataformas a baja altitud (LAPS) y redes aire-tierra (A2G).

Los elementos y componentes NTN están evolucionando para convertirse en parte integrante de la futura red inalámbrica de 6ta. Generación (6G). La importancia de las NTN está creciendo debido a su capacidad para ofrecer conectividad "con cualquier cosa, en cualquier momento y en cualquier lugar", conectando así a todo lo desconectado. En este contexto, se enfocan los esfuerzos para habilitar las tecnologías NTN y facilitar la hoja de ruta hacia la próxima generación de comunicaciones.

Air-borne

Air-borne is a heterogeneous networks that are engineered to utilize satellites, high-altitude platforms (HAPs), and low-altitude platforms (LAPs) to build communication access platforms. Furthermore, A2G is a special application of air-born that provide internet on civilian aircraft via terrestrial network.

Low Altitude Platforms (LAPS)
A LAP is an object (may be a UAV or balloon) that have the capability of flying at low altitudes (e.g., a few hundreds of meters) for a sufficient endurance for completing a mission.
Air to Ground (A2G)
Air-to-Ground is a Two-way communication between aircraft and stations or locations on the surface of the earth. The ground network consists of A2G base stations with skywards-pointing antennas optimized for airspace coverage, which create very large cells in the sky. Given that, unlike on the ground, radio signals can freely propagate.
High Altitude Platforms Station (HAPS)
HAPS are radio stations located on an object that floats at the stratosphere layer and at a specified, nominal, fixed point relative to the Earth, providing telecommunication services coverage over a wide geographical range, with high quality signal.

Space-borne

Satellite communication networks utilize space-borne platforms which include low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites, medium Earth orbiting (MEO) satellites, and geosynchronous Earth orbiting (GEO) satellites.

LEO Satellite
The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is an orbit around the earth with an altitude between 500 kilometres (orbital period of about 88 minutes), and 2,000 kilometres (orbital period of about 127 minutes). The Leo vehicle is embarking a bent pipe payload or a regenerative payload telecommunication transmitter.
MEO Satellite
Satellite: a space-borne vehicle embarking a bent pipe payload or a regenerative payload telecommunication transmitter, placed into medium-Earth orbit (MEO) typically at an altitude between 8000 to 20000 km.
GEO Satellite
A geostationary satellite Earth orbit (GEO) is a circular orbit at 35,786 kilometers above the Earth's equator. An object in such an orbit has an orbital period equal to the Earth's rotational period and thus appears motionless, at a fixed position in the sky, to ground observers. The GEO vehicle embarking a bent pipe payload or a regenerative payload telecommunication transmitter.