5G NR Communication over GEO or LEO satellite systems: 3GPP RAN Higher Layer Standardization aspects

Satellite communication has the potential to provide coverage over large geographical areas. This ubiquity enables potential for providing connectivity for currently unserved remote areas as well as for moving platforms such as airplanes and ships. However, many satellite systems were developed on private networks, each having their individual solution for the satellite systems and for the end user equipment (UE). In order to extent the satellite-industry-wide standards to global telecommunication standards, there are currently activities in the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) to study the feasibility and needed standard adaptations for the 5th generation (5G) new radio (NR) 3GPP standard. In this paper, we provide an overview of the ongoing activity in 3GPP RAN working groups with focus on RAN2 and RAN3 aspects for enabling NR communication over geosynchronous orbit (GEO) and non-GEO satellite systems.