Satellite Networking Integration in the 5G Ecosystem: Research Trends and Open Challenges

The envisioned 5G ecosystem will be composed of heterogeneous networks based on different technologies and communication means, including satellite communication networks. The latter can help increase the capabilities of terrestrial networks, especially in terms of higher coverage, reliability, and availability, contributing to the achievement of some of the 5G KPIs. However, technological changes are not immediate. Many current satellite communication networks are based on proprietary hardware, which hinders the integration with future 5G terrestrial networks as well as the adoption of new protocols and algorithms. On the other hand, the two main paradigms that are emerging in the networking scenario - software defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization - can change this perspective. In this respect, this article presents first an overview of the main research works in the field of SDN satellite networks in order to understand the already proposed solutions. Then some open challenges are described in light of the network slicing concept by 5G virtualization, along with a possible roadmap including different network virtualization levels. The remaining unsolved problems are related to the development and deployment of a complete integration of satellite components in the 5G ecosystem.