Mikko Majamaa's study examines the integration of satellites into the 5G network. The study presents technical solutions for combining terrestrial and satellite networks. When combined, these networks could extend the Internet coverage to remote areas and expand the application areas of smart mobility, the Internet of Things and critical communication services.
Mikko Majamaa's doctoral dissertation explores the role of satellites in future wireless network systems and especially their integration into the current 5G network and future mobile networks.
"Nearly three billion people in the world do not have access to the Internet. One of the aims of my research is to help connect these people to the Internet and thereby improve their access to education, employment and health care," says Majamaa.
Although the technology to operate 5G networks over satellites is already defined, in practice 5G networks over satellites are still in their infancy.
Majamaa’s research provides technical solutions for seamless interoperability between terrestrial and satellite networks, improving availability, reliability and performance.
"Traditionally, mobile networks have relied on terrestrial base stations, but the development of satellite technology offers new ways to extend the coverage area and ensure connectivity also in remote areas," says Majamaa.
According to Majamaa, the combination of satellites and terrestrial mobile networks can improve the resilience of communication systems and provide reliable connections, for example in emergency situations where traditional infrastructure is not available.
Differences in network structures a key challenge
The research proposes solutions that address the interoperability between terrestrial and satellite networks, focusing on, among others, multi-connectivity, resource management and frequency allocation.
"The different structures of the networks is a key challenge," says Marjamaa. "Satellite links have longer transit times than terrestrial networks, which affects the efficiency and delay of data transmission. My research highlights ways to overcome these challenges."
The results of the research will support the development of future communication networks and provide insights for the design of 6G networks. Deeper integration of satellite and mobile networks can enable a wider range of applications in areas such as smart mobility, the Internet of Things (IoT) and critical communication services, but also in connecting people who do not yet have access to the Internet.
System simulations used as a research method
The research involved system simulations, which are a common way of studying complex wireless communication systems. Simulations allow different technical solutions to be evaluated before they are implemented in practice.
In Majamaa's study, simulators were used specifically at the system and protocol levels to assess the compatibility, performance and optimisation possibilities of satellites and terrestrial mobile networks. This enabled the analysis of important features for future communication networks without the need for expensive and time-consuming field tests.
More information
Advances in satellite integration into 5G and beyond
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-86-0585-0
Mikko Majamaa
mikko.j.majamaa@jyu.fi