Throughput Requirements for RAN Functional Splits in 3D-Networks

TL;DR

This work presents a general analysis of the requested Fronthaul (FH) data rate on the feeder link between a non-terrestrial platform and the ground-station for Uplink (UL) communication.

Abstract

The rapid growth of non-terrestrial communication necessitates its integration with existing terrestrial networks, as highlighted in 3GPP Releases 16 and 17. This paper analyses the concept of functional splits in 3D-Networks. To manage this complex structure effectively, the adoption of a Radio Access Network (RAN) architecture with Functional Split (FS) offers advantages in flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency. RAN achieves this by disaggregating functionalities into three separate units. Analogous to the terrestrial network approach, 3GPP is extending this concept to non-terrestrial platforms as well. This work presents a general analysis of the requested Fronthaul (FH) data rate on feeder link between a non-terrestrial platform and the ground-station. Each split option is a trade-of between FH data rate and the respected complexity. Since flying nodes face more limitations regarding power consumption and complexity on board in comparison to terrestrial ones, we are investigating the split options between lower and higher physical layer.

Figures (5)

• Figure 1: 3D Network architecture, composed of LEO satellites, HAPS and UAV as two form of HIBS with the different beam size of each Non terrestrial node on the ground.
• Figure 2: 3GPP FS in UL. On the left there are eight FS options introduced by 3GPP, and on the right there are lower layer split options in baseband processing unit.
• Figure 3: eMBB service type with $M = 16$ QAM and $R_{\mathrm{c}} = 0.64$.
• Figure 4: mMTC service type with $M = 4$ QAM and $R_{\mathrm{c}} = 0.66$.
• Figure 5: Scenario 2 needed FH data rate of split options 7.3, 6 and 2 vs modulation order and Coding scheme pair for eMBB service type. The X-Axis is in log-scale