Direct Access to 5G New Radio User Equipment from NGSO Satellites in Millimeter Waves

Abstract: The next generation of terrestrial radio communications, so-called fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR), beyond the traditional bands below 6 GHz, has been also specified to operate over millimeter waves (mmWaves), in the so-called Frequency Range 2 (FR2). Such frequency bands have been since decades the natural habitat for fixed satellite services (FSS). In this new landscape, this paper preliminary investigates the feasibility of non-geostationary orbit (NGSO) satellites directly accessing NR-enabled User Equipment (UE) in mmWaves, from a regulatory, UE characteristics, space segment, link budget and system point of view. It also identifies future R and D needs in this area.