Validation Of Integrated Network Control Architecture For Fixed, Mobile And Satellite Convergence

Future network systems, such as beyond-5G or 6G, are expected to integrate non-terrestrial networks (NTN), such as satellite networks, with existing terrestrial networks (TN) to provide global access to high-quality communication services and promote digital transformation for everyone. Various standard development organizations are actively working on standards for TN-NTN convergence, also known as fixed, mobile, and satellite convergence (FMSC). The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has recently developed several ITU-T Recommendations covering different aspects of FMSC. Notably, ITU-T Recommendation Y. 3207 addresses a critical component of the Integrated Network Control Architecture (INCA) of FMSC. This paper describes the implementation of an experimental system designed to demonstrate the feasibility of INCA. It explains the implementation of the individual network controller of the TN and NTN segments, the integrated network controller, and the interfaces connecting them. We experimentally verify that INCA can configure network services with the desired quality of service (QoS) levels over both TN and NTN segments. Additionally, we validate INCA’s capability to monitor and dynamically control computing and bandwidth resources in both segments to maintain consistent QoS levels.