Nonterrestrial Network Technologies: Applications and Future Prospects

This review delves into the applications and prospects of nonterrestrial networks (NTNs) in the field of information and communication. NTNs utilize aerial or space platforms as critical components of the communication network, including high-altitude unmanned systems, low-altitude unmanned systems, and satellites. Compared to traditional terrestrial cellular networks, NTNs offer advantages, such as wider coverage, flexible deployment, and resistance to ground-based disasters. Therefore, NTNs have broad application prospects in industries, such as transportation, public safety, media entertainment, healthcare, energy, agriculture, and finance. This review focuses on the network architecture and key technologies that support NTNs, including the system’s composition architecture, key technologies, application case analysis, challenges, potential solutions, and future outlook, aiming to provide beneficial reference and guidance for the promotion and application of NTNs. The review also examines the support of international organizations for NTNs’ standardization, as well as related research progress and future challenges.