Max-Min Strategy for Handover in LEO Based Non-Terrestrial Networks

In Low-Earth Orbit (LEO)-based Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), stable and continuous connectivity through efficient handover (HO) mechanisms should be ensured, especially given the high mobility and dynamic satellite coverage in these networks. Conventional HO optimization approaches, such as the Service Continuity Dynamic Programming (SCDP) strategy, optimize HO but may leave some User Equipments (UEs) experiencing low link rates, reduced service time, or frequent handovers. To address this, we propose the Service Continuity Max-Min (SCMM) strategy, which employs the MaxMin algorithm to reduce the number of UEs that have poor connectivity experiences, using a uniquely defined reward function that incorporates link rate, service availability time, and HO frequency. The simulation results demonstrate that SCMM improves the minimum reward across UEs while maintaining an overall performance comparable to that of the existing SCDP methods. This approach offers a robust solution to improve service continuity and user satisfaction in NTN, making it an effective strategy for next-generation satellite networks.