Scenarios and implementation use-cases for satellite-based NB-IoT

The advent of 5G with the three identified use case classes (eMBB, mMTC, URLLC) requires to adequately define system architectures including all the technological segments that can contribute to satisfactorily reach the target performance. For this reason, satellite systems must be duly considered because their intrinsic characteristics are well suitable to support 5G services. In particular, as concerns mMTC/NB-IoT class an ongoing ESA project is demonstrating the feasibility and the usefulness of the inclusion of the satellite segment in the system architecture and has identified peculiar use cases. The paper presents some of the outcomes of the project so far achieved, both in terms of scenario identification and implementation issues in compliance with 3GPP standard architectures.