Dimensioning space-air-ground integrated networks for in-flight 6G slice orchestration

Abstract

In this study, we present an in-depth analysis of communication services for commercial airline passengers, focusing on the challenges posed by increasing internet traffic demand. We explore the integration of satellite, airborne, and terrestrial networks, emphasizing the roles of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS), and Terrestrial Aviation Network (TAN)-based services. Our contribution includes a theoretical model for optimizing resource allocation and capacity planning in non-terrestrial wireless networks, using a bipartite graph approach and linear programming techniques. The model shows adaptability and efficiency, providing key insights through numerical analysis. Leveraging a detailed air traffic dataset, a machine learning-based aggregation method, and real-world network parameters, our research addresses current challenges, such as scalable network capacity dimensioning in high-density airspaces and meeting the demand for quality of service by robust resource provisioning, and advances the design of communication networks for Space–Air–Ground Integrated Network (SAGIN). Numerical results from European airspace suggest that complementing TAN and LEO satellite networks with HAPS-based services will be essential as airline passengers adopt ground-level internet usage patterns.