Context aware resource management balances satellite and ground network signals
Multi-Timescale Context-Aware Radio Resource Optimization for Harmonious NTN-TN Coexistence: A Digital Twin and Open RAN Enabled Framework
Networking and Internet Architecture
Summary
Wireless networks that use both satellites and ground stations can interfere with each other, causing problems especially for satellites in low-Earth orbit. The authors created a system called DT-STABLE that uses digital models (digital twins) to predict and manage this interference. This system helps ground networks adjust their signals proactively, keeping satellite interference low while maintaining good data rates. Their approach also greatly reduces the need for constant measurements and runs faster than exact optimization methods.
What this means in practice
- •For network schedulers: Manage radio resources in combined satellite and ground wireless networks to minimize interference and optimize data rates using digital twin models.
- •For telecom infrastructure engineers: Implement multi-timescale scheduling algorithms that integrate with O-RAN standards to coordinate beam activations while protecting satellite receivers.
Authors
Ecem Izde Kaya, Md. Zoheb Hassan, Georges Kaddoum
Abstract
Coexistence between non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) and terrestrial networks (TNs) is essential for future wireless systems, but terrestrial downlink transmissions can generate harmful aggregate interference at low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite receivers. We present DT-STABLE, an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN)-enabled, digital twin (DT)-assisted framework for context-aware NTN-TN coexistence. Using site-specific information, the DT estimates interference at LEO satellites, enabling proactive management with reduced real-time measurement overhead. We formulate joint beam activation and user association under RF-chain limits, load balancing, and aggregate satellite interference constraints; prove NP-hardness; and develop an efficient DT-guided scheduling algorithm. DT-STABLE couples short-timescale radio resource adaptation with periodic mid- and long-timescale DT updates through standardized O-RAN interfaces. Site-specific 28 GHz simulations under worst-case satellite geometry and low elevation angles show that DT-STABLE balances rate and interference utility, achieving 89.63% interference-to-noise ratio (INR) satisfaction and a mean sum rate of 210.96 bps/Hz, with nearly 100% INR satisfaction when satellite protection is prioritized. The framework reduces beam measurement overhead by 99.71% relative to exhaustive sweeping and achieves up to 33.1 times lower runtime than the Gurobi-based exact optimization benchmark.