An ns-3 Module for Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) Simulation: Implementation, Design and Performance Evaluation

While the 5th generation (5G) of mobile networks has landed in the commercial area, with features such as millimeter waves already being deployed, there still are other functionalities to be investigated, for example non-terrestrial networks (NTN). In this context, satellite-based communications offer new opportunities for future research and applications, such as providing connectivity to remote or otherwise unconnected areas, complementing terrestrial networks to reduce connection downtime, as well as increasing traffic efficiency in hot spot areas. This thesis implements the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) channel model for NTNs, which introduces an ad-hoc characterization of the attenuation of the signal in the space scenario, as well as new challenges for the whole protocol stack, including those associated with latency and coverage constraints, compared to terrestrial network. In such regard, we extend the ns-3 simulator with new modules to implement the attenuation of the signal due to atmospheric gases and scintillation and a new mobility model to account for the Geocentric Cartesian coordinate system of spaceborne vehicles. We evaluate the performance of the system based on full-stack end-to-end simulations, and provide guidelines on possible future developments.