Toward Multi-Connectivity in Beyond 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks: Challenges and Solutions

Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) will complement the 5G and beyond terrestrial networks (TNs) thanks to recent deployment and standardization activities. Maximizing the efficiency of NTN communications is crucial to unlock its full potential and reap its numerous benefits. One method to make the communications more efficient is by the usage of multi-connectivity (MC) where a user can be connected to multiple base stations simultaneously. It has earlier been standardized and widely used for TNs. However, for MC to be utilized in the NTN environment, several challenges need to be overcome. In this article, challenges related to MC in NTNs are discussed, and solutions for the identified challenges are proposed.