Diversity combining and handover techniques: enabling 5G using MEO satellites

In this chapter, we provide a thorough review of medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellites, highlighting their applications, peculiarities, and the role that they may play in the implementation of 5G for satellite networks. In particular, we will explain why MEO satellites are a new paradigm, how to tackle the challenges related to their usage, and how they fit into the 5G context. In this perspective, we will show how diversity combining and handover are key functionalities for their successful integration. Towards describing the 5G paradigm with MEO satellites, the chapter first provides a high-level description of the satellite characteristics, the services that have been deployed, and also possible future applications. Further, a high-level description of all the atmospheric effects affecting typical MEO communications is included. Finally, a critical review of handover techniques (state-of-the-art, trade-offs, and future challenges), as well as a review of combining techniques (theoretical performance in a MEO scenario, advantages, drawbacks, and trade-offs), will be presented.