QoS-Aware Handover Strategies for Q/V Feeder Links in VHTS Systems

Offering very large data rates is one of the main objectives of Very High Throughput Satellite (VHTS) systems to boost enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services in converged 5G-satellite systems. To this end, the exploitation of Q/V frequency bands for the satellite feeder link is a key factor for guaranteeing unprecedented data rates provided that efficient handover algorithms are implemented to counteract link outage events caused by severe weather impairments. Moreover, Quality of Service (QoS) of data flows is typically affected when gateway handover is initiated, hence calling for sophisticated ground segment management solutions. In this light, this paper proposes a novel gateway handover strategy and validates its design through simulation campaigns, whose preliminary results show important performance gains with respect to other solutions available from the existing literature.