Data-driven, real-time automation of network slice management in 5G infrastructures integrating satellite networks

Satellite communications are gaining attention in 5G networks, as enablers for the wide coverage of remote areas, efficient transmission of broadcasting and multicasting contents and alternative backhauling solutions to guarantee service continuity and dynamic traffic offloading. The recent advancements in dynamic management of satellite resources and virtualization of satellite functions are paving the way towards the full integration of satellite networks in 5G infrastructures. A key aspect is the orchestration of the satellite network as an integrated part of 5G management, which exploits the concepts of Software Defined Networking and Network Function Virtualization towards the flexible delivery of end-to-end network slices, seamlessly instantiated across hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks. The European Space Agency (ESA) ANChOR project is implementing a data-driven solution for a Network Controller and Orchestrator that exploits Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques to automate the real-time provisioning and lifecycle management of eMBB and mIoT network slices over integrated 5G Satellite-Terrestrial networks. This paper presents the ANChOR use cases and the architecture of the ANChOR orchestration solution.