5 Operating bands and channel arrangement
38.101-53GPPNRPart 5: Satellite access Radio Frequency (RF) and performance requirementsRelease 17TSUser Equipment (UE) radio transmission and reception
5.1 General
The channel arrangements presented in this clause are based on the operating bands and channel bandwidths defined in the present Release of specifications.
NOTE: Other operating bands and channel bandwidths may be considered in future Releases.
Requirements throughout the RF specifications are in many cases defined separately for different frequency ranges (FR). The frequency ranges in which NTN satellite can operate according to this version of the specification are identified as described in Table 5.1-1.
Table 5.1-1: Definition of frequency ranges
|
Frequency range designation |
Corresponding frequency range |
|
FR1 |
410 MHz – 7125 MHz |
The present specification covers FR1 operating bands.
5.2 Operating bands
5.2.1 General
NTN satellite covers FR1 operating bands in the present specification.
5.2.2 Operating bands with conducted requirements
NTN satellite is designed to operate in the operating bands defined in Table 5.2.2-1.
Table 5.2.2-1: NTN satellite bands in FR1
|
NTN satellite operating band |
Uplink (UL) operating band FUL,low – FUL,high |
Downlink (DL) operating band FDL,low – FDL,high |
Duplex mode |
|
n256 |
1980MHz – 2010 MHz |
2170 MHz – 2200 MHz |
FDD |
|
n255 |
1626.5 MHz – 1660.5 MHz |
1525 MHz – 1559 MHz |
FDD |
|
NOTE: NTN satellite bands are numbered in descending order from n256. |
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5.2.3 reserved (for radiated requirements)
[To be updated]
5.3 UE channel bandwidth
5.3.1 General
The UE channel bandwidth supports a single RF carrier in the uplink or downlink at the UE. From a SAN perspective, different UE channel bandwidths may be supported within the same spectrum for transmitting to and receiving from UEs connected to the SAN.
From a UE perspective, the UE is configured with one or more BWP / carriers, each with its own UE channel bandwidth. The UE does not need to be aware of the SAN channel bandwidth or how the SAN allocates bandwidth to different UEs.
The placement of the UE channel bandwidth for each UE carrier is flexible but can only be completely within the SAN channel bandwidth.
The relationship between the channel bandwidth, the guardband and the maximum transmission bandwidth configuration is shown in Figure 5.3.1-1.
Figure 5.3.1-1: Definition of the channel bandwidth and the maximum transmission bandwidth configuration for one channel
5.3.2 Maximum transmission bandwidth configuration
The maximum transmission bandwidth configuration NRB for each UE channel bandwidth and subcarrier spacing is specified in Table 5.3.2-1.
Table 5.3.2-1: Maximum transmission bandwidth configuration NRB
|
SCS (kHz) |
5 MHz |
10 MHz |
15 MHz |
20 MHz |
|
NRB |
NRB |
NRB |
NRB |
|
|
15 |
25 |
52 |
79 |
106 |
|
30 |
11 |
24 |
38 |
51 |
|
60 |
N/A |
11 |
18 |
24 |
5.3.3 Minimum guardband and transmission bandwidth configuration
The minimum guardband for each UE channel bandwidth and SCS is specified in Table 5.3.3-1,
Table 5.3.3-1: Minimum guardband for each UE channel bandwidth and SCS (kHz)
|
SCS (kHz) |
5 MHz |
10 MHz |
15 MHz |
20 MHz |
|
15 |
242.5 |
312.5 |
382.5 |
452.5 |
|
30 |
505 |
665 |
645 |
805 |
|
60 |
N/A |
1010 |
990 |
1330 |
NOTE: The minimum guardbands have been calculated using the following equation: (BWChannel x 1000 (kHz) – NRB x SCS x 12) / 2 – SCS/2, where NRB are from Table 5.3.2-1.
Figure 5.3.3-1: Void
The number of RBs configured in any channel bandwidth shall ensure that the minimum guardband specified in this clause is met.
Figure 5.3.3-2: UE PRB utilization
In the case that multiple numerologies are multiplexed in the same symbol, the minimum guard band on each side of the carrier is the guard band applied at the configured SAN channel bandwidth for the numerology that is transmitted/received immediately adjacent to the guard band.
Figure 5.3.3-3: Guard band definition when transmitting multiple numerologies
NOTE: Figure 5.3.3-2 is not intended to imply the size of any guard between the two numerologies. Inter-numerology guard band within the carrier is implementation dependent.
5.3.4 RB alignment
The RB alignment refers to NR RB alignments as specified in 3GPP TS 38.101-1 [5] clause 5.3.4.
5.3.5 UE channel bandwidth per operating band
The requirements in this specification apply to the combination of channel bandwidths, SCS and operating bands shown in Table 5.3.5-1. The transmission bandwidth configuration in Table 5.3.2-1 shall be supported for each of the specified channel bandwidths. The channel bandwidths are specified for both the TX and RX path.
Table 5.3.5-1: Channel bandwidths for each NTN satellite band
|
NTN satellite band |
SCS kHz |
UE Channel bandwidth (MHz) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
||
|
15 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
|
|
n256 |
30 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
|
|
60 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
||
|
15 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
|
|
n255 |
30 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
|
|
60 |
10 |
15 |
20 |
||
5.4 Channel arrangement
5.4.1 Channel spacing
5.4.1.1 Channel spacing for adjacent NTN satellite carriers
The channel spacing for adjacent NTN satellite carriers refers to the NR channel spacing as specified in 3GPP TS 38.101-1 [5] clause 5.4.1.1.
5.4.2 Channel raster
5.4.2.1 NR-ARFCN and channel raster
The global frequency channel raster defines a set of RF reference frequencies FREF. The RF reference frequency is used in signalling to identify the position of RF channels, SS blocks and other elements.
The global frequency raster is defined for all frequencies from 0 to 100 GHz. The granularity of the global frequency raster is ΔFGlobal.
RF reference frequencies are designated by an NR Absolute Radio Frequency Channel Number (NR-ARFCN) in the range (0…2016666) on the global frequency raster. The relation between the NR-ARFCN and the RF reference frequency FREF in MHz is given by the following equation, where FREF-Offs and NREF-Offs are given in Table 5.4.2.1-1 and NREF is the NR-ARFCN.
FREF = FREF-Offs + ΔFGlobal (NREF – NREF-Offs)
Table 5.4.2.1-1: NR-ARFCN parameters for the global frequency raster
|
Frequency range (MHz) |
ΔFGlobal (kHz) |
FREF-Offs (MHz) |
NREF-Offs |
Range of NREF |
|
0 – 3000 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 – 599999 |
The channel raster defines a subset of RF reference frequencies that can be used to identify the RF channel position in the uplink and downlink. The RF reference frequency for an RF channel maps to a resource element on the carrier. For each operating band, a subset of frequencies from the global frequency raster are applicable for that band and forms a channel raster with a granularity ΔFRaster, which may be equal to or larger than ΔFGlobal.
The mapping between the channel raster and corresponding resource element is given in clause 5.4.2.2. The applicable entries for each operating band are defined in clause 5.4.2.3.
5.4.2.2 Channel raster to resource element mapping
The mapping between the RF reference frequency on the channel raster and the corresponding resource element refers to the NR requirements specified in 3GPP TS 38.101-1 [5] clause 5.4.2.2.
5.4.2.3 Channel raster entries for each operating band
The RF channel positions on the channel raster in each NTN satellite operating band are given through the applicable NR-ARFCN in Table 5.4.2.3‑1, using the channel raster to resource element mapping in clause 5.4.2.2.
For NTN satellite operating bands with 100 kHz channel raster, ΔFRaster = 20 × ΔFGlobal. In this case every 20th NR-ARFCN within the operating band are applicable for the channel raster within the operating band and the step size for the channel raster in Table 5.4.2.3‑1 is given as <20>.
Table 5.4.2.3-1: Applicable NR-ARFCN per operating band
|
NTN satellite operating band |
ΔFRaster (kHz) |
Uplink Range of NREF (First – <Step size> – Last) |
Downlink Range of NREF (First – <Step size> – Last) |
|
n256 |
100 |
396000 – <20> – 402000 |
434000 – <20> – 440000 |
|
n255 |
100 |
325300 – <20> – 332100 |
305000 – <20> – 311800 |
|
NOTE : The channel numbers that designate carrier frequencies so close to the operating band edges that the carrier extends beyond the operating band edge shall not be used. |
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5.4.3 Synchronization raster
5.4.3.1 Synchronization raster and numbering
The synchronization raster indicates the frequency positions of the synchronization block that can be used by the UE for system acquisition when explicit signalling of the synchronization block position is not present.
A global synchronization raster is defined for all frequencies. The frequency position of the SS block is defined as SSREF with corresponding number GSCN. The parameters defining the SSREF and GSCN for all the frequency ranges are in Table 5.4.3.1-1.
The resource element corresponding to the SS block reference frequency SSREF is given in clause 5.4.3.2. The synchronization raster and the subcarrier spacing of the synchronization block is defined separately for each band.
Table 5.4.3.1-1: GSCN parameters for the global frequency raster
|
Frequency range |
SS Block frequency position SSREF |
GSCN |
Range of GSCN |
|
0 – 3000 MHz |
N * 1200kHz + M * 50 kHz, N=1:2499, M ϵ {1,3,5}1 |
3N + (M-3)/2 |
2 – 7498 |
|
NOTE: The default value for operating bands with which only support SCS spaced channel raster(s) is M=3. |
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5.4.3.2 Synchronization raster to synchronization block resource element mapping
The mapping between the synchronization raster and the corresponding resource element of the SS block refers to 3GPP TS 38.101-1 [5] clause 5.4.3.2.
5.4.3.3 Synchronization raster entries for each operating band
The synchronization raster for each band is give in Table 5.4.3.3-1. The distance between applicable GSCN entries is given by the <Step size> indicated in Table 5.4.3.3-1.
Table 5.4.3.3-1: Applicable SS raster entries per operating band
|
NTN satellite operating band |
SS Block SCS |
SS Block pattern1 |
Range of GSCN (First – <Step size> – Last) |
|
n256 |
15 kHz |
Case A |
5429 – <1> – 5494 |
|
n255 |
15 kHz |
Case A |
3818 – <1> – 3892 |
|
30 kHz |
Case B |
3824 – <1> – 3886 |
|
|
NOTE : SS Block pattern is defined in clause 4.1 in 3GPP TS 38.213 [7]. |
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5.4.4 TX–RX frequency separation
The default TX channel (carrier centre frequency) to RX channel (carrier centre frequency) separation for operating bands is specified in Table 5.4.4-1.
Table 5.4.4-1: UE TX-RX frequency separation
|
NTN Satellite Operating Band |
TX – RX |
|---|---|
|
n256 |
190 MHz |
|
n255 |
-101.5 MHz |