5 Operating bands and channel arrangement

38.1083GPPNRRelease 17Satellite Access Node radio transmission and receptionTS

5.1 General

The channel arrangements presented in this clause are based on the operating bands and SAN channel bandwidths defined in the present release of specifications.

NOTE: Other operating bands and SAN 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 satellite can operate according to the present 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

5.2 Operating bands

Satellite is designed to operate in the operating bands defined in table 5.2-1.

Table 5.2-1: Satellite operating bands in FR1

Satellite operating band

Uplink (UL) operating band
SAN receive / UE transmit

FUL,low – FUL,high

Downlink (DL) operating band
SAN transmit / UE receive

FDL,low – FDL,high

Duplex mode

n256

1980 MHz – 2010 MHz

2170 MHz – 2200 MHz

FDD

n255

1626.5 MHz – 1660.5 MHz

1525 MHz – 1559 MHz

FDD

NOTE: Satellite bands are numbered in descending order from n256.

5.3 Satellite Access Node channel bandwidth

5.3.1 General

The SAN channel bandwidth supports a single RF carrier in the uplink or downlink at the SAN. Different UE channel bandwidths may be supported within the same spectrum for transmitting to and receiving from UEs connected to the SAN. The placement of the UE channel bandwidth is flexible but can only be completely within the SAN channel bandwidth. The SAN shall be able to transmit to and/or receive from one or more UE bandwidth parts that are smaller than or equal to the number of carrier resource blocks on the RF carrier, in any part of the carrier resource blocks.

The relationship between the channel bandwidth, the guard band and the transmission bandwidth configuration is shown in figure 5.3.1-1.

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Figure 5.3.1-1: Definition of channel bandwidth and transmission bandwidth configuration for one channel

5.3.2 Transmission bandwidth configuration

The transmission bandwidth configuration NRB for each SAN channel bandwidth and subcarrier spacing is specified in table 5.3.2.-1 for FR1.

Table 5.3.2-1: Transmission bandwidth configuration NRB for FR1

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

NOTE: All Tx and Rx requirements are defined based on transmission bandwidth configuration specified in table 5.3.2-1 for FR1.

5.3.3 Minimum guardband and transmission bandwidth configuration

The minimum guard band for each SAN channel bandwidth and SCS is specified in table 5.3.3-1 for FR1.

Table 5.3.3-1: Minimum guard band (kHz) (FR1)

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

The number of RBs configured in any SAN channel bandwidth shall ensure that the minimum guard band specified in this clause is met.

Figure 5.3.3-1: SAN 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 5.3.3-2: 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

For each SAN channel bandwidth and each numerology, SAN transmission bandwidth configuration must fulfil the minimum guard band requirement specified in clause 5.3.3.

For each numerology, its common resource blocks are specified in clause 4.4.4.3 in TS 38.211 [5], and the starting point of its transmission bandwidth configuration on the common resource block grid for a given channel bandwidth is indicated by an offset to “Reference point A” in the unit of the numerology.

For each numerology, all UE transmission bandwidth configurations indicated to UEs served by the SAN by higher layer parameter carrierBandwidth defined in TS 38.331 [6] shall fall within the SAN transmission bandwidth configuration.

5.3.5 SAN channel bandwidth per operating band

The requirements in this specification apply to the combination of SAN channel bandwidths, SCS and operating bands shown in table 5.3.5-1 for FR1. The transmission bandwidth configuration in table 5.3.2-1 shall be supported for each of the SAN channel bandwidths within the SAN capability. The SAN channel bandwidths are specified for both the Tx and Rx path.

Table 5.3.5-1: SAN channel bandwidths and SCS per operating band in FR1

SAN Operating Band

SCS (kHz)

SAN 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 carriers

The spacing between carriers will depend on the deployment scenario, the size of the frequency block available and the SAN channel bandwidths. The nominal channel spacing between two adjacent SAN carriers is defined as following:

– For SAN FR1 operating bands with 100 kHz channel raster,

▪ Nominal Channel spacing = (BWChannel(1) + BWChannel(2))/2

where BWChannel(1) and BWChannel(2) are the SAN channel bandwidths of the two respective SAN carriers. The channel spacing can be adjusted depending on the channel raster to optimize performance in a particular deployment scenario.

5.4.2 Channel raster

5.4.2.1 NR-ARFCN and channel raster

The global frequency 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…3279165] 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

Range of frequencies (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 is given in table 5.4.2.2-1 and can be used to identify the RF channel position. The mapping depends on the total number of RBs that are allocated in the channel and applies to both UL and DL. The mapping must apply to at least one numerology supported by the SAN.

Table 5.4.2.2-1: Channel Raster to Resource Element Mapping

Resource element index

0

6

Physical resource block number

k, and NRB are as defined in TS 38.211 [5].

5.4.2.3 Channel raster entries for each operating band

The RF channel positions on the channel raster in each SAN operating band are given through the applicable NR-ARFCN in table 5.4.2.3-1 for FR1, using the channel raster to resource element mapping in clause 5.4.2.2.

– For SAN 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 in FR1

SAN 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

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 are defined separately for each band.

Table 5.4.3.1-1: GSCN parameters for the global frequency raster

Range of frequencies (MHz)

SS block frequency position SSREF

GSCN

Range of GSCN

0 – 3000

N * 1200 kHz + M * 50 kHz,

N = 1:2499, M ϵ {1,3,5} (Note)

3N + (M-3)/2

2 – 7498

NOTE: The default value for operating bands which only support SCS spaced channel raster(s) is M=3.

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 is given in table 5.4.3.2-1.

Table 5.4.3.2-1: Synchronization Raster to SS block Resource Element Mapping

Resource element index k

120

k is the subcarrier number of SS/PBCH block defined in TS 38.211 clause 7.4.3.1 [5].

5.4.3.3 Synchronization raster entries for each operating band

The synchronization raster for each band is given 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 for FR1.

Table 5.4.3.3-1: Applicable SS raster entries per operating band (FR1)

SAN operating band

SS Block SCS

SS Block pattern
(NOTE)

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 TS 38.213 [7].