Section: 6.46.8.1 Description
Content: NGSO (MEO/LEO) based satellite access is raising higher demands on the amount of ground stations, and the availability and stability of the connectivity to ground station for UEs to obtain end-to-end network services anytime. S&F (Store and Forward) Satellite operation in some level provides a way to enable autonomously network service to UEs without the satellite always being connected to the ground station, which can extend the service availability for the areas without the connectivity to ground station via feeder link or ISL (e.g. at sea, very remote areas lack of ground-station infrastructures), improve the ground segment affordability with fewer ground stations and allow more robust UE services with the satellite under intermittently/temporarily unavailable feeder link. This is particularly relevant for delay-tolerant communications via NGSO space segment. The requirements below refer to S&F (Store and Forward) Satellite operation. NOTE: For more information on Store and Forward Satellite operation see Annex J.