Publication
Enabling Seamless Connectivity: Location Management in 6G Satellite-Aerial-Ground Integrated Networks
Shama Noreen; Hans Dieter Schotten
In: 2025 Sixteenth International Conference on Ubiquitous and Future Networks (ICUFN). International Conference on Ubiquitous and Future Networks (ICUFN-2025), July 8-11, Lisbon, Portugal, IEEE, 2025.
Abstract
In the context of emerging 6G networks, significant advancements such as increased network densification and a massive growth in the number of connected devices are anticipated. Future networks will comprise thousands of integrated terrestrial (TN) and non-terrestrial networks (NTN), including aerial and space networks, which will be crucial for providing ubiquitous communication across all scenarios, anytime and anywhere. Effective location management (LM) is therefore essential to accurately track user locations across the extensive and diverse coverage provided by space-air-ground integrated Networks (SAGIN). This article highlights the distinctive requirements of LM within SAGIN environments, identifying existing research gaps. It examines 3GPP-based solutions and reviews pertinent literature aimed at addressing key challenges. Furthermore, this research delves into LM issues in the context of architectural enhancements and key enabling technologies such as network slicing (NS) and edge computing. It assesses how advancements in these areas necessitate updates to LM practices to ensure they remain effective and efficient in the evolving network landscape.