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MIURA AmaneSenior Researcher, Space Communica-tions Laboratory, Wireless Networks Research CenterSince 1998, he has been with the NICT, formerly Communications Research Laboratory, to engage in the research on satellite communications and antennas. After being transferred to the ATR, he is currently engaging in the research of the communications mission of the En-gineering Test Satellite 9 and Beyond-5G space communications. Ph.D. (Informa-tion sciences).Integration of Satellite Communications into 5G / Beyond 5Ghe role of satellite communications in 5G / Beyond 5G is attracting at-tention. The Space Communications Labo-ratory conducts research and development on integration between Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), such as satellite commu-nications, and 5G / Beyond 5G. This paper introduces expectations for satellite 5G / Beyond 5G integration, an image of Beyond 5G-era networks, social issues expected to be solved by satellite 5G / Beyond 5G inte-gration, and prospects for our laboratory’s future activities.■BackgroundTraditionally, satellite communications have provided global services, been less sus-ceptible to natural disasters than terrestrial communications infrastructure, and been used for broadcast services, communication services, and temporary disaster communica-tion. On the other hand, the networks have been constructed independently of terrestrial communication services because large trans-mission distances cause transmission delays and restricted communication speeds. How-ever, with recent evolutions in satellite com-munication technology, 5G network technol-ogy, and standardization, it is expected that unprecedented services will appear and that conventional services will be signicantly improved from integrating NTNs, including satellite communications, and 5G / Beyond 5G.■Expectations for satellite 5G / Beyond 5G integrationThere are three possible motivations be-hind expected integration of satellite com-munications and 5G / Beyond 5G (Figure 1). First, satellite communication technologies have evolved in recent years. With the advent of High Throughput Satellites (HTS) via geo-stationary satellites employing large numbers of multi-beams, high-speed and large-capaci-ty can be realized at low costs, and transmis-sion delays can be signicantly reduced via the advent of satellite mega-constellations plans with numerous low earth orbit satel-lites. Terminals have become smaller, con-sume less power, and have come signicant-ly closer to terrestrial systems. There have been recent moves towards unmanned air-craft, such as the High Altitude Platform Sta-tion (HAPS), as communication platforms, and the use of the three-dimensional space (from sky to space) for communications is advancing. Second, efcient 5G integration can be realized by deploying characteristic 5G network technologies in satellite systems, such as software-dened network (SDN) / network function virtualization (NFV), net-work slicing, and network orchestration, and public-private joint projects in Europe are becoming more active to develop these tech-nologies. Third, in realizing communication services, satellite communications have tra-ditionally been standardized independently of terrestrial mobile communications, but now with 5G, the standardization of NTN, in-cluding satellites, is proceeding together with that of terrestrial mobile communications. It is expected that once NTN standardization will progress, plug-and-play features, com-munications chips, as well as service realiza-tion legislation will be developed.■Beyond 5G era networksNetworks in the Beyond 5G era are pre-mised on communication networks in which space and the ground are connected in three dimensions via multiple layers (Figure 2). By seamlessly integrating the ground, sea, sky, and space by linking terrestrial systems, ships, drones, HAPS, and geostationary / non-geostationary satellites, we can realize diverse communication between people and accelerate the resolution of social issues in a constantly changing society. In realizing three-dimensional integrated networks, it is Special Issue for Space ICTTNICT NEWS 2021 No.16