The rapid evolution of cellular networks has introduced groundbreaking technologies, including large and distributed antenna arrays and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces in terrestrial networks (TNs), as well as aerial and space-based nodes in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). These advancements enable applications beyond traditional communication, such as high-precision localization and sensing. While integrating TN and NTN enablers will lead to unparalleled opportunities for seamless global localization, such integration attempts are expected to face several challenges. To understand these opportunities and challenges, we first examine the distinctive characteristics of the key 6G enablers, evaluating their roles in localization from both technical and practical perspectives. Next, to identify developments driving TN-NTN localization, we review the latest standardization and industrial innovation progress. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges of TN-NTN integration, illustrating its potential through two numerical case studies.
@article{arxiv.2501.13488,
title = {Integrated 6G TN and NTN Localization: Challenges, Opportunities, and Advancements},
author = {Sharief Saleh and Pinjun Zheng and Xing Liu and Hui Chen and Musa Furkan Keskin and Basuki Priyanto and Martin Beale and Yasaman Ettefagh and Gonzalo Seco-Granados and Tareq Y. Al-Naffouri and Henk Wymeersch},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2501.13488},
year = {2025}
}
Comments
8 pages, 5 figures, submitted to IEEE Communications Standards Magazine: Special issue on Integrated Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks