Internet of Things from Space: Transforming LTE Machine Type Communications for Non-terrestrial Networks

Satellite communication is experiencing a new dawn thanks to low earth orbit mega constellations being deployed at an unprecedented speed. Fueled by the renewed interest in non-terrestrial networks (NTN), the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is preparing 5G NR, NB-IoT and LTE-M for NTN operation. This article is focused on LTE-M and the essential adaptations needed for supporting satellite communication. Specifically, the major challenges facing LTE-M NTN at the physical and higher layers are discussed and potential solutions are outlined.