Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks (SatNets) are envisioned to play a crucial role in providing global and ubiquitous connectivity efficiently. Accordingly, in the coming years, thousands of LEO satellites will be launched to create ultradense LEO mega-constellations, and the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is working on evolving fifth-generation (5G) systems to support such non-terrestrial networks (NTN). However, many challenges are associated with the deployment of LEOs from communications and networking perspectives. In this paper, we propose a novel cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (CF-mMIMO) based architecture for future ultra-dense LEO SatNets. We discuss various aspects of network design, such as duplexing mode, pilot assignment, beamforming, and handover management. In addition, we propose a joint optimization framework for the power allocation and handover management processes to maximize the network throughput and minimize the handover rate while ensuring quality-of-service (QoS) satisfaction for users. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to introduce and study CF-mMIMO-based LEO SatNets. Extensive simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed architecture and solutions compared to those of conventional single-satellite connectivity and handover techniques from the literature.

翻译：低地球轨道(LEO)卫星网络(SatNets)预计将在高效提供全球和无处不在的通用连接方面发挥关键作用,因此,在未来几年,将发射数千颗低地轨道卫星,以创建超常低地轨道超星星座,第三代伙伴关系项目(3GPP)正在开发五代(5G)系统,以支持此类非地球网络(NTN),然而,从通信和网络的角度部署低地轨道有许多挑战,同时确保从通信和网络的角度部署低地轨道,同时最大限度地降低低地轨道的移交率。我们在本文件中提议为未来的超重低地轨道卫星网建立一个基于无细胞的大规模多产出(CF-MIMIMO)新颖结构。我们讨论了网络设计的各个方面,如混合模式、试点任务、成型和移交管理等。此外,我们提议了一个权力分配和移交管理流程的联合优化框架,以最大限度地实现网络的吞吐量和最小化率,同时确保用户的服务质量满意度。我们最了解的是,这是从我们的知识中引入和研究超级低地轨道卫星系统(SAL-M-M-Sat)的升级模型模型模型模型成果模型和升级化模型模型模型模型的模型的模型的模型的模型的模型的模型,展示。