Deployable 5G Networks with NTN Backhaul for Emergency Communications and Positioning

This thesis investigates the design and experimental validation of deployable 5G access networks using Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs) as wireless backhaul infrastructure for emergency and rescue operations. The work will explore architectures in which mobile platforms, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or vehicles, provide local 5G connectivity in areas where terrestrial network infrastructure is unavailable, damaged, or temporarily overloaded. Particular attention will be given to positioning and localization services, with the objective of supporting the detection and coordination of users, first responders, and assets in challenging or infrastructure-disrupted environments.

The research will involve the development of a practical end-to-end testbed based on open-source 5G technologies, including OpenAirInterface, Software Defined Radios (SDRs), and commercial NTN connectivity platforms such as Starlink. The thesis will investigate the integration between the NTN backhaul and the 5G radio access network, evaluating aspects such as connectivity, latency, throughput, positioning performance, mobility, and system resilience.

The expected outcome is an experimentally validated architecture and a set of methodologies for rapidly deployable 5G services over NTN backhaul, demonstrating their potential for emergency communications, disaster recovery, and other temporary network deployment scenarios.