Bridging 5G and SatCom Beamforming for 5G-NTN: Transferability, Gaps, and a Selection Framework [* Cross-Reference *]

In these networks, beamforming is a key technique to improve capacity and coverage and to manage interference, especially for LEO and MEO constellations. In practice, however, beamforming methods developed for terrestrial 5G do not transfer directly to NTN because of differences in channel dynamics (e.g., Doppler), CSI delay/aging, hardware calibration stability, and onboard resource constraints.

This article bridges beamforming technologies used in terrestrial 5G and SatCom to identify what can be reused, what must be adapted,and what becomes impractical under 5G-NTN constraints. We propose a unified taxonomy across algorithms, architectures (digital/hybrid/analog), and procedures, and provide a compatibility matrix that labels key techniques as directly reusable, reusable with adaptation, or not suitable under representative NTN constraints.