Post Doc

**About the role**: **Context** Extending coverage with terrestrial networks (TN) is both an economic and a technological challenge. Fortunately, non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) can provide cost-effective, ubiquitous, and high-capacity connectivity in future 6G networks. NTN refers to networks based on space vehicles or an airborne platform for radio transmission. In particular, communication with mega-constellations of Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellites is seen as key on the way to 6G, complementing terrestrial networks to provide unlimited connectivity everywhere. Additionally, satellite communication helps offload traffic from the congested terrestrial network. In the future 6G network, users can be in the coverage of both NTNs and TNs, it is important to decide for each user whether to connect to TN or NTN, this decision is based on user density, the NTN cell size, user movement speed, etc. Meanwhile, the allocation of resources between TN and NTN can be optimized to have maximum throughput or to have maximum number of users served. Such a study is important for operators to better understand the role of NTN in the future network. **Objective** The objective is to determine the RAN technology (via terrestrial network or via satellite access) for different users in a hybrid TN-NTN environment. Additionally, resource allocation can be optimized between TN and NTN to provide optimized overall performance. The simulation will be done with different parameter values to determine the impacts on the system, e.g., NTN cell size, user speed, user density, NTN constellation size. The main scientific or technical obstacles to be dealt with: - Need for satellite data for the simulation - Need to have/build a satellite simulator for the study - Compared to terrestrial networks, NTN has many special characteristics, for example a longer propagation delay, a greater Doppler effect, frequent handovers, a limitation of resources on board the satellite, etc., these are new constraints to be integrated into the optimization - Definition of KPIs specific to NTN to optimize and compare performance in a dynamic environment **About you**: - Solid foundation in mobile radio networking as well as programming skills and software tools to perform simulations - Mathematical modeling, with deep knowledge in optimization - Fluent in English - Ability to write and present orally **Additional information**: - An innovative field, with the advent of 5G, the rapid growth of LEO satellite technology - Projects involving all operators including the satellite industry - A young team take up the challenge of the future architecture of mobile networks **Department**: Orange Innovation brings together the research and innovation activities and expertise of the Group's entities and countries. We work every day to ensure that Orange is recognized as an innovative operator by its customers and we create value for the Group and the Brand in each of our projects. With 740 researchers, thousands of marketers, developers, designers and data analysts, it is the expertise of our 6,000 employees that fuels this ambition every day. Orange Innovation anticipates technological breakthroughs and supports the Group's countries and entities in making the best technological choices to meet the needs of our consumer and business customers. Within the Radio Networks & Microwaves Department, you will join the Radio Innovation department to contribute to research activities on the evolution of mobile networks. The "Software & Radio Architecture" (SRA) team is in charge of analyzing industrial developments and evaluating the radio performance of mobile access systems and managing their resources. These analyzes and studies are currently focused on developments in 4G+ and 5G technologies, as well as those in network architecture. **Contract**: Post Doc