Performance Analysis of Carrier Aggregation Scheduling Schemes in Satellite Communication Systems

Satellites have an integral role in the evolving 6G wireless networks to provide ubiquitous broadband connectivity, extending their reach to remote and underserved regions where terrestrial infrastructure is limited. This is crucial in meeting the escalating demand for higher data rates, as satellite communication systems become increasingly instrumental in addressing connectivity challenges and bridging digital divides. Consequently, the need for innovative techniques arises to efficiently utilize radio resources and address the soaring data requirements. One such promising solution is carrier aggregation, which involves combining multiple carriers across the available spectrum. This approach has the potential to significantly improve peak data rates and enhance the overall user experience. However, to effectively aggregate multiple heterogeneous satellite links, an efficient data packet scheduler at the gateway is essential to prevent out-of-order packet delivery and the subsequent queuing delays at the receiver end. This paper delves into the performance evaluation of three schedulers, Round Robin, load balancing, and adaptive algorithm, through comprehensive end-to-end system simulations. The analysis reveals design trade-offs and highlights the advantages and drawbacks of each scheduler, offering insights for the practical design of satellite communication systems.