Non-terrestrial networks for international areas

A method for communicating with a non-terrestrial network (NTN), the method comprising:

• by a user equipment (UE):
• receiving a downlink message from the NTN, wherein the downlink message comprises a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of a first PLMN of the NTN including an information element (IE), wherein the IE indicates that the NTN is dedicated to an international area;
• responsive to receiving the downlink message, determining a current location of the UE;
• determining whether the current location is in the international area;
• providing an international area notification to an access and mobility management function (AMF) servicing the UE to forward to a home PLMN (HPLMN) of the UE indicating whether the current location is in the international area;
• and
• receiving a polygon geofence from the NTN within a steering of roaming (SoR) container, wherein the polygon geofence describes a geographical extent of the international area, and
• wherein determining whether the current location is in the international area comprises determining whether the current location is within the geographical extent of the polygon geofence.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to cause a user equipment (UE) to:
• receive a downlink message from a non-terrestrial network (NTN), wherein the downlink message comprises a public land mobile network (PLMN) identifier of a first PLMN of the NTN including an information element (IE), wherein the IE indicates that the NTN is dedicated to an international area, wherein the downlink message specifies a first factor by which the UE modifies a search timer periodicity for the first PLMN, and wherein the first factor is selected based at least in part on a satellite type servicing the NTN;
• responsive to receiving the downlink message, determine a current location of the UE;
• determine whether the current location is in the international area;
• and
• provide an international area notification to an access and mobility management function (AMF) servicing the UE to forward to a home PLMN (HPLMN) of the UE indicating whether the current location is in the international area.