Backhaul link for a high altitude platform

A backhaul node comprising processing hardware and configured to:

• establish, by the backhaul node, a connection to a core network for managing communications between a non-terrestrial base station and the core network;
• request, by the backhaul node from the non-terrestrial base station, radio resources for a user equipment (UE)-radio access network (RAN) interface radio connection between the backhaul node and the non-terrestrial base station;
• establish, by the backhaul node, the UE-RAN interface radio connection;
• and
• route, by the backhaul node, a data packet between the non-terrestrial base station and the core network using the UE-RAN interface radio connection.

A method performed by a non-terrestrial base station for communicating with a core network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the non-terrestrial base station via a user equipment (UE)-radio access network (RAN) interface, a request for radio resources for a radio connection with the non-terrestrial base station;
• determining, by the non-terrestrial base station, that the request is received from a backhaul node configured to provide a backhaul link to the core network;
• establishing, by the non-terrestrial base station, a first radio connection with the backhaul node;
• establishing, by the non-terrestrial base station, a second radio connection with a user equipment (UE);
• and
• routing, by the non-terrestrial base station, a data packet between the UE and the core network via the backhaul node.