Inter-satellite-link for O-RAN based non-terrestrial network acting at the gNodeB

A method of communicating information over an Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) network, comprising:

• transmitting a first set of information via radio waves between a first terrestrial based user equipment and a first satellite using a Radio Unit (RU) of the O-RAN network during a first time period when the first satellite is in a line of sight location with the first terrestrial based user equipment;
• transmitting a second set of information between a second satellite and a terrestrial network receiver during the first time period when the second satellite is in a line of sight location with the terrestrial network receiver;
• monitoring a movement of the first satellite relative to the terrestrial network receiver;
• transmitting the first set of information between the first satellite and the second satellite via an inter satellite link connection when the first satellite is not in a line of sight location relative to the terrestrial network receiver;
• transmitting the first set of information from the second satellite to the terrestrial network receiver during a second time period when the first satellite is not in a line of sight location relative to the terrestrial network receiver and the second satellite is in a line of sight location with the terrestrial network receiver to provide an exchange of the first set of information between the first terrestrial based user equipment and the terrestrial network;
• and
• continuing to exchange the first set of information between the first terrestrial based user equipment and the terrestrial network via the first satellite and via the second satellite during a third time period when the first satellite is in a line of sight location relative to the terrestrial network receiver and the second satellite is in a line of sight location with the terrestrial network receiver.