Methods and systems for handling non-terrestrial network connections

A user equipment (UE) configured to handle a non-terrestrial network (NTN) connection, the UE comprising:

• memory storing instructions;
• one or more processor, operably connected to the memory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute the instructions to:
• detect at least one of a presence of the UE in an NTN only coverage area or a non-availability of a terrestrial network (TN) coverage at the location of the UE;
• determine an availability of an NTN;
• select the NTN for a registration of the UE based on the availability of the NTN;
• determine an absence of a voice-service support from the selected NTN, wherein the absence of the voice-service support indicates that the selected NTN does not support a voice service for the UE;
• perform at least one control action to avoid searching for the voice service during the registration of the UE on the NTN;
• and
• complete the registration on the NTN based on the performed at least one control action.

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a user equipment (UE), causes the UE to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• detecting at least one of:
• a presence of the UE in an non-terrestrial network (NTN) only coverage area, or a non-availability of a terrestrial network (TN) coverage at a location of the UE;
• determining an availability of an NTN;
• selecting the NTN for a registration of the UE based on the availability of the NTN;
• determining an absence of a voice-service support from the selected NTN, wherein the absence of the voice-service support indicates that the selected NTN does not support a voice service for the UE;
• performing at least one control action to avoid searching for the voice service during the registration of the UE on the NTN;
• and
• completing the registration of the UE on the NTN, based on the performed at least one control action.