Ntn based on vlos separated radio and core/base station network control

A system for communication, the system comprising:

• a user equipment “UE”;
• a first satellite having a first orbit defined by a first radius;
• a plurality of second satellites each having a second orbit, each second orbit defined by a second radius, wherein each second radius is less than the first radius;
• and
• a terrestrially located core network element,
• wherein the first satellite is adapted to, in response to a setup request from the UE:
• send the setup request to the terrestrially located core network element;
• and
• configure, based on a setup configuration received from the terrestrially located core network element, a sequence of second satellites of the plurality of second satellites according to a coverage area of the sequence of second satellites and a location of the UE and terrestrially located core network element with respect to the coverage area, the sequence of second satellites comprising a serving satellite to serve the UE,
• wherein the sequence of second satellites is adapted to provide a first user data connection between the UE and the terrestrially located core network element, and
• wherein the first satellite is further adapted to:
• iteratively update the sequence of second satellites based on a changing coverage area of the sequence of second satellites, by configuring a second satellite of the plurality of second satellites to become a new serving satellite comprised in the sequence when a coverage area of an existing serving satellite no longer includes the UE, and configuring a second satellite of the plurality of second satellites having a coverage area which includes the terrestrially located core network element to be comprised in the sequence if no second satellite currently in the sequence has a coverage area which includes the terrestrially located core network element.