In low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) environments, time-varying propagation delays caused by mobility of satellite and user equipment (UE) make timing synchronization challenging. In 5G New Radio (NR) NTN, open-loop a...
In low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite-based Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) environments, time-varying propagation delays caused by mobility of satellite and user equipment (UE) make timing synchronization challenging. In 5G New Radio (NR) NTN, open-loop and closed-loop timing advance (TA) mechanisms are jointly used to achieve precise time synchronization. However, their independent operation can result in a double correction of timing errors. To mitigate this issue, a gradual timing adjustment scheme is applied to the open-loop TA in 5G NR NTN, but the adjustment rate with respect to UE velocity is not clearly defined. Since the amount of TA variation to be compensated over time depends on UE velocity, an inappropriate adjustment rate may fail to sufficiently mitigate the double correction phenomenon. Accordingly, this paper models the double correction and the gradual timing adjustment process under realistic NTN scenarios, and analyzes the relationship between Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) update periods, TA update periods, adjustment rates, and UE velocities through numerical simulations. Based on this analysis, optimal adjustment rates are proposed that ensure uplink timing errors satisfy the tolerance defined in 5G NR NTN specifications for UE velocities ranging from 30 to 330 m/s.