Leveraging Satellite Constellations to Boost 5G Reliability for Connected Livestock Transport

Ensuring reliable connectivity in rural areas remains a challenge, especially for mobile applications requiring realtime data exchange. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of multi-connectivity solutions combining terrestrial and satellite networks to improve communication reliability for livestock transport trucks in Europe, addressing both short-term and mid-term requirements. We conducted real-world mobility experiments using vehicles equipped with narrowband satellite access for tracking needs, alongside broadband cellular (4G/5G) and satellite connectivity, simultaneously transmitting duplicated traffic to ensure seamless access for future services. Our results show that satellite-assisted duplication significantly reduces packet loss in scenarios where cellular networks are unreliable. Additionally, we analyze end-to-end latency, packet arrival times, and derive Gilbert-Elliott model parameters from real-world measurements. We conclude that while the duplication approach is highly viable, it comes with trade-offs, including increased bandwidth consumption and the need for improved congestion control mechanisms.