Unifying Softwarised Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks within O-RAN Architecture

Next generation mobile networks will include Non-
Terrestrial networks (NTNs) to complement terrestrial networks
(TN) and provide ubiquitous coverage. Achieving a unified operational
framework is essential to simplify integration and reduce
deployment complexity. This demo presents a unified Central Unit
(CU) capable of simultaneously managing Distributed Units (DU)
for the TN segment and the NTN segment. The system employs
full softwarisation of both domains using cloud-native artefacts,
enabling flexible deployment on commercial of the shelf hardware
and seamless TN–NTN integration without hardware-specific
adaptations. The demonstration highlights how the unified CU
manages heterogeneous radio access technologies (RATs), and can
expose real-time Key Performance Metrics (KPMs) through ORAN
interfaces towards the Near-Real Time Radio Access Network
Intelligent Controller (RIC) to provide cross-domain observability.
Through live visualization of throughput performance, latency
profiles, and resource usage, attendees will observe the operational
differences between terrestrial and GEO NTN links under a
common control framework. This demo validates a practical and
portable architecture for TN–NTN convergence and establishes a
foundation for future RIC-driven optimisation and multi-domain
intelligence in Beyond 5G/6G networks.