Guest Editorial: Technical Advancements in NTN-Assisted Internet-of-Things: Global Connectivity from the Sky

The rise in popularity and the increasing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices have raised significant challenges, such as heterogeneity, application needs, limited resources, and connectivity. Among these challenges, ensuring optimal connectivity for IoT devices stands out as a critical aspect. Integrating satellite-based networks into traditional terrestrial networks could be considered a possible and effective alternative to provide improved and low-cost connectivity for IoT devices. In Release 17, the 3GPP proposed standardizing non-terrestrial networks (NTN) to enable 5G-based terrestrial networks to support NTN. This standardization aims to facilitate direct communication between IoT devices and NTN in future IoT systems, which are anticipated to feature a larger number of devices and multi-access environments. These environments will require efficient utilization of different types of wireless spectrum, including Sub6 GHz, Millimeter-wave, and Terahertz. Typically, these IoT devices will require more resources to establish a reliable link with NTN, thereby increasing the challenges associated with maintaining a net-zero carbon emission rate. © 2018 IEEE.