When game theory meets satellite communication networks: A survey

Satellite communication networks have been considered an integral part of B5G and 6G networks to achieve global coverage and enhanced Internet services. However, the integration of satellite and terrestrial networks also brings many challenges, including the explosion of management complexity, the limited resource in satellite nodes, and the strategic behavior among network participants. To solve these challenges, game theory has emerged as a potential solution for rapidly evolving satellite communication networks. While there are some surveys discussing game theory in various networking scenarios, there is a lack of surveys targeting game theory-based solutions in satellite communication networks. To fill in this research gap, the objective and research motivation of this study are to summarize and present a comprehensive and up-to-date literature review of recent studies applying game theory to various applications in satellite networks. Both cooperative and non-cooperative games are covered, with a total number of fourteen different game models. Based on the review of existing studies, research challenges and opportunities are further proposed to inspire future research directions. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first comprehensive survey focusing on the application of game theory to satellite communication networks.