Computing and network convergence in LEO satellite: current status and future trends

Xin Zhou; Jin Chen; Xiaokai Zhang; Yuhua Xu; Chunxiao Jiang; Min Jia

doi:10.11959/j.issn.1000-436x.TXXB260065

Computing and network convergence in LEO satellite: current status and future trends

Xin Zhou
, Jin Chen
, Xiaokai Zhang^*
, Yuhua Xu
, Chunxiao Jiang
, Min Jia

^*Corresponding author for this work

Peoples Liberation Army Engineering University
Tsinghua University
School of Electronics and Information Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication network is an important means to address coverage in remote areas and emergency communications. Constrained by the practical limitation of being unable to deploy ground gateway stations globally, China's LEO satellite networks urgently need to reduce their dependence on terrestrial nodes. Computing and network convergence (CNC) technology, which leverages inter-satellite links and heterogeneous computing power to enable service pre-positioning, is a key approach to breaking through this bottleneck. Firstly, the development status of LEO satellite CNC was reviewed. Then, the main challenges faced by this technology were analyzed. Subsequently, driven by typical services, an "edge-end" bi-level CNC architecture for LEO satellites was designed. Finally, the development trends of this technology were discussed and potential future research directions were outlined.

Translated title of the contribution	低轨道地球卫星算网融合技术现状与发展趋势研究
Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	255-275
Number of pages	21
Journal	Tongxin Xuebao/Journal on Communications
Volume	47
Issue number	6
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.11959/j.issn.1000-436x.TXXB260065
State	Published - 2026
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

computing and network convergence
edge-end collaboration
low earth orbit satellite
satellite communication
service-oriented

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10.11959/j.issn.1000-436x.TXXB260065

Cite this

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title = "Computing and network convergence in LEO satellite: current status and future trends",

abstract = "Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication network is an important means to address coverage in remote areas and emergency communications. Constrained by the practical limitation of being unable to deploy ground gateway stations globally, China's LEO satellite networks urgently need to reduce their dependence on terrestrial nodes. Computing and network convergence (CNC) technology, which leverages inter-satellite links and heterogeneous computing power to enable service pre-positioning, is a key approach to breaking through this bottleneck. Firstly, the development status of LEO satellite CNC was reviewed. Then, the main challenges faced by this technology were analyzed. Subsequently, driven by typical services, an {"}edge-end{"} bi-level CNC architecture for LEO satellites was designed. Finally, the development trends of this technology were discussed and potential future research directions were outlined.",

keywords = "computing and network convergence, edge-end collaboration, low earth orbit satellite, satellite communication, service-oriented",

author = "Xin Zhou and Jin Chen and Xiaokai Zhang and Yuhua Xu and Chunxiao Jiang and Min Jia",

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doi = "10.11959/j.issn.1000-436x.TXXB260065",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Computing and network convergence in LEO satellite

T2 - current status and future trends

AU - Zhou, Xin

AU - Chen, Jin

AU - Zhang, Xiaokai

AU - Xu, Yuhua

AU - Jiang, Chunxiao

AU - Jia, Min

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication network is an important means to address coverage in remote areas and emergency communications. Constrained by the practical limitation of being unable to deploy ground gateway stations globally, China's LEO satellite networks urgently need to reduce their dependence on terrestrial nodes. Computing and network convergence (CNC) technology, which leverages inter-satellite links and heterogeneous computing power to enable service pre-positioning, is a key approach to breaking through this bottleneck. Firstly, the development status of LEO satellite CNC was reviewed. Then, the main challenges faced by this technology were analyzed. Subsequently, driven by typical services, an "edge-end" bi-level CNC architecture for LEO satellites was designed. Finally, the development trends of this technology were discussed and potential future research directions were outlined.

AB - Low earth orbit (LEO) satellite communication network is an important means to address coverage in remote areas and emergency communications. Constrained by the practical limitation of being unable to deploy ground gateway stations globally, China's LEO satellite networks urgently need to reduce their dependence on terrestrial nodes. Computing and network convergence (CNC) technology, which leverages inter-satellite links and heterogeneous computing power to enable service pre-positioning, is a key approach to breaking through this bottleneck. Firstly, the development status of LEO satellite CNC was reviewed. Then, the main challenges faced by this technology were analyzed. Subsequently, driven by typical services, an "edge-end" bi-level CNC architecture for LEO satellites was designed. Finally, the development trends of this technology were discussed and potential future research directions were outlined.

KW - computing and network convergence

KW - edge-end collaboration

KW - low earth orbit satellite

KW - satellite communication

KW - service-oriented

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DO - 10.11959/j.issn.1000-436x.TXXB260065

M3 - 文章

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Computing and network convergence in LEO satellite: current status and future trends

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Keywords

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