Master Thesis: Adaptive 3GPP Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) Access and Transmission (m/f/d)

German Aerospace Center (DLR); Oberpfaffenhofen; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

German Aerospace Center (DLR) — Satellite Network group invites a researcher to explore NB-IoT RAN access within moderate LEO constellations. You will design energy-efficient 3GPP protocol adaptations and build solid theories on LEO systems and constellation design.

Strong programming skills and excellent academic records are valued as you simulate NB-IoT scenarios and assess protocol performance against defined metrics.

Qualifications

• Completed university-level courses in telecommunication engineering.
• Knowledge on satellite communications systems.
• Good programming skills are beneficial.
• Excellent academic records.

Responsibilities

• Investigate NB-IoT RAN access and transmission procedures compatible with 3GPP standards for moderate LEO constellations.
• Design and evaluate 3GPP protocol adaptations to improve energy efficiency in satellite access.
• Develop theoretical foundations for LEO satellite systems and constellation design, plus 3GPP access principles.
• Study NB-IoT transmission under moderate LEO constellations, considering PHY/MAC constraints on 3GPP procedures.
• Model NB-IoT scenarios in simulation environments and evaluate protocol solutions against key metrics.

Skills

Telecommunication engineering

Satellite communications

Programming skills

Job description

The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is dedicated to mission-oriented research in selected areas of communications and navigation. Its work ranges from the theoretical foundations to the demonstration of new procedures and systems in a real environment and is embedded in DLR's Space, Aeronautics, Transport, Security and Digitalization programmes.

What To Expect

In the Satellite Network department, the Information Technology and Theory group drives research, design, and development of protocols for non-terrestrial networks, including next-generation satellite communications and drone-based systems. Leveraging expertise in 3GPP RAN solutions, semantic communications and Age of Information, and machine learning, the group is pushing the boundaries of current technologies and expanding their reach. The group's innovative contributions aim to establish reliable, future-proof communication capabilities across the entire spectrum of non-terrestrial systems.

Your tasks

• Investigate narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) radio access network (RAN) access and transmission procedures compatible with 3GPP standards, operating within the context of moderate LEO satellite constellations.
• The central objective is to design and evaluate 3GPP protocol adaptations that achieve high energy efficiency in the satellite access.
• Develop a solid theoretical foundation covering LEO satellite systems and constellation design, as well as the fundamental principles of 3GPP access procedures.
• Study of NB-IoT transmission under moderate LEO constellations, where the constellation geometry imposes specific constraints on the PHY and MAC layers that 3GPP procedures.
• The practical work will be carried out in simulation environments, where NB-IoT transmission scenarios under moderate LEO constellations will be modeled and analyzed. The resulting protocol solutions will be evaluated against key performance metrics.

Your profile

• Completed university-level courses in telecommunication engineering
• Knowledge on satellite communications systems
• Good programming skills are beneficial
• Excellent academic records

We look forward to getting to know you!

If you have any questions about this position (Vacancy-ID 6659) please contact:

Dr. Andrea Munari

Tel.: [phone]