Research

Paper

AI LLM March 24, 2026

AI Lifecycle-Aware Feasibility Framework for Split-RIC Orchestration in NTN O-RAN

Authors

Daniele Tarchi

Abstract

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) is constrained by the joint limits of satellite SWaP and feeder-link capacity, which directly impact O-RAN closed-loop control and model lifecycle management. This paper studies the feasibility of distributing the O-RAN control hierarchy across Ground, LEO, and GEO segments through a Split-RIC architecture. We compare three deployment scenarios: (i) ground-centric control with telemetry streaming, (ii) ground--LEO Split-RIC with on-board inference and store-and-forward learning, and (iii) GEO--LEO multi-layer control enabled by inter-satellite links. For each scenario, we derive closed-form expressions for lifecycle energy and lifecycle latency that account for training-data transfer, model dissemination, and near-real-time inference. Numerical sensitivity analysis over feeder-link conditions, model complexity, and orbital intermittency yields operator-relevant feasibility regions that delineate when on-board inference and non-terrestrial learning loops are physically preferable to terrestrial offloading.

Metadata

arXiv ID: 2603.23252
Provider: ARXIV
Primary Category: cs.NI
Published: 2026-03-24
Fetched: 2026-03-25 06:02

Related papers

Raw Data (Debug)
{
  "raw_xml": "<entry>\n    <id>http://arxiv.org/abs/2603.23252v1</id>\n    <title>AI Lifecycle-Aware Feasibility Framework for Split-RIC Orchestration in NTN O-RAN</title>\n    <updated>2026-03-24T14:18:03Z</updated>\n    <link href='https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.23252v1' rel='alternate' type='text/html'/>\n    <link href='https://arxiv.org/pdf/2603.23252v1' rel='related' title='pdf' type='application/pdf'/>\n    <summary>Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) is constrained by the joint limits of satellite SWaP and feeder-link capacity, which directly impact O-RAN closed-loop control and model lifecycle management. This paper studies the feasibility of distributing the O-RAN control hierarchy across Ground, LEO, and GEO segments through a Split-RIC architecture. We compare three deployment scenarios: (i) ground-centric control with telemetry streaming, (ii) ground--LEO Split-RIC with on-board inference and store-and-forward learning, and (iii) GEO--LEO multi-layer control enabled by inter-satellite links. For each scenario, we derive closed-form expressions for lifecycle energy and lifecycle latency that account for training-data transfer, model dissemination, and near-real-time inference. Numerical sensitivity analysis over feeder-link conditions, model complexity, and orbital intermittency yields operator-relevant feasibility regions that delineate when on-board inference and non-terrestrial learning loops are physically preferable to terrestrial offloading.</summary>\n    <category scheme='http://arxiv.org/schemas/atom' term='cs.NI'/>\n    <category scheme='http://arxiv.org/schemas/atom' term='cs.AI'/>\n    <published>2026-03-24T14:18:03Z</published>\n    <arxiv:comment>12 pages, 9 figures. Submitted to IEEE Transactions on Network and Service Management (TNSM)</arxiv:comment>\n    <arxiv:primary_category term='cs.NI'/>\n    <author>\n      <name>Daniele Tarchi</name>\n    </author>\n  </entry>"
}