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AI-Native Network Slice Admission Control Function for 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks
Journal article

AI-Native Network Slice Admission Control Function for 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks

Abdirazak Ali Asir Rage, Ning Wang, Rahim Tafazolli and Barry George Evans
IEEE Communications Standards Magazine, Vol.Early Access(Early Access)
07/08/2026

Abstract

6G Non-Terrestrial Networks Network Slice Admission Control Function (NSACF) 3GPP Standardization LEO Satellite Communications QoS-Aware Resource Management Energy-Efficient NTN AI-Native 6G Networks Machine Learning

Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) based on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are positioned as a foundational component of 6G systems, yet their integration with terrestrial infrastructure presents significant standardization challenges. The 3GPP Network Slice Admission Control Function (NSACF), specified in TS 29.536, currently employs static threshold-based policies that cannot accommodate the dynamic energy constraints inherent to LEO satellite deployments with approximately 90-minute orbital periods and continuous eclipse/sunlight transitions. This paper proposes a QoS-Aware Predictive Admission Control (QAPAC) algorithm that enables AI-native NSACF operation by replacing static threshold-based admission control with predictive admission control using ML-based power consumption forecasting and QoS-driven dynamic threshold adaptation. Experimental evaluation on an emulated 6G NTN testbed demonstrates that QAPAC achieves 100% mission-critical service acceptance compared to 75-76% for baseline methods, with up to 19 percentage point improvement in service availability with high reliability and low latency. These results provide quantitative evidence supporting the evolution of NSACF specifications toward AI-native admission control for 6G systems.

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AI_Native_Network_Slice_Admission_Control_Function_for_6G_Non_Terrestrial_Networks633.79 kBDownloadView
Author's Accepted Manuscript Embargo until publication date CC BY V4.0
url
https://doi.org/10.1109/MCOMSTD.2026.3718634View
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