OTFS: A Potential Waveform for Space–Air–Ground Integrated Networks in 6G and Beyond

<jats:p>6G is expected to provide ubiquitous connectivity, particularly in remote and inaccessible environments, by integrating satellite and aerial networks with existing terrestrial networks, forming Space–Air–Ground Integrated Networks (SAGINs). These networks, comprising satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and high-speed terrestrial networks, introduce severe Doppler effects due to high mobility. Traditional modulation techniques like Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) struggle to maintain reliable communication under such conditions. This paper investigates Orthogonal Time Frequency Space (OTFS) modulation as a robust alternative for high-mobility scenarios in SAGINs. Using 6G exploration library in MATLAB, this study compares the bit error rate (BER) performance of OTFS and OFDM under static and multipath channels with varying mobility scenarios from 20 km/h to 2000 km/h, and varying modulation orders (BPSK, QPSK, and 8-PSK). The results indicate that OTFS significantly outperforms OFDM, while maintaining signal integrity under extreme mobility conditions. OTFS modulates information symbols in the delay–Doppler domain, demonstrating a strong robustness against Doppler shifts and delay spreads. This makes it particularly suitable for high-mobility applications such as satellites, UAVs, and high-speed terrestrial networks. Conversely, while OFDM remains effective in static and low-mobility environments, it struggles with severe Doppler effects, common in the proposed SAGINs. These findings reinforce OTFS as a promising modulation technique for SAGINs in 6G and beyond.</jats:p>