The convergence of innovation in satellite communications, 5G terrestrial systems and cloud technology promises a ubiquitous networking solution, which offers a wide range of features, including but not limited to: universal multiaccess coverage at extraordinarily high speeds & capacity, multi-tenancy, fixed and wireless access network convergence, software controlled, agile service provisioning, on-demand service-oriented resource allocation, and highly orchestrated. To meet the needs of future communication, a paradigm shift both in the terrestrial and satellite segments is needed, transforming them from data-only transport media to intelligent services, equipped with computational, storage and decision-making capacities. In this article, we present H2020 SaT5G project vision to integrate the next generation satellite systems into 5G terrestrial networks at different levels. To this end, after highlighting the benefits of the integrated satellite-5G systems via some potential use cases, we detail the architectural options proposed by the project. In addition, we will present a management solution for the effective management and orchestration of the end-to-end heterogeneous technologies (terrestrial and satellite services).
