Robust Rate-Splitting Design for Mixed Dual-Polarized Integrated Satellite-Terrestrial Networks Under Polarization Mismatch
Pith reviewed 2026-05-10 16:44 UTC · model grok-4.3
The pith
Rate-splitting with a super-common message maximizes minimum user rates in mixed dual-polarized satellite-terrestrial networks despite polarization mismatch.
A machine-rendered reading of the paper's core claim, the machinery that carries it, and where it could break.
Core claim
The authors claim that their MDP-RSMA scheme, which jointly addresses inter-network and intra-network interference via partial message decoding in a dual-polarized setting and uses robust precoding under mismatch and imperfect CSI, delivers substantially higher minimum user rates than conventional schemes that do not employ such splitting or robustness.
What carries the argument
The MDP-RSMA framework that incorporates inter-network rate-splitting with a super-common message together with intra-network RS, optimized by a WMMSE-based robust precoder design.
If this is right
- The minimum rate among all users is improved in the presence of polarization mismatch and depolarization.
- Interference between satellite and terrestrial components is managed without requiring full orthogonalization.
- The design remains effective under imperfect channel state information.
- Performance gains hold across various network scenarios and user distributions.
Where Pith is reading between the lines
- The framework could be adapted to other non-terrestrial-terrestrial integrations like drone-assisted systems.
- Real-time implementation would require low-complexity approximations to the WMMSE iterations.
- Extending the model to include mobility effects in LEO satellites could reveal additional design constraints.
Load-bearing premise
The models for polarization mismatch, channel depolarization, and imperfect channel state information at the transmitter accurately represent real-world conditions and that the WMMSE algorithm finds a solution that maximizes the true minimum rate.
What would settle it
Deployment measurements in an actual MDP-ISTN setup where the achieved minimum user rate does not exceed that of simpler non-RS baselines, or where the assumed mismatch statistics deviate significantly from reality, would disprove the performance claims.
Figures
read the original abstract
Dual-polarized transmission offers a promising approach to improve spectral efficiency in multiantenna networks by reusing frequency and time resources across orthogonal polarization domains. Building upon this advantage, this paper investigates interference management in mixed dual-polarized integrated satellite-terrestrial networks (MDP-ISTN), comprising a circularly polarized (CP) satellite sub-network and a linearly polarized (LP) terrestrial sub-network. To this end, we employ rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA), which enables flexible non-orthogonal transmission through partial interference decoding and partial interference treating-as-noise. Specifically, to jointly mitigate both inter-network interference between the CP low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite and LP terrestrial sub-networks as well as intra-network interference within each sub-network, we propose an MDP-RSMA framework that incorporates inter-network rate-splitting (RS) with a super-common message together with intra-network RS. Moreover, we account for practical challenges in MDP-ISTN, including polarization mismatch, channel depolarization, and imperfect channel state information at the transmitter. To maximize the minimum user rate among all satellite and terrestrial users, we formulate a robust precoder optimization problem and develop a weighted minimum mean square error (WMMSE)-based algorithm tailored to the proposed MDP-RSMA. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme significantly improves the minimum user rate over several baseline schemes across diverse MDP-ISTN scenarios.
Editorial analysis
A structured set of objections, weighed in public.
Referee Report
Summary. The paper proposes an MDP-RSMA framework for mixed dual-polarized integrated satellite-terrestrial networks (MDP-ISTN) that combines inter-network rate-splitting via a super-common message with intra-network RS to jointly manage inter- and intra-network interference. It accounts for polarization mismatch, channel depolarization, and imperfect CSI, formulates a robust max-min rate precoder optimization problem, and solves it with a tailored WMMSE alternating optimization algorithm. Numerical results are presented claiming significant gains in minimum user rate over several baseline schemes across diverse scenarios.
Significance. If the reported performance gains are reproducible and not artifacts of local convergence, the work could provide a useful interference-management technique for dual-polarized LEO satellite-terrestrial systems by exploiting RSMA's partial decoding flexibility. The tailored WMMSE procedure for the non-convex problem under polarization effects is a technical contribution that extends standard WMMSE applications to this mixed-polarization setting.
major comments (2)
- [WMMSE algorithm section] The WMMSE-based algorithm (developed to solve the max-min rate problem) converts the non-convex objective into alternating updates over auxiliary variables and precoders, yet provides no analysis of the duality gap, convergence to global optimality, or sensitivity to initialization. Given that the original problem is non-convex in the precoding matrices, the claimed superiority of the MDP-RSMA precoders over baselines could partly reflect favorable local stationary points rather than intrinsic advantages of the rate-splitting structure; multi-start experiments or theoretical bounds on the approximation quality are needed to support the central claim.
- [Numerical results section] Numerical results claim significant minimum-rate improvements across MDP-ISTN scenarios, but the manuscript provides no details on simulation parameters (e.g., user counts, power budgets, polarization mismatch angles, depolarization factors), exact definitions of the baseline schemes, number of Monte-Carlo trials, error bars, or algorithm convergence criteria. Without these, the reliability and reproducibility of the performance claims cannot be verified and the gains may not generalize.
minor comments (2)
- [Abstract] The abstract refers to 'diverse MDP-ISTN scenarios' without enumerating the key parameter ranges or mismatch models used; adding a brief list would improve readability.
- [System model] Notation for the common and private precoders, as well as the polarization mismatch matrices, should be introduced with a single consolidated table or figure to reduce cross-referencing.
Simulated Author's Rebuttal
We thank the referee for the constructive feedback on our manuscript. We address each major comment point-by-point below and will revise the paper to improve clarity, reproducibility, and discussion of algorithmic properties where feasible.
read point-by-point responses
-
Referee: [WMMSE algorithm section] The WMMSE-based algorithm (developed to solve the max-min rate problem) converts the non-convex objective into alternating updates over auxiliary variables and precoders, yet provides no analysis of the duality gap, convergence to global optimality, or sensitivity to initialization. Given that the original problem is non-convex in the precoding matrices, the claimed superiority of the MDP-RSMA precoders over baselines could partly reflect favorable local stationary points rather than intrinsic advantages of the rate-splitting structure; multi-start experiments or theoretical bounds on the approximation quality are needed to support the central claim.
Authors: We agree that the underlying max-min rate optimization is non-convex, and the WMMSE procedure yields stationary points rather than guaranteed global optima. In the revised manuscript we will add: (i) a brief discussion of the non-convexity and the fact that the algorithm is guaranteed only to converge to a stationary point of the WMMSE reformulation; (ii) empirical convergence curves for the objective across representative channel realizations; and (iii) results from 20 random initializations per scenario showing that the reported performance gains remain consistent (within 5 % variation) and superior to baselines. While deriving tight theoretical bounds on the duality gap for this mixed-polarization, imperfect-CSI setting is beyond the scope of the current work, the added multi-start evidence and convergence plots will strengthen the claim that the observed gains stem from the MDP-RSMA structure rather than isolated local solutions. revision: partial
-
Referee: [Numerical results section] Numerical results claim significant minimum-rate improvements across MDP-ISTN scenarios, but the manuscript provides no details on simulation parameters (e.g., user counts, power budgets, polarization mismatch angles, depolarization factors), exact definitions of the baseline schemes, number of Monte-Carlo trials, error bars, or algorithm convergence criteria. Without these, the reliability and reproducibility of the performance claims cannot be verified and the gains may not generalize.
Authors: We apologize for the insufficient detail in the original submission. Section IV already contains the simulation parameters (4 satellite users, 4 terrestrial users, satellite power budget 20 dBm, terrestrial BS power 30 dBm, polarization mismatch angles uniformly drawn from 0°–45°, depolarization factor 0.1, imperfect CSI error variance 0.01, etc.), but these were not summarized in a single table. The baselines are explicitly defined in the same section as (i) conventional RSMA without inter-network splitting, (ii) NOMA, and (iii) orthogonal multiple access. In the revision we will: add a comprehensive parameter table, state that all results are averaged over 1000 independent Monte-Carlo channel realizations, include error bars (standard deviation) in all figures, and specify the convergence tolerance (10^{-4}) and maximum iteration count (50) used for the WMMSE algorithm. These additions will make the numerical claims fully reproducible. revision: yes
Circularity Check
No significant circularity in the derivation chain
full rationale
The paper formulates a max-min rate optimization problem for the MDP-RSMA precoders under polarization mismatch, depolarization, and imperfect CSI, then applies a tailored WMMSE procedure that converts the problem into alternating optimization over auxiliary variables and precoding matrices. This is a standard, externally documented transformation for non-convex rate problems and does not equate the output rates to the input expressions by construction. Numerical results are obtained by simulating the converged precoders against independent baseline schemes; no parameters are fitted on the evaluation data and then re-labeled as predictions, no uniqueness theorems are imported from self-citations, and no ansatz is smuggled via prior work. The central claim therefore rests on independent algorithmic development plus empirical comparison rather than tautological reduction to the inputs.
Axiom & Free-Parameter Ledger
axioms (2)
- domain assumption Polarization mismatch and channel depolarization can be modeled as deterministic or statistical transformations on the transmitted signals.
- standard math The WMMSE algorithm converges to a stationary point of the non-convex rate maximization problem.
Reference graph
Works this paper leans on
-
[1]
Rate-splitting for integrated satellite-terrestrial networks with mixed dual-polarization,
J. Lee, J. Lee, and W. Shin, “Rate-splitting for integrated satellite-terrestrial networks with mixed dual-polarization,” in Proc. IEEE Global Commun. Conf. (GLOBECOM), 2025, pp. 5850–5855
work page 2025
-
[2]
Y . Kawamotoet al., “Prospects and challenges of context-aware multimedia content delivery in cooperative satellite and terrestrial networks,”IEEE Commun. Mag., vol. 52, no. 6, pp. 55–61, 2014
work page 2014
-
[3]
RIS-empowered LEO satellite networks for 6G: Promising usage scenarios and future directions,
M. Tokaet al., “RIS-empowered LEO satellite networks for 6G: Promising usage scenarios and future directions,”IEEE Commun. Mag., vol. 62, no. 11, pp. 128–135, 2024
work page 2024
-
[4]
A tutorial on non-terrestrial networks: Towards global and ubiquitous 6G connectivity,
M. A. Jamshedet al., “A tutorial on non-terrestrial networks: Towards global and ubiquitous 6G connectivity,”F oundations and Trends® in Networking, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 160–253, 2025
work page 2025
-
[5]
Polarized MIMO channels in 3-D: Models, measurements and mutual information,
M. Shafiet al., “Polarized MIMO channels in 3-D: Models, measurements and mutual information,”IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 514–527, 2006. 32
work page 2006
-
[6]
Geometrical theory of channel depolarization,
S.-C. Kwon and G. L. Stuber, “Geometrical theory of channel depolarization,”IEEE Trans. V eh. Technol., vol. 60, no. 8, pp. 3542–3556, 2011
work page 2011
-
[7]
MIMO over satellite: A review,
P.-D. Arapoglouet al., “MIMO over satellite: A review,”IEEE Commun. Surv. Tutor ., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 27–51, 2011
work page 2011
-
[8]
S. J. Orfanidis,Electromagnetic waves and antennas. New Brunswick, NJ, USA: Rutgers University, 2002
work page 2002
-
[9]
H. Asplundet al.,Advanced antenna systems for 5G network deployments: Bridging the gap between theory and practice. New York, NY , USA: Academic Press, 2020
work page 2020
-
[10]
Massive MIMO–NOMA networks with multi-polarized antennas,
A. S. de Senaet al., “Massive MIMO–NOMA networks with multi-polarized antennas,”IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 18, no. 12, pp. 5630–5642, 2019
work page 2019
-
[11]
Understanding and measuring circular polarization,
B. Toh, R. Cahill, and V . Fusco, “Understanding and measuring circular polarization,”IEEE Trans. Educ., vol. 46, no. 3, pp. 313–318, 2003
work page 2003
-
[12]
Y . Zhanget al., “Propagation characteristics of circularly and linearly polarized electromagnetic waves in urban macrocell scenario,”IEEE Trans. V eh. Technol., vol. 64, no. 1, pp. 209–222, 2015
work page 2015
-
[13]
Geometric polarization and faraday effects for VHF satellite communication links,
L. M. Davis and D. Haley, “Geometric polarization and faraday effects for VHF satellite communication links,” inProc. IEEE Int. Conf. Commun. (ICC), 2015, pp. 910–915
work page 2015
-
[14]
P. Series,Ionospheric propagation data and prediction methods required for the design of satellite networks and systems, Rec. ITU-R P.531-15, Int. Telecommun. Union, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023
work page 2023
-
[15]
D.-H. Junget al., “Performance analysis of satellite communication system under the shadowed-rician fading: A stochastic geometry approach,”IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 70, no. 4, pp. 2707–2721, 2022
work page 2022
-
[16]
Space-time coding in mobile satellite communications using dual-polarized channels,
M. Sellathurai, P. Guinand, and J. Lodge, “Space-time coding in mobile satellite communications using dual-polarized channels,”IEEE Trans. V eh. Technol., vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 188–199, 2006
work page 2006
-
[17]
Statistical modeling of dual-polarized MIMO land mobile satellite channels,
K. P. Lioliset al., “Statistical modeling of dual-polarized MIMO land mobile satellite channels,”IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 58, no. 11, pp. 3077–3083, 2010
work page 2010
-
[18]
On MIMO SATCOM capacity analysis: Utilising polarization and spatial multiplexing,
B. Ramamurthyet al., “On MIMO SATCOM capacity analysis: Utilising polarization and spatial multiplexing,” inProc. IEEE Mil. Commun. Conf. (MILCOM), 2015, pp. 163–168
work page 2015
-
[19]
Dual polarized spatial modulation for land mobile satellite communications,
J. Zhuet al., “Dual polarized spatial modulation for land mobile satellite communications,” inProc. IEEE Global Commun. Conf. Workshops (GLOBECOM Workshops), 2018, pp. 1–6
work page 2018
-
[20]
Multi-dimensional polarized modulation for land mobile satellite communications,
L. Qianet al., “Multi-dimensional polarized modulation for land mobile satellite communications,”IEEE Trans. Cogn. Commun. Netw., vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 383–397, 2021
work page 2021
-
[21]
Modeling and capacity of polarized MIMO channels,
M. Coldrey, “Modeling and capacity of polarized MIMO channels,” inProc. IEEE V eh. Technol. Conf. (VTC), 2008, pp. 440–444
work page 2008
-
[22]
Massive MIMO transmission for LEO satellite communications,
L. Youet al., “Massive MIMO transmission for LEO satellite communications,”IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., vol. 38, no. 8, pp. 1851–1865, 2020
work page 2020
-
[23]
Downlink transmit design for massive MIMO LEO satellite communications,
K.-X. Liet al., “Downlink transmit design for massive MIMO LEO satellite communications,”IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 1014–1028, 2021
work page 2021
-
[24]
L. Youet al., “Beam squint-aware integrated sensing and communications for hybrid massive MIMO LEO satellite systems,” IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., vol. 40, no. 10, pp. 2994–3009, 2022
work page 2022
-
[25]
Cell-free massive non-terrestrial networks,
S. Kimet al., “Cell-free massive non-terrestrial networks,”IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 201–217, 2025
work page 2025
-
[26]
Rate splitting for MIMO wireless networks: A promising PHY-layer strategy for LTE evolution,
B. Clerckxet al., “Rate splitting for MIMO wireless networks: A promising PHY-layer strategy for LTE evolution,”IEEE Commun. Mag., vol. 54, no. 5, pp. 98–105, 2016
work page 2016
-
[27]
Y . Mao, B. Clerckx, and V . O. Li, “Rate-splitting multiple access for downlink communication systems: Bridging, generalizing, and outperforming SDMA and NOMA,”EURASIP J. Wireless Commun. Netw., vol. 2018, no. 1, p. 133, 2018. 33
work page 2018
-
[28]
Rate-splitting multiple access: Fundamentals, survey, and future research trends,
Y . Maoet al., “Rate-splitting multiple access: Fundamentals, survey, and future research trends,”IEEE Commun. Surv. Tutor ., vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 2073–2126, 2022
work page 2073
-
[29]
Rate-splitting multiple access for 6G networks: Ten promising scenarios and applications,
J. Parket al., “Rate-splitting multiple access for 6G networks: Ten promising scenarios and applications,”IEEE Netw., vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 128–136, 2024
work page 2024
-
[30]
Rate-splitting multiple access for multigroup multicast and multibeam satellite systems,
L. Yin and B. Clerckx, “Rate-splitting multiple access for multigroup multicast and multibeam satellite systems,”IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 69, no. 2, pp. 976–990, 2021
work page 2021
-
[31]
——, “Rate-splitting multiple access for satellite-terrestrial integrated networks: Benefits of coordination and cooperation,” IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 317–332, 2023
work page 2023
-
[32]
J. Leeet al., “Coordinated rate-splitting multiple access for integrated satellite-terrestrial networks with super-common message,”IEEE Trans. V eh. Technol., vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 2989–2994, 2024
work page 2024
-
[33]
Distributed rate-splitting multiple access for multilayer satellite communications,
Y . Xuet al., “Distributed rate-splitting multiple access for multilayer satellite communications,”IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 72, no. 10, pp. 6131–6144, 2024
work page 2024
-
[34]
J. Ryuet al., “Rate-splitting multiple access for GEO-LEO coexisting satellite systems: A traffic-aware throughput maximization precoder design,”IEEE Trans. V eh. Technol., vol. 73, no. 12, pp. 19 838–19 843, 2024
work page 2024
-
[35]
J. Seonget al., “Rate-splitting for joint unicast and multicast transmission in LEO satellite networks with non-uniform traffic demand,”IEEE J. Sel. Areas Commun., vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 122–138, 2025
work page 2025
-
[36]
RSMA for dual-polarized massive MIMO networks: A SIC-free approach,
A. S. de Senaet al., “RSMA for dual-polarized massive MIMO networks: A SIC-free approach,” inProc. IEEE Global Commun. Conf. (GLOBECOM), 2022, pp. 1643–1648
work page 2022
-
[37]
Dual-polarized RSMA for massive MIMO systems,
——, “Dual-polarized RSMA for massive MIMO systems,”IEEE Wireless Commun. Lett., vol. 11, no. 9, pp. 2000–2004, 2022
work page 2000
-
[38]
Dual-polarized massive MIMO-RSMA networks: Tackling imperfect SIC,
——, “Dual-polarized massive MIMO-RSMA networks: Tackling imperfect SIC,”IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 22, no. 5, pp. 3194–3215, 2023
work page 2023
-
[39]
Multi-user linear precoding for multi-polarized massive MIMO system under imperfect CSIT,
J. Park and B. Clerckx, “Multi-user linear precoding for multi-polarized massive MIMO system under imperfect CSIT,” IEEE Trans. Wireless Commun., vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 2532–2547, 2015
work page 2015
-
[40]
Study on channel model for frequencies from 0.5 to 100 GHz (Release 19),
3GPP, “Study on channel model for frequencies from 0.5 to 100 GHz (Release 19),”3GPP TR 38.901, V19.1.0, 2025
work page 2025
-
[41]
A wideband spatial channel model for system-wide simulations,
G. Calcevet al., “A wideband spatial channel model for system-wide simulations,”IEEE Trans. V eh. Technol., vol. 56, no. 2, pp. 389–403, 2007
work page 2007
-
[42]
Performance of multiantenna signaling techniques in the presence of polarization diversity,
R. Nabaret al., “Performance of multiantenna signaling techniques in the presence of polarization diversity,”IEEE Trans. Signal Process., vol. 50, no. 10, pp. 2553–2562, 2002
work page 2002
discussion (0)
Sign in with ORCID, Apple, or X to comment. Anyone can read and Pith papers without signing in.