Metaverse-Inspired Cybertwin-Based Space-Air-Ground Integrated Networks

Space-Air-Ground Integrated Network (SAGIN) is a promising 6G paradigm for overcoming terrain and surface limitations to provide ubiquitous services worldwide. However, the heterogeneity of the network poses new challenges for SAGIN, particularly in terms of network performance. The space environment is complex and still being explored. Metaverse, a multi-dimensional Internet, can achieve symbiosis and connectivity between the real and virtual worlds through the fusion of multiple technologies, providing an immersive experience while guiding the real world. Bringing the metaverse into SAGIN can enhance network performance by developing a cyberspace parallel to the physical SAGIN with additional functionalities. In this article, we present a novel metaverse-inspired cybertwin-based SAGIN architecture (ME-SAGIN), aiming to improve the overall performance of SAGIN toward 6G. We raise the technical challenges and open issues of ME-SAGIN. A use case is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of ME-SAGIN. Simulation results demonstrate that ME-SAGIN can significantly improve network performance.