Deep learning-based prediction models for the vertical total electron content using GNSS satellite observations

Ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) is a crucial parameter for characterizing the state of the ionosphere and assessing its impact on satellite-based navigation systems and on communication technologies. In equatorial and low-latitude regions, ionospheric irregularities, particularly equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs), pose significant challenges for satellite navigation and communication due to their capacity to cause rapid TEC fluctuations and signal degradation. Since these effects are especially pronounced during ionospheric and geomagnetic disturbances, making accurate TEC prediction is an essential task for improving the reliability of GNSS-based positioning and space weather applications. This study presents a machine learning-based framework for one-day-ahead prediction of TEC with a 30-min resolution over the magnetic equator and low-latitude regions, with a focus on Southeast Asia. Unlike global models, our approach is tailored to local GNSS observations and directly predicts TEC values along specific satellite-receiver paths, defined by geographic location and satellite visibility. We integrate ionospheric pierce point (IPP) coordinates, geomagnetic indices, and solar activity indicators as features to enhance temporal and spatial forecasting accuracy. To address the nonlinear and nonstationary nature of TEC variations, we investigate and compare three deep learning architectures: a Transformer-based time-series model, a Temporal Kolmogorov–Arnold Network (TKAN), and a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). Additionally, the predictions are benchmarked against the empirical IRI-2020 model and a persistence baseline. The results demonstrate that both the Transformer and TKAN models outperform the LSTM and empirical approaches, particularly during different geomagnetic and ionospheric conditions, showing improved robustness and generalization. The proposed framework highlights the potential for accurate, resource-efficient TEC prediction in low-latitude regions and opens a pathway for further improvements by integrating multi-GNSS observations and additional space weather parameters.