The TOMAS inter‐trial testbed – An evaluation platform for S‐UMTS services, applications and components

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Timm‐Giel, Andreas

Affiliations: University of Bremen, FB1 – Microwave Department, Kufsteiner Str. NW1, D‐28359 Bremen, Germany Tel.: +49 421 218 2287; Fax: +49 421 218 7330; E‐mail: timm@hf‐technik.uni‐bremen.de

Abstract: TOMAS is an R&D‐project within the EU‐funded ACTS Programme. The main objective of the TOMAS project is to realise a Satellite‐UMTS trial platform (testbed) for multimedia services with data rates up to 2 Mbit/s using existing geostationary satellites and to evaluate and enhance this inter‐trial platform in Joint Trials with co‐operating ACTS and non‐ACTS projects. With the TOMAS service and application trials being performed before the introduction of UMTS and before further development of its satellite component, its results, including assessment of user requirements and user acceptance as well as system performance, can be used to improve the design of satellite services and systems complementing UMTS. This paper presents the TOMAS project, its objectives, the technical approach taken, and the results achieved in Joint Trials with different other R&D projects and user groups. TOMAS’ main objective is to test and evaluate Satellite‐UMTS applications, components and services. The project’s focus is on high‐quality services with data rates from 64 kbit/s to 2 Mbit/s, provided globally by existing geostationary satellites. Within the project framework a testbed was set up using Inmarsat satellites and the ESA/EMS space segment onboard Italsat F2. To access the space segments, existing mobile terminals and earth stations were upgraded to TOMAS’ requirements. The performance of the testbed and the services was evaluated in end‐user trials in telemedicine and construction site applications.

Journal: Space Communications, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 199-207, 1999