Satellite network technology

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Chitre, D.M. | Evans, J.V.^;

Affiliations: COMSAT Laboratories, Clarksburg, MD 20871, USA | COMSAT Corporation, 6560 Rock Spring Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA

Note: [] Corresponding author. E‐mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Traditionally, fixed satellite services have chiefly been used to support voice communications using capacity allocated to switched circuits, broadcast applications where capacity is allocated to regular TV transmissions, and low speed interactive data applications. Increasingly, however, satellites are being required to serve as high speed links in data networks handling data packets. To function efficiently on terrestrial packet networks (where errors are rare and the delays are short), the protocols, designed in an earlier era, are unsuited to satellite circuits, and considerable work is now underway to try to remedy these shortcomings. This paper reviews the problems encountered when Internet traffic must be carried over satellite and changes being considered and/or implemented in the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) suite to improve its efficient operation over satellites. Also discussed are strategies that can be employed at satellite earth stations to aid in integrating satellite links seamlessly into terrestrial data networks.

Journal: Space Communications, vol. 16, no. 2-3, pp. 155-165, 2000