Tutorial on

Satellite Communications: Issues in Transmission Techniques, Multiple Access 

Protocols and Performance

Lecturer: Dr. Erina Ferro, CNUCE-CNR, Pisa, Italy 

Satellite transmissions have an important role in telephone communications, television distribution, computer communications, maritime navigation, and military command and control. Moreover, due to their intrinsic nature, in many situations they constitute to be the only way for communicating. Recent trends in telecommunications indicate that four major growth market/service areas are: messaging and navigation services (wireless and satellite), mobility services (wireless and satellite), video delivery services (cable and satellite), and interactive multimedia services (fiber, satellite, cable).

The major drawback in using geostationary satellites is the long delay that can have an important impact in the end-to-end delay user requirements. Moreover, atmospheric conditions may affect the data transmitted in a very heavy way.

The tutorial aims at giving the basic elements of telecommunications via geostationary satellite. The LEO constellations are shortly included. Currently after the disaster of the Teledesic service, these are no more a reality but in the future they will again play an important role. Aspects considered will include basic transmission and multiple access techniques, channel modelling and fade countermeasures, and their performance analysis by theoretical, experimental, and simulation tools.

Intended audience: people from both academia and industry who are interested in an overview on 

                                     satellite communication systems.