Development of future multimedia services. BT´s Satellite Fast Packet Demonstration Network

Over the last decade the commercial role of satellite systems has changed, from been a provider of intercontinental circuits in the core network to now being an access technology. Influencing factors in this change of direction have been the vast roll out of fibre optic networks across the world and the associated improvements in SDH reliability and redundancy for international circuits. Commercial applications and requirements for satellite services have also changed from limited narrow-band voice and data to interactive multimedia services. Hence the requirement for the development of a new wave of satellite systems supporting broadband access technologies (IP, ATM and DVB) with defined ground segment interfaces to ensure full integration with terrestrial networks running advanced service management and intelligent agent platforms. To this extent, BT Satellite Systems have developed a Satellite Fast Packet Demonstration Network to raise the profile of satellite systems within the business community