Advanced topics in service delivery over integrated satellite terrestrial networks

This paper focuses on the evolution of communication networks and service delivery. It identifies major trends that will drive the evolution of networks and service delivery in the next years. Among them Software Defined Networking (SDN) is probably the single most important technology evolution trend that will change networking. Based on the identified trends it presents a reference service delivery architecture, which it then translates into selected satellite terrestrial integration scenarios. The paper argues that SDN, originating from data communications is a technology that should be considered in any satellite terrestrial integration scenario, and highlights its potential role in the selected integration scenarios. It concludes that for the successful integration of satellite in such future integrated scenarios that all encompass SDN a further extension of the OpenFlow standard is needed that considers and handles the specificities of the satellite communication links. This is basically a software and implementation issue, which could be handled as part of the continued revision and enhancement within the frame of OpenFlow standardization.